It is the most difficult task on this planet, share one’s opinion based on one’s personal experience. No matter how much time one takes, and no matter how proficient one tends to be in the language chosen to opinionate, mere words can never come close to truly express what one feels during the experience of it. Such was the case with the project that Mr.Rejaneesh Appukuttan had been entrusted with.
An accomplished self made individual with the creative potential of great stalwarts like Vikram Sarabhai on one end, and Picasso’s attention to detail on the other.
The project, was one of a kind. The reproduction of the 80s Indian Iconic Police Mahindra CJ540 Jeep, most often widely encountered with, by the average Joe, in movies and TV series. A true all terrain vehicle that had ruled the roost from the early 70s to the early stages of 2000.
The man was quite professional in his demeanor and despite the heavy wokload that he was under, agreed to add my project onto his serpentine task list.
Now this has been my dream scale model, that I have wished to procure from the earliest days of my childhood, when in the early 80s I had the experience of viewing my first movie at the local cinema House. A police action thriller, not a frame of the movie passed without showcasing the CJ540 iconic blue police Jeep.
So, it was no patient affair, from an enthusiastic collector’s perspective. As impatient as I was, I could not control my eagerness, and kept pestering Mr. Rejaneesh, sporadically with consistency.
Finally the delivery day arrived, and despite delays due to local festivals, the package arrived in one piece, completely undamaged, however upon unpacking revealed the upper section of the CJ540, in ultramarine blue and the lower black chassis with the wheels as two separate halves. Now being unfamiliar with 3D printing, I was considering that it could be a DIY version, with me having to put the two halves together into some sort of in built grooves.
Upon closer scrutiny I understood that the entire model had come apart in two halves, probably damaged during the transit. As much as I was upset about the two broken halves of my dream scale model, I was also surprised to notice that the police label as well as the red siren lamp were missing. Plus the colour wasn’t the blue I had requested for.
Now any normal collector, who has paid the entire amount in advance, would expect to receive what he as the customer expects to get upon delivery, a complete and perfect mint condition scale model, especially from an ace creative designer such as Mr.Appukuttan, who is known for his attention to detail and creative genius.
So, when the discussion happened, rather than sending back the broken scale model, for a replacement or repair, as suggested by Mr.Appukuttan, I chose to retain the same model, and use a bit of quickfix to attach the two halves.
Such was the perfection showcased in the 1:32 3D printed Mahindra CJ540 Jeep model created by the scale model samrat himself, as the testimonial from Anand Mahindra sir himself (which can be viewed in his website) justifies his creative potential & capability.
As an avid collector, I couldn’t resist parting with such an intricate and detailed creation of the vehicle, that I requested him to make me another one, but ensuring that it stuck to the brief that we had agreed upon. Still await the elusive beauty in blue for her homecoming…..
A simple torch can be shown at the sun, but can never truly illuminate, what happens to be the embodiment of illumination. Such is the endless creative potential of Streetcandy
Srinivasa Aiyangar
Jeep CJ Customer
