Harry P. Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Time for another WIP! As you guys have figured out by now, I don't build models of common or "normal" subjects like NASCAR racers or muscle cars. My modeling tastes run towards "brass era" cars... the odder, the better. I love building models of vehicles that not everyone else is also building. In this case, I'm going to build a 1901 De Dion Bouton, a tiny and weird little French car. This is the kit: And here is a real one: The car was very small; powered by a single-cylinder 3.5 HP engine located under the driver's seat. Not exactly a screamer! But judging by the wacky arrangement of the seats (the passengers sat in the front, facing backwards, while the driver sat in the rear seat!), it looks like this car was designed more for friendly conversation than performance... Even though this is a "big boy," scale-wise (1/16), it's a tiny model... only about 5-6 inches long (the real thing is obviously a tiny little car). The kit is very simplified, with only about 50 parts total. I expect to do a lot of scratchbuilding and detailing to bring this one up to par. Not sure of the color scheme yet... my reference photos show a wide variety of color combinations. So far all I have decided for sure is that the wheels will be dark red. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f1ford48 Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 I feel the same way about the cars I build-definitely not the norm.[anything pre 1948 is my favorite subject] I like the larger scale and now I dont build below 1/18. this one could benefit from some more realistic wire wheels. just painting them black makes a big difference-I look foreward to seeing this build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wkennerley Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Very nice choice, I like brass era cars Wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 this one could benefit from some more realistic wire wheels. I agree. The molded spokes are grossly out of scale. But in this case I'm taking the easy way out for a couple of reasons... first, this model is so simplified (and small!) that I decided not to go crazy trying to make it a contest winner (not that I would ever enter a contest, but you get my meaning). I'm going to make a few basic upgrades, but not to the point where I would consider the time and trouble of scratchbuilding wire wheels. I decided on a dark red for the wheels, and after paint and a black wash, the thickness of the spokes will be somewhat disguised, visually. Edit: anyone know a source of aftermarket 1/16 wire wheels? I'm thinking dragster-type front wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 Ok... let's get this show on the road. First order of business will be the tires. They are black molded plastic, same as the rest of the black plastic parts, and have ejector pin and sink marks all over them. A little Bondo and a little sanding will take care of that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxer Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Definitely a back sear driver car! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 That could be hard to see when driving if some " husky" people were in front. Another different build to watch but I hope at some point you will get back to that airplane. : ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramfins59 Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Here comes another beauty from Harry's bench. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjordan2 Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 (edited) Could the 1935 Morgan supply more accurate wheels? Or a motorcycle kit?I'm sure you're aware of this one, which is Martin Swire's (comparatively) simple wire wheel technique for the 1/16 Hispano-Suiza that doesn't require a complex jig.http://www.freewebs.com/martsmodels/hispanot15wheelconver.htm Edited December 31, 2013 by sjordan2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted December 31, 2013 Author Share Posted December 31, 2013 Could the 1935 Morgan supply more accurate wheels? Or a motorcycle kit? I'm sure you're aware of this one, which is Martin Swire's (comparatively) simple wire wheel technique for the 1/16 Hispano-Suiza that doesn't require a complex jig.http://www.freewebs.com/martsmodels/hispanot15wheelconver.htm To tell you the truth, this model isn't worth the time and effort to scratchbuild wire wheels. I do intend to add some detail, but my goal in this case is a good looking shelf model, nothing more. If this was a 1/8 scale model, then yeah, I would definitely redo the wheels somehow... but in this case, not going to bother. I seem to remember seeing a source of realistic 1/16 scale dragster wire front wheels somewhere, but I can't remember the name of the supplier. Anyone out there know what I'm talking about? If I could find a set of replacement aftermarket wheels, I'd do that... but I don't want to raid another kit for its wheels or bother scratchbuilding them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted December 31, 2013 Author Share Posted December 31, 2013 The brass plated parts are a bright neon yellow... not exactly "brass," if you ask me. Compare the steering column to the actual brass pin vise collet... that's the color I want for the "brass" parts: The first step in assembling the steering column and hand controls is to clean up each piece... remove mold seam lines, etc... these are really tiny pieces, so I had to be careful not to break any of them. Once I had each part cleaned up, I glued each to a scrap of sprue, so I'll have a "handle" when I'm painting the parts: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Cullinan Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Interesting to say the least. I just browsed some pictures on the web. Pretty neat little...car? Looking forward to finished product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 Interesting to say the least. I just browsed some pictures on the web. Pretty neat little...car? Looking forward to finished product. It is kinda cute. Reminds me of a golf cart! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PappyD340 Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 Interesting project Harry, I'll tag along!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 Here is the finished steering column/tiller/hand control assembly after "the treatment" (Rustoleum Metallic Brass, Future/acrylic black wash, and knobs/handles detail painted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 This kit is so simplified that the frame rails and body are molded together. I decided to go with a yellow body, black chassis/suspension, black fenders, and dark red wheels. Here is the body after painting, with the frame rails brush painted gloss black: Floorboard and radiator installed: The corners of the frame are part of the springs, so once the springs are attached, the "frame" is complete. I added some coolant lines made of brass rod: The radiator was sprayed silver, then blackwashed, then the end caps painted black: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjordan2 Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 (edited) I was a little dubious about your color scheme until I saw the yellow one on this page, which is very cool. As usual, your progress is amazing.http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z18001/De-Dion-Bouton-Vis-A-Vis.aspx Edited January 1, 2014 by sjordan2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 I didn't see those photos before, but apart from the chassis being red instead of black, that's pretty much exactly what I'm going for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 The front spindles are not very accurate... plus I decided I wanted to add posable steering, so I needed to rebuild the front axle and spindles. First step was to drill a hole in each spindle with a pin vise: Then I cut the spindles apart, in preparation of rebuilding them. The reason I drilled the hole first and then cut the spindles apart is that drilling the hole is much easier when you have something more substantial to hold onto as you drill. Trying to drill the smaller part after cutting apart the spindle would have been much more difficult: Finally, I added the rest of what I needed with styrene rod and strip. I added the 90º ends on the tie rod, and drilled out some hex-shaped styrene rod to create the "nuts"... Once these components are painted and installed, the model will have posable steering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjordan2 Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 (edited) The way you have presented your build journals is becoming the most important part of the forum ––extremely helpful to me, especially tips like using dark window tint to take the curse off of kit chrome and brass.I fear that many builders will not look into this large-scale forum, and I have no idea why the scale size requires a separate forum. I'd dump this and just integrate it with the others. Edited January 1, 2014 by sjordan2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 I fear that many builders will not look into this large-scale forum, and I have no idea why the scale size requires a separate forum. I'd dump this and just integrate it with the others. If it was my call to make, I'd do just that. But Gregg wants a separate big scale section... not really sure why. Same as I'm not sure why we have to have a separate NASCAR and Drag section. I've tried to get rid of them, but the Big Cahuna said they have to stay. Why do only those two subjects have a special section all their own, and not customs, or rat rods, or show cars, or factory stock, or .... The mysteries of life... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clovis Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 (edited) Harry, thank you for sharing these very detailed tips and steps. These tips and tricks are improving my skill set!!!! Sure, I've picked up some neat things here and there on the forum, but your threads have helped more than you can imagine. I know much of this is old hat to you, but I appreciate it very much!!!! Edited January 2, 2014 by clovis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZIL 111V Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Very nice subject we don't see often. Like many of Minicraft 1/16th scale series: former Japanese GAKKEN kits/molds of the early 70's, not bad looking for such a simplified large scale kit... but those wire wheels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 not bad looking for such a simplified large scale kit... A "large scale" kit that's about 5 inches long! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Great Progress Harry! Real Nice Details... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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