Speedfreak Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 (edited) Hello Everyone, This is my first WIP here so here goes: Altered Fiat Topolino. The Topolino ('little mouse' in Italian) model A was a small (one of the smallest cars in the world at the time) two seater sedan made to compete with the German Volkswagen. It was produced from 1937 to 1948 and had a small four cylinder engine (569 cc) that produced 13 bhp and could achieve a top speed of 53 mph and about 39.2 miles per U.S. gallon. My how things were altered in the late 50's, early 60's by American drag racers. Right now just prepping the body parts, color is MM Bright Light Purple. All comments are welcome! Edited December 28, 2014 by Speedfreak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 That's a nice little kit. It should really "pop" in that color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Great Project! Love those little Fiats... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedfreak Posted March 10, 2014 Author Share Posted March 10, 2014 (edited) Thanks Ray and Ira. Ya it's a really cool kit. It's an interesting color, my camera showed it as blue so I got it pretty close with software. It should look cool with the whitewall pie crusts on the rear and I'm thinking the big 'moons' on the front not sure yet. Right now I'm thinking black, maybe gloss for the frame and white for the roll bar. Maybe blue for the windows? Edited March 10, 2014 by Speedfreak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High octane Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Gene, nice build you've got going there as I happen to be workin' on the same kit as we speak. I've got a good start on mine and hope to have it done in early April as I doing some home decorating as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedfreak Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 I'll see if I can keep up with you Nick! Going to do more sanding now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Looking forward to your build Gene.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedfreak Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 Thanks Carl, I'll do my best to make it entertaining, lol. I think the purple is going to look great the more I look at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedfreak Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 Hello everyone, I've got a build question about the three little tabs on the inside of each wheel well. They are so defined and exact it looks like they should have a purpose but I can't for the life of me see what that might be. Are they just tabs from the mold that should be removed? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyrichard Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 cool ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedfreak Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 (edited) First mock-up. Thinking that the wheels (60's Mopar from Scenes Unlimited) and frame will be gloss black. But then again, I think the purple looks cool with white so I'm not sure. Any opinions on colors would be great. I'm thinking Transparent yellow, or , blue for the windows, MM brown leather color for the seat, red for the engine. I'm gonna try and make the decals myself, this is just paper for now. Let me know what you think, thanks for looking. She might be small, but she's mighty! Edited March 25, 2014 by Speedfreak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedfreak Posted March 26, 2014 Author Share Posted March 26, 2014 (edited) Oh come on, ya gotta admit it looks pretty cool, 'seriously adult hobbyist' cool maybe even. Edited March 26, 2014 by Speedfreak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Gene,clear blue would look great for the windows and orange, red, or silver would be great for the engine. I would do the seat black maybe semi gloss. Its your build buddy just throwing out ideas. I do like the mighty mouse decals... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedfreak Posted March 26, 2014 Author Share Posted March 26, 2014 (edited) Thanks Carl! Well it 'is' the 'little mouse' right? I'll probably go with orange for the engine , and , I got my decal making supplies yesterday. Edited March 27, 2014 by Speedfreak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedfreak Posted March 29, 2014 Author Share Posted March 29, 2014 Carl, it looks like you're the only one that didn't get the memo on this thing, thanks for your comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 Looking forward to your update Gene, very cool project.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10thumbs Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 What a cool kit! I love the altereds and old Gassers, especially the Fiat altereds, and Anglia Gassers. I think I'll be building one of these devilish machines some time in the future. Keep us posted on progress. Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedfreak Posted March 31, 2014 Author Share Posted March 31, 2014 Thanks Carl and Michael, should have some pics up in the next day or so. Got the wheels and frame painted and am putting the basic engine together now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
microboyca Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Very cool little mouse!It's a cool little kit with lots of possibilities.Cheers. Ron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedfreak Posted April 1, 2014 Author Share Posted April 1, 2014 Thanks Ron, update pics soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclescott58 Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Gene, was the "memo" on the Mighty Mouse decals? If so, I got it. And you have got to go with it. A V8 powered Topolino is as "Mighty Mouse" as one can get. By the way, it was my favorite cartoon as a very young child in the early '60s. As we speak, I'm working on the same kit. So I'll be keeping an eye on yours. Bought a set of Gofer Racing racing decals. In the set I bought is a cartoon rat with the words "Rat Rod" underneath. Thought about that for while, but I don't want build mine to looking like a "rat rod". It is a Topolino, not a rat after all. And I want to mine to be nice and shiny. On the same decal sheet are some Hamm's Beer logos with the Hamm's bear. Growing up in "The Land of Sky Blue Waters", near St. Paul where Hamm's was originally brewed, I'm thinking of going with that. Painting the model in Tamiya's Light Blue Metallic. Then adding the Hamm's Beer/bear decals. Hamm's Beer decals on a A/A dragster? I haven't drank in years, so I kind of like the humor of that. What do you think? Scott Aho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedfreak Posted April 3, 2014 Author Share Posted April 3, 2014 (edited) Scott, I thought that Carl was the only one that didn't get the memo saying, " we don't like this car" 'cause for four days after the second update he was the only one that left a comment. I remember Hamm's beer well. Growing up in KC they were the sponsor for major league baseball radio broadcast's here, so I've heard that jingle 'many' times! I think the Hamm's logo decals would work well. Like mine it will be a 'what if' car, lol. Here's a link to an article that was in Mopar Muscle Magazine a few years ago. If you scroll down the second picture on right is the 'original' car taken in 1959, it's 'BLUE', (click to get larger view). The AMT Double Dragster Fiat is based on 'that' car. In your kit there should be a second set of headers, (there is in the 'Tin' version) with one tube hanging lower than the others? In the picture look at the header tube closest to the firewall, same droop. Only thing is, AMT molded it backwards! So if you use it you have to put it on the 'passenger' side, which would be incorrect. It's one of the few pics that exist of the car to my knowledge. http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/featuredvehicles/race_car/mopp_1006_1939_fiat_coupe_altered/ Thanks for the comment Scott, I appreciate it. It's fun to have someone doing the same build! Let me know if you start a thread. Edited April 4, 2014 by Speedfreak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I did not know your post was moved here Gene. Looking forward to some more update pictures.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedfreak Posted April 3, 2014 Author Share Posted April 3, 2014 Carl, I didn't know it until last night, makes since though. I'm feeling better today, hopefully I can get a couple of pics up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclescott58 Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Gene, thanks for link to that article on Walt's Puffer. Very cool. I knew the AMT kit was based on that car, but I never really knew anything of the car, or the driver's career. And I'm glad to see the car is still around. With great detailed pictures to boot. Thanks, Scott Aho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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