Twokidsnosleep Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 (edited) Well my E Bay purchase of the 1/8 Pocher Alfa is here and unpacked...such as it is. It is a nightmare of loose screws (I have a few of those too!), poor modelling and disrespect for a beautiful model. Kind of harsh, but it is pretty sad....and kind of a cool challenge to bring this back to life So here are the pics comparison to 1/16 MG TC kit Fenders with a paint pot for size Body comparisons, lots of black overspray on the Pocher Seats and body Engine and some body parts. Bag of wonders Ok that is it for now. Dinner time, got to ponder this mess for a bit First priority is to get a big container for everything and start doing inventory Edited October 6, 2015 by Twokidsnosleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 While parts are soaking in stripper and cleaner and repairing broken bits: A. Go here: http://modelmotorcars.com/ and download the Alfa instructions free. Pay attention to how many screws, bolts and rods you have / need. You can order spares from MMC and other places. B. Order the Paul Koo CD and study all the sections before construction. They all overlap and intersect, not necessarily in 'order'. C. Decide how accurate you want it to be; it needs major surgery in several areas to get the shape right and parts just to fit. Or build OOB and have a lot of fit and appearance compromises. Get lots of research material from all the big classic sites to see what they actually look like. Pocher's idea of fender / hood / cowl and seat shapes is largely fantasy. For instance, you can build it with only one spare and no 'batfin' on the rear deck. D. Consider spending for the MMC upgrades if you want a sturdy, accurate model. E. Make your own, (not out of cardboard like the MG) or buy the MMC work stands - like mine for the Rolls. Invaluable, like the Koo CD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twokidsnosleep Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 Thanks Cato The inventory so far is three dead silverfish and a dead carpet beetle! Plus dust, lots of dust. I have named her Franchesca....Italian version of my wife's name. Beautiful, but temperamental...and so is the car! Have the instructions and will get the CD. You had me primed for all that stuff already with the website....all over it! I disassembled the engine last night and gave the major parts an electric tooth brushing in warm soapy water. The kit seems very logical and I found I could take things apart somewhat easily and I put the screws back into where they go so as not to get lost. The paint and assembly is poor so I will tear her apart. My plan is to get the engine and tranny made first.....ahem, after I finish the MG For paint stripping, what product do you recommend I soak her in Thanks for all your help, it is a big job but kind of stoked for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 (edited) The original Easy Off oven cleaner. The 'no fumes' version is too weak. If you can, put the parts in ziplock bags (1 gallon I guess), spray a lot in and close for at least 6 hours. Use gloves, recheck every hour with toothbrush. Rinse with garden hose or slop sink. Wash with Dawn dish soap and start test fitting. DO NOT prime or shoot color until you've fit and modified parts to final configuration. Example: that hole in running board for oil fill is in the wrong place. Study about moving engine rearward in chassis - it affects a lot. Edited January 9, 2015 by Cato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twokidsnosleep Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 (edited) I am particle blasting engine parts between patients today...coming out good! The mouldings are crisp and detailed once layers of brush paint are removed Edited January 9, 2015 by Twokidsnosleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twokidsnosleep Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 (edited) A few pics of the "kit" I didn't post last night Instructions and old, old decals Strawberry flat that the parts were wrapped in for mailing...loose screws everywhere The frame rails, engine parts and radiator Edited October 4, 2015 by Twokidsnosleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twokidsnosleep Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 (edited) This is my goal for step one, engine assembly. Beautiful machinery Not my work pictured here, just the inspiration. Edited October 4, 2015 by Twokidsnosleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjordan2 Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Looking excellent, though perhaps the exhaust manifold might look a bit more bronzed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twokidsnosleep Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 Looking excellent, though perhaps the exhaust manifold might look a bit more bronzed. That is Paul Koo's motor advertising the engine kit sold here about halfway down the page http://www.modelmotorcars.com/alfa-romeo.html My engine is in 5,000 bits right now! I have seen a lot of variation on the engine block and valve cover paint...from bare metal to red,black Not sure what direction I will go, but I always like a contrast in colours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Looking excellent, though perhaps the exhaust manifold might look a bit more bronzed. That view is showing the intake side Skip. The carb, supercharger and beautifully cast intake manifold. As seen, it's $700 from MMC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twokidsnosleep Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 (edited) That view is showing the intake side Skip. The carb, supercharger and beautifully cast intake manifold. As seen, it's $700 from MMC. That is over twice as much as I paid for the whole mess of this kit's parts!! BUT, mine came with silverfish included Edited January 9, 2015 by Twokidsnosleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 That is over twice as much as I paid for the whole mess of this kit's parts!! BUT, mine came with silverfish included True enough but you could duplicate it with hardware from Marvin or Scale Hardware for much less. The big expense is the resin castings - beautiful but the kit parts would suffice. Remember it's a display model in itself. Not meant for installation in a chassis and body where a good deal of detail would be hidden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twokidsnosleep Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 Cato, I just ordered the CD you recommended My sandblaster is meh for this...heck of a mess on such large parts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 Get the Easy Off. Don't try brake fluid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twokidsnosleep Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 (edited) Yes have Easy Off...old school smell of death stuff I have organized many of the metal bits into little clear dental crown boxes with lids...nuts, bolts etc As I worked though the plastic bag of many wonders, I was finding more dead bugs and then rodent feces (small so likely mice) Soooo all things metal in there got an IPA wash and then coated with thin layer of WD40 I am going to wash everything else in bleach and discard all shipped containers and original packaging. This kit has sat in the bowels of someone's home and it is kind of disgusting. I could actually steam autoclave the metal bits, but that would be a little too OCD...which I am not, really just a little CDO which puts it in correct alphabetical order....that is a joke folks, bada bing Time for a Friday night drink Edited January 10, 2015 by Twokidsnosleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twokidsnosleep Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 (edited) I would not have even considered starting this kit if not for the great advice from Cato He has provided so much info and resources, I can't thank you enough! Every turn of research brings more and more info and I still have to finish the MG TC before I begin the Alfa All plastic parts are bleached and toothbrush scrubbed Getting a large tub tomorrow to keep the kit in Still have to inventory bolts and screws and such, but it actually looks like all major parts are present Goodnight all Edited January 10, 2015 by Twokidsnosleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 CAUTION: WD-40 will cause fisheyes in your paint. Don't even put the parts in the same room with the body parts. Steam the metal bits just to get the WD off. Wipe with lacquer thinner and store away until needed. For good measure, I'd 'Dawn' the plastic parts. Primer will not adhere if WD present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twokidsnosleep Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 Excellent warning, thank you, will keep plastic and oil separate. All plastic has been washed in dilute bleach, dried and then wiped with isopropyl alcohol (IPA). I try to do this before painting as a loose rule to avoid contamination that you are talking about. Then I let the parts air dry again and sorted the plastic into large ziplock bags and labeled the bag. If I dissasembled something, like the rear diff or the engine and there were specific hardware parts, I put those into a smaller ziplock (noWD40) and kept it inside the bigger bag.....just keep stuff together better. Remember I am not building this model yet, I am completely faithful to my MGTC, that I have not touched in a week other than to move it out of the way. Is there such a thing as model kit infidelity?? Off to Home Depot soon to get a plastic bin to store Franchesca in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twokidsnosleep Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 (edited) Ok, all done Just kidding, this is a pic from Britmodeller site....gorgeous car, nice leather inside, great tips for the build Trying to figure out some colours Thanks Cato Edited October 4, 2015 by Twokidsnosleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twokidsnosleep Posted January 11, 2015 Author Share Posted January 11, 2015 (edited) Model is put to bed in a dog proof container.....Coco my Bernese tested it out Each Ziplock has different assembly steps gathered together....vs random parts chucked in a box of mouse poo. Dental boxes of small bits in separate plastic box....no more loose bits I have not itemize every nut, bolt and screw. The things I notice missing are the Alfa badges and all the decals are toast. There are sources for replacements and I will do that when it is time. I was impressed with how the assembled parts of this car came apart so well; I broke one plastic bit on the alternator that I will easily replace. Maybe getting an old built Pocher kit, disassembling and getting aftermarket parts is not a bad idea. I am $350 USD into this kit which seems ok by what I see them going for...lots of potential to customize her up. So I will tuck this away for now and finish the other kit Time for research, gather info and think Cheers, Scott Edited October 4, 2015 by Twokidsnosleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 Your employer may notice the shrinking inventory of dental paraphernalia.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twokidsnosleep Posted January 11, 2015 Author Share Posted January 11, 2015 (edited) Yes, I may have to fire myself... Hey then I would have more modelling time And no money for it. Edited January 11, 2015 by Twokidsnosleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twokidsnosleep Posted January 13, 2015 Author Share Posted January 13, 2015 (edited) The original Easy Off oven cleaner. The 'no fumes' version is too weak. If you can, put the parts in ziplock bags (1 gallon I guess), spray a lot in and close for at least 6 hours. Use gloves, recheck every hour with toothbrush. Rinse with garden hose or slop sink. Wash with Dawn dish soap and start test fitting. DO NOT prime or shoot color until you've fit and modified parts to final configuration. Example: that hole in running board for oil fill is in the wrong place. Study about moving engine rearward in chassis - it affects a lot. I did a test with some new Easy Off pump spray. Other stuff was dead and nasty can that is probably 10 yrs old This is kind of a gel and worked removing paint reasonably quick (over a couple hours) with no damage to the plastic, easy to control Once again, my wife thinks I am nuts for buying new easy off when she has a self cleaning oven Edited January 14, 2015 by Twokidsnosleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twokidsnosleep Posted January 16, 2015 Author Share Posted January 16, 2015 (edited) Two 'new' horses have arrived for my stable from a great modelling guy in Colorado who is thinning his heard a bit for a move. This second Pocher kit is in much better mint condition with all box flaps and parts properly stowed And my queue for building gets longer by two! Edited October 4, 2015 by Twokidsnosleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twokidsnosleep Posted February 13, 2015 Author Share Posted February 13, 2015 (edited) I was poking through the kit reading the pamphlet on the left and found a spider egg nest stuck to the paper inside.Yikes! I squished them in a tissue and chucked it away. Think i will set that on fire tonight.That would have been an awesome colony of foreign spiders trapped in a plastic tub crawling all over this Gran Sport kitI must have missed it when I was disinfecting everything else. Edited October 6, 2015 by Twokidsnosleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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