jaymcminn

Link to Under Glass thread below. I was expecting drama in the final assembly stages, and it never materialized. This is a real sweetheart of a kit and was a blast from beginning to end. I can't recommend it enough! http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/182869-le-chaton-112-italeri-bugatti-35b/

This is Italeri's new-tool Bugatti 35b in 1/12 scale. It's a beautiful kit and a great starting point for a detailed build. I started building this model in my head when the kit was announced in February 2022. My plan was to replicate the carefully preserved patina that the best examples of Bugatti's racing cars all seem to have. It's a tricky combination of careworn paint, cracked leather and polished (but not too polished) metal. First step was to remove the molded rivets and locking bolts for Tichy Train Group styrene rivets and 3d printed locking bolts from Unobtanium. I used a salt weathering technique on the body to allow the bare aluminum base coat to peek through the Vallejo Sky Blue paint. The racing numbers were painted on using masks from Orlee. The leather throughout the car is 1.5oz thin bookbinding leather in distressed Cognac. Brake cables are thin braided stainless steel. Metallic finishes are all Vallejo Metal Color. Weathering was done with Vallejo washes and Tamiya Weathering Master pastels. This was an excellent kit overall. Most of the locating holes needed minor reaming out, largely due to paint thickness. The screws, which are slotted instead of Phillips and not magnetic, were a challenge as well. I genuinely enjoyed this build. Sometimes you're just "in the zone" when building a model and this was one of those cases. It's the first time I used the salt weathering technique as well as my first time using leather for upholstery. I'm sure it won't be my last... I have a LOT left over! Anyway, on to the pics!

Downloaded a fishing game for cats onto the tablet.

Great clean build. Sits just right too. Have you seen the Singer 934/5 that they just debuted? It's a knockout!

Thanks all! Next pics will probably be in Under Glass (I'll throw a couple of completed shots in to close out this thread) because once the bodywork starts going on there's not much left to do.

Chassis is ready to install into floor pan so I figured I'd get some shots before it disappears forever. The level of kit detail is very good (if a little soft) and really comes to life with a little work. One thing about this kit... the decals are outstanding! No carrier film and they settle down nicely with a little Mark Fit and heat. The turned aluminum on the dash and firewall are beautifully printed. I'd buy these decals by the sheet. The radiator shell was stripped of chrome and painted in a mix of Vallejo Metal Color Chrome, Aluminum and Gold to represent the color of worn nickel plating over brass. Staining was done with Vallejo washes and Tamiya Weathering Master pastels. The grille guard and radiator cap will be installed a bit later after the floor pan is installed. I decided to repaint the exhaust manifolds, btw. Glad I did, the rust color works so much better. On to the pics!

Been a while since I did an update and I've gotten a lot done. The engine is complete, or at least as complete as it's going to get until the firewall is installed. The 1:1 has a machined finish on the block that I tried to represent. I used a base coat of Vallejo Metal Color aluminum followed by a stippled layer of dark grey wash and a final stippling of Vallejo chrome. The Vallejo chrome was also used on the intake manifold. It does a great job of representing polished aluminum. I'm not sold on the paint finish on the exhaust manifolds yet... I might try something else. They aren't glued on at this point as I want them to be positionable when the exhausts are installed later. The other end of the ignition wires will mount into a tube that runs into the firewall. The chassis is built up to the point where it receives the engine. Lots of washes and dry brushing to bring out the details. Most of which will never be seen again after it's enclosed by the body and belly pan. A quick test fit with the firewall and bodywork in place. It's starting to get tight. One thing I've noticed on this kit is that the tolerances are very... intolerant. Next will be the instrument panel and firewall... more pics soon!

I've seen a few of these built and have one I've been tinkering with for years. That's the best I've ever seen that fuel tank assembly done. Great job on wrapping the springs too!

Great job on engineering those doors. I've been thinking about picking up the Zonda kit but I've always had some trepidation about building a kit that has been out for a few years and yet somehow you never see built up. If your Huayra is any indication this will turn out great!

Ukrainian Scale Car Production does an engine bay transkit as well as interior side panels for this kit. I have the side panels and they're beautifully executed. Great job on this build!

Was this a bribe so he'll let the pug have the blanket once in a while?

That color looks a little bright for Metallic Pea, but I guess it'll do. And everybody knows the "Princess Power" V8 was lavender, not lilac. ? (Seriously though, absolutely awesome build of an all-time classic movie car. I love it!)

Nap time...

Momma- Household Name. A fantastic album that sounds more like 1992 than 2022. Lots of influence from bands like Breeders, Smashing Pumpkins, Pixies, etc. It's pretty much bangers from beginning to end!

Wish I'd gotten more, TBH. I think I got 4 or so, but it was the end of the tour and the docent was getting a bit antsy to move on to the next group. I don't know why he wouldn't just leave me in there on my own, I would have kept my hands to myself...

Great, super clean build of an underrated classic. I love it!

Super Gold+ is excellent stuff. It doesn't fog and has the perfect consistency for a thick CA glue. I've been using it for many years.

Online ads for Temu. 'Nuff said.

Well, I haven't gotten around to the engine yet. I decided to tackle the bolts and safety wire on the body and undertray as well as some simple leatherwork. This stuff needed to go on before final assembly anyway. The wire lock bolts are from Unobtanium in the UK and are designed for the Italeri Alfa 8c kit. They're the wrong style for the Bugatti but they work well. Unobtanium includes a jig that allows you to drill precisely through the bolts to insert the wire. I used 30-gauge soft beading wire, which forms to exactly the shape you need and holds the shape perfectly. Every Bugatti 35 seems to have a slightly different pattern to the safety wire, I just went with something that looks good. I used the same thin leather as on the seats for the leather gaiter on the driver's side as well as the top belt for the spare tire carrier on the passenger side. Simple enough, and good practice for the more complicated hood straps to come. I went ahead and glued the seat back to the bodyshell at this point. These pics have the partial chassis mocked up with the seat bases in place while checking clearances. Today I'm going to fire up the airbrush and start on the small mountain of engine and chassis parts that I've gotten cleaned up and mounted for painting. On to the pics!

Great job! Those old Hasegawa Ferraris are really nice kits.

Lol, no worries about "building other people's models", I think all talented builders do that to some extent. That salt weathering technique is magic... just proof that spending some time seeing how the other modeling disciplines do things can pay off. I can't wait to see your Alfa, with your skills it's going to be a good one. Definitely going back for the hoods up display. Did the workshop tour this time as well. I was a bit disappointed that the Ferrari 250LM wasn't on display in the collection until I walked into the workshop and saw this...

Italeri includes some reasonably nice parts for these that would look good with some drybrushing and washes. The fusee chain is a good idea though. I'm already using thin stainless braided wire for the brake cables instead of Italeri's black rubber tubing.

Ah, another modeler who has discovered the joys of the Tamiya Magic Brush! That color is absolutely insane. Can't wait to see where it goes from here.

Yes, I've seen it used in some builds on here for hinges. How do you think I could incorporate it here? Possibly the chain tensioner for the brake lines?

Much as I love the timeless look of a stock 240z or a Fairlady ZG, these 70s custom versions are awesome in their own way. Great job on that bodywork and paint!