Bugatti Fan

If the kit is not an expensive one, just replace it and put the salvageable bits in your spares box. Dogs unfortunately cannot distinguish a scale model from anything else they can chew.

This model is taking shape extremely well, and it is nice to see an older subject being modelled. Just a tip, not a criticism, try photographing it with a plain background as clutter and floral paper distracts from your excellent build.

Pete has made a point about old kits and paints plus accessories that are no longer available. The hobby is in a constant state of flux and yes it can be bewildering to a newcomer or returner. There are products that keep going on year after year and some that fall by the wayside. So, lists either can or might not be helpful. The newcomer will be looking at what is available, whereas the returner might be a bit reflective and seeking things that they remember that are long gone. No easy answer to this unfortunately, but any returner or newcomer has a wealth of knowledge at their disposal as us modellers are mostly very generous with both help and advice.

Model Car Builder was a good magazine as was Scale Auto back in the day. Roy Sorenson retiring and deciding to close MCB and Kalmbach deciding to axe SA as it was probably making a loss are both disappointing to us automotive modellers. It was touch and go for MCM for a while, but at least it has survived despite the odds, and long may it carry on. Apart from a couple of truck modelling magazines from the UK and USA, it is the only English language automotive magazine left that I am aware of. I don't know if Roy Sorenson has sold the title of Model Car Builder on or not, or simply closed up shop!

Andrew mentioned about the tyres in his Auto Kits Miller reacting with the expanded polystyrene packaging. Model kit tyres made with vinyl has a chemical reaction to polystyrene plastic. I found out the hard way when I had a kit that was stashed away for years. Upon opening it I found that the vinyl tyres that were against any of the kit parts had sort of moulded themselves into the plastic. Both tyres and parts were ruined as a result. I always now ensure that tyres are bagged or wrapped in tissue to separate them within the box before storing. Not sure if real rubber would react in the same way, but err on the side of caution .

This is a most interesting build. Brooklands Museum had a very original GP Delzge on loan a few years ago and I was most impressed with that beautiful racing car. Brooklands is one of the most interesting transport museums in the UK and we'll worth visiting.

Dr Luxe Materials Super Phatic Glue might be good for this purpose. Otherwise, PVA adhesive as suggested already may be one of the safest to use. Many contact adhesives have warnings about being used on polystyrene plastics and Pete has described what would happen.

The Wills Finecast range are more detailed kits than the Auto Kits. I have the Finecast Type 59 Bugatti to bui!d and plan to obtain a set of Le Mans Miniatures photo etched wire wheels for it. Also in my stash is an Auto Kits MG TD kit that is a kerb side model. However, both ranges carry some subject matter not done by any one else in 1/24th scale.

Not built any of the Fisher car kits but recently built the Fisher 1/24th scale Bugatti 100 Racing Aeroplane with the engine details. A very impressive kit. If that is anything to go by I guess that the car kits were just as good. My build article appears in the January 2022 Airfix Modelworld Magazine. I hope that Paul Fisher and his family are recovering from the devastation of the Paradise wildfires that destroyed his home and business and hopefully rebuilds the business eventually.

The /24th scale Miller 91 in white metal as Andrew mentioned is still available. A bit of history about this kit is that it was originally made by a company named Auto Kits who way back in the 60's had a shop.in Holborn, London. The Auto Kits range was sold on to Wills Finecast at Forest Row Sussex and was added to the Wills Finecast range who's kits were more detailed than the Auto Kits Range. Wills was bought out and the company carried on from the same Forest Row address under the new name South Eastern Finecast. To bring this right up to date, Squires at Bognor Regis in Sussex has bought out South Eastern Finecast fairly recently. Squires are very well known in the UK as suppliers of extensive ranges of model making tools, material and accessories. I would imagine that they will continue to market the car kits under the Finecast and Auto Kits brand names. South Eastern (ex Wills) also made a range of Traction Engines in 1/32nd scale but are better known for their main focus in the UK, namely things for the model railway enthusiast. Requires will no doubt be marketing all those other ranges too.

Chris has done sterling service by sharing his charts. One poster noted that they were in inches. To work out the metric equivalents see below. Inches to Metric. Divide by 25.4. You will need to use inches expressed as a decimal measurement. For example 3/8ths of an inch is .375 and that will have to be divided by 25.4 to give the metric equivalent. Regarding bolt sizes. In engineering terms sizes referred to are the thread size of the bolt and not to be confused with the head size.

Mike, yes different styles of wheels need a bit of research as you pointed out about wheels with three spoke layers. Your method is perfectly good as a starting point for those too. Regarding plated wire. I would imagine that there are craft shops in Germany that sell bits and pieces for jewellery making and might well sell beading wire. I got some of mine from a department store in the area where they sold needles and threads etc.

Dave, some time ago besides the MG I think that you mentioned that you also had a Morris car too. What model? The Minor was very popular. The last car that Morris produced to supersede the Minor when part of British Leyland was the Marina. It had limited appeal and the Morris name disappeared when the Marina stopped production.

Mike, I have used your method and a few others down the years to re spoke wire wheels, like lacing and fitting individual spokes. Your tutorial will be very helpful, particularly to modellers who work in smaller scales to show that there is a reasonably straight forward method to achieve better realism. This goes to show that there is no great mystique about making wire wheels to scale, just the willingness to give it a go and a bit of patience as the process is a bit time consuming. But it is very rewarding. I can remember clearly how good it felt when I completed my very first wire wheel and saw how much better it was than a kit or photo etched item. I have found that plated beading wire available in different gauges is very good for simulating chrome wires when fitted to pre prepared wheel rims and hubs.

Atmosphere captured well on this model.

Really interesting model and a bit of a change from the norm.

Even photo etched wife wheels do not compare with using real wire for a more realistic appearance. This thread has shown that making real wire wheels need not be daunting. Thanks for sharing!

Your Alfa is looking good Ken. Italeri are doing the classic car modeller proud with their 1/12th scale kits. Italeri are releasing a Bugatti Type 35B in 1/12th scale during 2022. Really looking forward to that becoming available. Much as I would love to build the MFH kit, at least the Italeri one will be much more affordable (for me anyway).

This is a very interesting build. It prompted me to have a look at the C1 website and see that they also make a trans kit for a Sebring version MGC. I think that the donor kit moulds by Aoshima have been used by Revell and perhaps Airfix over the years?

A drunk staggered up to a motorist who had broken down. ' Washhsup?' The drunk asked. 'Piston broke.' said the motorist. ' Shhho am I.' Said the drunk!

Thanks for the further feed back Trevor. Appreciated. I am surprised that Aoshima did not make an MGB GT option when the kit was released, but C1 appears to have filled a big gap with their trans kit. The body shell looked really good from memory when I came across a picture of it some time ago.

Thanks for the feed back about the trans kit by C1. As you have one,do they supply a different windscreen as I think that the open sports windscreen is a bit lower, but please correct me if I am wrong? Also, what does the complete trans kit consist of?

Pete. Yep! You're absolutely right. Posts should have read pages in my post. My mistake! I therefore remain most humbly corrected and thereby prostrate myself!

It has now! LOL. !

That this thread has nearly reached 500 posts.