Classic Bugatti

[landman]

I have a Heller T-50 which has seen better days. I have almost fallen into the habit of modifying my old kits instead of rebuilding them. I am considering turning it into something else using one of these bodies.

 

[landman]

The Rolls body could provide the makings of this roadster.

Edited October 5, 2020 by landman

[landman]

Or I could just shorten it and do an Atalante style swoopy coupe.

[landman]

Or I could use the Packard body and do a far out Soutchik style boattail roadster. Are there any tutorials on doing pontoon fenders?

[Bugatti Fan]

Pontoon fenders can be built up bread and butter fashion from plastic card.

[stitchdup]

Depending how rounded you want the fenders, a couple of plastic spoons would give you a starting point and the sections you remove might even have the right curve to fill any gaps. They are pretty thin so you may have to double them up

[landman]

The decision has been made. The customer wants a roadster. he even brought a poster to provide a concept of his plans.

[jamesG]

Dude, you're killing me. To me the t50 looks gorgeous stock but the new concepts look cool too, particularly that boattail. 

I couldn't bring myself to mod a car like that unless I had another I could leave stock.

 

[landman]

43 minutes ago, jamesG said:

Dude, you're killing me. To me the t50 looks gorgeous stock but the new concepts look cool too, particularly that boattail. 

I couldn't bring myself to mod a car like that unless I had another I could leave stock.

 

I look at it as building a new model without having to buy it. I have turned a Cadillac cabriolet into a roadster, used part of a Duesenberg town car and turned it into a Henley roadster, turned the rest of it into a Packard sedan. just can't help it.

[89AKurt]

On 10/2/2020 at 5:15 PM, landman said:

Or I could use the Packard body and do a far out Soutchik style boattail roadster. Are there any tutorials on doing pontoon fenders?

Can't go wrong with either idea, this is incredible!  I'll be watching, since I have a long dead WIP Bugatti, might help inspire me.

[bisc63]

That yellow swoopy coupe looks fantastic in the 3/4 rear view, but the front view loses something for me. Will enjoy seeing what you do here!

[landman]

45 minutes ago, bisc63 said:

That yellow swoopy coupe looks fantastic in the 3/4 rear view, but the front view loses something for me. Will enjoy seeing what you do here!

I don't like that hollow either. It would have to be different.

[slusher]

I will be following Pat, I enjoy your work and shop pictures!

[Bugatti Fan]

Just out of interest, the Heller T50 wheels are incorrect. A company named Shapeways can supply 3D printed wheels that are correct for this model.

[landman]

3 hours ago, Bugatti Fan said:

Just out of interest, the Heller T50 wheels are incorrect. A company named Shapeways can supply 3D printed wheels that are correct for this model.

They are beautiful though. Are these the ones? I just noticed that the kit's wheels are different from the box art. See first post.

Edited October 12, 2020 by landman

[landman]

Started putting the chassis back together.

[landman]

The motor looks like it is all there. Turns out only the side covers have the engine turning finish, which will simplify things. Made a pattern and transferred to an image to see what gives.

[Paul Payne]

How about the suprofil body?

[landman]

Looks a bit like the Australian slopers. I had never seen that one.

[landman]

Added the engine turning.

[Sam I Am]

That is going to look sweet.

[Bugatti Fan]

It's coming on very well Pat. Looks like you were already one jump ahead of me with the Shapeways wheels. The box art you referred to has them drawn ok, but the kit wheels were well off the mark. Look forward to seeing your finished model. Those wheels will make all the difference.

Did you print the engine turned finish onto decal sheet? Not quite sure from your description how you achieved this as it looks very convincing. Any chance of a step by step description of how you produced it? 

The Superprofil was also kitted by Pocher in 1/8th scale as a variant to their standard T50 kit. You never know, Shapeways might make a Superprofil body in 1/24 scale yet for the Heller kit

Edited October 14, 2020 by Bugatti Fan

[landman]

2 hours ago, Bugatti Fan said:

It's coming on very well Pat. Looks like you were already one jump ahead of me with the Shapeways wheels. The box art you referred to has them drawn ok, but the kit wheels were well off the mark. Look forward to seeing your finished model. Those wheels will make all the difference.

Did you print the engine turned finish onto decal sheet? Not quite sure from your description how you achieved this as it looks very convincing. Any chance of a step by step description of how you produced it? 

The Superprofil was also kitted by Pocher in 1/8th scale as a variant to their standard T50 kit. You never know, Shapeways might make a Superprofil body in 1/24 scale yet for the Heller kit

Here goes Noel:

1-Picked a pattern off the internet that was small enough.

2-Printed it on plain paper. I gives the right sheen.

3.Using Tamyia masking tape, lifted a pattern off the panels which I transposed to the print.

4. Cut it out of the image and glued it to the engine using a glue stick.

[David G.]

Excellent work so far, I'm enjoying watching your progress.

David G.

[Bugatti Fan]

Pat, Thanks for the further into about the turned finish panels. Looks like a good method!