Alfa Romeo 8C 1933 Le Mans winner

[Pierre Rivard]

Work on the front grill and headlamp assembly. The kit has a race number decal for the grille but I don't trust it can be made to conform so I decided to paint the number instead. I photocopied the decal and used that as a template to cut the number on masking tape, painted the number & black washed the grille after that.

The headlamp covers are solid resin pieces and I wanted to imitate the clear red covers used by the period race Alfas. After primer I coated a mix of Vallejo cooper and dark red, then later a thick coat of Tamiya clear red.

 

Edited October 11, 2023 by Pierre Rivard

[MarkJ]

Body paint looks flawless, Pierre, and I think you were wise to paint the radiator number. No way a decal was going to adhere and look right on that surface. Great job on the Alfa Romeo script on the radiator as well.

[Straightliner59]

12 hours ago, Pierre Rivard said:

Work on the front grill and headlamp assembly. The kit has a race number decal for the grille but I don't trust it can be made to conform so I decided to paint the number instead. I photocopied the decal and used that as a template to cut the number on masking tape, painted the number & black washed the grille after that.

The headlamp covers are solid resin pieces and I wanted to imitate the clear red covers used by the period race Alfas. After primer I coated a mix of Vallejo cooper and dark red, then later a thick coat of Tamiya clear red.

 

Beautiful work, Pierre! Grille looks excellent.

[MarkJ]

Pierre, you can tell from the second to the bottom photo that Hanjo posted on the first page of the thread that the paint was not glossy at all. And it looks like you nailed the grille as well. We can expect nothing but greatness from your bench.

[Rattlecan Dan]

Nice realism touch on the grille. Looking good.

[absmiami]

Super

you’ve built a model while im screwing around with engine bolts …

[1959scudetto]

This is definitely the way to go, Pierre - painting the grille number and then treat the grille accordingly - looks very convincing! A decal on fine mesh or fine ribs like here certainly would not work.                                     I'm always amazed how you manage to achieve a fine surface with brush painting (smoother than I do with spray cans)

[absmiami]

https://silodrome.com/alfa-romeo-8c-engine/

just in case your engine isn't finished

can't keep up with you

 

 

 

[Pierre Rivard]

On 10/12/2023 at 5:39 AM, Straightliner59 said:

Beautiful work, Pierre! Grille looks excellent.

Thanks Daniel. I'm happy with the direction I took with the rad grille. This resin kit is a big challenge (for me) so any little win adds up.

[Pierre Rivard]

23 hours ago, MarkJ said:

Pierre, you can tell from the second to the bottom photo that Hanjo posted on the first page of the thread that the paint was not glossy at all. And it looks like you nailed the grille as well. We can expect nothing but greatness from your bench.

Thanks Mark. Early in the planning stage I decided to go the low/no gloss route as it appearrs more period correct to me. I want to add a bit of race weathering as tracks of the era were not pristine clean as today and cars spitted oil all over. How to achieve that is the big question... 

[Pierre Rivard]

18 hours ago, absmiami said:

Super

you’ve built a model while im screwing around with engine bolts …

Engine on mine not started...kind of staying away  as I have no clue what to do with it. Watching what you do with your's and might copy a few bits.

I need an engine for dummies tutorial.

[MarkJ]

31 minutes ago, Pierre Rivard said:

Thanks Mark. Early in the planning stage I decided to go the low/no gloss route as it appearrs more period correct to me. I want to add a bit of race weathering as tracks of the era were not pristine clean as today and cars spitted oil all over. How to achieve that is the big question... 

I'm sure if anybody can do it, it will be you. You are a master of weathering.

[absmiami]

strangely enough - the distributor on the cyl head casting is exactly where it is supposed to be ...

post a closeup of the cyl head casting and the supercharger casting and I'll make some suggestions ...

 

[Pierre Rivard]

4 hours ago, absmiami said:

strangely enough - the distributor on the cyl head casting is exactly where it is supposed to be ...

post a closeup of the cyl head casting and the supercharger casting and I'll make some suggestions ...

 

Thanks Andy, here's one more ref pic and 2 of my parts. The distributor is molded into the upper engine and sits in the middle of the head (lateral) where it should more to the right side. Unless I got something wrong distributor surgery will be needed.

 

[Pierre Rivard]

So while my engine consultant is assessing the situation I am noodling away fixing little things like decal silvering. Done by touching up with red paint. 

Before and after pictures

[Pierre Rivard]

Trying something new. 0.56mm solder balls to simulate the snaps on the cockpit tarp. Small indents were molded in already so I gust glued them in. I lost a few along the way but no worries, that little bottle contains 2500 of them.

 

Edited October 13, 2023 by Pierre Rivard

[absmiami]

Yup - i see - gotta carefully remove the distr to the side of the V in order to place the plug loom - worth doing - plug wires no larger than .013 - and you could add some cam cover bolts - drill and place some .06 aluminum tube to house the bolts and maybe try some .04 mm solder balls to depict the cam cover bolts ?  Cheaper than the metal or 3d bolts I’m using in the tipo B engine - gotta get me a jar of those tiny balls / insert joke here / Amazon ??

[Pierre Rivard]

8 hours ago, absmiami said:

Yup - i see - gotta carefully remove the distr to the side of the V in order to place the plug loom - worth doing - plug wires no larger than .013 - and you could add some cam cover bolts - drill and place some .06 aluminum tube to house the bolts and maybe try some .04 mm solder balls to depict the cam cover bolts ?  Cheaper than the metal or 3d bolts I’m using in the tipo B engine - gotta get me a jar of those tiny balls / insert joke here / Amazon ??

Thanks for the advice Andy. Adding to my to do list for the engine. Yup, Amazon, $10 CDN including delivery. 2500 of 'em in a jar. That's a lot of balls!     Drum roll?

[Straightliner59]

16 hours ago, Pierre Rivard said:

Trying something new. 0.56mm solder balls to simulate the snaps on the cockpit tarp. Small indents were molded in already so I gust glued them in. I lost a few along the way but no worries, that little bottle contains 2500 of them.

Those look fantastic! I'm really enjoying this project, Pierre.  I'm going to have to get some of the solder balls. There are situations they would be very useful in soldering, too.

[Pierre Rivard]

1 hour ago, Straightliner59 said:

Those look fantastic! I'm really enjoying this project, Pierre.  I'm going to have to get some of the solder balls. There are situations they would be very useful in soldering, too.

Thanks Daniel. I made a typo, they're actually 0.65mm but there is a range of size available, from 0.2 to about 1 mm. They might also work out pretty good to simulate rivets.

[Belugawrx]

2 hours ago, Pierre Rivard said:

 Yup, Amazon, $10 CDN including delivery. 2500 of 'em in a jar. That's a lot of balls!     Drum roll?

25,000....!! Twenty five THOUSAND...lol

Lotta balls

 

[MarkJ]

Those solder balls are magnificent for the use that you are using them for. I had no idea such a thing existed. Ultra cool.

[Pierre Rivard]

Taking the plunge on engine work...always something I am not comfortable doing. The kit part limited to start with. The cam covers ave very narrow relative to reference pictures so there is no room to add the fasteners. I'll try to imbed posts on the sides on which PE fasteners will eventually sit on. This will in no way be accurate but hopefully more presentable.

Other fixes & adds? Relocating the distributor, ignition wires, coil, engine coolant take off and possibly a bit more detailing if phase one works out. If phase 1 fails?  that's it for the little engine...⚰️

 

Edited October 17, 2023 by Pierre Rivard

[Straightliner59]

I would say you managed that quite nicely, Pierre. Great work!

[MarkJ]

Pierre, how you take a basic part and turn it into a detailed masterpiece is amazing. Watching your builds is always can't miss viewing for any modeler.