Alpine A110 1600SC

Hi everyone!
Seeing that I almost got 500 posts and didn't yet post anything related to actual modeling I decided to start my first WIP.

It's a Tamiya 1/24 scale model of the Alpine A110 1600SC.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/2861989543_4ffcf7e3d9_o.jpg

It is meant to be a fast and simple build, mostly OOB.

The only extra features planed are chromed metal intake trumpets and some self made springs for the suspension.

For now, the body has been preped and painted metallic blue.
Weather permitting (it doesn't seem to be the case this week) I'll give it a few clear coats.

All the parts that need to be painted were done:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/2862807260_992c9747bf_o.jpg

Clear parts are in the process of cleaning at this very moment.

Thanks for reading. I hope to post updates soon.

Just about time jano, just about time...
i was about to ask you "can i take a look at your works"!!!

hehe...happy building!

Nice start Ioan :thimbsup:

I love this car :)

Looking promising! Very clean. Expecting to see more of this!

Robert

I'll also be eagerly watching this one. I love the kit and the car. A word of caution: If you are planning on adding spark plug wires make sure they allow the engine cover to close. I learned that one the hard way.

Good choice of car. I'll be watching this thread closely... :iceslolan

A small update, on this project.
Not too much done, only assembled the front and rear suspension to the chassis.
Engine is still missing, cause I decided to strip it and redo the paint as it wasn't to convincing after the wash I had applied (in fact the black oil based paint turned out to be rather blue once thinned and applied :( ).

A black wash will be applied on all these parts, and maybe some dry brushing will be done too.

A few pictures that say more than a thousand words. :iceslolan

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/2870107374_6fd46e2572_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/2870107248_c4e4633583_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/2870107318_ecef6de858_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/2870117040_f48e6897a1_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3164/2869289313_76d09e53d0_o.jpg

Not much of all this will be visible once the body shell, the underplates and the wheels are fitted, in fact none of it will be visible! :headshake

PS: I know the pics are not the best quality available, but this is what I managed with the low light available. :frown:

Also did a quick dry fitting of the interior.
Nothing extraordinary, very monotonous, lots of black, with very little metallic blue and some chrome.

I'll try to add more "metallic" detail after I apply the decals. And maybe the roll cage will be chromed or at least metalized. :uhoh:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/2869286049_43ef34ecbd_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2870116148_363b9e6180_o.jpg

Last update for today.
The carbs were "detail painted" and fitted with somewhat better looking intakes.
Will have to give it a wash in order to give some life to the details. :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/2869290151_ecb52091bc_o.jpg

That's it for now.
It might take some time till the next update, so please be patient. :smokin:

Hello Jano11, nice to see you start WIP, this is giving me same idea to start a thread. Moreover when I see the quality of your first WIP. Keep on progress !

Hello Jano11, nice to see you start WIP, this is giving me same idea to start a thread. Moreover when I see the quality of your first WIP. Keep on progress !

Thank you for your kind words. I'm very eager to see your future WIPs!

i like your work jano...very interesting.

so you are indeed a skilled builder...hats off for you bro!
happy building.

i like your work jano...very interesting.

so you are indeed a skilled builder...hats off for you bro!
happy building.

Thanks for your kind words!
I don't think that I deserve the accolades of a skilled builder, not yet at least.
This is only the 6th model hat I ever started, and I only finished 3 till now.

I just hope to turn this pack of plastic into a decent model. :)

You're making good progress. I instantly liked the look of this car when I saw it in my LHS but had reservations in buying it. The suspension and drivetrain look really good which is why it seems a shame that the interior is so bland right now. I hope you manage to add a bit more detail into it. It also looks a bit too glossy. Maybe you could flatten it out a bit?

A small update for today.
The body has received a few light coats of clear. Some more will be added, maybe tomorrow if the weather will allow).
Given the very visible orange peel lots of work will be needed to polish it to an acceptable shine! :(

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3055/2905741764_844f7cd713_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3178/2905741404_56869495ee_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3031/2905741064_4b02463e28_o.jpg

I changed my mind about the wheels,stripped the grey and chromed them. A black wash will be needed to tone down a bit the chrome and bring out the details.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/2905760806_79719c7162_o.jpg

Engine block, transmission and exhaust were painted and I did a small dry fit to see what it gives. There will also be applied a black wash (using diluted black oil paint or tamiya acrylic smoke).

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/2905742184_32fd949197_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/2904897485_56b85aa689_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2904915397_3ffc690429_o.jpg

That's it for today.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome! :)

Looking great, I like it! I have this one on my stash but at this rate I can only dreaming of ever getting to it. I'll just watch you instead I think :)

Oh yeah, I like the effort you´re putting into the chassis. Well done and interesting color. :eek7:

One thing I would rethink if I were you is the shiny dashboard. But that is me not knowing whether the Alpine had shiny material to cover the dash - it just looks odd to me...

The rest is just as nice as it comes.

Robert

A little update!

Progress is rather slow on this one.
Paint was very difficult to polish because of all the molded in details.
I've used BMF for the first time, and I can't say I'm enthusiastic about the results or by the process itself, very time and nerves consuming.

The fit of the clear parts (especially the ones for the main headlights) isn't as good as I would have expected from Tamiya.

A few pictures, to illustrate the situation:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3270/3032347206_c7109cea64_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3289/3031507881_19c71379bd_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/3032346566_edd1218ac4_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/3032346824_8d1d272ba1_o.jpg

A few mock ups with the windshield (I'll have to add the chrome trim before I glue it on).
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/3032347002_f10e534188_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3207/3031628851_2155663758_o.jpg

Comments and suggestions are welcome! :)

PS: I hope I'll be able to post more updates tomorrow.

jano my man!

i kinda like the cleanliness of your build so far.
no, nothing is slow if you wanna a mastergrade build...
to rush is as good as going out & buy a die-cast instead.

keep working!

Looking first class IMO :thumbsup:

Lovely paint work and the BMF has been done very nicely.

(this kit is a candidate for some Giotronic P/E IMHO :evillol: )

jano my man!

i kinda like the cleanliness of your build so far.
no, nothing is slow if you wanna a mastergrade build...
to rush is as good as going out & buy a die-cast instead.

keep working!

Thanks Marc!
I'm trying to do my best, but sometimes I just run out of patience. ;)
It will certainly not be a master grade build, but I hope it will be my best up to now. :)

Looking first class IMO :thumbsup:

Lovely paint work and the BMF has been done very nicely.

(this kit is a candidate for some Giotronic P/E IMHO :evillol: )

Thanks Steven!

I'm not particularly happy with how the paint looks, the base coat looks like it's somewhat wrinkled under the clear coat (couldn't sand it as it's metallic), and the clear coat is smooth but not enough.

As for the BMF, don't even remind me about it. Some parts I had to do at least 3 times, others I just didn't bother anymore.

Worse part of it is that the side windows don't fit anymore because of the paint and the BMF!
I'm thinking about replacing them with some clear plastic sheet, but than the pillars will look way too thick.

You are right, this kit could benefit from some of Gio's PE parts wonders, but I doubt it would be financially viable, didn't see too many of them being built.

I doubt it would be financially viable, didn't see too many of them being built.
Haven't seen too many 356s before either. Chicken and egg my son, chicken and egg...... ;) :D

I've used BMF for the first time, and I can't say I'm enthusiastic about the results or by the process itself, very time and nerves consuming.


Can't see why. :dunno: I'd say you got it spot on, it looks terrific. I love this car (and kit)- I'd say you're doing it justice.

When I'm going to use BMF for trim on a body, before priming and painting I like to scribe the edges of the chrome trim with a thin PE saw. Having a small gap between the chrome bit and the body makes it easier to know where to cut the foil, and I think it improves the appearance also. Obviously it's a bit late here, but next time you might find that it improves your enjoyment a bit.

Not sure about a PE set, though. I can think of very little on the kit that would look better in etched metal than plastic. Maybe some seatbelt hardware, and maybe some mounting flanges for the Webers (if you wanted to do the surgery to add them)- but otherwise it seems to me that it would be hard to improve. What would you guys have made in PE for it?

When I'm going to use BMF for trim on a body, before priming and painting I like to scribe the edges of the chrome trim with a thin PE saw. Having a small gap between the chrome bit and the body makes it easier to know where to cut the foil, and I think it improves the appearance also. Obviously it's a bit late here, but next time you might find that it improves your enjoyment a bit.

Thanks for your comment and for the very useful tip, I'll try it on my next builds. :)


Not sure about a PE set, though. I can think of very little on the kit that would look better in etched metal than plastic. Maybe some seatbelt hardware, and maybe some mounting flanges for the Webers (if you wanted to do the surgery to add them)- but otherwise it seems to me that it would be hard to improve. What would you guys have made in PE for it?

As you said:
1. seat belt
2. mounting flanges for the carbs

I would add:
3. windshield wipers
4. brakes (can certainly be improved)
5. mounting flanges for the exhaust
6. the chrome trim on the sides and on the front hood top
7. front and rear hood hinges (I know Iwould have preferred Tamiya to make them separate from the main body shell)
8. steering wheel
9. window cranks
10. a few circles to improve those instruments on the dashboard
11. the 1600 SC trim that it's done with decals over metal transfers ca also be improved
12. PE backing for various front and rear lights
13. brake, acceleration and clutch pedals
14. radiator faces (the plastic one isn't really up to the rest of the kit)
15. front and rear plate

What I would have loved to have in the kit is a firing distributor, I'lll have to make on myself or buy one online.

Parts for both civil and rally versions can be included, it would make for a nice PE set,with around 40 parts (I saw plenty of them with no more than 10 parts).
Still I'm not sure if it would be financially viable as the car isn't nowhere near as popular as Ferraris or Porsches.
I would have bought one of these when I started this build, as I searched for a set for the Alpine and only found the one for the rally version at around 17€ + 3€ shipping costs and with way to few parts for the civil version.