In Progress: Tamiya Fiat 500

[mike united]

Originally Posted by quadzero

this has to be the most entertaining thread here

You can say that again.......more progress pleeeeeease.....!!!
Mike

[gionc]

Originally Posted by Gridgirl

Sure......



Or how's this for a size comparison?



Yes, they are all 1/24.
I guess Italians are just small people. Poles might be too, Stevenski?

even on the sexist attitude? Not aren't small but in '60 our daddy was really cheap but we all know: inside the '500 with only few newspaper... italians do it better it's a legend but... universally recognise

Originally Posted by klutz_100

Awsome picture!
Poles just LOVE diminutives - after all, Vodka (wódka) means "little water". I don't know what the Italian excuse is
You have a Beetle on the go too? Nice!

also we italians all love diminutives: our excuse is 500 means "cincen" and also obviously "SSilvio" means "Silviuccio"


jokes a part I lost some updates and the little skit with Steve, but amazing details, can't wait to see updates. Like Steve also I've the abarth waiting with other 2 (a F wich I would transform in the correcltly windward opening doors and a D) and the 600.

But I forgot 2 important thing: I've the real new beetle so if someone would try the nesting experiment....
and the other: last week I ask my friend Roberto (which own the 500D) to pick me for the dinner and some ref. photos by real on engine ecc. ehm oooo yes we had the dinner before, we drunk a lot, I forgot to shoot some photos. My god I need to ask him to pick me this week: I promise more moderation .. and some good refs.

[Gridgirl]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

Poles just LOVE diminutives - after all, Vodka (wódka) means "little water".

Yes, I remember hearing something about that when I took Russian. I also learned to say, "Не продите зтому фарцовщику ваши джинсы! По-моему, он кагзбзшник."

Sorry for my long absence everyone!

I painted the body, then rubbed through the paint. (This is my first attempt polishing a body.) So I repainted the body, then rubbed through the paint. So, of course, I repainted the body, then rubbed through the paint. Somewhere around here I got pretty fed up with the whole process and decided to take a vacation. That makes this the part of the thread where I get to bore everybody with my holiday snaps. First, my souveniers:



Yes, I was quite excited to finally stumble across the elusive Tamiya Campus Fiends set - I've been wanting one ever since I discovered that it comes with a Vespa! Plus the little Honda was in the specials bin, so it is a full-engine Tamiya kit that I scored for under $10!

Then some inspiration that I stumbled across on Duval Street in Key West:



Notice it's barely taller than the rubbish can, and shorter than the parking meter? Almost enough to make me want to go home and build some little cars!

So upon my return home I polished out the body that I had repainted before leaving town (didn't actually rub through the paint this time - YAY!) Here are the results:





And I also stripped some chromed parts in order to deal with flash, mold lines, push pin marks, etc. Here they are all ready to be painted:



Next I painted the shiny parts to make them, well, shiny. And here they are on the polished body:



For those of you curious about Minis (see above holiday snap), yes I do have at least one (well, technically speaking three) Minis in my stash. Here's one posing with the Fiat. Yes it is actually a little bit bigger than a Fiat.



Then I couldn't resist test fitting the body onto the chassis:





Next I'll work on my interior. Hopefully I'll get a chance to do that some this weekend - before I get frustrated and have to take another vacation

Thanks for reading (and looking at my holiday snaps). Let me know what you think!

[AmazonSprite]

That is very cool!! can't wait to see the pics when it's finished!

[blubaja]

When were you in Key West? I was there a few weeks ago. Is that Mini still or sale? Heh..I was tempted to smuggle it back onto the cruise ship..If only I had a little more money. Keep up with the fantastic progress!!

[gionc]

WOW great color & shine: do you plan white tyre sides? cool

[quadzero]

I love the kits you picked up. And the mini is one sweet little car too. Wish i also had that kit. Good to see you back and showing us more of the good stuff.

[Gridgirl]

Thanks everyone!

blubaja- Yes! It was still for sale as of last weekend. The paper for-sale sign on the window disolved because it rained that afternoon. I was wondering if the airline would consider it checked baggage, or a carry-on. Seems like a perfect car for Key West!

gionc- Plain Tamiya acrylic- I'm happy with how it came out. I haven't ever seen one with white walls. I expect it would be cute, but I've been planning just to use the kit tyres as they are.

quadzero- Yeah, always plenty more to come!

[alakai]

Geez, and I thought the mini was small I love it, you've really put life into that little 500. Looking forward to seeing more!

[klutz_100]

Finally found a hot spot and can see your photos!

I've been thinking about bumping this thread for a while now

Originally Posted by Gridgirl

Yes, I remember hearing something about that when I took Russian. I also learned to say, "Не продите зтому фарцовщику ваши джинсы! По-моему, он кагзбзшник."

BTW, you must have found that Russian expression VERY useful Were you trading in Levis? (If my translation is correct)

I love that Alfa! I'd love to get my 'ands on of of those.
Can you post some pics of the the contents of that Campus set? It's be great to see that Vespa!

Super paint job!!
Sounds like it was painfull process but worth it in the end What coloyr is that?
Also she looks great on the chassis - maybe slightly high at the front end?

What did you use to paint the "shiny" bits? Alclad2?

Really great job!!

[Gridgirl]

Well I've been working furiously on the Fiat- NNL East is this weekend! We'll see if I manage to get it finished. I'm almost done with the interior.



The dash and center console. Not much of an instrument panel. The chrome ring on the speedo and ash tray(?) were done with BMF.



Seats. The seams and shadows were picked out with a red/black wash.



Door panels, also done with some wash.



Put together! (Almost). Looks like one of those cut away cars they use in sales brochures. Yes, Stevenski, the gas pedal is molded to the floor, and if you stare long enough you can almost see it.





I'm still amazed that Italians actually managed to fit in there (more than one at a time, apparently!). In 1/24, it's impossibly small- but ridiculously cute!

Almost done?, you ask? What more could be done to this tiny little interior?

Stay tuned and find out!

[pirata12]

Damn you are good! I'm scared to do mine now. I couldn't do it the justice you have!

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by Gridgirl

Yes, Stevenski, the gas pedal is molded to the floor, and if you stare long enough you can almost see it.

I'm staring, I'm staring...but in awe, not looking for the accelerator (whassa gas pedal anyway )

Originally Posted by Gridgirl

What more could be done .... Stay tuned and find out!

You tease, you!!

Looks outstanding and will surely do well at the show.
Did you put valves on the wheels too?

[pirata12]

Just a question. How would you make tyre valves?

[quadzero]

wow, thats a great interior. did you mask sections off and airbrush it or are some panels brush painted? the wash on the seats is incredible and realistic, never even thought of using a wash on something other then an engine part. this model is so tres chic!