After a not so fine Spring and bad Summer, my Mother passed away in Peace, i managed to go on with the second Alfa. This represents the Works Alfa 8C 2300, on his first Outing in the Hands of Tazio Nuvolari and Luigi Arcangeli, who did not finish. Nuvolari leads at first, but he had 9 Tirechanges, because the also new Pirellis didnt stand up to the Powerful 8C. I found in one of my Books a Pic that inspired me and so i t goes on.......
One of the many Tirechanges.
So i began a Monthlong search for the only known Plasticmodel , the Long Wheelbase Alfa 8c from Airfix. A very old Kit. After i catch one, i was a bit surprised by some very good Details and on the other Hand some crude Simplifications. But the first Step was to shorten the Chassis, this was very Easy , because Airfix get it right with the Beams. So you can cut it whre it was on the real Car.A bit difficult was the Body. Here i cut a Stripe out, set the Moulding for the Sparewheels a bit back and down. Then begins the funny Part, Putty and Sanding, Putty and Sanding,....and so and so on.
Here you can see the Difference between the Long/Short Wheelbase
Then i scratched or better copy with a Mould from the Pyro 6C the Mudguards. The Airfix Kit comes with the correct 4 seperate Guards.Also scratched a Oiltank in Front of the Cooler and Sidevents.
I also norrowed the Oilpan, Airfix made it way to wide. And i added a bit of a Tankkit to simulate the seeable Part of the Gearbox.
After testing the Headlightphalanx, Carjack and the Figure , i found out that my Mudguards are way too flat and . I used the smaller Wheels from the 6C as a Reference...AAARRRGGGHHHH
.....back to the Start.....
For the new Mudguars i use the Casted Rearends, Cut-to-Fit Miniart Merceds 170 Pars, Plasticcard...and yes a Ton of Putty and sanding and putty.....
After this Desastercorrection, i detailed the Chassis. The Kitpart for the Frontaxle is a crude Square Rod without any Detail. I add small Halfround Evergreenparts on the Ends, Pins and small Plasicparts for the Brakelines, the Steeringparts and the Sabilizers. Also for the Rearaxle . This i reinforced with a Wire , because the Brakedrums are real Aluminiumparts . They come in one more Set of Wheels from Peter Saeger Thomas,
The Wheelset
The Frontaxle
And yes this Car is also Lighted
Also build a Carjack out of Brasstube and Wire with Wheels from a 1/72 Tankkit. Throug this the thin Wires go under the Diorama to the Powersupply.
Before i paint this little Thing, i added 3d "Nuts" Decals in Lines on the Bonnett. For the Paint I go with Vallejo Firered , this is a bit Brownish and dark. I think it matches the Old Alfared , described sometimes " a Color like Oxblood.." relativly good. Decals are once again from Brentair Custommade.
Hope you enjoy it !
regards from Vienna
Harry