German / Italian Topolino

[BarleyBop]

Side braces for roof arms, can't install until the body comes together...



Roof track, tried the copper, nope, checked my styrene, nothing thin enough, so Tamiya tape it is, will have to glue in place. Should look better painted. Will see about the rear bottom once I figure out the folded top!

 

[BarleyBop]

.. doesn't seem like much for an evenings work, but I'll take it!

 

[BarleyBop]

So here's the plan:
Approximate the roof mechanism with brass rods, use resin rivets as bolts, finalize and install roof at the end, once the chasis and body pretty much done.

Test

• Flatening of rods
• Drilling of brass
• Drilling of rods

So far so good!

 

[sapper23]

Progress is good .. nice.

 

[GCB]

Impressive detailed work! You never take the easy path!! Keep going.

 

[wjbrandel]

Good progress on it. I like the way it looks so far.

 

[OldManModeler]

Love your skill and dedication!

You're going to put Tony out of business.

 

[BarleyBop]

worked a bit on the little engine that could...

 

[Jakko]

Interesting that the fan is at the back of the engine. I guess that's why there are louvres in the rear of the bonnet?

 

[BarleyBop]

fan is at the back of the engine

Yes, I did a double take when I saw the instructions; the radiator is mounted to the rear and slightly above the engine!

Purportedly, a '39 Topolino:

 

[JUG]

radiator is mounted to the rear and slightly above the engine!

This reminds me of how the old AC Mack Trucks were designed. Thanks for sharing

 

[BarleyBop]

Prime time, before assembling body... still some touches on engine. That radiator hangs unnatural like, held up by hoses, hope it will fit under the hood!
The fan was too thick, and the blades too long, so some adjustments there.

Often it is obvious, but in this case I'm wondering what colour to paint the engine compartment.

Restorations I've seen in photos seem to just paint it all black... doesn't feel quite right. Typically I'd paint it the same as the body, or in the case of a vehicle repainted in the field, paint it in it's original colour.

 

[sapper23]

Yeah I would probably try to not do black as well or, maybe try a different color/tone of black.

 

[Jakko]

what colour to paint the engine compartment.

Restorations I've seen in photos seem to just paint it all black... doesn't feel quite right. Typically I'd paint it the same as the body, or in the case of a vehicle repainted in the field, paint it in it's original colour.

AFAIK, the undersides of these cars were generally painted black, and on many, the mudguards were as well regardless of the colour of the rest of the body. From there, it would not be a stretch for the whole engine compartment to be painted black, too. Or maybe only the "floor" of it, with the sections that are part of the upper body being in the colour of that.

One thing to ask here is: would this car have come from the factory in a military colour, or is it a civilian model acquired by the military and then painted? Because if the former, probably everything would be in a military paint colour, while if the latter, the insides are likely to be in civilian paint with only the outside repainted.

 

[BarleyBop]

Gotta say, I'm lovin this Mr Hobby water based primer! Tried the black today... such a fine spray for a rattle can! I tried the grey on figures.
I still tend to under spray, but better than the reverse!

 

[Edbert]

Often it is obvious, but in this case I'm wondering what colour to paint the engine compartment.

What year was this, 1942?

Later in the war internal panels were often just primer, a double benefit of time and cost savings.

So what color primer did they have? Guess I'm no help.

 

[BarleyBop]

What year was this..
So what color primer did they have?

... could be anytime from 1940 to 1943 as I'm going to build it as an Italian vehicle.
The vehicle could even be earlier, as the Italians were in Libya from 1911 I think, and the first Topolinos produced in (1936?) I haven't decided yet on exact year, but a likely scenario of it running around more populated areas in Tunisia seems plausible.

I haven't been able to find the definitive primer colour, most pundits usually point at the prevalence of the rust/orange/red used by many countries at the time.
As mentioned above, many restorations photos of civilian Topolinos seem to have black undercarriage and engine compartments, but I haven't seen any comments to that effect by the restorers. Some rusted out photos are also not much help.

Oh, all eyes and comments helpful in this business! So, thanks!