German / Italian Topolino

[BarleyBop]

So before I build the roof, I need to assemble the body and paint the interior.
Looking more closely ar the exterior shell which came in one piece, I notice these faint lines on the front and rear fenders
After seeing the auto guys with their factory finish car and motorcycle bodies, gotta fix that!
(I hope)


... very light scraping, then sanding w/ 400, 800 and 2000 grit, I'll touch up the primer tomorrow.


The exterior will be rough desert matt paint, with some light weathering, so I figure this should be good enough. Don't wanna wear too much away on those round fenders!

 

[Jakko]

If you're not going for a gloss showroom finish, then that amount of sanding will likely be enough, I agree.

 

[BarleyBop]

Still fighting off a nasty cold, but did a bit of detailing on the dash and door pockets today
...Painted will look better...

 

[BarleyBop]

So I've been slowly painting the interior, going with a civilian scheme where the outside will get the military treatment, just because it is more interesting
Decided to add visors and mirror, so fabricated those with PE sprue and brass rod, along with some repurposed PE 'buckles'.

 

[BarleyBop]

Dash just about there... ignition key, swivel lamp, knobs, indicator lamp, dials, and added manual mechanical turn signal knob...(top center: the kit includes the mechanical indicator housings each side of the windshield on roof pilars)

Not happy with lumpy looking panel accent color paint

 

[Jakko]

Just came across this:



A bit overdramatic, but hey (Though oddly, the video never explains why this car is right-hand drive, nor why someone who re-enacts German troops mangles German words so badly …)

 

[BarleyBop]

why this car is right-hand drive

Thanks for the video! Fiat produced a right hand drive as early as 1936 I think, and before the war, quite a number were exported to the UK.
It wasn't as inexpensive as Mussolini wanted his people's car to be, but it was popular none the less.
Many of the restored cars I've come across are in British hands.

 

[Jakko]

Fiat produced a right hand drive as early as 1936

Until 1928, each Italian province decided on which side of the road traffic had to drive, but in that year, Mussolini ordered they all gradually change to driving on the right. 1936 seems rather late for an Italian manufacturer to make cars for domestic use in right-hand-drive versions, but of course, many more countries or areas in Europe drove on the left before the Second World War than do now, so it's not like their only export markets were the UK and Ireland.

before the war, quite a number were exported to the UK.

But this one apparently went from Italy to Greece and then to the UK, where it was first chopped about a lot and then restored. Which suggests that either the Italians supplied right-hand-drive cars to the Germans, or that the current owner used right-hand-drive parts for the restoration.

 

[GCB]

So, are you doing right or left hand drive?

 

[BarleyBop]

So, are you doing right or left hand drive?

The kit is left hand drive, not messing with that.

 

[BarleyBop]

Slow progress, test fit.

Radiator and firewall proved to be problematic, as the radiator assembly is basically 'suspended' above and behind the engine, with no way to test fit, or ability to see if it's in the right position until after the engine/rad are mounted on frame, the firewall attached, the fuel tank and panel in position, then the body shell lowered and please, please, please line up!

A bit of scraping the inside of hood, and persuasion while gluing up should be okay.
I'll photograph the front end before closing it up!

 

[Jakko]

If you're going to close everything up, though, I'm wondering why you bothered putting the engine and its related bits in at all

 

[BarleyBop]

putting the engine

25% can't resist building an engine
25% it's in the instructions and part of the kit
25% challenge
25% stubbornness

... in the end, I think it's actually because I enjoy the building part more than the finished product!

And when I look at all the kits in my stash, I am tickled by the prospect of hours of building pleasure, one of the few things mostly still within my control.

 

[Tommergun]

... I enjoy the building part more than the finished product!

Same here!

 

[Belugawrx]

Yep, if it's in the kit, I build it....and research it, and ultra detail it, and search for the exact colour, and and and
Close it in and call it done..lol
Weird group we are

 

[Belugawrx]

Looking good Barley !(2thumsup)