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POCHER 1933 BUGATTI T50 (K76)


D1fuN0

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Well, I know theres at least three people nearly fainted when they saw this topic header... :winkgrin:

The last Pocher kit I built was 12 years ago and I vowed that the next one would be one of the Bugatti's... and here we are.

Some saaaay... it might be foolish building under the gaze of the two Pocher Dons, (Hi Roy and Codger :bye: ), but I suppose this will be more like a Pocher for Dummies guide.

Anyway, I'm looking for a suitable warehouse to layout all the bits so you can see just what goes into one of these kits, and hopefully production will begin tomorrow...

Bit of onfo on the kit; its 650mm long, has just over 1500 bits ranging from plastic, brass, metal, elastic bands, leather, foam, photo etch, rubber... you name it.

The box is just a tad smaller than luxembourg, and its 'smuggle down your trousers past the wife rating is -90' , being beaten only by the Pocher Aventador.(-100)

Yeah, and i thought my 1/12th GT 40 was big....

:popcorn:

(Truely) :santa: Mad Steve :santa:

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Good luck with this one steve,I will be watching with interest.

I am sure you will have a fun build and frustrations at the same time, much like I am having with my Rolls, although mine has been more frustration than fun I have to say! I am now into the seventeenth month of my build. I like to say that I am on the finishing stages of mine, but I never seem to quite get there!!

Anyway, you have two excellent Pocher builders on here (Roy and Codger), and I am sure they will advice you as much as they possibly can. Looking forward to watching this one.

Regards,

Larry.

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An awesome project.

It will be great to see one being built as this car is head and shoulders above all else on my 'to-get' list.

I'm just waiting for one at reasonable money - reasonable being subjective.

Have fun with it and if you get stuck, there's loads of help available here, not just from me and Mr.C. (And we aren't experts - we're just foolish enough to plod on...)

Importantly.... Do you have the INVALUABLE Pocher Bugatti build DVD????

Roy.

Edited by roymattblack
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You're right-you'll be building under my (and Roy & Larry's) gaze.

I'll be gazing to steal admire, your ideas and methods. :devil:

I am by no means an 'expert' and want to learn from experienced builders-that's why I'm here. You sound like you know your way around a Pocher and the subject you chose is suitably rare and novel compared to my everyday K-72 Roller.

Welcome, carry on and delight all of us. :frantic:

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  • 5 weeks later...

Howdy Chaps :bye:

Good grief, has it been a month already?

Ok then. Lets have some piccies then......

If, like me, you have salivated over these kits for most of your life, this is about as far as those salivations ever got, seeing pics like this...

003.jpg

Well chaps, todays your lucky day, because this is what they look like on the inside...

0012.jpg

2011-01-01000000-38.jpg

Now theres two important things to understand when you buy one of these things...

1 - They are BIG!!!. No your 1/24th airyplanes arent big, this is BIG! (660mm long, 240mm wide,210mm high)

2 - When you buy it, also buy roses / chocolates / shiny stones / shoes / handbags, because this is not a box that you sneak in down your trousers and you may need

something as a diversionary tactic.

Ok, once you gotten over the shock of the box, and the bits in the box, a small little description on the side of the box catches your eye...

" This model has 1635 parts, 375 of high impact plastic, 990 brass, 57 stainless steel and 213 of various other materials including leather, iron, copper, rubber etc..."

This is the point that you need to start drinking... :drink:

Okay, enough of measurements and part counts, just HOW big is the damn thing?

Well, here's the main cab

2011-01-01000000-39.jpg

(You will notice the tin of Humbrol)

And a Tyre

2011-01-01000000-40.jpg

So, now we need to make a start on the damn thing.

On the advice of a couple of people, I removed all the thousands of screws and other rather interesting bits, and but them all in plastic containers, with their respective numbers on the lid. Dont throw the big backing cards away!

Pocher have a very intricate numbering system, (well they are Italian), but once you grasp it its quite easy to understand, plus there is a parts layout in the instructions that shows every single part.

Which leads us tooo

Step 1 - Crankshaft & Pistons

I think most of the Pocher kits have engines that have internals, this one being no different and the 8 cylinder engine has a full crankshaft and cylinders. You might wonder what the point is because you cant see any of it, but the top part of the engine actually has a removable side piece so you can view the internals.

Ive built an Alfa a few years ago, so I know how much fun Pocher instructions are, and the Bugatti's did not disappoint!

This was the sum total of an Hour and 20 minutes work... one half of the crank.

2011-01-01000000-36.jpg

May seem rather exessive, but most of that was spent trying to understand the crank diagram and instruction sequence, then it kind of clicked and I got the first half of the crank together.

(Note, in the above pic, the piston rings have not been fitted, I think I am going to replace the metal rings with mini o-rings)

Next bit is the top part of the engine. I fitted a couple of the aluminium sleeves to see how the crank fits and moves and it all became very clear so shouldnt have a problem now with the rest of the crank.

2011-01-01000000-37.jpg

Well, thats it for now..

Best get the popcorn and biscuits out, this is going to be a looooooong ride.

Steve

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Blinkin' superb!!!!!

I finally got this exact same model a few weeks before Xmas although mine is a 'built' wreck.

I won't be starting it for a long time as it will need complete disassembly, cleaning up and then re building.

I'll watch here keenly......

Roy.

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Wow, wow and :wow:!!!!

Definitely looking at this one! :popcorn:

With all this Pocher Porn going on, it's got me thinking.... NO!! MUST RESIST!! MUST RESIST!!!!!

OK, I couldn't.

But after a quick eBay search and then I saw the prices. Yep, very easy to resist! I'll just sit and watch you build yours now Steve!

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Right then... :bye:

My normal modelling routine is that I like to prepare at least 5 stages ahead of myself, get everything painted etc, so that you can sit down and have a good building session.

I have over the past couple weeks been preparing the engine bits, and the majority have been painted already and just need assembling, so off we go.

Once I managed to understand what the hell was going on with the crankshaft, it was actually quite easy and I managed to finish the last four pistons in no time, so now we can move onto the engine itself.

Ahh, just a point here, I have it on good authority that Bugatti engines have lots of doohickeys and whatsits, (no, really), so if I dont know what a particular thing is, its obviously a doohickey or a whatsit :coolio:

Also a quick note on painting. According to the instructions, the whole engine is 'Silver'. I thought id use a couple of different shades just to give it a bit more variety, so im using Tamiya Gloss Aluminium, Mica Silver, Silver Leaf, Metallic Silver and Titanium Silver.

Okay, the 8 aluminium sleeves fitted quite nicely into the block, with the plate being screwed on top.

2011-01-01000000-42.jpg

The little pump on the side went together nicely, and is bolted on. Im assuming its a water pump seeing its connected to the radiator.

and the left hand engine cover has been fitted.

2011-01-01000000-43.jpg

Next we have what im assuming is the cam gears / timing assembly. Everything bolts together quite nicely, only had a small issue with the pulley that fits behind the fan that needed a little adjustment (Hammer).

2011-01-01000000-44.jpg

2011-01-01000000-45.jpg

Now starting to look like an Engine :winkgrin:

Right then. The Crankshaft and Pistons just slide right into the sleeves. They needed a little bit of fiddling to get the spacing just right, and then the whole thing was bolted down.

2011-01-01000000-47.jpg

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And thats where I am at this point in time.

Oh Ive also assembled the Supercharger unit, and I think it looks raaaaather spiffy.

2011-01-01000000-49.jpg

Okay, onwards to the valves...

Later

Steve

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Morning Chaps :bye:

Im busy preparing the bits and bobs for the gearbox and spent most of last night getting those pieces ready.

Meanwhile, a bit more assembly.

Started on the cams and valves.

Each valve assembly comes in 3 pieces, the valve, valve spring and cap and they need to be screwed in, repeat 8 times x2.

2011-01-01000000-50.jpg

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The camshaft proved very fiddly, because everything needed to be drilled out to fit on the shaft. Yes, I know some of the paint rubbed off, but im not particularly worried because the camshafts will remain hidden. (and they actually work)

With a bit of fitting and screwing in later, here are the two banks if valves fitted as well as the covers.

2011-01-01000000-53.jpg

Also time to start painting the four Bugatti badges that are on the sides of the engine.

2011-01-01000000-54.jpg

Okay, for some reason in the photo the black EB logo doesnt show up so well, but its properly painted.

Okay, so the engine is almost finished and whats the verdict so far...

Well, I havent had any real problems and everything seems to have fitted ok, but this thing still scares me.

I really do have the upmost respect for Pocher builders now

More later, hopefully I can get the engine finished today

Steve

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Hi Steve,

I am very impressed with what you have done so far. Have you got this far on the instructions alone? If you have, then I am doubly impressed!! The instructions for my Rolls that I have recently completed were about as much use as a chocolate teapot!!

Carry on the good work. I am looking forward to watching more of your progress.

Larry.

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This is looking really good....

As a point of interest, the large rectangular panels on the engine sides and the cam covers were actually engine turned on the real car.

Are you going to try to replicate the pattern in any way?

You are tempting me to get my Bugatti out and have a fiddle with it....

Roy.

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Steve,

A large reminder; be prepared to predrill and or tap every hole that a fastener or peg goes into. Check every one before glue or paint. Many will be misplaced and require a new hole of proper size. The whole car is like that.

Let final finish be after the fitting process throughout. Don't go for the paint can until everything fits.

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Hiya Guys :bye:

Yes Larry, I have managed to get this far on the instructions alone :analintruder: and I've actually made a small side bet with myself that I can do the whole car on the Pocher instructions... :boxing:

(Actually, its says on the box, for 15 years and up... dont know how many 15 year olds get Pocher kits, but if they reckon a spotty faced yufe can do it, then Mad Steve can do it...)

Roy, I did see that the panels have a machined finish, but Im not 100% sure how I'm going to replicate it yet, still working on it. :shrug: I have seen a rather natty idea with an old paint brush and im even considering making decals for it...

Codger, Oh yes! There have been a few tense moments, but have been overcomeable. The pulley behind the fan was quite entertaining because the hole was half the size it should be, which was drilled out and finally sorted with a Clarkson Spanner (Hammer).

The two sills on the engine as well, just below the supercharger. had to be removed and repositioned because there's and the sump case holes didnt align.

and thanks Colin :bye:

Well the engine is basically finished, and Im going to go back now and do a few washes etc just to bring the detail out a bit.

Gearbox is next...

And then the REAL fun begins

Later

Steve

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Very impresive Steve especially as you have only used the instructions. I had the feeling that the instructions for the Pocher kit I have were written by someone who had never seen a car before. Are you sure the "15 years and over" doesn't mean that's how long it will take you to build it :thumbsup:

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Roy, I did see that the panels have a machined finish, but Im not 100% sure how I'm going to replicate it yet, still working on it. :shrug: I have seen a rather natty idea with an old paint brush and im even considering making decals for it...

Experiment with BMF, polishing compound and a pencil eraser chucked into a low speed Dremel. Make rows of overlapping circles.

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Experiment with BMF, polishing compound and a pencil eraser chucked into a low speed Dremel. Make rows of overlapping circles.

Now thats a good idea Codger, I see what you mean...

Thank you very much for that tip :thumbsup:

Steve

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Hiya chaps :bye:

Well, according to the instructions, the engine is complete...

2011-01-01000000-55.jpg

2011-01-01000000-56.jpg

The exhaust pipes only go on muuuuuch later.

I think im going to put the engine aside now, until its fitted into the chassis and the firewall is in, before I start adding a bit more detail.

Gearbox has now also been completed, and the theory is, when the car is complete, if you turn the crankhandle, the rear wheels will turn, Honestly im not putting much faith in that operation. :coolio:

Heres the internals of the gearbox.(the two long rods connect up to the diff)

2011-01-01000000-59.jpg

and fitted to the engine

2011-01-01000000-60.jpg

Now we are getting some size, that whole assembly is 32 cm long.

Spookytooth did say above that this looks way too advanced...

Well compared to what Roy and Codger have shown us with their Rolls Royce's, this kit does seem easier, and thus far, I have not had to employ any skills beyond my mediocre skill set. As one of my mates said, if you can build with Lego and Meccano, you can build one of these... :analintruder:

More later

Steve

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What you are doing looks great so far although I think I'd maybe use different silvers/gunmetals etc on the engine and gearbox, if only for a bit of variety.

With regards being easier than the Rolls, yes it has half the parts count - around 1600 parts as to 3000+, but the Rolls has spoked wheels that accounts for the best part of 1000 pieces and overall build-wise, I doubt there's much in it regarding difficulty.

It only starts getting difficult once your brain goes potty and you start to 'add' your own details and bits...

Looking very nice so far.

Roy.

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