Robin Lous

Thanks guys!

Thanks all! All 3 are ready now... I enjoyed building them, good kit with few pitfalls. Not perfect, but pleased with the result. Next one: The Philipe de Rothschild car (2678-RB6), driven by Hellé Nice. La Baule 13 September 1931, race number 8. Dark blue with a pale blue bonnet (educated guess). Robin

@Wouter1981 and @Noel Smith.... Italeri will send me the wheels and tires I borrowed from another box, so that's sorted out. The twisted leather spare wheel strap.... as seen on this photo.... More soon, Robin

Just a fraction more detailing and you have to pay road tax and you'll need a car insurance for this build.

Did the last couple of leather straps and the weathering. Some paint chips, oil and fuel stains and a bit of dirt. And so I finished the Eliska Junkova, Targa Florio 1928 car. Hope you like it. More soon, Robin

That's a beautiful Bugatti! Robin

Hello again, The scratchbuild short "bonnet buckle straps"...placed on the right side of the bonnet. In situ. From an angle.. Note the parallel wiring. With the second spare wheel on the right side. The second spare wheel was obliged for the Targa Florio race in 1928. Note how the spacer keeps the spare wheel away from the body, so it doesn't block the gear stick and handbrake. From the side. Next: the two buckle straps for the spare wheels. More soon, Robin

Beautiful! Robin

@Wouter1981 I need 6 wheels (a spare on each side) for the yellow one. For this I scavenged a "next in line" kit. I'll contact the Italeri customer service to get those now missing wheels and tires. Hope that will work.

Leatherworking continues... The spare wheel straps. After ataching the 3 straps to the (painted brass) centre ring, I used my ancient punch and die tool to punch out the leather for the brass rivets. It's a hex punch...it's the only one I have...and it doesn't matter much. After placing the rivets, I punched the belt holes on a 0,5mm piece of styrene...placed on a foam board....instead of using the tool. Easier, more accurate, much faster and nicer holes in the leather. Neat belt holes and the rivets... Takes a lot of time, but much nicer than the kit option. More soon, Robin

Hello gents (m/f), Had a couple of days away from the bench, due to...finding the courage to do the leather straps and needed hardware. Found it, so I'm back on the factory floor. Cutting the thin, soft and flexible leather wasn't easy. A heavy steel ruler and brand new X-Acto (or whatever, I'm that old) blades. Some trial and error, got it right in the end. 3mm straps for the spare wheels and 2,7mm for the bonnet. Replacing the (flat) PE buckles and ring with 0,5mm brass rod. Plus some 0,8mm brass rivets. Also found a Dutch...orange...35B. Johannes "John" Van Hulzen. San Sebastian GP 1930. Crashed, car on fire. Wounded, but survived. Fallen may 1940. Shot down, or crashed (uncertain) while trying to escape to France with a Fokker biplane after the Dutch defeat. The picture is a coloured bw photo. The orange colour is well documented and it seems to be the first Dutch orange in sports. Being Dutch...I can't ignore this and will add this one to the list. Nr. 5 More soon....and why I build a whole fleet of these cars? I'll explain that later. Robin

Really impressive!

@Noel Smith See above

Suitable leather for the straps... A little overkill.

Hello, I did the wires on the Chiron car. This one has the zig-zag patern. Painting the wire with a paper wedge behind it. Done... I replaced the sewing thread I used for the brake lines with 0,5 mm steel cable (From Prime-Miniatures). Next the wires on the yellow Junkova car. Still waiting for the leather for the straps. More soon, Robin

It's a shortened metal boat/truck horn. The bellow is made of Green Stuff. Seen on several period photo's. Among them, on cars driven by Hellé Nice and Eliska Junkova.

Thanks all! I gave the seat a little upgrade... After half an hour with some sanding sticks. More volume. leather and shoe polish... .....a more comfortable seat Wires next. Both the blue and the yellow one. (meh!) More soon, Robin

What he said!

Hi gents, I'm waiting for suitable brown leather for the spare wheel and bonnet straps. Ordered a complete dark brown lambskin (ha! that will do!) about 0,6 mm thick. While waiting I continue with the yellow Junkova car.... Note: No rearview mirror. Maybe there was a small one behind the windshield? No photo from an angle to show it, but none at all seems a bit odd, so an estimated guess. Will scratchbuild. Note the scratchbuild spare wheel spacer (part of it) on the right side. Because of the outboard shift stick and hand brake, a right side spare wheel must be kept away from the body to make it all work. Also note the canvas shift stick opening cover and the 2 rivets instead of 12 body screws. A hole on the edge of the windscreen for a taxi/ bellow horn. More about that asap. It's a bit like watching grass grow, but...getting there! More soon, Robin

I love this, although I do feel a bit sorry for the poor little car also.

Thanks guys, @Noel Smith No photo of that Grover-William's car? I also think this is a very good kit. Many pros vs very few cons. Seen a wonderful MFH build on YouTube, but the Italeri kit is good also and for one fifth of the price. The factory floor. Grover-William's car...only the leather straps for the bonnet and spare wheel to do. Junkova's car is catching up nicely also. The "58"race numbers are a tad bit too square, but close enough. I can live with it. Still having fun with this crazy expedition! More soon, Robin

Spectacular build. Gorgeous and a high class achievement. Robin

Hello guys, Thanks for the likes and comments. Very kind of you all. @NAMOR I really don't know. The pictures suggest it's a dark yellow. This is what I used. A mustard-yellow. Vallejo Air medium yellow 71.002, mixed with some gold brown 71.032. It's 100% artistic freedom. Note: sprayed on a light grey base. When sprayed on a white base...prolly much brighter. I'm making the belt buckles for the bonnet and spare wheel straps from brass rod and tube, but since I make them for all 4 cars...I needed a little distraction in between. Weathering the wheels and tires..... I used Ammo-mig 3004 Europe Earth (a dry pigment) for the tires and Ammo-mig Earth 1403 (oil based wet stuff) for the wheels. Don't despair...it won't stay like this. After some rubbing with a tissue... The difference between weathered and non weathered..... Never a dull moment! More soon, Robin

Yeah, you're right about the corners...I'll see what I can do. Another photo of the Junkova car. And Hellé Nice racing on the beach of La Baule. La Baule today. (officialy La Baule-Escoublac, near Saint-Nazaire) More soon, Robin

Looks like a good kit in good hands. This will be fun.