Airfix Renault Dauphine

[Bengalensis]

This is all your fault @johnlambert and @Sabrejet , now I too want to build a classic Airfix 1/32 car kit. This was not what I had planned right now, but it will have to go, somehow.

 

I think I built most of the Airfix 1/32 range as a kid, the first was the Jaguar E-type around 1969-70 at the age of five or six. My father had then already built all of those released, I still remember seeing how he carefully painted the parts. My first effort did not look that good... but they soon got a little better. I have a favourite in the range, the Renault Dauphine, because I really like that car. I grew up in a 1961 DeLuxe R1090A version until I was six or seven. Much later in life I have restored and enjoyed driving a couple of 1962 versions. Lovely cars that give me nice memories and warm feelings.

 

Now I'm both a collector and builder, so I have a small stash of these, which will hopefully grow a little more in the future.

 

 

This is the first edition in red plastic. The second edition with the new header card is the same.

 

 

The boxed Airfix-US edition in white plastic is also the same, except a different chrome sprue.

 

 

Sadly I haven't built one of these since I was a kid, but it will be nice to do one now. It should go well together with the 1/32 Renault Floride I built 10-15 years ago. One Airfix Dauphine kit I had bought arrived with the bodyshell badly damaged, so I used the chassis and interior parts with a resin slotcar body to build this one.

 

 

The modified Airfix chassis can be seen here.

 

 

One of my first edition kits have had the header card restapled to the bag, probably for a reason as one half-part of the front suspension is missing (or is it...) and many parts are off the sprues. That's definitely a builder.

 

 

I'm not sure if #122 may have missed the part when packing, but probably not. I suppose it's no use sending in the card anyway as its 60 years ago now...

 

 

I will build it as the Airfix artwork, a red standard R1090 model in UK around 1961, as the kit has the RHD dashboard and the special "Thorpe" rear lights for the UK market, and just because I like the kit.

 

 

But I'm not that keen on cutting out paper registration plates from the instruction sheet and glue to the finished model, so I drew and printed one of the given plates on clear decal film. The artwork for the front wing scripts I had already done before in 1/24, so they were easy to resize for this build.

 

 

The body will need a good deal of cleaning, rescribing and work on the front and rear sections that come as separate parts, so first those panels are adjusted to fit reasonably and glued to dry firmly.

 

 

 

And what do I find jammed into the floor section? That looks like a suspension part. Sure enough, and it was there when I took the first picture as well...

 

 

Front suspension complete then.

 

 

Best to glue those parts while they are all present...

 

[keefr22]

This looks like it'll be good! Love seeing all these ancient Airfix kits being built, will have to dig out my stalled Mk1 Escort Mexico conversion!

 

Keith

[johnlambert]

I don't think I've ever started a trend before, it's quite fun seeing all these Airfix kits coming out of cupboards and getting built.  I look forward to seeing this one come together.

[Hamden]

 

My first car was a Gordini Dauphine a 1962 example I think. I'll follow this if you don't mind this brings back happy memories of my time as an apprentice with the local Renault dealer as well as new found freedom driving around. 

Not seen this kit before so very interested to watching it come together.

 

  Stay safe                Roger

[Vesa Jussila]

I am waiting with great interest to see wht will come from this. But I promise I will not join 1/32 club  

[Bengalensis]

2 hours ago, keefr22 said:

This looks like it'll be good! Love seeing all these ancient Airfix kits being built, will have to dig out my stalled Mk1 Escort Mexico conversion!

Thanks a lot Keith. These old kits bring nice memories, and with a little extra work and detail added can become really nice. Yes, bring us the Escort Mexico! Some day I'll make a 1/32 1093 Dauphine Speciale (but first it's waiting in 1/24).

 

2 hours ago, johnlambert said:

I don't think I've ever started a trend before, it's quite fun seeing all these Airfix kits coming out of cupboards and getting built.  I look forward to seeing this one come together.

Some day has to be the first! Yes, these old kits still deserve to be built.

 

48 minutes ago, Hamden said:

 

My first car was a Gordini Dauphine a 1962 example I think. I'll follow this if you don't mind this brings back happy memories of my time as an apprentice with the local Renault dealer as well as new found freedom driving around. 

Not seen this kit before so very interested to watching it come together.

You're most welcome Roger. A 1962 R1091 Dauphine Gordini; a most excellent choice! Not only did you get the more luxurious interior upholstery, black vinyl covered dashboard, thicker chrome strips and all that from the R1090A DeLuxe, but also 10 horsepower more! Not a small amount in these cars.

 

12 minutes ago, Vesa Jussila said:

I am waiting with great interest to see wht will come from this. But I promise I will not join 1/32 club  

Good to have you along Vesa. And it's never too late for a 1/32 inbetween... 😎

[Bengalensis]

All the red parts are quite easily prepared for paint and assembly. They are quite good actually, though the bumper ends needing some extra care.

 

[Pete in Lincs]

Jorgen, (sorry still no umlaut! English/Arabic keyboard!) 

Nice to see this in progress. I'm sure someone else here has built one in the past year or so.

The Floride looks fabulous. First model of one I've seen except for the sixties diecast.

 

I remember seeing three Dauphines parked in a house garden in about 1990. All rusty. They didn't do so well for that here.

There are some great pictures on line. I love the resto mods. Lowered, huge arches and mad engines.

[CrazyCrank]

The first car my parents owned, just after my mother got her driving licence, at the age of 50 !

All my youth in a simple but pretty and valiant car

 

 

[Paul J]

I haven't seen one of these in years and its one that I never ever got to build. Looking forward to seeing this one progress.

[davecov]

Having recently built one of these myself, it is good to see somebody else making one.

 

Dave

[Michael Church]

I didn't grow up with Airfix, so seeing these 1/32 builds sent me off on a Google search. There's something seriously tempting about building a Vauxhall Victor estate or another of the very much non-sporting 1960s British cars if they were available. But I am glad to see Airfix never made a Morris Oxford Series III, because my wife would be demanding that I mod one to look like a Hindustan Ambassador taxicab. 

[Kitkent]

I did grow up with Airfix,but I've never been near one of these! Looks interesting.When I was a kid they were the first minicabs in London,with adverts on the side,shock horror! Chris.

[Hamden]

50 minutes ago, Pete in Lincs said:

They didn't do so well for that here

 

They were assembled in Slough I believe and the unpainted body shells were stock piled on Southampton docks some for long periods so were exposed to plenty of salt air which didn't do them any good for longevity at all!

 

   Stay safe               Roger

[johnlambert]

2 minutes ago, Hamden said:

 

They were assembled in Slough I believe and the unpainted body shells were stock piled on Southampton docks some for long periods so were exposed to plenty of salt air which didn't do them any good for longevity at all!

 

   Stay safe               Roger

I think (and the memory can be a bit hazy at times) that you are getting mixed up with Citroen, which assembled cars in Slough.  Renaults were assembled in Acton.

[Hamden]

15 minutes ago, johnlambert said:

I think (and the memory can be a bit hazy at times) that you are getting mixed up with Citroen, which assembled cars in Slough.  Renaults were assembled in Acton.

 

Yes John you are quite right it was Citroen at Slough and Renault at Acton, thanks for the correction memory not quite what it was!

 

  Stay safe        Roger

[klubman01]

12 hours ago, Kitkent said:

When I was a kid they were the first minicabs in London, with adverts on the side, shock horror! Chris.

That's brought some memories!

 

Not seen one of these kits for more years than I care to remember.  I will watch with interest.

Trevor

[Bengalensis]

13 hours ago, Pete in Lincs said:

Jorgen, (sorry still no umlaut! English/Arabic keyboard!) 

Nice to see this in progress. I'm sure someone else here has built one in the past year or so.

The Floride looks fabulous. First model of one I've seen except for the sixties diecast.

 

I remember seeing three Dauphines parked in a house garden in about 1990. All rusty. They didn't do so well for that here.

There are some great pictures on line. I love the resto mods. Lowered, huge arches and mad engines.

Yes @davecov showed his Dauphine last year, it was nice to see a built one after so long.

They rusted over here too, well, basically all cars of that era rusted just as much. I've been doing lots of metalwork on these...

The Floride was actually kitted in 1/25 by Record in France in early 60's, pretty rare these days. Heller in 1/24 please?

 

 

13 hours ago, CrazyCrank said:

The first car my parents owned, just after my mother got her driving licence, at the age of 50 !

All my youth in a simple but pretty and valiant car

You obviously got a perfect upbringing 👍

 

13 hours ago, Paul J said:

I haven't seen one of these in years and its one that I never ever got to build. Looking forward to seeing this one progress.

Thanks Paul, good to have you along.

 

13 hours ago, davecov said:

Having recently built one of these myself, it is good to see somebody else making one.

Thanks Dave, it was very nice seeing your build last year 👍

 

13 hours ago, Michael Church said:

I didn't grow up with Airfix, so seeing these 1/32 builds sent me off on a Google search. There's something seriously tempting about building a Vauxhall Victor estate or another of the very much non-sporting 1960s British cars if they were available. But I am glad to see Airfix never made a Morris Oxford Series III, because my wife would be demanding that I mod one to look like a Hindustan Ambassador taxicab. 

They did a lot of interesting models back then, some are quite sought after these days.

 

13 hours ago, Kitkent said:

I did grow up with Airfix,but I've never been near one of these! Looks interesting.When I was a kid they were the first minicabs in London,with adverts on the side,shock horror! Chris.

I now remember reading something about those minicabs somewhere but lost the story, I need to look it up again.

 

12 hours ago, Hamden said:

They were assembled in Slough I believe and the unpainted body shells were stock piled on Southampton docks some for long periods so were exposed to plenty of salt air which didn't do them any good for longevity at all!

Shipping raw steel body shells over the sea and stocking them at the port; what a brilliant idea... 😎

 

12 hours ago, johnlambert said:

I think (and the memory can be a bit hazy at times) that you are getting mixed up with Citroen, which assembled cars in Slough.  Renaults were assembled in Acton.

Acton indeed. I think the model year 1960 was the last Dauphines built in Acton, or was it -61?

 

10 minutes ago, klubman01 said:

Not seen one of these kits for more years than I care to remember.  I will watch with interest.

Good to have you onboard Trevor.

[Vesa Jussila]

I agree that Heller should make a Floride. I have somekind of soft spot these French beuties.

[Bengalensis]

28 minutes ago, Vesa Jussila said:

I agree that Heller should make a Floride. I have somekind of soft spot these French beuties.

 

It is very strange that no "modern" 1/24 kit of the Floride have been made in say the last 30 years or so. It's missing.

[Hamden]

 

31 minutes ago, Vesa Jussila said:

I agree that Heller should make a Floride. I have somekind of soft spot these French beuties.

 

If they won't do a Floride perhaps they would consider a Caravelle instead

 

  Stay safe           Roger

[Bengalensis]

The suspension parts were fitted and some testing of the chassis in the bodyshell showed the chassis needed to go backwards almost a mm to make the wheels fit well in the openings, so it was cut a little at the back and elongated at the front.

 

 

The front seat locations are placed way too far forward, so most of them were cut from the floor to allow the seats coming back. This is better.

 

 

A gear lever and hand brake were fabricated and a photo etched rear view mirror was found in a scrap box. The rubber booth for the gear lever isn't quite correct, but it will hardly be seen.

 

 

The spare wheel had to be reduced in thickness to fit better. In many markets it's protected by a pressed steel cover underneath, I haven't checked the spare parts books for the UK market spec yet.

 

 

The exhaust system, which of course is just a silencer with a short inlet and outlet, was made from a 4 mm sprue and some Evergreen strips and rods.

 

 

A quick test on four wheels. This will be fine tuned later on.

 

[Bengalensis]

2 minutes ago, Hamden said:

If they won't do a Floride perhaps they would consider a Caravelle instead

A Caravelle would be OK as well, and of course the Floride was called Caravelle in the US, and possibly in the UK as well, from day one.

[Hamden]

3 minutes ago, Bengalensis said:

Floride was called Caravelle in the US, and possibly in the UK

 

I seem to remember we had a couple of Floride's as well as Caravelle's come into the dealership for servicing that would be around 1968/70 ish. We only had new Caravelle's  in the show room then as the Floride was discontinued by then.

 

Your Dauphine is really coming together now and brings back great memories, have you decided on a colour scheme yet?

 

  Stay safe          Roger

[Pete in Lincs]

I thought that in the UK the spare wheel was in the front luggage compartment. That was your crash protection.