1931 Mille Miglia Scale 1/32 Pic Heavy !

[Challenger77]

Hello,
as stated in my Introduction Thread i have started another big Project, a different theme for a Diorama, rarley seen.
i will build a Scene from the 1000 miles Race 1931 trough Italy. This was held from 1927 on to 1957, 1000 Miles in one Day ! then it was cancelled, much to dangerous a race on normal Streets with also normal traffic, there where severeal heavy Accidents and dead People. Today this "race" is a historic Event , held on the classic Route but in 4 days.

I want a Drive-trogh-town-scene so i try a few MiniartKits and a Verlinden Relief fassade, planned around some very old Car Kits. First i play around with some Papermockups, then i tried the Miniart Buildings. But beside that they are molded as Ruins , i cant fit them properly. So i went with Scratchbuilds from Foamboard. I added the Royalmodel Sicilian house to the Project, i like the Shape. As most of the offered buildings, this is a plaster made ruin, so i must first rebuild it to not damaged. But only after glue the broken Walls togheter, like a puzzle  ....i manage this with Lego and patafix , making a partial Mold, then pour Artist Plaster in this, a little Sanding and voila....only to see its much tu massive .

 

So here it is  glued togheter with out the Stonebench before the Wallfountain.

 

 

here its the scene, only a small Church beside the Verlinden House is still missing

 

 

 a italian Petrolstaion in the 1920', this i want 🙂

 

So i ordered the beautiful Kit from Modelvictoria

 

 

i rebuild the Verlinden Bakery and all Miniart new out of Kapaline Foamboard.
Two Reasons why, the Verlinden is a heavy  and massive Plasterpart and the Issue with Miniarts Fit and way too big Windows/Doors.
I remove the Cardboard from the Foamboard after cutting all Openings, carved and pressed the Stones and cracks with a graficcutter, hard Pencil and a engraving needle. its fun to work with this material, very easy to cut, engrave , pressed and sanded. It paints also very well-
here now some pics, first is "Peppones" Workshop, the Square Opening in theSidewall will be filled with a Sheet of Brickwork and stores the Petrolpump as i posted before  😄

If anybodx knows the Don Camillo movies, the Name would be known

 

 

 

 

Next one is a small Church, where Don Camillo hold his sermons  😉
The Bells are originally for Shipmodels, this are real Brass. They would become a wooden Suspension, also a real wood Door will be there.
The Figure is from miniart set "French Civilians" and is a well known Moviestar.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next one is a little reminiscence of the Local, http://www.datrombicche.it , where we have a great Time in Siena.  Based on the Verlinden plasterrock, it was a bit more Work then the others , but i think it looks not so bad and is way lighter

 

 

 

 

 

Added the little resin part that comes with the Kit

 

 

And in comparsion with the Originalpart

 

 

Work continious with a new Doorway

 

 

 

 

Time for Painting. I use  Acryl from a Artshop, for the finer Parts  Black Hat , Shutters detailed with Crapplastic and Needles, they are Moveable. Furniture comes from Verlinden, Miniart and Plusmodel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertisements found in the Internet and printed on Cardboard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Verlindenstove  altered to a very early Gasstove , found a pic of such a Thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 6, 2021 by Challenger77

[Challenger77]

The small Chapel got Bells from RC Boats with Wood Supports

 

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Edited April 27, 2021 by Challenger77

[Challenger77]

Forward to the  Osteria da Trombicche and the Il Cantuchio, Doors and Windows from the Verlindenkit
 

 

Testing how this fit the other Buildings

 

 

 

 

]

 

 

 

Pictures of he Advertisements are all found on ebay and are from 1930/31. Printed on normal Paper, covered with Cleartape to simulate Emaille.

 

 

 

And another Insiderjoke, from one of the mentioned Movies, still there in Brescello, where the Movies filmed in the 60ies.

 

 

 

 

 

For the Interior i use Carved Evergreenprofiles and plain Polystyrolcard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Counter is a modified Plusmodel Part, also from Plusmodel are the Radios, Miniart delivers Wine, Beer and Glasses 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

The little Radio make Place for a Cup of Coffee, therefore a bigger Radio found its Place on a Sideboard.And again some typical Advertisements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Furniture i used Sets from Plus Model, very massive "sprues" and altered Miniart Parts.
The Typewriter is a small Scratchbuild.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2021 by Challenger77

[Challenger77]

Started the Painting on the Doorway. This is also Carved foamboard and Part of a Verlindenkit.The Verlindenpart raised about 1cm from the Bottom, the Doors are too Narrow for 1/35, with a temporary Mold and plaster.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doors where made with Balsawood and Matshsticks, the Windows are H0 Parts

 

 

A bit of Colorwork....the Windows are Resin from the VerlindenKit, they where warped and have "full Size"
Castingblocks on the Backside, much Sanding and with boiled Water correctet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

i've covered the ugly "Window" With a wooden Billboard, made with a Piece Balsa and some Matchsticks. All the Advertisments are Scans of the real ones from 1930/31.  😄

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much work is done, but much more is waiting  😄

Build Doorhandles out of Historex Figure Parts. A little Pigment adding and this is ready to go on the Diobase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the testing how the Houses look togehther, i dont like how massive the Corner Building( Royal Models Sicilian Ruin...) look. So i buil it partially new, use only the Stairway and the Well. Also the  Small Tower, its easier to build it new than altered the Verlindenceramic .
First A pic how the Corner come nad how i made it into a "Full" house.

 

 

 

 

For my Eyes it looks to massive with its plain Walls.

 

 

 

So the Wreckingball come in....

 

 

And with some try and Error , i came up with this, thas the look i wanted. A bit of Chaotic "Skyline"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2021 by Challenger77

[Challenger77]

Comparsion between the Verlindenceramicpart and my Foamboard Build

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the Painting goes along.....

 

 

 

h

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Groundwork/Diobase nearly done, added some "Water" to the Fountain, Faller Seafoil and a heatet Plastikrod, some Foliage and Testfitted a garbagebin, note the Cat  😉 Playing around with a5€ Fisheyelens from China.......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the Shutters done, very much and hard hard Work . The bad Verlindencopies are warped, Bubbles everywhere, the Miniart ones must be cut down to fit, between the Slats much of exess Plastic, Seamlines and so on....and i added somthing like a handle or locking mechanism aut of Wire and Pins.
Next Step would be the Streetlights, with some "Glass"  , these are from Miniartparts. The Wallmountings are nice, but only one Side engraved....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Challenger77]

Never show your halfdone Work any Freinds, then you come up with such crazy Ideas like real lighting......

 

 

 

 

 

 

So the Streetlights work, i added some "Glass", grinded Clear Plastic.

 

 

 

A Friend give me the Idea to Light the " deep Rooms on the Right. So i build out of Scrap and a Needle the then very popular, Bankers Table Light and a bigger Floorlight. Inside them a very very tiny SMD LED do the Lightig.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I remove the Wooden Roofconstruction, i was not happy with , also with the Mould and casting from Js Modelwork. I buy Resin Roofings . So i can take some better Pics of the Rooms.

 

 

 

 

 

Here will take some Furniture place

 

Outside i added the typical Clothes line, once again sonme scrap Parts for the Hinges and Plusmodelresinparts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And something funny, a Adverisment for Magneti Marelli from 1930, found on a Auction in the www.

 

.....and soonly the Roof is on, the Pigeons pooping on it..... :eh:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and from a Bucket, a Carrim and a Bowl i build some Lights for the other Rooms, waitin' for the little LEDs i ordered....

 

 

 

 

I used really fine Copperwires, they go throug the Wall and ouside in the electricboxes , i let the solder seams disapear in these Boxes, just like in real Italy... 😄 And i didnt tell you , that this dont functions at first try.... :eh:  :sst:

 

 

 

 

 

But then there comes the Light  :love:

 

 

 

 

For the Chapel i use a flickering LED

 

 

 

 

 

Well the Rooms on the Left side, will be without light, thea are too shallow for a good Lighting.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Too bad, on the Phonepics the Lights are way too bright, in real they are much darker.
Beside this i built the first figure out of Miniartparts, naked Feet from Preiser, the Houseshoes from Plusmodel the Coat and the hair from Magicsculp

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Challenger77]

Paint the first Figures, made them out of several

 

Miniartparts and from srap, the Youngsters are from Mantis and the Girl in the Bathroom is old Verlinden Figure. Painted with Acrylycs and oil, not so good as most others here, but for me its good enough.
Also completed the Italian Style Electriccable Salad  😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Balcony i ordered a 3D Print and also a 18+ Gag,  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Few Words to the Pave ment, this is build with Real Stonemats from

https://www.ch-kreativ.eu

https://www.joker-ruegen.de/de/

Curbstones made with a Mould, Manholes Cardboard Lasercut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Challenger77]

And here is the first Car. For this Car i found very few Informations , only Driver Names, Emilio Romano and Rubino Pirlo,the Racenumber and Cartype, it was aBugatti T37 A Modificata, destroked to 1100ccm,so its a bit Fantasy.

Use the good old Airfix Bugatti 35 B, try to modified it to the 37 A . First thing i close the Hole on the Bonnet, that was for the Supercharger fittet Eingines, and sand down the Radiator to imitate de small ones fittet on the T37. All other ist straight from the Box, only added a Winsdshield, Wire Brakelines and Lights. These Lights are prewired SMD LED , the smallest on the Market, powerd wit ha 12V   and KSQ . The Mudguards was on the 1932th Car very small, so i think it was a year earlier, sand them down and change the brittle Plasticrods to wire. Changed the Airfixdriver a little bit and scratched from various Parts the Codriver with a Immense Miniatures Head. OK lets see the Pics i hear you yell...here we go 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on to the Spraybooth..............i used Vallejo Aircolor and a Clubfriend prints the few Decals for this Project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few Etchparts for the Hoodbelts , the Belts itself are Tamiya Tape and a Metalring for the Tirestrap on the left Side, thats all additional Parts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and at last it sits under the Doorway with aEnginefailure....the Smoke is made out of a little bit Cotton Wool

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

one more Time with all Lights on , now going on to the next Car, Airfix Alfa Romeo 8C.

https://youtu.be/DdAJ3dqe6V8

Edited April 27, 2021 by Challenger77

[Pig of the Week]

A veritable tour de force sir ! ... Bravo ! 👍

[Pete in Lincs]

Incredible amounts of detail! So much to see and all beautifully made.

[Badder]

That's a real treasure trove, full of lovely little and not-so-little gems. An incredible amount of work has gone into that fine-detailing.

 

If that were mine, I'd be making little doors in the backs of all the buildings where I could place a camera and photograph the square from inside the rooms, looking out, ground floor to top.

 

May I suggest the addition of some 'greenery' though.......... maybe a tree in the centre of the square and potted plants either side of people's doorways, window-boxes, that kind of thing? And maybe some clothes-lines with washing hung out to dry?

 

Rearguards,

Badder

 

 

[Challenger77]

1 hour ago, Badder said:

That's a real treasure trove, full of lovely little and not-so-little gems. An incredible amount of work has gone into that fine-detailing.

 

If that were mine, I'd be making little doors in the backs of all the buildings where I could place a camera and photograph the square from inside the rooms, looking out, ground floor to top.

 

May I suggest the addition of some 'greenery' though.......... maybe a tree in the centre of the square and potted plants either side of people's doorways, window-boxes, that kind of thing? And maybe some clothes-lines with washing hung out to dry?

 

Rearguards,

Badder

 

 

 

Hi Badder,

 

the Idea is not bad, but too late 😉 only 2 of the Buildings are on the Backside open.

 

The Addition of "Greenery" is long planned. So in the round "Hole" before the Fountain will come a little tree or something. Some Potted Plants and a clothline are  also in the pipeline 😉 will use some of Reality in Scaleitems

As i wrote still a long way to go.........3 Cars and all the Figures, some Animals......😏

 

Thank you all fpr your kind Words !

 

 

 

 

[Vince1159]

...(Can't think of anything to say).....

[Dancona]

I have just found this, and am completely gobsmacked, it is absolutely unbelievable what you have done, the workmanship, patience, attention to detail and humour is incredible !!!!

Simply stunning !

 

Cheers

 

David

[Bobby No Mac]

I stumbled upon this thread by accident, but... wow!  

Absolutely mesmerising attention to detail and exquisite craftsmanship.

 

 

[s.e.charles]

beautifully done. hope when it is displayed there is access to the backsides so everyone can appreciate the detail you've shown us here; thanks.

[Challenger77]

Hello Guys 😉 after some Weeks of gluing, carving, casting, painting, some Try and Error Issues, the second Car get near finisch. its a Pyrokit from 1966, it should represent the famous Alfa Romeo 6C1750 GS Zagato with Giuseppe Campari on the Wheel.. The overall Shape is not Bad, but due the Age of this Kit, Details are rare or simply not there. So the Wheels are 2 Plasticdiscs with engraved, but not see-throug Spokes, only the Driver Side Door was there, the Spare Wheels sit way to high on the Reardeck and so on. So all on the kit, thas not red, i have added. Casted some Side vents, added Wire for Steering and Breaking Linkage with Parts from old Tankkits and so on. Figures are altered ones from Penelepoe Pitlane.The Rims are absolutly Stunning Turn Alloys with Etched Spokes from Peter Saeger-Thomas Have to rebuild it partially, after i killed the superthin wires on one Side , so the "Lamps" dont light up..... .still a WIP, but the Finishline is near.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Car has a Light for the licensplate also. I recreatet it with some Brass from a Etchpart and a small Tube.

 

 

 

 

 

Brass Tubes , in this case square ones, also used for the Frontlightbar

 

 

 

 

 

After this Test, I also recreate the Windowframe with add-on Side Mirror/Lamp , the Original Kitpart looks simply odd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cooler is also a bit Weird, so a real Mesh got there. In reality this was a bit before the Cooler, but there is simply no Space to do it right....

 

 

 

fresh out of the Paintbox

 

 

 

And after rebuild

 

 

 

 

 

Kind Regards from Vienna !

 

 

Edited March 13, 2022 by Challenger77

[Challenger77]

Hello Guys  👋 Today i managed to get it ready for the diorama. The "Devils Eyes" where a real Challenge............an the folded Roof....build something like a Frame with thin Wire and added self Adheshishe Plaster.

First Try how it Looks on the Street....

Next Step are the Pilots, Alfa has fitte his Drivers with very professional dark red  Overalls.I try to get close to the Original.

Now for the "Devils Eyes" , they are a Legend, but nothing more than Dustcovers. Removed for Nightdrive and use the Headlights. After some Trys with heated Foil, i go with Furniture Stoppers. For me they do the Part. Too Bad , the LED bent a bit so the little Alfa squint a bit. The Parts are so secure cemented , i cannot correct this 

Added etched Handles and Fittings,

Last Lighttesting, than the Wheatering, and its Ready  😄

FORZA ALFA !

And now up to Airfix' Alfa 8C, dont know how to make those Mudguards.....
Kind regards !

[Challenger77]

Hello again, now it sits in his natural enviroment
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kind Regards from Vienna !

[Challenger77]

After a not so fine Spring and bad Summer, my Mother passed away in Peace, i managed to go on with the second Alfa. This represents the Works Alfa 8C 2300, on his first Outing in the Hands of Tazio Nuvolari and Luigi Arcangeli, who did not finish. Nuvolari leads at first, but he had 9 Tirechanges, because the also new Pirellis didnt stand up to the Powerful 8C. I found in one of my Books a Pic that inspired me and so i t goes on.......
One of the many Tirechanges.

So i began a Monthlong search for the only known Plasticmodel , the Long Wheelbase Alfa 8c from Airfix. A very old Kit. After i catch one, i was a bit surprised by some very good Details and on the other Hand some crude Simplifications. But the first Step was to shorten the Chassis, this was very Easy , because Airfix get it right with the Beams. So you can cut it whre it was on the real Car.A bit difficult was the Body. Here i cut a Stripe out, set the Moulding for the Sparewheels a bit back and down. Then begins the funny Part, Putty and Sanding, Putty and Sanding,....and so and so on.

 

 

Here you can see the Difference between the Long/Short Wheelbase

 

 

Then i scratched or better copy with a Mould from the Pyro 6C the Mudguards. The Airfix Kit comes with the correct 4 seperate Guards.Also scratched a Oiltank in Front of the Cooler and Sidevents.

 

 

 

 

I also norrowed the Oilpan, Airfix made it way to wide. And i added a bit of a Tankkit to simulate the seeable Part of the Gearbox.

 

 

After testing the Headlightphalanx, Carjack and the Figure , i found out that my Mudguards are way too flat and . I used the smaller Wheels from the 6C as a Reference...AAARRRGGGHHHH :sweatdrop: .....back to the Start.....

 

 

 

 

 

For the new Mudguars i use the Casted Rearends, Cut-to-Fit Miniart Merceds 170 Pars, Plasticcard...and yes a Ton of Putty and sanding and putty.....

 

 

 

 

 

After this Desastercorrection, i detailed the Chassis. The Kitpart for the Frontaxle is a crude Square Rod without any Detail. I add small Halfround Evergreenparts on the Ends, Pins and small Plasicparts for the Brakelines, the Steeringparts and the Sabilizers. Also for the Rearaxle . This i reinforced with a Wire , because the Brakedrums are real Aluminiumparts . They come in one more Set of Wheels from Peter Saeger Thomas,
The Wheelset

 

 

 

 

The Frontaxle

 

 

 

 

 

 

And yes this Car is also Lighted  😄

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also build a Carjack out of Brasstube and Wire with Wheels from a 1/72 Tankkit. Throug this the thin Wires go under the Diorama to the Powersupply.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before i paint this little Thing, i added 3d "Nuts" Decals in Lines on the Bonnett. For the Paint I go with Vallejo Firered , this is a bit Brownish and dark. I think it matches the Old Alfared , described sometimes " a Color like Oxblood.." relativly good. Decals are once again from Brentair Custommade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A complete Windshield is Also made with the Kits lower Part, some L Profile, Brasstube, quick release from a Italerie Tankkit and a Miniart Wiper.,  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoy it !
regards from Vienna
Harry

Edited September 13, 2022 by Challenger77

[Challenger77]

Hello Mates  👋 After 2 Exhibitions, aand a Covid Infection , at last i added a few Details. First the Hood fasteners. build from 2 Etchparts each  :shock: a othe Part simulate the strut for the Middle Headlight. remodelling the Runningboards with carved Thin plasticparts. And one more Time i use Furniture Door Stoppers for the Red Dustcovers. The Left would be removed by a Mechanic. Paint them with Tamiya Clear Red, for the Chromeparts i use grennstuff Chrome for brushes, this is fantastic ! Glued the Frontwheels with a slight Angle, so its not mentonied that they are a bit too Big or the Fenders too shallow. Lights are all ok, so the next and last step is weathering .

Kind Regards
Harry[

[Challenger77]

And finally its ready for the Dio, Tazio Nuvolari standing beside the car, his co Batista Guidotti reaches over the Hood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now i try to find the right angle on the Dio.
Happy Modelling to all  😄

[Challenger77]

Hello one more time  😄
A few Pics how it looks on the Dio, a few  Figures around the Car will follow. A Photographer , another manager and mechanics.
First one of the "Managers"....

Lets get 'em back in the Race !

Sorry for the Blury Pics, just Mobilephone....try to get better ones the next days.
Regards from Vienna  😉

[Challenger77]

Added 2 more Mechanics and a "Manager", here are a  few pics with all Figures and Accesoirs in this Scene.

Regards from Vienna  🙂

[Challenger77]

Before i start the Matchboxkit Mercedes SSKL, i add a few Pics with 3 more Figures added. The Photographer, reminds me of the famous Julius Weitmann, Sister Maria and Don Camillo  😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kind Regards from Vienna !

Edited December 6, 2022 by Challenger77
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