Camwader Posted June 27, 2021 Share Posted June 27, 2021 (edited) I’ve had this Pocher Alfa Romeo Monza since it was given to me as an engagement present in 1983 - bought from Grand Prix Models when their shop was still in Radlett. I made a start on it in 1984 but, for various reasons, I’ve never given it the attention it deserved, with countless other projects bumping it down the queue. Twenty years or so ago I more or less finished the engine and gearbox and had that displayed on a stand, but the rest has been boxed up and stashed away for decades. Last year I was fortunate to be able to take early retirement so there’s really no excuse not to finish the Alfa. These shots show the current state - many things still to be done, improved or replaced, but good progress by my past standards. I often spot things in photos that for some reason I didn’t notice on the work bench (like a tyre valve gone AWOL) - and seeing something that actually looks like a car is good motivation to keep the progress going. It is not my intention to correct every Pocher variation from reality - just to create a respectable model without any of the gross errors/differences that I just couldn't live with. Edited June 27, 2021 by Camwader text correction 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codger Posted June 27, 2021 Share Posted June 27, 2021 (edited) You have a very sensible build plan and a fine model will result. Photos look almost period-correct in gray scale and car in overall primer finish. Look here for the Alfa Coupe Elegant build here by Pouln. An excellent 'roadmap' if you want guidance. Edited June 27, 2021 by Codger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo NZ Posted June 27, 2021 Share Posted June 27, 2021 10 hours ago, Camwader said: 1983 - bought from Grand Prix Models when their shop was still in Radlett. Ooh, I might have sold it to you! Great to see one of the Pochers from GPM actually being built. I should finish mine sometime... Very nice build. Are you using MM wheels? If not you've done a superb job with the Pocher ones. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camwader Posted June 28, 2021 Author Share Posted June 28, 2021 Codger, Thanks, I have looked at the Coupe Elegant build, and countless others that can be found in various places on the internet. There's no end of useful information and inspiration available, and some truly exceptional models that I have no hope of matching. Quite a few end up with very little Pocher left in them, which is fine if you're after ultimate accuracy - but I'm trying to achieve the best I can with as much Pocher as possible, but something that isn't immediately obvious as being a Pocher kit. Jo, The wheels are all Pocher. I built one wheel back in 1984 with the red plastic painted silver, but wasn't really happy with it. The process I worked out was, I found out afterwards, exactly how the MM wheels are put together. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo NZ Posted June 28, 2021 Share Posted June 28, 2021 I might have done it a bit differently. I built up the Pocher rims stage by stage and filed and sanded the plastic down to the metal profile - then disassembled and fitted the spokes. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camwader Posted June 28, 2021 Author Share Posted June 28, 2021 Jo, I recognize your Monza build from that photo - your photos were one of the things that inspired me to get on with mine, as well as the guilt from having neglected it for so long. Your wheels are nice, significantly better than most. I just wanted to go that one step further and lose the split rim effect altogether. I'm going to go with body colour for my wheels, which I think will be French blue - I'll have to make a decision soon. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camwader Posted February 14, 2022 Author Share Posted February 14, 2022 I have neglected the Alfa since last summer while I’ve been building wood strip canoes and other model projects. As I am determined not to revert to my previous habit of not touching it for years, I have resumed work. I have tackled a couple of jobs I’ve procrastinated over for some time - putting the correct shape of side skirts on the fuel tank, and fabricating a floor for the under seat area. The floor still needs a dropped box for the battery. Next jobs are mounting the oil tank and fabricating the rest of the floor. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pouln Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 I love the tools left behind by the engineers who are fabricating the floor. What leaf springs are you using? Did you make metal ones? If not I would advise you to do so because the plastic Pocher supplied ones do not last and will deform badly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camwader Posted February 15, 2022 Author Share Posted February 15, 2022 4 hours ago, Pouln said: I love the tools left behind by the engineers who are fabricating the floor. What leaf springs are you using? Did you make metal ones? If not I would advise you to do so because the plastic Pocher supplied ones do not last and will deform badly. Pouln, At the moment it's on standard Pocher springs - I may upgrade later. When it's finished I will display it with chassis support, as I don't trust the chassis rails not to deform over time, and I'm not sure how durable the spoked wheels are. I've noticed the body panel gaps vary depending on whether it's on its wheels or on chassis stands - there's definitely a bit of chassis flex. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camwader Posted March 3, 2022 Author Share Posted March 3, 2022 (edited) A little more progress - currently working on the floor, transmission tunnel and fire wall. The tricky bit is going to be locating the holes for the pedals to come through. I have finally made a decision on the colour, opting for light blue - makes a change from all of the red ones. I also fitted some hinges to the driver's side bonnet side panel - despite originally having decided that I wasn't going to bother. I thought I had discovered all of this kit’s horrendous mis-fits, until I tried to fit the headlamp lenses which were a good 1mm too large on diameter - fortunately an easy fix. It is my intension to display the model without mudguards as I like the racing look. The mudguard stays in the kit are very non-scale, and I really can’t be bothered to fabricate more realistic alternatives. I thought I’d give it a go with the kit parts, just to see what it looks like, and it's not too bad. I will paint them so I can take some photos in road trim - but won’t keep them on. I’m beginning to think I might actually finish this thing. Edited March 12, 2022 by Camwader 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camwader Posted March 16, 2022 Author Share Posted March 16, 2022 I’m feeling like there is now light at the end of the tunnel - no more acres of red plastic, less primer and more final colour. Loads of detailing still to do, but I have a clear idea of what I want to do with all of the outstanding jobs. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camwader Posted March 21, 2022 Author Share Posted March 21, 2022 I think I might actually be fairly close to a final build with the chassis. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camwader Posted March 21, 2022 Author Share Posted March 21, 2022 I can't resist taking loads of snaps now it's starting to look like a car. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camwader Posted April 12, 2022 Author Share Posted April 12, 2022 I think these will be the last work in progress shots of this beast - looking forward to having it complete, though that’s not likely to be a few months. Most of what remains to be done is in the dashboard and firewall/bulkhead detailing, plus stuff like wire locking. It also needs rear lights fabricating, an exhaust heat shield for the passenger area, number plates and a few other minor bits and pieces. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pouln Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 Looking really nice, but you are not going to take it for a test drive, are you? You don’t have working rear brakes.😉 Seriously, you have made this into a very nice model. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camwader Posted April 21, 2022 Author Share Posted April 21, 2022 21 hours ago, Pouln said: Looking really nice, but you are not going to take it for a test drive, are you? You don’t have working rear brakes.😉 Seriously, you have made this into a very nice model. Well done. Thank you Pouln. It didn't have any brakes connected in those photos, but it has now. Progress is slowing a bit as I tend to do less modelling when the evenings are lighter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITRtypeR Posted January 18, 2023 Share Posted January 18, 2023 Just came across this thread. Outstanding work...I now have the motivation to drag my Monza out from the attic and resume working on it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camwader Posted January 19, 2023 Author Share Posted January 19, 2023 Progress has been a bit slow of late, with other projects getting more attention. I have been working on firewall and dashboard detail recently - there's really not that much left to do. If I can get it done by the autumn it will just sneak in at under forty years from purchase to completion. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jbourne124 Posted January 19, 2023 Share Posted January 19, 2023 @Camwader looking forward to seeing more of your detail work! You’ve done great work so far. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesa Jussila Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 Waiting for final stages! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jylhami Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 Really nice craftmanship! I have the Alfa Romeo Spider in the shelf and I already copied all the pictures of the first post, as these two cars share a lot. Thank you for sharing these. Waiting to see the final paint on! -Mika 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camwader Posted January 28, 2023 Author Share Posted January 28, 2023 On 27/01/2023 at 07:27, Jylhami said: Really nice craftmanship! I have the Alfa Romeo Spider in the shelf and I already copied all the pictures of the first post, as these two cars share a lot. Thank you for sharing these. Waiting to see the final paint on! -Mika Mika, More photos here: Pocher Alfa Monza Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camwader Posted February 16, 2023 Author Share Posted February 16, 2023 Completion of this lengthy project is getting closer - after a few distractions with other models, I am trying to concentrate on the Monza. I have now more or less finished under the bonnet and around the dashboard. Things left to do include head lights, tail lights, number plates, exhaust heat shield, wire locking and probably a few other things that don’t come immediately to mind. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo NZ Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 That's looking very nice.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Smith Posted February 17, 2023 Share Posted February 17, 2023 Taking shape well. A nice model of a very attractive looking inter wars racing car. Those old Pochers are not the easiest of kits to build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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