Alfa Romeo P2: Initial review

I know I swore no more 1/12 kits, especially from Model Factory Hiro, but I couldn't resist the reissued P2, and the box turned up yesterday. 

Alfa's racing department was run by Enzo Ferrari in 1924. Enzo hired Vittorio Jano away from Fiat and got him to design a new 2-litre supercharged straight 8 for the new P2; the car was immediately successful in 1924 and went on to win the inaugural Automobile World Champioship in 1925. The kit reproduces the 1924 version as driven to a win in the Italian GP by Alberto Ascari, or the French GP by Giuseppe Campari.

One advantage compared to kits of the 917 or 908/03 is the lack of teensie weensie structural tubing. Getting it all to line up should be easier, although the resin frame rails are bent and will need some gentle heat.

The wheels will require spokes installed, but I am (ahem) something of an expert at this by now. Haha, just joking, Mr Murphy.

Initial triage of the various bits seems positive and I have got all the major bits for the engine identified. 

And so starts another saga. Stay tuned!

Auburn hot rod: Complete (#9 for 2022)

I'm quite happy with the overall shape if not the quality of the finish. 

Stay tuned! It may be summer but there are other projects in the offing.

Auburn hot rod: Chassis and body modifications

I made the decision to move the body back on the scratch-built frame so that the grille can come down behind the front axle.

 

 

The result looks good but required trimming both the grille and the lower edge of the rear of the boat tail so they wouldn't drag. Ground clearance is 3 mm, just under 3" at 1:1. 

Rear suspension is a transverse leaf and two trailing arms from the parts bin. I had to build up a structure under the deck to support it all, but this means the chassis doesn't need to extend rearwards of the rear axle and ruin the clean shape

Next I made spats for the four wheels, using a pair of clear plastic spoons from Costco for each spat. That Art Deco look is coming along nicely.

Colours will be Gunmetal (TS-38) over German Grey (TS-4) for the spats, Racing White (TS-7) for the body. I might paint the character line down the side of the body Gunmetal as well, to be decided. 

The engine, from Replicas and Miniatures of Maryland, went together well. Messed up the firing order, though... It will be a squeeze in the engine bay, and as expected the intake horns will require holes in the hood. The sides of the hood may get left off as I don't need the 4 exhaust holes for the Auburn motor; the Buick (?) motor has 5 exhaust port, with the middle three being siamesed (two exhaust valves per port) and the two at the ends being straight through.

Final assembly looms large. Stay tuned!