Fiat Mefistofele
Commenti
Steve DesarzensThis project is huge ! Love it 🤩
I also have the kit and the idea to build it one day. Didn't look for reference photos yet. Do you already have some ?
Villiers de VosJennifer, Robert, Steve and Ard: Welcome aboard.
Steve, there are plenty of photographs and videos available online.
Villiers de VosThe first phase's assembly is straight forward. The only portion that I did not enjoy was using a hot blade to melt the components of thee front suspension together. There is not a lot of plastic to melt. I plan to use a soldering iron on the drive chain.
Jennifer FranklinLots of good progress, curious to see how the instrument panel works out.
Mr JamesNice progress pics. Is that actual brass on the chassis or very good painting?
Villiers de VosJennifer, your wish is my command. The Micro Kristal Klear securing the bezels is still drying, but I am happy with the outcome.
James, painting only. First airbrush (I had to paint engine parts as well). I then cut the painting fine by hand. Thank you for the compliment.
Bughunter, you are welcome.
Villiers de VosI am still following the instructions/assembly sequence. No major issues so far.
Villiers de VosThank you Ard and Bruce.
I have started on the engine. Except for drive chains the engine seems to be the focal point in as far complexity and colour. This is not a "shake and bake" kit, but I have enjoyed it very much so far. Fortunately there are a lot of reference photographs available online.
bughunterIncredible what kind of details are possible in this scale 👍 And you know I love details!
Kyle DeHartDiving into another one of these? I've missed it somehow up until now. Can't wait to see it get finished up. That engine is a work of art. It's all looking great.
Bavel CatWow! A huge model. It seems that it will need a garage for storage 😀
A very interesting project 👍
Jean-Daniel AebischerSuperbe travail Villiers, pour moi qui suis mécanicien c'est un vrai régal. Bonne continuation 👍👏
Villiers de VosThank you my fellow Scale mates for your kind words. Believe me when I say that it is humbling.
I am nearly finished with the wiring of the engine (a real mojo killer), the carburettors and fuel and oil lines.
Photographs of my adventures on page 15 of the instructions will be published soon.
Richard BerrieOutstanding work Villers. Really love the subject and the reference photos. Your attention to detail is inspiring. Awesome work!
Villiers de VosRichard and Hanno, Thank you for your kind words.
The wiring of the engine has been completed. Fortunately there are many reference photographs available.
Bruce HuxtableI will be shocked if that engine doesn't run, by the time you have added the fuel lines, etc! Very smart and pristine work 👍
Villiers de VosBruce, Michael, Pietro, Kyle and George, thank you for your kind words.
At long last some progress. The wiring of the engine was difficult, but adds a lot of realism. The next steps are straight forward up to assembling the drive chains.
Kyle DeHartAh man. It really looks awesome sitting down in the car. Fantastic work.
Jennifer FranklinI've been out of the loop, so I'm a little late to comment, but I have to say that the engine is magnificent!
Villiers de VosKyle, Jennifer, Guy and Mick, thank you for your kind words.
Progress should be quicker until the drive chains are reached.
Kyle DeHartIt's been an outstanding build to follow along with. Should I ever acquire this kit I'll certainly be returning here for reference
Villiers de VosKyle and JD, thank you for your kind comments.
Work inside the engine compartment is nearing completion.
Villiers de VosWell summarized Rui!
Kyle, thank you for your kind words.
Slow progress continues.
Villiers de VosGentlemen, thank you for your kind comments.
The end of the build is in sight.
All those welding points as well as cleaning up points led me in assembling the drive chains led me to explore alternatives. The closest that I could find was Tamiya's Assembly Chain Set for 1/6 Scale Motorcycle, part number 12674.
Villiers de VosI am calling this one completed. In general this is a very detailed model.
Thank you to everyone that stopped by, liked and your fantastic comments.
Tom ...Wow, Villiers. That is outstanding work! And a lot of it! Well done. One day I will do this kit and I'll use your build as reference!
Kyle DeHartI agree with Tom. An incredible build and an incredibly excellent build log. Thank you for sharing the entire process. I have designs on building this one day as well and will surely return here to make my own build go more smoothly.
Anthony lfkWow, nice vintage car built ! Great built catalogue you have here, very detailed.
Album info
The parts are well packed.
Pre-coloured sprues. The four colours are black, red, grey, steel, copper and silver chrome.
Can be built in sub-units, Chassis/coachwork, Engine, Bits and bobs.
Because of the kit's multi-media nature, I would recommend it for experienced builders.
Not a shake and bake kit. Every single part needed cleaning up.
Double check the drawings in the instructions for where you should cut parts off and before committing to glue. Dry fit before you commit to glue.
Do not be intimidated by the complexity. Study each stage in detail and you will gradually be able to build up each sub-assembly. I followed the construction sequence as indicated in the instruction manual.
Some of the subassemblies (the shock absorbers in particular) is made up from parts that appears to be similar, but are not. I used a storage case with compartments to keep the parts organized.
Few errors on the instructions:
Step 5: The leave springs should be changed 180° and swopped around. If not, the mistake will become apparent in step 6 when you try to join the front suspension to the chassis.
Step 22: Part 133F should read part 133E. On the colour callout it is supposed to be painted E, Flat wood. My reference photos showed the switch to be black.
Step 22: The type "C" tube (Ø0.7mm transparent) which attach to part 58C has been swopped out for the type "D" tube (Ø0.6mm black).
Step 30 and 33: There is no callout for part 107G x 4, 108G and 110G, the parts were painted Flat Steel identified on the colour chart as "D".
Step 35: Looking at the reference pictures, the plug wires seem to be black and not yellow. I substituted the kit supplied wire and tubes with Tamiya Detail-Up parts cable Ø0.65mm and the type "D" tube with Ø0.6mm black tube for connectors.
Step 39: Looking at refence pictures, part 66H and part 69H x 6 should be painted Semi-Gloss Black rather than Brass. Part 77H should be painted Copper rather than Metal Gloss Brass.
Step 44: Part 65H and 68H should be painted "L" copper and not "B" Brass. Part 139E should be painted Semi-Gloss Black rather than Flat Black.
Step 59: Shorten the brake line between part 30C and 102F from 87mm to 73mm to make it more realistic.
Step 63: Shorten the brake line between part 102F and 102F from 87mm to 73mm to make it more realistic.
Positive
Following the instructions, the complexity of tasks gradually increase.
Minimal flash on very few parts. There are though large sprue gates.
Good building reports on ScaleMates.
Lots of reference photos and videos available online.
Parts clearly marked.
The packaging of the sprue trees, body panels are very good and prevent damage.
The screws, pipes, wires, springs, etc came in a very nice compartmentalised container clearly marked and is a nice touch.
No serious fit issues.
The nuts and bolts allow for adjustments with regards to parts.
This model offers a balance for modellers to satisfy the builders and painters.
Negative
Very thick and long sprue gates (up to 50mm) and access plastic on body panels. It resembles pour stubs. Use a scalpel to repeatedly scours the line between the access plastic and the part.
Every part need work, cleaning up seamlines, ejection marks.
Not enough material provided (tubing and copper wire) to fulfil tasks. I bought Tamiya upgrade material.
Installing the oil and fuel pipes on the engine are not clear from the instructions. Fortunately, there are many reference photographs available online.
The ignition wiring and drive chains.
