Italari 1/12 Fiat Mefistofeles

Hi all here my next project

Hi all well the friction dampers are definitely fiddely these took all last night (the legs/arms have round holes which are an interference fit on square pegs I was worried they might snap with the force required to push them on, so I drilled them out a bit, still a snug fit but safer

looking good

Hi all here's the next installment.
A lot of the kit supplied tubing is way out of scale, another modeler is building this (to a much higher standard than I could hope to and they are using shrink wrap tubing to great effect) the following photo is of the kit supplied tubing and the tubing I intend to use (I think you can see there is quite a difference)

Hi all here is today's bit.

Hi all I've just realised there is a huge error on this engines valve gear, every single cylinder is moulded in compression stroke (all valves closed) every multi cylinder engine I've ever worked on whilst one is closed the other is either on exhaust or intake stroke, had I have noticed before I'd brass leafed or stuck them on I could have corrected it fairly easily I think, too late now but for anyone else building this a point to remember.

Still lovely work, thanks for the heads up.

Hi all well as I'm doing this as she was for the record run I've primed her in black(she was painted red some time after she went into the museum, on the run she was black)

Hi all well done a bit more on this, I was told by someone building this on another forum the chain is very difficult to do(you put it together in sections then melt the little pins to keep the chain together)
well as he did I melted the first link to the one underneath, so I had a rethink activexp (the other builder) tried a solering iron with adjustable heat setting and even on the lower setting had trouble with melting links so that method I ruled out, my solution which seemed to work quite well after a few minor changes (tried cold water but cooled the blade to quick)I put the chain assy in a shallow glass dish and put just enough hot water in till it is level with the top link then heat the knife blade up and melt the pin, I made the water as hot as I could bare to put my hand in (not boiling as was worried it might warp or melt the plastic)



this is just one set there are I think 4 more

Hi all thinking of giving up this modeling lark but will finish what I've started and the Rolls,tbh i just don't have the time and apart from the loyal few no one is really interested in what i'm doing, anyway here is where i'm at on this . I will however continue to look in on the progress of the amazing builds on here

Nice work, the engine looks good with the wire looms.

Hi all well engine is done, I've put the body shell on just for fun (don't worry it won't be that shiny when finished, I'm going to rub vasline over it
https://i.imgur.com/we3bqRe.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/MS0dLUF.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ocNfyJe.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/L79h4Jq.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/TmAAn6S.jpg

Hi all well engine is done, I've put the body shell on just for fun (don't worry it won't be that shiny when finished, I'm going to rub vasline over it
https://i.imgur.com/we3bqRe.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/MS0dLUF.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ocNfyJe.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/L79h4Jq.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/TmAAn6S.jpg

Looks great, looking forward to the rest of the build

Hi all well I was shown some photos of this on it world speed run by Dominic Beerts and as well as being black the rear of the car was higher and the 4 breather holes weren't there so I've raised the back by 10 mill now I just have to lower the skirt by 10 mill. Here are some pics, lots more to do.

Nice work

Hi all well back off hols with renewed energy, oh dear, there is something weird with the plastic on this kit, the paint I'm using I usually (on other models anyway) I can get off with meths, I didn't like the look of this so I thought I would remove it and start again, I started brushing it off using meths and it started melting the plastic?

I put some plastic from another kit in the meths along with a piece of sprue from this kit over night, as you can see the ItalarI sprue has dissolved completely


And the other sprue as you can see is completely untouched

Don't know what to do now, if I sand it out I will loose the rivet detail, all I can think of is to do a what if and have it as a derelict in a barn now, any suggestions.

Hi all well now the big Citroen is done I've promised myself I will finish this to add another stalled build to the finished pile.
I'm not sure why I put the engine in the chassis as it was not finished there is some pipework I hadn't added as you can see from this first pic



I really like the wheels on this kit, although they are a bit too shiney.

I think they look better now.

Hi all here's the next update the four breather holes in the hood were added after the speed run so I've filled them


The next problem I thought I might have was that the name mefistofeles is in black and with a black car obviously I would need to make a negative of it, however luckily enough the name was added after the run so it is not a problem after all.
The lettering was stark white so I've dulled it down a bit



Need to do a bit more research apparently it may have had 2 seats in the record run.

Hi all well I've fixed it up a bit, here's the next update.

Fantastic kit, nice job.

Hi all here's an update on this, I think the kit exhaust is toooo shiney,

Sooo, mask up the exhaust straps

Spray with hairspray then sprinkle talcum powder on it

Respray with hairspray and then sprinkle on some salt

I think it looks much more realistic now

Hi all, well after CC's kind ref pics I've amended the exhaust to look more like the pics.