Bugatti Type 35

[Joel_W]

Paul,

Excellent job on both the engine and the radiator metal finishes. I'm really impressed with the polished metal radiator frame. Really looks like you gave it a lot of tender loving care. And the mesh grill in 1/12 scale even lets me see behind it. As for the fuel tank, not so long ago I made the change to the camp of if you can't or won't see it, why bother painting and adding any details to it.



Just one question about having to talk nicely to the engine for it's install into the chassis. Was that in English or French? 

joel

[arcticwolf]

En Francais, Joel.    Um, the rad I didn't polish, it comes chromed, I just left it that way.

So I gave up on the step by step and just continued my way. The dash is chromed, don't ask me why.

There is a decal that covers it and lets little bits show through. By the time I painted everything the correct colour, the only chrome left is the clock bezel:

Firewall gets a similar decal. Installed with distributor drive - the belt driven pulley is to drive the shaft driven tachometer:

[tatocorvette]

Love those gauges!

[arcticwolf]

Thanks Ismael. Old cars are cool.

Dash installed. They don't supply anything that would be between the dash and firewall, so if you plan on a removable body, some scratching to do - wires, oil tank, oil lines, tach drive and on. On that note, the supplied black tube is very hard, I used it but swapping in some aftermarket would be a better bet.

[kyledehart5]

Looking fantastic! Those decals look pretty convincing to me. That’s turned out nice.

[Joel_W]

Paul,
The dash with that decal came out looking simply fantastic as it has that weird polished effect. And all the bezels looked like they're just polished, not chromed. The engine side of the firewall is really improved with that decal. And the detail painting of the various parts really adds to the overall look of the firewall.

joel

[arcticwolf]

Feb 4, 2023 6:51:02 GMT -8 Joel_W said:

Paul,
The dash with that decal came out looking simply fantastic as it has that weird polished effect. And all the bezels looked like they're just polished, not chromed. The engine side of the firewall is really improved with that decal. And the detail painting of the various parts really adds to the overall look of the firewall.

joel

Alclad brass over the chrome plating, and then clear coated. There's a clear plastic lens over the gauge faces. It's a focal point of the car, so it got some extra TLC.

[Joel_W]

Paul,
Certainly well worth the extra TLC.
joel

[arcticwolf]

Front springs and dampers. 16 little PE spring clips, lol.

Front axle and ignition wires. The yellow tubing, throw it out, it's too small to fit over the pins or the plugs. Next time I'd grind off the pins on the "tube" the plug wires run through, drill some holes and use my computer wire. Glue the wire to the plugs and then install the plugs. Live and learn.

Chassis almost complete, time to start adding bodywork

[tatocorvette]

Looks like you left it overnight in a bad neighborhood 

Looking really good!

Thanks,
Ismael

[2whl]

I agree with Ismael.

[arcticwolf]

Ha ha. I does rather, lol.

[arcticwolf]

Undertray and roll pan installed. Mostly it's a lot of bolt heads to paint.

Test fit of bodywork

Engine bay panels and seat installed.

[Joel_W]

Paul,
Love the leaf springs. Was each leaf separate, or just one pre-cast part? Outstanding effort on the front suspension. The finished assembly really looks the part. And the test fit of the body panels really not only looks good but fits like a glove.

joel

[arcticwolf]

Feb 10, 2023 11:10:53 GMT -8 Joel_W said:

Paul,
Love the leaf springs. Was each leaf separate, or just one pre-cast part? Outstanding effort on the front suspension. The finished assembly really looks the part. And the test fit of the body panels really not only looks good but fits like a glove.

joel

Thanks Joel. The spring itself is one piece. If you want separate PE leaves you need to go MFH.