Alfa Romeo Spider Gran Touring by gjdale - FINISHED - Pocher - Scale 1:8

[BobG]

8 hours ago, gjdale said:

This is the stuff:

Many thanks, Grant. I just found some on eBay and ordered it.

[gjdale]

Ric - no primer/base is required at all. This was sprayed on bare plastic. Tests I’ve watched on YouTube show basically no difference if a black base is used first. I know that with the Vallejo Metal Colours, they call for a gloss black base primer, but this stuff just doesn’t seem to need it.

[gjdale]

A Minor Update

 

I have decided not to install the body work until the steering wheel is in place, and I can’t do that until the centre hub arrives. This was ordered on Sep 08 and made it as far as Miami FL by Sep 09. There has been no tracking movement since, so I’m kinda stuck until the postal system works itself out.

 

In the meantime, I’ve finished off all the remaining small bits of work that I could.

 

First up, I decided to temporarily connect the Headlight wiring to test that to see if it works. As you can see in the picture below, it does! 

 

 

The headlights are turned on by inserting the key in the dash as seen in the next photo.

 

 

The front horn assembly was next. This actually required the temporary installation of the main body panels and fender panels so that the cross brace could be fitted, and the ends angled to match the fenders. In the photo below, you can see the mixture of plastic and metal parts. It is nigh on impossible to discern a colour difference between the two materials.

 

 

The rear licence plate was then assembled, using an aftermarket decal from Model Motorcars for the rego number. It is held onto the fender with only two screws – the other two are dummies.

 

 

The front of the fenders are also fitted with small lights. While these parts look simple, there is once again a fit issue that requires some delicate work to rectify. Here they are installed:

 

 

The front nose was then assembled. Three additional decals from Model Motorcars were used here – one for the Alfa Romeo emblem and two for the radiator cap.

 

 

This close up shows that there has been some damage to the Alfa Romeo emblem. Fortunately, two were provided on the decal sheet from Model Motorcars, so I should be able to replace this one. The front side of the radiator cap has a St Christopher medal – a bit hard to see in the photo, but it’s there:

 

 

The back of the radiator cap has a temperature gauge, again in the form of a decal from Model Motorcars:

 

 

 

And that is as far as I can go until the Steering Wheel hub arrives…

[BobG]

Fantastic detailing, Grant! The Model Motor Cars "upgrades" are very expensive but the fine details they add seem to be worth it to me. I have no idea when I will attempt to build my model, but I have an idea that it will be the most expensive model I ever build after looking at all the model enhancements offered by them. 

[Old Collingwood]

Amazing work  - eye watering detail  - hat off to you sir.

 

OC.

[MadDogMcQ]

Boy, that is just soooooooooo good. Amazing work!

[mtaylor]

Lovely work, Grant.  If one didn't know it, they'd be hard pressed from the photos to tell model from the real thing.

[gjdale]

Thanks guys,

 

Bob - yes, the Model Motorcars stuff is very expensive and one could easily spend waaay to much on “upgrades”. I think there are a few that are really worthwhile (like the steering wheel) and then there are a lot that one might question whether they are really necessary. And there will be differences between the various kits as to which fall into which category. Paul Koo advises making these decisions at the start of the build. Good advice - but if you have no previous experience, it can be difficult to know where to draw the line. It’s compounded for me because of the additional cost of postage each time I decide I want that extra $5 part, or you do as I did - buy the steering wheel and only realise later that you really need the hub to go with it! I might do a summary of “lessons learned” at the end of this build, including a summary of the “upgrades” I’ve done.

 

I look forward to seeing the start of your build Bob. If your other work so far is anything to go by, it will be an outstanding build to follow.

[Kevin]

What a stunning build, i had never heard of them until this year then i read the build log by @kpnuts Ducati 1299 Panigale, a lot of work to achieve a wonderful result, i presume the Rolls will be the same

[gjdale]

Thanks Kevin,

 

Yes they do take a lot of work - but that’s half the fun! 😊

[popeye the sailor]

super progress Grant    where did you get the stand for the chassis?  did it come with the kit?

[gjdale]

Thanks Denis,

 

The chassis stands are an after market part from Model Motorcars. Quite expensive for what they are and I’m sure they could be made quite easily by most builders. I wasn’t sure how useful they would be but they are proving to be worthwhile. For my next one, I’ll probably make my own (if these don’t fit the other chassis).

[Kevin]

i just had a look at the model motorcars, some nice expensive goodies in there, but just asking myself if the kit could have made better components in the first place

[gjdale]

That’s possibly true Kevin, but keep in mind when these kits were made in the first place - about 50 years ago...

[Kevin]

38 minutes ago, gjdale said:

That’s possibly true Kevin, but keep in mind when these kits were made in the first place - about 50 years ago...

OOOOOOOOOOPS, i thought they were fairly recent kits

[Tony Hunt]

Just found this thread and love it. I hadn't come across Pocher kits before - they are extraordinary!  I owned a couple of 105 series Alfas back in my youth, wonderful (if occasionally temperamental 🙂) cars  so I have an extra reason to love this build.

[gjdale]

Thanks Tony.

 

I just received notification from Australia Post that the parts I ordered from Model Motor Cars back on 08 Sep are due to be delivered today. I should be able to finally finish off this build on the weekend. 😃

[gjdale]

The long-awaited steering hub has finally arrived, almost two months after ordering! All that was required for completion was to install the steering wheel, and then re-install the coachwork and complete the headlight wiring. I also replaced the damaged Alfa decal on the front nose. That took me no more than a few hours yesterday afternoon.  Today I did a final glam photo shoot. I would have taken the model outside for this, but it’s been raining here for the last two weeks and showing no sign of easing up. Had to settle for an indoor shoot instead. Here are the final results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One final comment. This build would not have been possible without the guidance of the wonderful supplementary instructions and photos from Paul Koo. Here is a couple of photos to show the difference. The Pocher instruction manual is on the left: 26 pages, mainly of exploded diagrams. On the right, the 16 booklets of instructions and photo essays from Paul Koo, and that’s not counting the hundreds more photos of inventory parts, completed models, and reference photos. 

 

 

 

Thanks to all who have followed along and provided encouragement and support. I hope you have enjoyed following the build as much as I have in doing it. Now I can focus on completing my Medway Longboat for a while.

 

Edited October 31, 2020 by gjdale

[BobG]

Wow, wow, wow! That is a stunningly beautiful model, Grant. Museum quality! Congratulations! 

 

Your build log is a good as it gets also. Thanks, I've enjoyed the ride!

 

 

[Ryland Craze]

Absolutely Beautiful!  I feel like I am looking at pictures of a full scale Alfa Romeo.  Your work is going to be a inspiration for future Pocher modelers.

[liteflight]

That’s a wonderful model.  You can be very round of it, as clearly it’s very much a work of craftsmanship.  And how wonderful that Paul Koo has shared the wisdom he has learned.

 

I know what you mean about the rain.  If this pitiless “drought” Continues I will have to seek bulk supplies of gopher wood and break out my cubit-stick.  (NOT taking two wasps though)

 

on second thoughts I may not need the cubit stick as I have two forearms anyway.  I know it’s confusing numerically, but I know how many arms I have.

[Old Collingwood]

Gorgeous work  - well done.

 

OC.

[Egilman]

Another classic, finished to work of art standard.......

 

Impressive execution of an impressive model....

 

Very well done......

[glueless]

2 hours ago, gjdale said:

The long-awaited steering hub has finally arrived, almost two months after ordering! All that was required for completion was to install the steering wheel, and then re-install the coachwork and complete the headlight wiring. I also replaced the damaged Alfa decal on the front nose. That took me no more than a few hours yesterday afternoon.  Today I did a final glam photo shoot. I would have taken the model outside for this, but it’s been raining here for the last two weeks and showing no sign of easing up. Had to settle for an indoor shoot instead. Here are the final results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One final comment. This build would not have been possible without the guidance of the wonderful supplementary instructions and photos from Paul Koo. Here is a couple of photos to show the difference. The Pocher instruction manual is on the left: 26 pages, mainly of exploded diagrams. On the right, the 16 booklets of instructions and photo essays from Paul Koo, and that’s not counting the hundreds more photos of inventory parts, completed models, and reference photos. 

 

 

 

Thanks to all who have followed along and provided encouragement and support. I hope you have enjoyed following the build as much as I have in doing it. Now I can focus on completing my Medway Longboat for a while.

 

Wow! Great job! Looking at all the details for 15 minutes now.

[Landlubber Mike]

Amazing work Grant!!  Very beautifully done!  Congratulations on a wonderful build!

[Canute]

Absolutely gorgeous work, Grant. Beautiful car and outstanding execution of all the details.

[Edwardkenway]

What a beautiful motor!!

Excellent and exquisite workmanship!

[Landlubber Mike]

Grant, just out of curiosity, did you paint the body and fenders?  I wasn't sure if you went with the kit parts as is, or painted them.  

[lmagna]

Fantastic work Grant

 

Makes me want to hop in and take a tour of the fall countryside, rain and all.

[Keith Black]

Grant, a beautiful achievement.