Fiat 131 Abarth

[afx]

Taking on building this old Esci kit and will be making some improvements along the way.

 

The drive belt is molded as a single piece.  After some careful cutting and filing I opened it up.

 

 

Edited March 9, 2020 by afx

[afx]

The kit header is that crab looking think above the pulleys on the tree.

My take:

[afx]

The intake trumpets are in the upper right corner:

Removed the debris cap and drilled them out. 

 

Edited March 10, 2020 by afx

[afx]

Created a recess in the firewall to allow for some engine set-back.

Edited March 9, 2020 by afx

[porschercr]

Great start.

Trevor

[dublin boy]

Excellent start JC, I've seen a few of these built up out of box.

Never seen one afx'd before! Keep going mate.

 

[afx]

9 hours ago, porschercr said:

Great start.

Trevor

Thanks Trevor

2 hours ago, dublin boy said:

Excellent start JC, I've seen a few of these built up out of box.

Never seen one afx'd before! Keep going mate.

 

I thought you might like this build Shay.  Not going to the level of my RS1800 build but we will make some improvements.

[Scott8950]

i enjoy watching you build, your an amazing craftsman!!! Great start

[slusher]

Great start, I enjoy watching you build!

[89AKurt]

That's something I've not seen built before, much less a kit.  Like how you are picking it apart for improvements.

[afx]

9 hours ago, Scott8950 said:

i enjoy watching you build, your an amazing craftsman!!! Great start

Thanks Scott.

7 hours ago, slusher said:

Great start, I enjoy watching you build!

Thanks Carl.

6 hours ago, 89AKurt said:

That's something I've not seen built before, much less a kit.  Like how you are picking it apart for improvements.

Much like your builds Kurt just chip away at it, improving it bit by bit.

[afx]

Some history:

 

[afx]

 

 

Edited March 10, 2020 by afx

[dublin boy]

Keeep the revs up JC!

 

 

[Dann Tier]

This is gonna be a FUN project for sure!!...i love these old ESCI kits!!

[afx]

On 3/10/2020 at 2:16 PM, dublin boy said:

Keeep the revs up JC!

Indeed Shay.

19 hours ago, Dann Tier said:

This is gonna be a FUN project for sure!!...i love these old ESCI kits!!

I agree Dann Esci did some great subjects/kits, with a little help they can be a nice model.

[afx]

I'm building the Jean-Claude (JC) Andruet car, chassis #G11

https://www.ewrc-results.com/carinfo/98-fiat-131-abarth/?car=3928

 

 

Relying on this book as reference as well as the Classic Rally Models - photo CD and internet research.

Edited March 13, 2020 by afx

[afx]

Wasn't happy with the header, too much if hung under the car exposed to damage that rally cars are prone too.  Fabricated this:

Reminder this was the before header:

[afx]

Now only the outlet pipes are under the car. Also fabricated a front cross member.

Before:

[CabDriver]

Those headers look great!  Super clean build so far!

[Erik Smith]

It’s definitely a neat little car. I’ll enjoy watching you make it a neat little model.

[afx]

Thanks Jim & Erik.

This evening's work was fabricating a skid plate.

 

[slusher]

Very nice JC..

[STYRENE-SURFER]

Great subject JC, this will be fun to follow.

[dublin boy]

Never seen twin pipes all the way down the same system  going through two silencers before JC.

I can only assume it's accurate knowing you.

Anything was possible in 1970's Italy. lol

Edited March 14, 2020 by dublin boy