1907 Fiat 130 HP Grand Prix Racer 1/20 Scale

[Plastheniker]

Hi,

this is the first of six pairs of models I made from Casadio-Revival metal kits. I corrected and detailed them thoroughly. Each pair consists of a first model built as a superdetailed chassis and a second model built as a complete car with coachwork.

The Fiat 130 HP (often called F-2) was a successful Grand Prix racer in the earliest days of racing. One vehicle has survived and is displayed at the Museo Nazionale dell' Automobile in Torino/Italy, shown here:

Modellers know this car from the 1/8 Pocher model, shown here on a Pocher catalogue picture:

Some years after Pocher Casadio released a 1/20 kit of the same car, shown here on a Casadio Revival catalogue picture:

About Casadio Revival kits, especially about the general shortcomings and pros & cons,

you can find some information in this topic: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=75275

This Fiat 130 HP is one of two or three Casadio Revival kits that are less difficult to build than most others. Authenticity and fit are rather good by comparison. I built these models about 10 or 15 years ago. I still remember some specific problems:

• I made a new bonnet, because the bonnet of the kit did not match the real one and fit was not satisfactory.
• I reworked the radiator that did not look convincing.
• The white tyres (sometimes really used on the real car) did not fit the rims and looked rather toy-like. I made new black tyres.
• The ready-painted coachwork had been deburred unsufficiently and the paintwork itself was poor.
• The real car had many brass parts, the kit contained almost none. Except the radiator (BMF) I made all brass parts from real brass - today Alclad would make make it easier.
• The rest was a lot of detailing and replacing.

The result looks like this (please click the catalogue picture for a comparison):

I know that my enthusiasm for vintage racers is a bit exotic. Nevertheless I hope you are interested too.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Absolutely beautiful work. Wow.

[CrazyGirl]

simply amazing work

[Harry P.]

I built the Pocher version, yours in a much smaller scale is mighty impressive!

[sjordan2]

Superb job, especially considering the challenges. And the engine is awesome.

[bondo bill]

great work wow

[uncle potts]

beautiful!

[Brizio]

Amazing!

[Lovefordgalaxie]

Don't feel odd Jürgen, I'm too into vintage racers like that Fiat, and same vintage Darracqs, for example.

Those Fiats were impressive machines at the time, with massive cubic inch displacement. I admire them very much.

Your work on this Fiat can be considered impecabble!!!

My Italian blood approves it!!! Molto buono!!!

Edited May 17, 2013 by Lovefordgalaxie

[peekay]

Beautiful!

[Danno]

Most excellent!

[surfjunke]

Really fine craftsmanship. Love the detail work. Very well done.

[kennb]

They should have you do the box art build for them,,,,,,,it is sooooooo much nicer than they did..................very nicely detailed and put together with a much higher standard..............

Edited May 17, 2013 by kennb

[W-Machine]

That really is a work of art. Simply beautiful.

[Roncla]

I built that kit when it first came out. I remember the metal that Revival uses for these kits is very hard compared to the soft metal that the likes of MFH use.

The white tires on my Fiat lost their shape and disintegrated over the decades.

You've done a very impressive build on what I remember as a crude and some what difficult kit.

[Plastheniker]

Hi, thanks for your comments.

I am very happy to see that more modellers are interested in vintage GP racers than I supposed.

Next the 1937 Auto Union Typ C including the streamliner will follow.

See you then