Tamiya/Ebbro Citroen 2CV Fourgonnette

[PatW]

Just started this yesterday....

The kit suspension as is the real van with torsion bar suspension.

[PatW]

So as shown the suspension under load, normal setting and unloaded, with the load area rear suspension hanging lower than the front................

 

[PatW]

Although the kit has a small number of decals they depict an English garage, but the kit is left hand drive and all imported 2cv's from Citroen were all right hand drive.

So I've printed some french Michelin logo's depicting a tyre dealer, they appear on the sides, all doors, bonnet and roof................

 

 

The rear load area interior with spare wheel .....................................................

 

The cab interior with some stick on carpet from the spares bin.................

Edited December 2, 2015 by PatW

[Atmobil]

Cool to see this being built. I got one myself. Cool detail with functioning suspension. I also think it is strange with English garage decals on this French van.

[PatW]

Yes Atmobil, French with English decals. I'm trying to find a French Citroen dealership on google so that I can name it on the van!

[Tom Geiger]

I will be watching!  I seriously need one of these, along with the pickup version.  I remember seeing them in Europe when I lived in Germany back in 1969-72.

EDIT -   After I wrote the above post, I was up in my model room and walked right by this kit!   So I indeed own one. My old brain is turning to mush!  

 

Edited December 2, 2015 by Tom Geiger

[PatW]

OK Tom I'll try and make a good job of it, more pics tomorrow.

[GeeBee]

I also think it is strange with English garage decals on this French van.

Not strange at all, as Grove Garage are and have been a Citroen specialist for many years

http://www.grovegarageweybridge.co.uk/

[GeeBee]

all imported 2cv's from Citroen were all right hand drive.

Some 2Cv's were built at the Slough factory, (now owned by Mars chocolate,) in 1954, but they were not a great success, most 2CV's that were imported either personally or by specialist business would have been left hand drive, it wasn't until the mid 70's that the 2CV was officially imported into the U.K

[PatW]

Thanks for the info Gee Bee.

[Junkman]

It strikes me oddly, that apparently only very few people seem to understand the ingenious suspension system.

2CVs have no torsion bars whatsoever. They have a compound coil spring system.

Front and rear suspension arms act via bellcranks onto a combined spring package housed in horizontally mounted cylindrical containers on each side of the chassis.
If each of those cylindrical containers was rigidly mounted to the chassis, you'd have an independent suspension. But they aren't. They are mounted by means of an additional set of springs,
called "volute" springs (later models used rubber mounts). This setup allows the front and rear suspension to interconnect.

Let's say a front wheel is deflected up over a bump. The front pull rod compresses the front spring inside the cylinder, against the front of the cylinder. It also compresses the front "volute" spring (C), pulling the whole cylinder forwards. That action pulls the rear wheel down on the same side via the rear spring assembly and bellcrank. When the rear wheel meets that bump a moment later, it does the same in reverse, thus keeping the car level front to rear.
When both springs are compressed on one side, let's say when travelling around a bend, the equal and opposite forces applied to the front and rear spring assemblies reduce the
interconnection significantly, or even completely. This stiffens the suspension after a certain amount of body roll has been achieved. It allows the 2CV to have very soft "bump mode" absorption,
without wallow, uncontrolled float, or pitching, which is often experienced in cars with soft suspension (just drive - let's say - a '60 Buick).

Also note, that this system requires very little damping. Note that 2CVs (and in fact all Citroen A-Series cars) had no shock absorbers prior to the 1970s.
The only damping they had was by means of the cylinders you can see near the hubs in above drawing. These cylinders contain oil and a relatively heavy weight.
This gives the suspension system a bit of inertia and that's all that wass needed for damping. A bit like Wilmot-Breeden counterweights, just more intelligently applied.

Edited December 4, 2015 by Junkman

[GeeBee]

 

Also note, that this system requires very little damping. Note that 2CVs (and in fact all Citroen A-Series cars) have no shock absorbers.
The only damping they have is by means of the cylinders you can see near the hubs in above drawing. These cylinders contain oil and a relatively heavy weight.
This gives the suspension system a bit of inertia and that's all that's needed for damping. A bit like Wilmot-Breeden counterweights, just more intelligently applied.

 

Since around 1970 all 2CV's and Dyane's had front & rear shock absorbers, the rear one being longer than the fronts .....

Edited December 4, 2015 by GeeBee

[Junkman]

So for 22 years they didn't. They had this:

Edited December 4, 2015 by Junkman

[GeeBee]

So for 22 years they didn't.

and for 20 years, they did .....

[Junkman]

So the overwhelming majority of them had no shock absorbers.

[Atmobil]

Very interesting lecture on the suspension. I had no idea it worked like that. I guess I learn something new every day

[GeeBee]

 

Also note, that this system requires very little damping. Note that 2CVs (and in fact all Citroen A-Series cars) have no shock absorbers.
 

Now if you had said that the early pre 1970's 2CV's had no shock absorbers, I wouldn't have had a problem with your quote !!

[Junkman]

I corrected it.

[PatW]

 

Wow I didn't realise the interest this subject would cause!

Today's work, the cab is fitted out...............

Edited December 4, 2015 by PatW

[PatW]

The glass is fitted in the sides and rear doors from inside...........

 

[PatW]

The box body is easily put together..............

 

[PatW]

The front of the body where it fits to the cab. If I'd have realised, the rear fits inside the upside down 'U' shape, and requires quite a bit of sanding/filing on the inner face of the 'U'.

[PatW]

The rear of the body.......................

[PatW]

Test fitting the roof, it only goes on one way round, front to back. Matching up with the interior mouldings...............

[PatW]

Test fitting the box body to the chassis to set the rear ride height...................