Fiat 500 going to the mountains

[Carlo.d]

Good day friends.

I am still trying to educate you people to our small cars. Just think that the total displacement of the Fiat 500 engine is less than the displacement of just one cylinder of your big V 8 !

Never mind. This wip is rather autobiographic. Actually this model is a copy of the 500 i used to drive as a youngster.

The starting point is, again, the Italeri kit scale 1/12. The kit is a good one, the only blemish IMHO is that Italeri decided to have some moving parts in the suspensions and the steering system. Apart from the fact that nobody in his right mind will try to play with such an expensive and delicate model, the result is that the suspensions are rather weak and can break very easily. Apart from that, the kit is spot on and the shape of the car is reproduced in an excellent way.

The build will be "out of the box" and i will add some accessories.

 

 

[OldNYJim]

Exciting!  I have the 1/24 Tamiya kit to build here but I’d love to build this version too - I’ll be watching!

[Bugatti Fan]

I used to own a Fist 500 back in the 70's. A fun little car. Cheap to run. Cheap to insure. 

Did many hundreds of miles in it but it was a bit of a rust box unfortunately, so it had to go at the time. In hindsight I should have stored it away for 40 years of so and got it fully restored as they are quite desirable now. I saw one on display at a Fiat main dealer recently. It looked tiny even against the modern Fist 500.

Will be looking at the Italeri kit as I believe it can be built in both right and left hand configuration. RHD would be my option as a UK driver. 

 

 

[Carlo.d]

Bugatti Fan, nice memories.

By the way, I confirm that the kit can be done in both right and left hand drive. All pieces, including UK plates, are in the box.

[Carlo.d]

As I said, this is a autobiographical model, so my 500 had to be painted in original colour. To avoid any mistake, I found the proper colour code as supplied by one of Fiat 500 owners Club. The colour is "Celeste acquamarina", roughly translated as seawater light blue. I had one spray bottle custom mixed in a local shop and I was quite happy with the result.

 

[khier]

18 hours ago, Carlo.d said:

It is currently on sale here. The right time to buy several kits and to make several variants. I shall be looking forward to watching your WIP. Do not keep us waiting.

 

 

[Carlo.d]

Khier, i appreciate your intention to make several variants. I may actually produce a 500 L, the luxury model. It's quite easy to do, the main difference being the bumpers with some tubular additions. On the inside the seats and dashboard gave a better appeal to this small car.

 

It is interesting to point out that the tube on the bumpers were there just for show, they were rather weak and easy to break. The 500 L was very popular as a second car or as a gift for wealthy students. The seats were folding back, so really useful for covert night activities.

 

[Carlo.d]

Another variant is the giardinetta, a minimal station wagon. To get a roomier cargo space the engine was modified to reduce his height. I was thinking to realize the giardinetta, but this Is a rather complicated mod, involving heavy changes: roof, rear door, longer wheelbase.

 

[Carlo.d]

Last, don't forget that Italeri made a nice kit for the Abarth.

[Anglia105E]

I might seriously consider buying a 1:1 full size Fiat 500, Carlo . . . It would have to be one of the more modern ones, so I don't know if they are any good, as compared to the older ones ?

I am located in England, U.K.

Nice build you have there, and the 1:12 scale Italeri kits are usually very good . . .

David

[Bugatti Fan]

Plenty of nice ones about David !     The Abarth versions look quite tasty !

My original was white back in the 70's so will have to check out the Fiat paint specification for that time to use on my model. Thanks Carlo for confirming the Italeri kit has a RHD option as well as LHD. Good thinking on their part.

[Carlo.d]

Painted the seats and the door cards. The colours are correct enough. Obviously in this case you don't have any colour code as a reference, so I used some pictures from the net and my memory.

[slusher]

I like these little Fiats, I would like to build one sometime..

[Carlo.d]

Good day.

Here are some pictures of the interiors.

Just like to point out the marvelous naivety of the dashboard: one switch for the lights, one switch for the tergi and the keyhole. That's all. Just plain sheet metal, no padding whatsoever (obviously no seat belts either) and the windscreen washer activated by a small manual pump: a rubber button to be pressed vigorously in order to spray a feeble jet of water !

[Carlo.d]

Here is the body just painted. The roof will be closed, I'm going to the mountains.

[Carlo.d]

Well. The model is quite completed. 

But now let's go to the mountains.

As I sad before, this wip is largely autobiographical. In the period when I was driving the 500, I lived in the outskirts of Venezia. From there, in a range of 100 / 150 KMS there are various ski resorts in the Dolomiti mountains. Such a distance was well suited to my small car, so that - money permitting - I often went there in the morning, spent a good day of skying and went back home in the evening.

So my model must be well prepared to face the adversities of a winter journey. First of all, we need the snow chains.

To make the snow chains I used some chains sourced from naval models and some small connectors coming from fishing tackles. The result was quite nice.

 

[MeatMan]

Nice build!

[Carlo.d]

Well, you can't ski without skis. So I scratch built a couple of skis out of plasticard and the ski poles. This is a first trial.

I wasn't completely happy with the result, so I produced some diy water slide decals with logos. Much better.

 

[slusher]

very nice build and nice touch on your skis, very realistic..

[Zippi]

Super kewl build Carlo.  Those ski's and the poles turned out really nice.  I'd like to have one of these kits as I can see a Gasser project.   That's just me thinkig out loud.  

[Carlo.d]

Thank you, friends.

The skis are gone, now it's time to put them on the car. When I was young and impecunious, I simply put a normal roof rack and I tied the skis with some rubber bands. But for my model I decided to replicate  a rack custom made for the Fiat 500. 

Here below you will find the car completed with the ski equipment. Later on i will prepare a proper base.

 

 

 

 

[stavanzer]

Awesome Details. I really like the Tire Chains, and Ski racks.

[Carlo.d]

And now..... Let it snow !

With judicious use of vinyl glue and baking soda I obtained a true snow storm.

The wip is now completed. Thanks to everybody for your attention and support.

 

[Kaenned]

Very 'cool' (?❄️) project Carlo! I'm currently working on the 1/24 Tamiya kit, and the 500 is such a charming little thing! I'm very curious of how you made the snow stick to the car and sit in ways and places that look realistic. Can you share a bit more about the process and tools you used?

[Carlo.d]

On 6/25/2024 at 10:09 AM, Kaenned said:

Very 'cool' (?❄️) project Carlo! I'm currently working on the 1/24 Tamiya kit, and the 500 is such a charming little thing! I'm very curious of how you made the snow stick to the car and sit in ways and places that look realistic. Can you share a bit more about the process and tools you used?

To tell you the truth, the snow Is the easier part of the build.

You just need vinyl glue

Some baking soda

And a tea strainer 

You just mix the glue with some water and brush it on the car. Then you spread the powder through the strainer. Once the glue is dry, you shake the model to remove the excess and you're done. With the brush you can easily choose the places where you want to leave the "snow".