1/12 scale Alfa Romeo 8c 2300 roadster build log [COMPLETED BUILD]

[François]

Here are a few more details that were done in the past days.

Installed the last remaining components on the engine, starter on the left, horn in the middle and the "whatdoesitdo" on the right. All 3 have leads that will be attached to the main harness.

Water pipes installed. I replaced the kit's moulded connecting tube and clamps with real rubber tube (it's actually electrical heat shrink tube) and clamps made with a chrome tape. Notice the tiny clamps screw.

I replaced the kit's badly moulded oil filler cap (on the right) with a polished aluminium cap on the left. Not sure if I'll leave it polished since it's not polished on my ref car.
Ref car

Installed the last linkage, I think it's used to manualy ajust the advance/retard on the distributer (not sure about that).

And finally, added the link between the header and exhaust pipe as on my ref car. The kit doesn't have any.
Link on ref car

 

[François]

The engine is in (married) !! I started to grime it up a bit, not easy to not over do it. I'll do some more once everything is in place. I did grime up the crank shaft and pistons by using an enamel engine oil simulater but once dried, the engine would not turn anymore. But I eventually got it working again but adding very light oil. It looks the part now!! I also weathered the exhaust a bit.
View attachment 20230324_081351.mp4

 

[François]

Didn't do much today, except for a car support. I made it so the car can be mounted right side up or down. It will make fitting the different body parts much easier.

 

[François]

E
Here's what I've been up to today.
Started final installation of some body panels with lockwire. (Sorry pugwash, I tried the idea I had for a more thru to life wirelock but it didn't work). Installed the floor pan. Fabricated a battery cut off switch as on ref car. Installed pedals. Continued the brake linkage, I just need to connect the brake pedal to the linkage. Added the brake pedal shaft end support. Here are some pictures.

Boby panels with lockwire
And ref car

Floor pan installed (added a few other parts for test fitting)


Battery cutoff switch
Cutoff switch on ref car

All pedals installed and weathered
Ref car pedals

Brake linkage
And it actually works!!
View attachment 20230327_202533.mp4


Brake pedal shaft end support

Removal of oil pan to show engine's inner parts (the pan is held in place using two small magnets)
View attachment 20230327_172840.mp4

 

[François]

The body us now on and ready for the lockwire. I've installed the steering column with it's custom gage. Wired the 3 components on the engine's left side. Finished the brake and steering linkage. Plus a few other things. Here are some pictures.

4 last rodends fabricated
Linkage all done

Battery box drain tubes

And gas tank drain tube

Steering column installed

Engine components wired

Test fit of exhaust

First test fit of hood, should fit nicely.

 

[Corsair]

E
Here's what I've been up to today.
Started final installation of some body panels with lockwire. (Sorry pugwash, I tried the idea I had for a more thru to life wirelock but it didn't work). Installed the floor pan. Fabricated a battery cut off switch as on ref car. Installed pedals. Continued the brake linkage, I just need to connect the brake pedal to the linkage. Added the brake pedal shaft end support. Here are some pictures.

Boby panels with lockwire View attachment 365743
And ref carView attachment 365746

Floor pan installed (added a few other parts for test fitting)
View attachment 365740

Battery cutoff switch View attachment 365742
Cutoff switch on ref car View attachment 365747

All pedals installed and weathered View attachment 365749
Ref car pedals View attachment 365748

Brake linkage View attachment 365739
And it actually works!!
View attachment 365751


Brake pedal shaft end support View attachment 365750

Removal of oil pan to show engine's inner parts (the pan is held in place using two small magnets)
View attachment 365744

Love it !

 

[Donnie]

Wow - absolutely incredible. I have the Romeo Monza - but I am sure it will not even come close to what you have done - very well done !!!

 

[Uwek]

amazing work - just wonderful

sometimes I have to look twice to realize it is the model or the original

 

[François]

Still more detail work done today. Redid the tubular passthru for the spark plug wires out of aluminium tubing. The kit's part is plastic and way to flemsy. Routed all the plug wires and all the gas and oil lines. Here are todays picture.

Kit's cheap plastic tubular passthru

My passthru


Ref car

Oil tank

Oil tank piping

 

[Dean62]

Still more detail work done today. Redid the tubular passthru for the spark plug wires out of aluminium tubing. The kit's part is plastic and way to flemsy. Routed all the plug wires and all the gas and oil lines. Here are todays picture.

Kit's cheap plastic tubular passthru View attachment 366166View attachment 366165

My passthru View attachment 366168View attachment 366167
View attachment 366158View attachment 366161

Ref carView attachment 366160

Oil tankView attachment 366153

Oil tank piping
View attachment 366159

View attachment 366157

View attachment 366163

View attachment 366164

Beautiful work! It’s really coming alive!

 

[Corsair]

Outstanding!

 

[Dean62]

One question...will you be adding this component to the cooling system?
Highlighted below...

 

[François]

Yes, that was my intention, I have to go get a smaller braided wire first, the one I have is to big.

 

[Dean62]

Yes, that was my intention, I have to go get a smaller braided wire first, the one I have is to big.

Ok, I was wondering, because You don’t miss a detail!

 

[François]

I try!! If you see anything that you think would be worthwhile doing and that isn't done yet, let me know.

 

[François]

Ok, so I know that many of you will say that seat belts don't belong in a 1930's car and you are absolutly right. But my ref car, which was destroyed sometime in the 30's was restored for race track use in the 70's. I assume it was fitted with these belts at that time.

Here's my rendering of them
And Dean, I started the temp gauge probe attachement you asked for, it should be finished tomorrow.

 

[François]

The probe attachement is done.

Ref car

Me

 

[François]

Did the tail lights and head lights today.
The tail lights in the kit are very different from the ones on the ref car so I had to redo them. The front are not do bad but I still modified them alot.

The kit's tail lights

The ref car tail lights
I had to redo the mounting post with the mounting clamp, redid the bezel in aluminium and added the wire with ties.

The kit's front lights
The ref car's

For the front, I changed the mounting post from a plastic stud to an aluminium post, made an aluminium bezel complete with clamp, added the wire all the way to the buld (the bulb and wire can be seen thru the lens), reproduced the blue tape glued to the lens and added all missing bolts. For now, I used blue masking tape to do the criss cross but I'm waiting for custom made decals, I'll see which is best.

Finished the day by installing the exhaust and painting the steering wheel (don't like the color I choosed for the steering, I'll have to redo it).

 

[Corsair]

Did the tail lights and head lights today.
The tail lights in the kit are very different from the ones on the ref car so I had to redo them. The front are not do bad but I still modified them alot.

The kit's tail lights View attachment 367562

The ref car tail lights View attachment 367577View attachment 367578
I had to redo the mounting post with the mounting clamp, redid the bezel in aluminium and added the wire with ties.View attachment 367580View attachment 367579

The kit's front lights View attachment 367571
The ref car's View attachment 367575View attachment 367585View attachment 367576

For the front, I changed the mounting post from a plastic stud to an aluminium post, made an aluminium bezel complete with clamp, added the wire all the way to the buld (the bulb and wire can be seen thru the lens), reproduced the blue tape glued to the lens and added all missing bolts. For now, I used blue masking tape to do the criss cross but I'm waiting for custom made decals, I'll see which is best.View attachment 367582View attachment 367587View attachment 367581View attachment 367583

Finished the day by installing the exhaust and painting the steering wheel (don't like the color I choosed for the steering, I'll have to redo it).

View attachment 367588
View attachment 367574
View attachment 367589View attachment 367594View attachment 367595

Same wonderful work as before ! Just amazing !

 

[pugwash]

My admiration is growing each time you post new photo's.

Congrats on your latest attempts at lock-wiring......except the bias is wrong sided, but otherwise is more convincing than simple straight lines.