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Cars: Other Racing
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Alpine Renault A110 build
betheyn
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#019
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Posted: Tuesday, February 19, 2019 - 11:49 PM UTC
Well this is my build blog for the first car I will be building since I was about 12 .
My victim is Tamiya's lovely looking Alpine Renault A110, Monte-Carlo 1971 rally in 1/24th.

I will be building this pretty much OOB.
So starting off here are some sprue shots of the contents.







As you can see the main body and one sprue are moulded in metalic blue, one grey sprue, one chrome and the clear sprue.
Four rubber tyres and polycaps and two decal sheets make up the rest of the contents, minus the instructions of course.
The build looks pretty straightforward, and being a Tamiya kit, I don't forsee any problems, other then my own making .
Andy
AussieReg
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#007
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Victoria, Australia
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Posted: Wednesday, February 20, 2019 - 12:36 AM UTC
Those are some crisp looking parts Andy, I'm really looking forward to following this build. First car since you were about 12! That must be what, about 10 years ago now

Cheers, D

Sunbeamrapier
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Vejle, Denmark
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Posted: Wednesday, February 20, 2019 - 01:56 AM UTC
That's a good choice! I'll be interested to see whether the rear suspension has the negative camber on the rear wheels, so prominent on the 1:1 Alpine
Joel_W
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Posted: Thursday, February 21, 2019 - 09:35 AM UTC
Andy
Welcome to our auto Modeler group, it's great to have you, and it's great to see that you're jumping in with both feet with your 1st build. I'll be following right alone till you cross that finish line.

Joel
betheyn
Staff MemberSenior Editor
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#019
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Posted: Thursday, February 21, 2019 - 11:30 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Those are some crisp looking parts Andy, I'm really looking forward to following this build. First car since you were about 12! That must be what, about 10 years ago now

Cheers, D


Typical Tamiya quality, lovely plastic and no signs of flash or mis-moulds anywhere for the age of the kit.
I wish I was 12 ten years ago .


Quoted Text

That's a good choice! I'll be interested to see whether the rear suspension has the negative camber on the rear wheels, so prominent on the 1:1 Alpine

Well we will find out once I stick the wheels on, might be a while yet though lol.


Quoted Text

Welcome to our auto Modeler group, it's great to have you, and it's great to see that you're jumping in with both feet with your 1st build. I'll be following right alone till you cross that finish line.

I have been looking forward to tackling this kit, ever since I bought it.

Well I haven't been as productive as I planned to be, as I didn't have any chrome paint, so had to go buy some today.
Only managed to get the engine block built and sprayed aluminium so far, but I'm hoping to get a good crack at it over the weekend.
Thanks for following guys, I will post an update when I actually get somewhere lol.
Andy
Hwa-Rang
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Kobenhavn, Denmark
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Posted: Thursday, February 21, 2019 - 06:30 PM UTC
Great choice of model. Always loved that little car. Will you go all in "rally dirty" on this model?
betheyn
Staff MemberSenior Editor
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Posted: Thursday, February 21, 2019 - 07:50 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Great choice of model. Always loved that little car. Will you go all in "rally dirty" on this model?

Thanks Jesper, it is a pretty little thing.
I plan on finishing her all shiny and new looking, as I have never done a kit with a very gloss finish, and would really like to try it.
Andy
Merlin
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Posted: Thursday, February 21, 2019 - 10:47 PM UTC
Nice one Andy!

I'm looking forward to following this build.

All the best

Rowan
betheyn
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Posted: Sunday, February 24, 2019 - 08:28 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Nice one Andy!

I'm looking forward to following this build.

All the best

Rowan

Thanks Rowan.
Well I have been playing around a bit with this, haven't got as far as I wanted, but the back end with the engine is near enough done, just a shame you wont see it once I close the boot up .



I have ordered some seat belt material as the kit doesn't include any, not even decals, so the interior will wait until that turns up.
I still have the front suspension and steering rack to assemble, before I even get to that stage.
Been quite enjoyable thus far, even if I cant seem to get to the bench much.
Andy
Szmann
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Netherlands Antilles
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Posted: Sunday, February 24, 2019 - 12:10 PM UTC
... and so it began!

Well, Andy, you are of to a good start. I am quite interested in this build, because I have an uncanny feeling the Alpine is going to work its way into my stash... very odd feeling ...

Gabriel
Joel_W
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Posted: Monday, February 25, 2019 - 03:24 AM UTC
Andy,
Very nice job detail painting the engine and the front suspension.

Have no fear of turning out a 1st rate gloss paint finish. It's a lot easier then it looks. If I can do it, anyone can.

Joel
Cosimodo
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Posted: Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - 09:55 PM UTC
The engine looks really sharp Andy. I thought these cars were rear engine drive but it's amazing to see it sit behind the rear axle like that. Must have made for for interesting handling challenges.

cheers
Michael
Joel_W
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Posted: Wednesday, February 27, 2019 - 05:20 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Great choice of model. Always loved that little car. Will you go all in "rally dirty" on this model?

Thanks Jesper, it is a pretty little thing.
I plan on finishing her all shiny and new looking, as I have never done a kit with a very gloss finish, and would really like to try it.
Andy


Andy,
That's the option I always take. Every race car starts the race like it came straight out of the showroom, so it's realistic for sure.

It use to bother me to no end when I was in armor that after careful painting, I spent more time weathering it to the point of not even seeing the original paint scheme.

Joel
betheyn
Staff MemberSenior Editor
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#019
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Posted: Wednesday, February 27, 2019 - 10:12 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The engine looks really sharp Andy. I thought these cars were rear engine drive but it's amazing to see it sit behind the rear axle like that. Must have made for for interesting handling challenges.

cheers
Michael

Thanks Michael.
I would imagine they would have had too put some weight in the front of the car, or its going to be very light and interesting to steer .

Quoted Text

Andy,
That's the option I always take. Every race car starts the race like it came straight out of the showroom, so it's realistic for sure.

It use to bother me to no end when I was in armor that after careful painting, I spent more time weathering it to the point of not even seeing the original paint scheme.

Joel


For this build it will be all shiny and new, but I do plan or dirtying a rally car up in the future, I have a plan (famous last words).
That's the best bit of armour, caking the thing in mud, which as a bonus helps hide the cock ups I normally make .

Well I haven't been sitting on my proverbial today on my day off doing naff all, which makes a change, and managed too get the running gear completed.

Next up is attaching it all to the floor pan and then covering most of it up with two large skid plates.
Andy
Joel_W
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Posted: Wednesday, February 27, 2019 - 10:29 AM UTC
Andy,
Engine and chassis really look great. I'm impressed to say the least.

As for the unusual engine placement behind the rear axle, it's not the odd when you consider that every single Porsche built on the 911 frame is that way with the engine that far back. For us Americans it would be in the rear trunk.

I'm sure that they add some weight to the front for balance but with such a simple chassis design, I'm sure it would have come out right at the min weight.

Joel
Merlin
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Posted: Friday, March 08, 2019 - 09:11 AM UTC
Hi Andy

I'm really intrigued by your plan for dirtying this rally car! "Whether to weather" is a real question for me with car kits. I'd take it for granted to at least some on an aircraft, but I'm in a real quandary with cars.

I did buy a set of Rustall yonks ago (which I've never even tried out!), so a "junk-yard challenge" is obviously something to aim for one day. There are some incredible examples of using this stuff out there - sheer works of art! - which I know I'll never come close to replicating.

But it's how to best depict simple everyday use that has me perplexed. Should we even try? Maybe a showroom finish is simply most effective for the majority car models? (Perhaps the subject is worthy of a thread in itself?)

But I do love the idea of really dirtying up something like the Alpine-Renault!

All the best

Rowan
AussieReg
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#007
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Posted: Friday, March 08, 2019 - 10:25 AM UTC
Moving along very nicely Andy, and I must admit this is the first time I've seen a car with a single chassis rail!


Quoted Text

Hi Andy

I'm really intrigued by your plan for dirtying this rally car! "Whether to weather" is a real question for me with car kits. I'd take it for granted to at least some on an aircraft, but I'm in a real quandary with cars.

I did buy a set of Rustall yonks ago (which I've never even tried out!), so a "junk-yard challenge" is obviously something to aim for one day. There are some incredible examples of using this stuff out there - sheer works of art! - which I know I'll never come close to replicating.

But it's how to best depict simple everyday use that has me perplexed. Should we even try? Maybe a showroom finish is simply most effective for the majority car models? (Perhaps the subject is worthy of a thread in itself?)

But I do love the idea of really dirtying up something like the Alpine-Renault!

All the best

Rowan


You've read my mind Rowan! I have been pondering this exact issue for a long time now, after many years of building aircraft kits and not even thinking twice about chipping on walkways and leading edges, exhaust stains, oil leaks etc. How do you replicate the weathering on your "daily driver" or "shopping trolley"? Somewhere in between the pristine showroom classic and the junkyard dog or barn find extremes. I think a dedicated thread on "Auto Weathering" is definitely in order.

Cheers, D
Merlin
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Posted: Friday, March 08, 2019 - 11:08 AM UTC
Hi Damian

It looks like there's rich pickings in this as a subject. From the most basic "What colour are tyres (tires)?" - almost certainly not what I've found in many of my car kits... - to how to add depth and character to builds.

I remember when I was getting started modelling seriously, the advice in UK magazines was to highlight doors and panels on car kits with a black Rotring pen. In retrospect, it seems massively too stark, so an evolving thread on how to subtly add character to car builds, with a little everyday wear and tear along the way, could be great.

All the best

Rowan
betheyn
Staff MemberSenior Editor
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#019
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Posted: Friday, March 08, 2019 - 11:40 AM UTC

Quoted Text

But I do love the idea of really dirtying up something like the Alpine-Renault!

Hi Rowan,
I don't plan on weathering the Alpine, this one will be pristine.
My down and dirty car will probably be the Ford Focus WRC kit from Similr, which will have two figures inside (as long as they fit of course) and will be on a base, I have an idea in mind.
As for the "Auto Weathering", I think it depends on personal tastes, I for one want to have a go at attempting everything from pristine to a rusty old junk heap.
I think a thread would be a great idea, I might just start one lol.
Andy
AussieReg
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Posted: Friday, March 08, 2019 - 11:58 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I think a thread would be a great idea, I might just start one lol. Andy


Too late!
Merlin
Staff MemberSenior Editor
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#017
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Posted: Friday, March 08, 2019 - 09:37 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Rowan,
I don't plan on weathering the Alpine, this one will be pristine.

My down and dirty car will probably be the Ford Focus WRC kit from Similr, which will have two figures inside (as long as they fit of course) and will be on a base, I have an idea in mind.

Andy


Hi Andy

Sorry - I misread your earlier post. I'll be interested to see what you do to dirty-up the Ford Focus.

All the best

Rowan
AussieReg
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
#007
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Posted: Thursday, March 21, 2019 - 09:19 AM UTC
THIS would make an interesting follow-up build and a great display, hopefully we see a kit on the way

Cheers, D
betheyn
Staff MemberSenior Editor
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#019
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England - South East, United Kingdom
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Posted: Thursday, March 21, 2019 - 10:04 AM UTC

Quoted Text

THIS would make an interesting follow-up build and a great display, hopefully we see a kit on the way

Cheers, D

The Grand Tour had one to drive around the track, and James May was so impressed he bought one.
Hasn't got quite the same panache as the original, but I would still buy a kit version if one became available.
Andy
P.S The build has stalled for the last week or so as I went on holiday, but an update will be soon (he says hopefully lol).
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