Italeri 1:12 Fiat Mephistophele Finished

Don, I envey the deal you got on this kit, but it definately went to the right person. Your build string was both epic and inspiritional. 

I really cannot add any more complimentary remarks that have'nt already been said. Thanks for sharing it with us all. 

GREAT WORK!

Ben

Building 1:12 scale models requires a good dose of foul langrage. In fact, the instructions for my Ferrari 312 T makes maention of it. (red arrow) 

DanR1967

This is beautiful work. I so badly want one of these kits, but they are currently out of my price range!

 

I lucked out.  This kit had been in the hands of three other members of one of my model clubs.  They passed it around as too much work to build.  It takes a committment of a lot of time and foul language, but I did manage to finish it.

This is beautiful work. I so badly want one of these kits, but they are currently out of my price range!

You have some great modeling skills and this build shows them off.  Very well done!

Mike

dlh

 

 

Don Stauffer

 

 

dlh

This build was really fun. Wood floors/firewall are not as hard as you might think.  The engine is really a separate model.

 http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/4/t/182021.aspx

Dave

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful.  I hope mine comes out as nice.  I did a new graphic for the big tach, to show it with the extant car, but otherwise OOB.

Phil, I did order the wire from Amazon, got it yesterday.  Started the plug wiring.

I made a booboo in not following the plans exactly.  I thought while waiting for the wire I could go ahead and mount the intake manifolds and carburetors.  That was a mistake.  Lack of room makes putting plug wiring in on that side very difficult.

 

 

 

 

 

I wish I had used smaller wire than the kit includes. I had a lot of trouble fitting the distributor bundles into the loom.  I'm still not happy with the result.  The kit wire is just too large.

Dave

 

Agree.  I used electrical wire.

Don Stauffer

I have wondered the same. I just have not found the Italeri kit at a price I was willing to pay. I got a super deal on Meph.

Sounds like we're in the same boat, watching prices. It annoys me when I do that and the product I'm wanting sells out, though!

That said, this fixed income / retirement bit isn't all it was cracked up to be, so I can live with it if it happens.

Greg

Don, do you know anything about the Alfa Romeo kit by Italeri? You may recall that you explained to me that the quality of the kit you just built is far superior to any of the old Pocher kits.

I was wondering if the same might hold true of their Alfa Romeo and if so I might keep my eyes open while they are available.

 

I have wondered the same.  I just have not found the Italeri kit at a price I was willing to pay.  I got a super deal on Meph.

jeffpez

Greg: If you're referring to the Alfa 8c 2300 kit then I can attest that the quality is excellent.

I surely am, Jeff. That's the one. I really appreciate your input, thanks!

I think the reason I'm drawn to the kit is I had the Pocher Alfa Romeo as a kid and never finished it. I've been kicking myself for 8 yrs since I returned to the hobby, and I think having the Italeri kit on the shelf, if not the bench, might feel very good indeed.

If you posted the build here and I saw it and forgot, I apologize in advance. My memory leaves much to be desired.

Thanks again, Jeff!

Greg: If you're referring to the Alfa 8c 2300 kit then I can attest that the quality is excellent. I built it last summer and had no problems. Everything fit perfectly and the mold quality was always good. I'd prefer that it not have all the tiny screws and bolts but that's a minor quibble. As for comparing it to a Pocher kit I can't because I've never built or even seen one.

Don, do you know anything about the Alfa Romeo kit by Italeri? You may recall that you explained to me that the quality of the kit you just built is far superior to any of the old Pocher kits.

I was wondering if the same might hold true of their Alfa Romeo and if so I might keep my eyes open while they are available.

keavdog

Really nice job Don.  So much detail and the eye catching red!  BTW did the hood straps actually go over the exhaust manifold?

 

Not when hood closed.

Great looking model! You did a  fantastic job on the detailing.

Wow that's quite good.  Great subject and fantastic looking model.  

Really nice job Don.  So much detail and the eye catching red!  BTW did the hood straps actually go over the exhaust manifold?

Finished!

TB: Good for Heller. The new version has various placards and ads printed on high quality paper at the back of the instruction booklet. I cut out the ones I wanted to use and stuck them on with white glue. The result is fabulous.

JeffPez;

       The first time I saw that Bus it was in Heller livery. Weell, Box anyway. Great build. I bought mine second hand and when I wrote Heller about the Decals Missing and how I acquired it, and I wanted to buy some, it didn't even phase their Customer Service. They sent me a new sheet-Gratis!

Last year I was getting ready to order the Mephistofele because I'd wanted it for years but at the last second bought the Alfa 8000 instead. After reading your build log I'm convinced I made the right choice. I don't have the patience to deal with the issues you overcame much less get such a spectacular result.

The Paris taxi is a great kit and one I'll someday do again. I'd no sooner finished it than my wife knocked it off my desk and it was smashed. If you like older subjects take a look at the MiniArt London double decker bus.

https://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Model_Cars/lgoc-b-type-london-double-decker-omnibus/MIA00038021/product.php

carmad1957

...

So, whats up next? Gonna be a challenge to top this one Don!

 

Nothing in the queue will top the fiat, but I am working on a Mercedes 300K, and the ICM Paris taxi is next car in queue.

Only thing that may compare to Mephistofele is a 1/12 scratch KK midget that I work on occasionally.

Uummm...Don, when you tire of that just sittin' around, may I suggest packing it up nicely and sending it to me!! J/K of course*

That's an impressive build to say the least. I've been pondering getting that kit for I'd say a year or so, now that I've seen it (very well) built up, think I'll pull the trigger and get one headed this way! That's an outstanding model there to say the least, and you picked a worthy subject to showcase both your skills, and eye for detail- looks fantastic!!

So, whats up next? Gonna be a challenge to top this one Don!

Really lovely build Don. A credit to your skills.

I have seen a few of these appearing at Telford and at various other UK shows. Always a very impressive model when you see well built models like yours on the table.

Stunning, Don - simply stunning.

Don!!

 She's Gorgeous! What a great job on both the build and the photo WIP. I really enjoy your work. That deserves a piece of Birds-Eye maple or White/Red oak for a stand!

 Then she would stand there and show of your skills with Panache.

Spendid, outstanding, hard to find a word to do this justice.

Thank you very much for the WIP (a rarity from you), and I'm so glad you chose this kit to share. A special thanks for the heads up on the drive chains.

It would be great if you shared more builds in process, Don.

That Mefistofele is a great car and you did a great job on it!

Ken

Don, congrats on an amazing build! Glad you took up the challenge and thanks for sharing the great pictures along the way.

Your build got me curious enough to look up the specs on the car and it made me realize just how brave (and crazy?) those guys were. In my younger days my dad and I installed a 215 cubic inch Oldsmobile V8 in a 72 Chevy Vega and it was actually a pretty fun little car. How is that relevent to this beast? Well it occurred to me that each CYLINDER on the Mefistofele had a larger displacement than that little Olds V8! Truly an amazing machine and aptly named I suspect.

Thanks again for sharing the build!

   Well done Don, that is a beautiful build. Thank you for doing a WIP and since I gave a reply I can look back on it if I decide to take on one of these neat cars. Looking forward to the final base shot.