1951 Alfa Romeo Tipo 159A Alfetta - 1/20 Double Build
Aug 15, 2018 16:32:42 GMT -5
Chris and jpeeler like this
Post by plastheniker on Aug 15, 2018 16:32:42 GMT -5
Hi,
in 1950 the Alfa Romeo Tipo 158 Alfetta won the GP championship. 1951 saw the final evolution of the Alfetta. Since all modifications together were quite radical the Alfetta was no longer called Tipo 158 but Tipo 159. After these modifications the Alfetta won the GP championship in 1951, too.
A sub-type called Tipo 159A had the following major improvements:
- the output of the 1.5 litre engine was increased to 425 hp
- the single-pivot swing axle was replaced by a de Dion rear suspension
- the basic twin-tube ladder-type frame was stiffened by a welded-on superstructure of thin steel tubes
- because of the extremely increased fuel consumption always one or two tanks inside the driver’s compartment were fitted
- the body, particularly the tail, was more roundish
- the single exhaust was replaced by two separate exhausts
- the lateral row of louvers below the Quadrofoglio was ceased
My models show this Tipo 159A .
As usual my models are based on the crude 1/20 Casadio/Revival kits.
Though the Alfetta is one of the most rudimentary and simplified Casadio/Revival kits it is one of the better (if one can use this word) Casadio/Revival kits because here most of the kit parts are correct.
As probably known all standard Casadio/Revival kits have metal body parts and ready-made wire wheels. Temporarily, however, in the eighties or nineties Casadio/Revival produced considerably cheaper versions of most kits with plastic body parts and simple plastic "wire" wheels. For my following models of the Alfetta I used two of these cheaper plastic kits. Reworking the plastic body parts was a pleasure compared with the troubles of the metal bodies. Therefore I accepted the additional effort of making my own real wire wheels willingly.
A real problem was the radiator grille. The kit supplies an actually usable plastic grille. However it was impossible to remove the extremely thick flash so evenly that the grille bars looked acceptable when painted silver. It caused a lot of headache making a fitting convex grille from wire.
in 1950 the Alfa Romeo Tipo 158 Alfetta won the GP championship. 1951 saw the final evolution of the Alfetta. Since all modifications together were quite radical the Alfetta was no longer called Tipo 158 but Tipo 159. After these modifications the Alfetta won the GP championship in 1951, too.
A sub-type called Tipo 159A had the following major improvements:
- the output of the 1.5 litre engine was increased to 425 hp
- the single-pivot swing axle was replaced by a de Dion rear suspension
- the basic twin-tube ladder-type frame was stiffened by a welded-on superstructure of thin steel tubes
- because of the extremely increased fuel consumption always one or two tanks inside the driver’s compartment were fitted
- the body, particularly the tail, was more roundish
- the single exhaust was replaced by two separate exhausts
- the lateral row of louvers below the Quadrofoglio was ceased
My models show this Tipo 159A .
As usual my models are based on the crude 1/20 Casadio/Revival kits.
Though the Alfetta is one of the most rudimentary and simplified Casadio/Revival kits it is one of the better (if one can use this word) Casadio/Revival kits because here most of the kit parts are correct.
As probably known all standard Casadio/Revival kits have metal body parts and ready-made wire wheels. Temporarily, however, in the eighties or nineties Casadio/Revival produced considerably cheaper versions of most kits with plastic body parts and simple plastic "wire" wheels. For my following models of the Alfetta I used two of these cheaper plastic kits. Reworking the plastic body parts was a pleasure compared with the troubles of the metal bodies. Therefore I accepted the additional effort of making my own real wire wheels willingly.
A real problem was the radiator grille. The kit supplies an actually usable plastic grille. However it was impossible to remove the extremely thick flash so evenly that the grille bars looked acceptable when painted silver. It caused a lot of headache making a fitting convex grille from wire.
Adding everything missing in the kit, making wire wheels and replacing the grille ran up. Therefore again I spent approximately 1000 hours to finish both models.
