Hi all, I've managed to find some time to build myself a couple of cars using my kit of the Alfa P2. I make these cars/kits because I love them so I always like to have a couple of versions of each car for myself and for my two I've chosen to do a long tail and short tail car using my SHX001 kit. I took some photo's along the way so thought I'd share the story of the builds.
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For the story of my first build we go back to the year 1924 and the P2’s first race – Grand Prix de l'A.C.F at Lyon…
In the early days of GP racing the French GP was the premier event on the calendar. The Alfa Romeo team entered four teams but with Enzo Ferrari ill only three started the race. Ascari, comfortably leading with two laps to go suffered engine problems and despite gallant efforts by mechanic Giulio Ramponi couldn’t get the car going again allowing team mate Campari to take the maiden win for the Alfa Team and the P2.
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Ascari’s mechanic Giulio Ramponi trying desperately to get their P2 going again after leading the 1924 French GP - Picture Copyright LAT Photographic
Disappointment was short lived however as the next GP for the Alfa Team - the Italian GP at Monza was led from start to finish by Ascari. He won the 497-mile race at 98.6 mph, heading a dominant Alfa Romeo 1-2-3-4 victory by sixteen minutes and setting fastest lap at 104.24 mph.
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The Alfa Romeo team resplendent in their red jersey’s pose with the winning car, (Ascari centre, Campari to the left)
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Ascari and Ramponi in the pits being congratulated by team mate Enzo Ferrari and a six year old Alberto Ascari (future double world champion) joining in on the celebrations
So for my first build using the P2 kit I have chosen Ascari’s Italian GP winning car. There are some small details that need to be added /changed to replicate the car as it was raced at this event . Details of cars varied from race to race and practice to race so a fair amount of research is required to make sure I can do the most accurate job I can. Its always a good idea to make a list of the changes so I can work my way through them and not forget any! So here’s the list..
● Add lip to passenger side scuttle
● Add driver arm cushion
● Add holes to chassis member LHS only
● Change racing numbers to No.1
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Here I have used milliput to created the passenger lip and arm cushion.
I have also decorated the driver and mechanic figures to replicate those ‘Alfa Romeo’ red team jerseys for Ascari and Ramponi. Here’s some pictures of the finished build…
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Chassis for this one was built for me by Bigtone and is an excellent brass rattle pan design that I have painted..
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..and uses the Penlope Piltane Vintage wheels.
Onto my second build using the SHX001 kit I decided to go for a short tailed version….
1925 started well for Ascari where he dominated the competition at Spa and won the inaugural Belgian Grand Prix albeit a rather dreary affair where only he and Campari were to finish. Both in short tailed cars with spare wheels attached to the rears I’ve taken the P2 kit and performed major surgery to the rear end. For this build I have decided to do the runner-up – Giuseppe Campari’s car…
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Campari at the 1925 Belgian GP
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Ascari leading the way ahead of Campari’s No.6 car
So the amendments required for the car at this race are :
● Cut off tail ,blank off, and mount spare
● Change seats so they are less off set (no mechanics in 1925)
● Add lip to passenger side scuttle
● Close up passenger side opening slightly
● Add filler cap just behind passenger seat
● Shorten exhaust
● Change racing numbers to No.6
A deep breath, then out with the razor saw!
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Plastic card is added to 1. cover the hole in the rear, 2. revise the passenger seat, 3. close up the passenger side opening and 4. provide a base to create the lip on the passenger side..
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The additions have now been sanded to shape and milliput added to fill any gaps and used to add the passenger side lip...
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Now in red primer, I also added some bodywork joining strips at the rear along with the new filler caps as seen on the 1:1 car.
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Now painted in its top coat this picture shows the difference between this shortail version and the standard Shadowfax kit
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And here it is with the standard kit body (Top), Campari’s shortailed car (Middle) and Ascari’s car (Bottom)...
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Here it is fully decorated, Campari in his ‘Alfa Romeo’ red team jersey…
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Chassis for this one is my own 'Golden Era' chassis with steering...
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finally here's some shots of both cars toghether..
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Numbers on the front grilles are hand painted as are the 'Alfa Romeo' on the jerseys but cheated and used decals for the rest.
Pictures aren't great as I'm struggling with my new camera. You can see in the last picture there's a wheel insert missing. I messed it up and a replacement from a helpful forum member is on its way![thumbsup.gif]()
Quite a long post so thanks for reading!
For the story of my first build we go back to the year 1924 and the P2’s first race – Grand Prix de l'A.C.F at Lyon…
In the early days of GP racing the French GP was the premier event on the calendar. The Alfa Romeo team entered four teams but with Enzo Ferrari ill only three started the race. Ascari, comfortably leading with two laps to go suffered engine problems and despite gallant efforts by mechanic Giulio Ramponi couldn’t get the car going again allowing team mate Campari to take the maiden win for the Alfa Team and the P2.
Ascari’s mechanic Giulio Ramponi trying desperately to get their P2 going again after leading the 1924 French GP - Picture Copyright LAT Photographic
Disappointment was short lived however as the next GP for the Alfa Team - the Italian GP at Monza was led from start to finish by Ascari. He won the 497-mile race at 98.6 mph, heading a dominant Alfa Romeo 1-2-3-4 victory by sixteen minutes and setting fastest lap at 104.24 mph.
The Alfa Romeo team resplendent in their red jersey’s pose with the winning car, (Ascari centre, Campari to the left)
Ascari and Ramponi in the pits being congratulated by team mate Enzo Ferrari and a six year old Alberto Ascari (future double world champion) joining in on the celebrations
So for my first build using the P2 kit I have chosen Ascari’s Italian GP winning car. There are some small details that need to be added /changed to replicate the car as it was raced at this event . Details of cars varied from race to race and practice to race so a fair amount of research is required to make sure I can do the most accurate job I can. Its always a good idea to make a list of the changes so I can work my way through them and not forget any! So here’s the list..
● Add lip to passenger side scuttle
● Add driver arm cushion
● Add holes to chassis member LHS only
● Change racing numbers to No.1
Here I have used milliput to created the passenger lip and arm cushion.
I have also decorated the driver and mechanic figures to replicate those ‘Alfa Romeo’ red team jerseys for Ascari and Ramponi. Here’s some pictures of the finished build…
Chassis for this one was built for me by Bigtone and is an excellent brass rattle pan design that I have painted..
..and uses the Penlope Piltane Vintage wheels.
Onto my second build using the SHX001 kit I decided to go for a short tailed version….
1925 started well for Ascari where he dominated the competition at Spa and won the inaugural Belgian Grand Prix albeit a rather dreary affair where only he and Campari were to finish. Both in short tailed cars with spare wheels attached to the rears I’ve taken the P2 kit and performed major surgery to the rear end. For this build I have decided to do the runner-up – Giuseppe Campari’s car…
Campari at the 1925 Belgian GP
Ascari leading the way ahead of Campari’s No.6 car
So the amendments required for the car at this race are :
● Cut off tail ,blank off, and mount spare
● Change seats so they are less off set (no mechanics in 1925)
● Add lip to passenger side scuttle
● Close up passenger side opening slightly
● Add filler cap just behind passenger seat
● Shorten exhaust
● Change racing numbers to No.6
A deep breath, then out with the razor saw!
Plastic card is added to 1. cover the hole in the rear, 2. revise the passenger seat, 3. close up the passenger side opening and 4. provide a base to create the lip on the passenger side..
The additions have now been sanded to shape and milliput added to fill any gaps and used to add the passenger side lip...
Now in red primer, I also added some bodywork joining strips at the rear along with the new filler caps as seen on the 1:1 car.
Now painted in its top coat this picture shows the difference between this shortail version and the standard Shadowfax kit
And here it is with the standard kit body (Top), Campari’s shortailed car (Middle) and Ascari’s car (Bottom)...
Here it is fully decorated, Campari in his ‘Alfa Romeo’ red team jersey…
Chassis for this one is my own 'Golden Era' chassis with steering...
finally here's some shots of both cars toghether..
Numbers on the front grilles are hand painted as are the 'Alfa Romeo' on the jerseys but cheated and used decals for the rest.
Pictures aren't great as I'm struggling with my new camera. You can see in the last picture there's a wheel insert missing. I messed it up and a replacement from a helpful forum member is on its way
Quite a long post so thanks for reading!