Bugatt Type 35 , 1/4th Scale

[MODEL A MODEL]

Ok? Well I have definitely had too much time on my hands this last week, and started "whittling" an axle out of Aluminum. -a day later using a metal cutting bandsaw, I roughed out a blank in Stainless Steel, and a few days ago I made two more, in Aluminum, using a wood cutting band saw.

The blueprints are printed in the Haynes Owners Manual, and I do recommend THAT book, it is an excellent reference for a modeler!

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[MODEL A MODEL]

As I said this first one started without much planning, pretty much "just a go for it and lets see", and it does have its flaws. -But, I enjoy this kind of effort a lot!

I am obviously not a linear thinker nor worker, many times already I have taken this poor piece of metal up to almost polished, just to check high-lights, and then continued to sand , or file on it.

Looking at my pictures here, I see too many errors in shape and proportion. (And dust! -Where does it come from?)

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[MODEL A MODEL]

This is just the front axle for a Bugatti Type 35, it is almost 12 inches long, I have forgotten its weight, but the Stainless rough is over 1 pound!!

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[MODEL A MODEL]

There will be a dovetail channel on the top of the Leaf Spring Pass-through, and a sleeve retaining bolt. (Probably a square headed bolt?) -I will modify a Stone Setting burr, turning it into a dove-tail "end mill". -And leaf springs!

I haven't figured out the exact dimensions for the leaves, but I think that they will be almost 1/16th of an inch thick!! (Not too flexible!) And there will be six or seven of them!

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[MODEL A MODEL]

Next will be the radiator. I had thought to make it of Brass and then Nickel plate it, and then buff back some of the Nickel to approximate the "Look" of what is often seen in original and driven cars, -this could still happen, but the first radiator will be made with an Aluminum honey-comb core, set into a Brass framing, finished with a Nickel/Silver shell. The Aluminum honey-comb core will get painted to better achieve the appearance of a prototype. -I like my models to look "Used?" and that will be the determining factor. Will it look "Real?"

I have already started on a buck for the radiator, (lots of spare time this week) and will post something when its ready.

So? Stay tuned!

[MODEL A MODEL]

The following link is to a very interesting video of how these axles are being made currently.

This is not how I did it. Your welcome to try! Enjoy!!

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...s%2Fsearch%3Fc

[Roger Zimmermann]

Nice work! Your radiator construction will be interesting to follow.

[PROPELLER]

Wow! This front axle is like the original, a piece of art. Congratulation Sir.
And thanks for the link...
Dan.

[MODEL A MODEL]

Thanks guys! This is all hand work, with files and sanding blocks, and the problem with that is of course you can't really see what your doing while your working! -So it is a slow process of file a pass or two and inspect. You know.

I'm anxious to get on with the radiator, but first, I will set up my mill to work on one of the other Aluminum roughs. I want to true up some of the shapes, and see if I can speed up the process?

The Stainless axle will be very slow to work, I have a small assortment of Carbide endmills, a few dedicated files, and of course Stainless does abrade easily, but my supply of sanding belts may get exhausted before I can replenish them

Thank you for the encouragement!

-A few weeks ago, already, when I was trying to find out the what and why of Copper rivets, I sought out THE Bugatti guru, and asked him about Copper Rivets, and I also asked about Bugatti axles. -his response included the below picture. It is a comparison of a Type 35 axle, and that of a Type 41 Royale!

No, I am not planning to attempt a Royale axle, but I post it here for those who might find it interesting. I did.



The GURU of all things Bugatti is of course, J.J. Horst, @ BugattiPage.com

I did as well contact The Bugatti Trust, and received some very useful information from their archivist David Morys,

Thank you both!

[MODEL A MODEL]

Working with Band saw, files, and again lots of sandpaper, I have the Form, finished enough to start to create the radiator shell. I do intend to use some Nickel/Silver sheet, but discovered that all the stock I have is "just" a little too short! -I will proceed as planned but will also add some Nickel plating to mask the solder joints.

[Roger Zimmermann]

Nice! 1/4 scale?

[MODEL A MODEL]

Yes sir!

1/4th is much easier to work. The waters fine over here in the deep end. Jump in!

Actually, my reasons are, 1) it is easier for me, 2) those "compromises" we all have to make with details are fewer, and I can indulge myself in work I find very satisfying, 3) It is a scale commonly used in the industry. -and 4) I have very big hands!

Building from scratch, is still building from scratch? I had a long time ago started a 1:43rd scale model, using every technique I knew, electroforming the body, and photoetch chassis, vacuum formed windshield, . . . I discovered that I really didn't enjoy the process?



The above is a good example, from Alfa Romeo.

It takes a moment or two to adjust to the size, but once you do, you appreciate the possibilities it offers, and in my case, I find it difficult to return to the conventional scales!

[Roger Zimmermann]

It's logical that there are more details which can be added compared to what I'm doing. For 1/4, I should buy larger tools and...move as I could not use the larger machines the way I'm doing with the Unimat3!

[MODEL A MODEL]

I sold Unimats back in the 70, 80, 90's and I WISH! I had known you then! You are THE best sales tool I could have had for selling Unimats!

I sold a few of the older 'SL' model, but when they released the much improved Unimat 3, and 5, I would sell four or five a year of the 3's, and special order one or two of the 5's every year! (Not bad for a "Mom and Pop" hobby shop!)
Oops! thats not completly true, as I phased out the Unimats in the 90's in favor of a California made lathe, Sherline.