Pocher Models

[milleman]

Looking for a winter hobby, very tempted by one of these (if I can find one), what are they like to do?.

I am pretty experienced at working on full size cars but its a long time since I worked on model ones. The quality looks to be outstanding on the web photos.

[nickjw]

Ive got a nice Alfa Romeo which I bought ready built off ebay. It was very grubby and needed a strip down and clean. I bought a display case for it and it looks smashing. They are highly detailed models but quite fragile.

As far as building one, they're not a simple build. You need buckets of time and patience and quite a bit of skill. Allow a good few months to do it properly! Even longer. Hence the reason I bought one ready built.

Look online for more info. There are quite a few sites dedicated to Pocher cars...

www.scaleautoworks.com/
www.tcn.net/~severn/pocher.html
www.pocher.net/english/english.html

This place is selling a similar car to mine...
www.tias.com/7758/PictPage/1922711760.html

good luck!
Nick
www.nickwrightmodelmaker.co.uk

[milleman]

Thanks for the reply, looks like I need to do some research!.

[skodaku]

I have an Alfa Spider Touring Gran Sport 1932, model K73 to be built. Level of detail is amazing - you even get to stitch the leather for the seats and all the engine internals need assembly. Build time is said to be months rather than days. I'm told that the first time you build up a spoked wheel it can take 40 hours, incl a strip and re-start to get it right. From there on it might "only" take 20 hours per wheel. Instructions supplied are typically Italian; i.e. vague. I started mine a while ago and found the first problem...........the holes in the con-rod big-ends are smaller than the crankpins. Heaven knows what else won't fit first time. These are amazing kits but in terms of fit you should think Airfix with a twisted sense of humour rather than Tamiya accuracy. Look amazing when finished, though. e-Bay always has a number of Pocher kits on offer and help/bits can be found at a number of websites incl those previously mentioned. You can even buy trans-kits such as a metal engine for the F-40 for a mere $4k or so - or you could buy a Triumph TR4 to restore and save money !!! I have shelved the Pocher Alfa for now but will soon build their 1/8 scale Bugatti 50T straight-8 engine, (yup, just the engine), and again all the internals are to be assembled.

Look forward to swopping news, if you like.

[milleman]

Thanks for the reply, I must admit that the models I really like the look of are the Bugatti and the Alfa, the Bugatti looks fantastic in yellow and black!. The Fiat looks interesting as well but would appear to be not as complex-no moving engine internals etc as far as I can gather. The assembly I am confident about but the main concern would be painting the bodywork (if required), may have to invest in a little compressor and modelers air brush.

Will probably go ahead with one shortly, the only sales point as far as I have seen so far is e-bay so will check over the forthcoming weeks.

Will post any future progress.

[milleman]

Ok bought an Alfa kit off e-bay, looks to be alot of work which I am looking forward to starting in the winter. Can anyone advisw where the best place is to buy specialist modeling tools and paints etc, will also want to paint it so will need a little compressor and airbrush.

Thanks

[nickjw]

The Aztek airbrush takes some beating and is very reasonable on price.

www.netmerchants.co.uk/product.php/4868/667/ac9985dd9dc79781ffaa012434377e8c

The Pocher modelling sites talk of actually polishing the plastic as an alternative to painting. Worth checking out.

http://wc1.worldcrossing.com/WebX?14@

[skodaku]

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