Andy G

Does any one collect items such as the model kits/metalcars that are available?
What are the best books available on the Alpina/Schnitzer/Hartge and the 'M' (plus any other's which are of interest?
I have one or two books (maybe more) on BMW's both Alpina and 'M', but the selection seems limited.


[This message has been edited by Andy G (edited 08 March 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Andy G (edited 09 March 2001).]

Mr Janne

I have a few Alpinas in 1:87 by Herpa. The standard models they have is the B10 BiTurbo, B11 3,5, B3 3,3 Convertible and B6 2,8 E36. But there are other models too. The most sought-after is the limited-edition models in Alpinablue of for example B10 V8 and B12 Coupe. BMW M club of Germany also have some limited-edition Alpina-series. I suggest that you look at www.ebay.de and search for Alpina to get a hold of these models. If you want 1:43 models, you can visit www.bmwmodelle.de. They make Alpina-models in special-order. You can decide exactly how you want to have it. There have also been some 1:24 Alpinas available, for example the B7 Turbo Coupe, made by Fujimi, I think.

Andy G

I have a schnitzer Fujimi model of the 635i which I have yet to build, and this is incredibly detailed. I had seen, sometime ago, a fujimi e21 323i C1, but now I'm trying to locate one, I can't find one.
It's interesting to see that someone actually makes them to order, I may well go down that path.
We are going down to St Tropez in Sept/Oct of this year, and may well do a return trip via Switzerland/Germany etc, so I may well look up on the web for places to go to whilst we are in mainland Europe, and maybe pick some items up. (if I find an interesting motor, then maybe I'll drive that home!)
AG

[This message has been edited by Andy G (edited 09 March 2001).]

BlueBiturbo

I have the small (1:87??) scale Biturbo in black with gold stripes. I had lots of experience with Tamiyas and I think they're much better than Fujimis. The Tamiya 1:24 BMW M635Csi street and race versions are stunning example of detail models.

The only Fujimi I considered worth buying is the Alpina B10-3.5 (1:24). I paint it black with grey interior and put the Recaro seat from the (1:24) Tamiya Porsche 911 Turbo Slant Nose. I think it is a Recaro C-Classic type seat and it looks more realistic.

For those of you living in USA, try getting Tamiya's spray paint as they have better nozzles compared to Testors. It could be tough finding one since US govt claims that Tamiya's spray cans aren't "Eco-friendly". Better yet, buy a paint compressor and mix your own paint to create an "Alpina Blau" color.

My prized posession is the Tamiya 1:10 R/C electric with the Jo Winkelhock BMW E30 Sport Evolution body. It still sits in the glass cupboard since I assemble it in 1995, never been driven on the track (It has an extra $200 worth of custom aluminum parts). Great idea for an ad, For sale : never raced Gr-A M3 ... ;-)

If anyone has an extra set of unpainted Tamiya M3 E30 Sport Evo body pls e-mail me. This bodystyle has been discontinued from the Japan factory in 1994.

Cheers,
Taffy

Andy G

Taffy
What was the E30 M3 like to build? was it easier than you thought, or harder. What was the extra parts, performance hop ups?
I have in my loft, a Tamiya Mercedes 190 EVO R/c kit, unbuilt, and have had it for 11 years or so, and I am a little apprehensive of building it, it appears very complicated to look at. The painting of the shell (reverse painting I believe) seems a bit of a handfull.
As your M3 is a static display, did you add any additional items, such as exhaust outlet, additional cockpit detail/Brake disc details etc.

BlueBiturbo

Andy,

On the contrary, it was very easy to build. The TA02 chassis can use several bodies on top. I happen to have the MB Evo2, MBC-Class DTM, M3 Evo3 and Alfa Romeo 164.

I personally think that Tamiya instructions are the easiest, better than KYOSHO or ROBBE. I've been building R/C cars since 1984, starting with Tamiya's Opel Ascona and Audi Quattro Rally and (you might remember) the most popular of all: the Wild Willy.

In order to paint the EVO2 in a Polycarbonate body, first you have to mask (from the inside) all windows parts. I think Tamiya also give pre-cut masking stickers for the Benz. If not, just cover it with 3M tapes (Tamiya tapes are good but more expensive) and cut the edges with sharp modelling knife.

The easiest color to paint is black because all windows edges are black too. If you want to paint your silver, etc you have to paint the windows edges black first with brush . Oh yeah, make sure you buy POLYCARBONATE SPRAY PAINT, not the regular plastic paint.

Paint the body from the inside 2 or 3 layers giving 15-30 minutes to dry between each layer. After it is finished paint with different color (eg: silver if you paint the body black) as the last coat to prevent stone chips denting your paint.

If you want to make the MB Evo2 a street car just paint it black and use the Alfa Romeo wheels and paint it Silver... it looks just
like the MB Evo2 8,25x17-in.

If you want to make it like the Black racing car (KONIG-PILSENER), the sitckers are qiuite difficult. Another nice 190 body is the BERLIN 2000 silver car or the Green&Gold Zakspeed Diebels-Alt car.

On the chassis assembly everything is very easy though. On my particular M3 nothing is stock anymmore. It is too good that I worry too much when driving it. The M3 body is the last one too (I have another similarly modified TA02 chassis with MB Evo 2 body that I race). I put the Tamiya cockpit and driver figure inside the static display. If you don't have the cockpit parts you could tint the windows usint grey film or a thin dark grey spray paint so that you don't see the servos and motors inside.

Newer bodystyles from Tamiya that could fit into the TAO2 chassis includes E36 320i BTCC, Nissan Skyline GTR (R33 & R34), etc.

Just build it man, don't forget to buy an extra body for racing and use the original Evo2 body for display (It is already discontinued, you might not wanna break it).

Cheers,
Taffy

BlueBiturbo

Mr Janne,

Is the www.bmwmodelle.de link already dead?

Cheers,
Taffy

Andy G

Cheers Taffy
I will give it a go. The trouble is as things go on, kids and that, the less time I seem to have to do these things.
I'll start it and let you know how I get on.
One to look out for, the Tamiya Jagermeister Porsche in 1/12 scale, an absolute stunner when built.
You had a wild willy????? still have it? definate collectors items those.
AG

luxobarge

The correct adress to the BMW modelle is WWW.BMW-MODELLE.DE (it is not easy for a busy student like mr janne to keep all web adresses in his head). I can really recommend doing business with Ralf Stolpe(the man behind WWW.BMW-MODELLE.DE). A friend bought two 1/43 scale E46 M3, one blue and one black, from Mr Stolpe. Normally you have to go to the post office to collect things you buy on ebay.de so my freind was very surprised when his doorbell rang and their was a courier guy standing there with his M3s. Unfortunatly both of the M3s were blue so my friend mailed mr Stolpe to complain. A couple of days later the courier guy was ringing the doorbell again. This time with a black M3. Free of charge. He didn't even have to return one of the blue ones.That's what I call service.

Andy G

Tamiya's racing schnitzer 635 is the same item as the Fujimi marketed item (or other way round)
I'm suprised you can't get a new shell for the E30 Kit, are you reffering to the lexon shell.
I'm sure a local shop to me has these available.
I'll find out and come back to you.
I agree with you over the Tamiya paints, they are superb, in finish and colour reproduction, I don't use anything else now.
AG

[This message has been edited by Andy G (edited 22 March 2001).]

Andy G

Luxobarge
I have just had a look at this site, he's got some nice Alpina lots there, especially the B7 in green. I think I may send in an order, can't seem to get this in the UK. Are the Herpa, or minichamps, or similar.
AG
As a matter of point I miss typed the address and got a shock, as it was a, er, how do you say, female site, but male orientated??

kees

Guys,

Sorry to break in to your chat...I must admit I have been lurking for the last months. Just never really got round to posting... The current activity on the Alpina threads here is great...

I've been looking for an Alpina (a 1:1 model that is) for about 2 years now. As a Dutchman living in Ireland, not much chance of finding one, and importing one has not been an option due to the fact that insurance premiums in Ireland are strongly linked to engine size and driver age...to summarize the last frustrating years...I called my bro