Pocher

[paddy]

We have a system here in blighty where by every town has an Auction, usually monthly ...this can be anything from useless furniture to highly collectables.

These auctions as well as being live in the local auction rooms are also live on the internet and the internet auction centre has a search engine for all the auctions all over the country. This means you can take an item to your local town auction and it is then available to the the World basically. You log on to the auction centre web site and the auction is live streamed and you have a bid now button on your screen. Maybe all countries do this ? i dont know..

Anyway after the discussion on Pocher and very expensive kits i did a search and found this Alfa up for Auction and just won it for £200.00

OK its a lot but i thought i could de construct it possibly and rebuild it back to pristine. It looks like its all there ( i hope the engine is in it ) Chrome doesnt look up to much but then its come from a stately home in Yorkshire and its possible its just nicotine and dust...

its 50 years old, 1:9 scale and scalemates had the instructions

https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/3/0/7/191307-34-instructions.pdf

Worst case scenario, i just bung it back in the next auction

 

[moon puppy]

The nicotine stains does add a bit of nice weathering like around the door. That stuff is awful though.

We have auction houses around but they are not organized as well as what you're sounds like.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Paddy, you are in great luck, I built this kit back in the 80's, and still have it packed away in a box. It had it's problems. I still have the instructions I believe, if not I have one of the race car versions still unbuilt. I have thought about rebuilding it many times, and have a source for good aftermarket source to upgrade and correct many of the main faults it has. Guess it is time to dig it all out and we can maybe work on them together.

 

[paddy]

Thats interesting Paul. first i need to get this thing here and see if its good/bad or Ugly and crucially, complete and actually rebuildable so watch this space..
Its come from a house clearance up north , Elvington Hall. Usually with these stately homes they have 3 or 4 times the contents they can actually display so they rotate the furnishings. Once they cease to be family homes the contents are sold off from attic storage and outbuilding storage and this looks like its been in store in an attic
It will certainly be fun to try and upgrade it if its worthwhile.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

There are a bunch of aftermarket items at this site. I have been following for a number of years and they keep adding to the list of "better improved" parts
Model Motorcars - Alfa Romeo

 

[paddy]

Thanks for that Paul.....i can see buying the model is the cheaper part of ownership I think need to take the plunge and but a micro lathe

 

[moon puppy]

Wow, the prices for some of those upgrades. woof!

 

[paddy]

I will reserve my opinion till i see the kit. It may be that it warrants the price of upgrades or it may be that the old adage, You cant polish a t**d comes into play....... the bottom line is my recent research with help from some links here shows their is a devoted following for these models and some very talented builders have turn out some pretty amazing results. What also seems to be generally agreed is there are some superb Pocher models and some pretty poor Pocher models as the ownership of the company has changed hands over the years. so research is essential before splashing the cash.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

I can honestly say that the motor has some major issues in the kit. (Yeah it was bad enough I remember it 40 years later)
I can say that a micro lathe and a small mill would make a real positive difference in building one of these. Those that use these kits as a starting basis have done some amazing builds.

 

[paddy]

I dont even know if there is an engine in this model , a disadvantage of buying blind or should i say, the stupidity of buying blind ...lol

Don't panic guys...you can buy the engine separately think

the whole project may have to wait a bit as i am running my business down now with a view to retiring at the end of the year

 

[moon puppy]

the whole project may have to wait a bit as i am running my business down now with a view to retiring at the end of the year

That'll be great, you'll have more time to model!

 

[paddy]

What was it Britney said ? Whoops i did it again ?

Anyway, in for a penny, in for a pound as they say. I put another low bid on a Pocher and won...
You cant seem to ge a roller for under £900 over here so one for £145 seemed good.

pocher 1 8 model kits | eBay

Rolls Royce phantom11 around 50% complete and has been this way for many years . Simply haven’t got time complete nor the desire to do the job on it that it requires. Every part is in the box to complete this fabulous model. Any sensible offer considered. Collection only of course.

www.ebay.co.uk

Its half built but its all there.

Someone stop me please ? Paul...HELP...

 

[paddy]

A bit of my reasoning on this...

I retire in a couple of months, i will close my business down and for tax reasons i am moving some business stock via Ebay/cash and using that money/ unaccountable cash to fund the hobby with things i probably will never be able to justify once living on a pension..
any stock i am left with will be liable to tax which seems unfair as some of what i will be left with will be unsaleable which is why i still have it. There is a chance of shifting some odd stuff on ebay now we dont have any charges on sales.

Basically i am building a specialist model stock while i can by merging it into the business stock....dont ask and dont tell anyone

 

[moon puppy]

Do it.