2012 KITBASH - FRENCH SNAIL AVAILABLE FOR STREET ROD CUSTOMIZING

SMN weekender:

We ran a recent story on models of that odd-looking creation, the Citroen 2CV ‘tin snail’, and included an idea from Yasi Design for a custom version. The excellent 1:24 scale Revell kit (above) would make a good starting point. Since then, we’ve come across the 2CV art of a Photoshopper with the online name ‘Olli’. If you're into Citroen models, his work could inspire that next workbench creation. 

Citroens from Olli

Olli’s works are really neat, and if you use them as idea-starters, then we’re sure he’d be pleased. There are other French cars on the site too, including the voluptuously-odd Citroen Dyane, and the retro-futuristic DS19 and 21. Now if only Citroen would bring us a sleeked-up Century 21 version of the 'De-Ess', this writer would be a Cit-boy overnight. 

Street rod

If you think there’s no point modelling a custom Citroen 2CV as no one makes them for real, then it’s time to think again. ‘Blackjack’ is a member of the UK National Street Rod Association (NSRA) and - guess what? - he ran across an amazing French deco-meets-steampunk 2CV hot rod in the metal, and has pix of the creation on the back of a truck to prove it.

It’s real all right

In Blackjack’s words: “To all those who said a 2CV could never be a hot rod - take a look at this incredible car.” He adds: “The cool helmet rear mudguards are made from two rear wings” and: “Looks like it runs stock suspension and engine. I gotta build one.” Good luck Blackjack, and for us modelmakers, it’s a breath of fresh air seeing something weird like this, using source material from what must be one of the most basic automobiles ever made.

2CV models in India

To those of us who have grown up thinking of India and its peoples as being poverty-stricken foreign-aid baskets, it’s great to realise that times have changed, and that the sub-continent is now powering ahead with its own fast-expanding air, space, and auto industries. And matching the last item are websites like Team-BHP that reflect increasing passions in India for hot cars with names like Lamborghini and Ferrari. But Indian car enthusiasts haven’t forgotten the humble Citroen 2CV either - the lineup of models in various scales (below) is on a Team-BHP forum. 

SMN Citroen 2CV articles here and here.

Olli’s artwork here.

Blackjack’s 2CV street rod pix here.

Citroen ready-built car from OttOmobile here.

Citroen 2CV models to build here - there’s no shortage of choice, so pick the one you fancy.

Yasi Design here.

Team-BHP here.

There's more:

Here's a slideshow of custom 2CV concepts - just choose and create your own!

Last but not least, the 2CV (below) is a very neatly produced 1:32 scale SCX slot racer - detailed and attractive, and a fine platform to detail-up for your own take on a track-day racer. Have a look at the SCX range here.

2012 INCOMING - 1:12 SCALE CITROEN 2CV FROM OTTOMOBILE

SMN report:

Due soon from OttOmobile of France is a 1:12 scale model of a famous ‘ugly duckling’, the Citroen 2cv. The curious little machine was built from 1948-1990, during which time more than 3.5 million were produced. This OttO model is interesting for its portrayal of the rarest 2cv made, the twin-engine Safari.

Off-road cruiser
Built to cross ultra-difficult off-road terrain, just 694 2cv Safaris were built, target buyers being the French military, police, and oil companies, all of whom needed the extra mobility provided by the Safari version.

What’s different about the OttOmobile model?

OttO has modelled the unusual nature of the 2cv Safari well, with the spare wheel now carried over the front engine bay, in a specially-pressed metal dish. At the back, storage behind the rear seats was taken up by the second engine, though the unobservant could be forgiven for not realising it - all you can see is an intake grille. Still, it’s neatly presented in OttO’s version, as is the characteristic ‘sit’ of the car, with raised suspension for off roading with front and rear drive systems in place. 

Don’t break those eggs!

In fact, one of the design drivers for the original 1948 2cv was to be able to cross a ploughed field carrying a crate of - unbroken - eggs, so it shouldn’t have been too much of a problem for Citroen engineers to add more of the same mountain goat ability with the limited-edition 2cv Safari.

Coming in April

OttO has presented the rest of the Citroen 2cv Safari neatly enough, as you can see from the pictures. At this scale though, it might be nice to see working windows, especially as the real thing had simple opening flaps in the front, rather than winders. The Citroen 2cv Safari is planned for April release, and as ever with OttO productions, it’s wise to place an order as soon as possible, as the company’s productions are often sellouts.

The real thing, Citroen 2cv Safari seen at a classic car meeting.

What about a 2cv kit?

Apart from the Safari version, which is unique to OttOmobile, there are plenty of 2cv kits around, one of the best being from Japan, in the form of the 1:24 scale Tamiya kit (above). It’s a typically thorough Tamiya production, with body and interior in white plastic, engine components in dark grey, detailed floorpan in black. Bright parts such as mirrors and lamps are chrome-plated, and decals include a choice of European or Japanese number plates.

Strange styling

Tamiya have also included in the smaller scale an item missing from the OttO model - the bottom half of the driver’s window flips up to the open position. The bizarre styling of the 2cv is one of this writer’s favourite automotive oddities, so it’s good to see its lines followed faithfully in the model. Items like the leading and trailing arm suspension are moulded accurately and, like the real thing, you can have the top open or closed, with convincingly textured canvas-look roof components supplied for either choice. When assembled, the Tamiya Citroen 2cv Safari measures 156 mm (6.1 in) long.

Kitbasher-Club choices

Here are two thoughts for something different in the world of French ugly ducklings. The hot rod (above) comes from Yasi Design and ought to be an easy mod if you like that sort of thing (here's a thumbs-up from the SMN Crew), while the sketch (below) is an official concept for what may be a retro-look car of the nearish future. It’s called the Revolte, which is - somewhat unsurprisingly in these green-tinged times - conceived as an eco-electric vehicle. Sorta cute, in an ugly way, and clearly stays with the spirit of the original 2cv.

Pic of Citroen Safari courtesy ‘ChiemseeMan’.

Visit OttOmobile here.

OttO stuff also available here.

A host of Citroen 2cv models here, including the Tamiya 1:24 scale version. Take your pick!

Visit Yasi Design here.

Visit the Citroen Revolte here.

Bonus pic - here's are three early 2cv models of the late 1940s. The tin-can looks make later versions, especially the swoopily-painted Charleston editions, look positively stylish!

OTTOMOBILE SEXY CITROEN READY NOW

SMN report:

Here’s a new 1:18 scale resin-based model from the French OttOmobile company that’s on release this month. It’s a rally-racer Citroen, the model based on a hot-to-trot Citroen SM from the 1970s. This car starred in the African Bandama Rally of 1973, the year after the race had been stopped for lack of vehicles - there were no finishers at all that year!

Paris or Africa?

OttO has created a model of the 1973 Citroen that finished in fifth place. It was based on the ultra-stylish Franco-Italian Citroen-Maserati SM, a sleek auto normally far more at ease on the Champs Elysee than on the rough and tumble tracks of the Ivory Coast, home of the Bandama rally. 

Shortened version

In fact, the rally car was an SM hacked to pieces - it was shortened, and an aerodynamic ‘breadvan’-style Kamm tail replaced the sloping glass of the road car.

Model or original?

As for the OttO version, compare the pix of the model vs the original (below). We think you’ll agree OttO has done a pretty good rendering of the sky-blue rally racer.

For more information and order instructions, visit OttOmobile here.

Model pix courtesy OttOmobile.

The car that started it all off - the ultra-stylish Citroen SM.