EURO CARS - VENTURI RACER AND MORE TO 1:18 SCALE FROM OttOMOBILE

SMN REPORT
The successful Limited Edition outfit OttOmobile has some interesting car choices coming up shortly, starting with a rare racer, the Venturi 400 Trophy, to 1:18 scale.

Venturi 400 Trophy
The Venturi 400 Trophy was a race version of the Atlantique, a shapely French car made from 1991-2000. It may have been a looker, but sales didn’t match the curves, for fewer than 800 were sold in all. That didn’t stop critics from lavishing praise on it though, with the infamous Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear, saying that the Atlantique was, “like having your own personal jet fighter... I love it to death.”

Racing car
The team at OttOmobile has chosen to model the race version, a good choice, as it looks that bit meaner than the coupe (though that is due on sale in April) and allows a competition colour scheme. OttO’s ‘jet fighter’ model comes in 1:18 scale and should be available in late March 2013.

Pocket rocket
One of the best-handling small cars of the 1990s was the diminutive Peugeot (aka ‘Pug’) 106. OttOmobile’s Peugeot 106 is the S16 GTI model, widely regarded as the best of the line, with the driver-enthusiast’s most-wanted combo of powerful engine and uprated suspension. The model is available to order now, with deliveries at the end of January.

Limited Edition
The model is finished in metallic gold, a popular shade of the early 1990s, and comes with OttOmobile’s usual attention to detail, including a convincing interior. If you want one, we’d advise ordering soon, as it’s a Limited Edition of just 1250.

Smaller engine
I must confess an interest in the Peugeot 106, as I’m about the buy a red one for my younger daughter, though insurance considerations mean that it’s a cooking model, rather than the fire-breathing S16!

Update
This run of the 106 has just sold out, so keep an eye open for future editions in different markings.

Incoming February - Ford RS200
One of my favourite Fords ever, the RS200 was a mid-engine four-wheel drive racer produced from 1984-86 for Group B rally car racing, the regulations of which insisted that at least 200 road-going cars also had to be built. What an opportunity for power-freaks with deep pockets!

Bold markings
OttO’s model is a beauty, representing the car driven in 1986. The red-and white scheme suits the car, the decals are complete, and they fit the complex curves of the car well. OttO has a production run of 2000 planned for the Ford RS200.

All models available from the OttOmobile website here.

Car fan company
As for OttOmobile, it’s run by an ultra-keen bunch of car freaks, whose enthusiasm is best summed up in their own words:

“We are a gang of buddies addicted to cars and models. We went through numerous days and nights in building up our concept.

“...Car manufacturers have created cars that made us dream of day and night for decades.
Unfortunately, most of these models will never be produced in scale 1:18 for economical reasons.

“... Create model-cars that other mass-production manufacturing brands will never produce.

“...Our philosophy is very simple:

* Provide limited edition models for collectors.
* Release at least one model per month.
* Sell only on the internet.
* Satisfy as much people as possible by providing the lowest price!”

More OttOmobile models and articles to read here. 

2012 INCOMING - 1:18 SCALE MG RACE CAR FROM OTTOMOBILE

SMN report:

Due soon from OttOmobile of France is a 1:18 scale model of a “complete animal” of a mid-engined British race car, the MG Metro 6R4 from the 1980s.

What’s in the OttOmobile model?

OttO has modelled the all-racer nature of the 6R4 very well indeed. Race markings are the most obvious external giveaway and these all seem to be present and correct. Inside, the most obvious difference between the MG road car and the racer was that the engine was taken from between the front wheels to a midships position, behind the crew - and grew to a massive race-winning 3-litre V-6 lump. And OttO has produced a very good looking engine, so that’s all right then.

Metro 6R4 on the track

For a taste of 6R4 driving, have a look at this test drive video from the specialist Autocar motoring magazine. It’s a shortish clip, but includes lots of speed and power, background and tech-talk. Yum! Bright and bold, the OttO 6R4 will look terrific on the display shelf, so if you like the car, pre-orders are open for the limited 2000-item run now.

Other May models from OttO

Along with the Metro 6R4, OttOmobile are releasing a pair of eurocars - the unusual Renault Avantime, and a Volkswagen Golf MkII. The Avantime was a designer exercise in weirdness, a semi-luxury four-seater the size of a largish MPV. Rubbish to drive, mind: I tried one to see what it was like, and felt a bit like a sea captain in charge of a land yacht. 

The Avantime was big, unwieldy, and rolled like a pig in corners if you tried taking them at anything more than a leisurely afternoon stroll. However, let’s not be too down on the Avantime - it may have been odd and eccentric, but at least Renault tried something different!

Limited edition

As for the model, it’s up to OttO’s usual standard, though we reckon that something like this needs a few working parts to add interest. We’d love to see opening doors, windows, and more to give the Avantime a lift. However, for Avantime connoisseurs out there, it’s a must-have model. And for this limited audience, OttO’s production run of just 1250 models is probably about right.

Volkswagen Mk II Rallye

We’d say similar things of the Volkswagen Golf Mk II Rallye - this writer owned a sprightly Mk I GTi for a while, and the Mk II that replaced it was like dreary November, after the Springtime get-up-and-go of the original. Still, OttO has produced a decent enough model of the Mk II, so if you’re into this breed of VW, get on down to OttOmobile and bag yourself one. The Golf Rallye is limited to 2000 items so order soon.

Competition

A reminder that OttOmobile runs a monthly competition. Enter by March 31, and you stand to win a BMW E39 M5, or a Citroen 2CV 4x4 Sahara - in fact, the 2CV’s main run has sold out, so the comp is your best choice if you want one!

Visit OttOmobile here.

OttO competition here.

Heaps of OttO stuff available here.

There's more

Here's the MG Metro, a small city car that sold well in its home UK market for a decade or so. This was the sporty version of the original Austin vehicle, but of course the super-power 6R4 took little more than the basics from the plain-vanilla cars you might have seen nipping about British towns and villages of the time.

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!

FIRE-BREATHING RENAULT RALLY RACER FROM OTTOMOBILE

SMN report:

Here’s a new 1:18 scale resin-based model from the French OttOmobile company that’s just come on release. It’s a Renault 5 Maxi Turbo racer, as driven by driver Erik Comas in French Supertourism rallies.

Championship-winning Frenchman

Renault entered the car three years running, 1985, 1986 and 1987, and Comas won the Supertourism Championship the third year. Interestingly, the winning vehicle - in red-and-blue markings that differ from the OttO model - is presently on sale (below) asking price €185,000 EUR ($245,000 USD) so if you have deep pockets and a desire for a two-decade-plus pocket rocket in your garage, here’s a chance to go for it. According to the sale details, it’s US-legal, so maybe there’s a shipping container waiting with your car’s name stamped on the front.

French road rocket for sale - luurve the metal floor!

Fine detail

Back to the model, and as with other OttO releases, it is fully finished and beautifully detailed - note the excellent and realistic texture on those seat belts. The OttO Renault 5 Maxi Turbo has to be well worth including in a rally-based auto collection. 

More new OttOstuff

Other new cars from OttO include the Citroen Visa (above) and Peugeot 205 (below). Both are of prime interest to French and Euro-car fans of course; even so, as a way of expanding a 1:18 scale collection away from the usual suspects they make an easy and stylish way to do it.

Info from OttOmobile here.

Renault 5 Turbo Maxi Supertourism on sale here.

All sorts of interesting Renault models here.