Bugatti Type 40 1928, scratch build miniature by Nik Levecque
Bugatti remains one of the most evocative brands in the history of the automobile. It was not only the eight-cylinder types that achieved great racing successes in the superior categories all over Europe between 1924 and 1933, but also their four-cylinder lightweight cars contributed to the rock-solid reputation of the exclusive Bugatti.
The Bugatti type 40 was built from 1926 to the end of 1931 and was the successor to the famous 'Brescia' from the early 1920s. Approximately 800 chassis were built, some of which were fitted with a factory body, but they often
 also received a personalized design that was then manufactured by a specialized coachbuilder. The 1496cc four-cylinder engine with 45 hp could make the 850 kg car reach a maximum of 125 km/h, which was quite an achievement at that time and on often miserable roads.
There is no kit of this type so this had to be a scratch model. Fortunately I found some technical drawings and with the wheelbase and track I could calculate the exact dimensions and proportions of the model at 1/24.
The drawing was for a Grand Sport factory body, but I adapted it to a two-seater, something that was often done at that time.
Spoke wheels were made with rims and tires from an old Heller kit, Alfa Romeo 1750.
The rear part of the body came from an old Auto Replicas kit of an eight-cylinder Bugatti, which was thoroughly modified. Everything else was full scratch. The luggage rack was soldered from 0.7 mm nickel wire. The windshield and the nose were made entirely of aluminum.
The pleated hood was a story in itself: first make a structure in metal wire, then find a material that was light and pliable, but at the same time easy to process and not too coarse in structure. I ended up with paper, just plain paper from a table napkin.
There is no real standard for the ‘real Bugatti blue’. In the meantime, those cars are a hundred years old and the original colour has long since ceased to be what it used to be. Let alone that there would be pre-war colour photos, and even then. Bugattis did not all have the same blue either, there has been some variation over the years. The blue has something mysterious: if the tone is not right, you do not recognise a Bugatti in it… so mix and test well!
The instrument panel was engine-turned, a technique that is still used today to make stainless steel easy to maintain, such as in milk tanks.
The steering wheel was made of rosewood veneer and the interior was upholstered in blood-coloured leather, which was gently patinated with some shoe polish.
With its 1500cc four-cylinder engine, the Bugatti T40 was not really a car for the race circuits, where its big brothers achieved so much success. However, it was used a lot in rallies and tours such as Paris-Nice in 1928. The car was praised for its lightness, excellent road holding and durability. On this example, the headlights were placed very low for better illumination of the road surface, and grilles were fitted to prevent damage from stone chips. The bonnet was tightened with just one strap, which could be opened quickly on both the left and right.
Also typical for that time were the friction shock absorbers, but complicated to make on a 1/24 scale…
Pigment powder was used for the weathering. In combination with the slightly sanded matt paint layer, this gives a vintage, weathered effect.
Nik Levecque
Original article in Dutch.
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