In phase 1 we get (as seems to be usual with model cars) the bonnet and radiator grill, also 4 M1,5x4 screws (+1 extra, there'll be always extras, I'm just gonna skip mentioning those)



Now a few things to note in this photo. Notice the hinges at the back end of this perfectly lacquered, heavy (it's metal), absolutely flawless bonnet? They're not for show. They actually work. They go up and down and up and down and I should stop fiddling with them lest I rip them off.

Then to the upper right you might notice a clear piece of plastic. That's the one of the inner liners of the blister pack. Yes, the inner liner is made out of individual parts and it is the most awesome thing I have ever seen in partworks packaging. Because it means if you have, say, a single part left that will be used in, say, 90 issues, you can just cut down the outer half of the blister pack to size, plop in the inner liner, and bam, instant secure storage that does not take up half a room. It's perfect packaging and I want to marry it.

Now for actual building in this phase we just plop the totally blemish free grille onto the bonnet. (Are you listening, "Bird-of-Prey-Dense-Green-Undergrowth"? NO blemishes here vs. your 7 in phase 1.) The grill actually has tiny little pegs that slot into the bonnet so it doesn't wiggle around while fixing it with the screws. It does not wiggle around, how cool is that?



And that's phase 1 done. Bit on the short side, but then they always are at the start. It'll get more involved, that I guarantee. Waaaay more involved.

Parts counter (oh, yes, it's back): 2 parts, 4 fasteners

Yeah, so it turns out I'm not having much luck with car models lately.

I originally intended to show phase 2 today featuring the left front wheel (it's always the left front wheel first, why is that?)



With phase 2 we get a tyre, the rim, a rim ring, hub cap and a suspension arm. (The 2 CV has a rather unique front-rear interconnected suspension system)

Now to build the wheel we just slip the tyre on the rim then push the pegs on the rim ring and hub cap into the four holes on.....

.... ok, wait. There's supposed to be 4 holes in the rim.

I see two, and they're not holes, they're little nubs that are way too shallow for the pegs.

Yeah, someone forgot to stamp in these holes. And I'm not about to go drill 2 mm wide and what seems to be at least 3 mm long holes into this lump of metal, scuffing up the paint job.



So we're getting this one replaced. Joy.

Part count: 7 parts, 4 fasteners

Looks an interesting build

Oh, that's the prototype model up above. The seats in the actual model will look very different. In fact the seats are a special object of pride in this model. I don't want to give away too much yet, especially as I don't have the parts yet myself, but building the seats will get very interesting indeed.

While we're waiting for our replacement delivery, let's continue with phase 3: the first parts of the engine.

We get a loooot of stuff for this phase (and a cute lil' ph1 screwdriver), so much even so that fixing it all will carry over into phase 4.



We also get 20 screws of 5 different types. Now this isn't done very well, they're all in little plastic baggies, but sometimes there's two types in one baggy and none of them is marked as to what type of screw it is. There's a 1:1 template in the instructions to check your screws against, BUT the template is wrong. This makes things a tad more difficult. Not only for me, but apparently for Deagostinis packers too, because there's no extras and in fact 1 screw is missing. Or maybe there are actually extras, who knows, the instructions are thoroughly unclear about which ones you may need in further steps (in fact they say: "Keep any extra screws. You might need them for further phases". Okaaay.) No worries though, as we get the whole delivery replaced.

As far as building goes, we add the brake calipers (they have moving parts! how cool is that?) and brake discs with drive shafts to the engine (yes, to the engine, the 2CV is a very strange animal).

We also add the oil filter (blue cap) and injection pump.



Now usually the build would end with us joining the two engine halves together, but I am going to wait for the replacement delivery. One of the drive shafts isn't as loose as it should likely be, so I'll replace it with one of the new ones on the way.


This will also delay part of phase 4 which deals with the other engine parts we received.

But don't fret. Come back tomorrow for a surprise, because this build is going into SPAAAACE.... or interactive. More likely the latter.

Part count: 15 parts, 12 fasteners (+2 for joining the engine halves after the replacement arrives)

We're gonna skip the largest part of phase 4 (where we would install the rest of phase 3's parts) until we get the replacement.



For parts we get the front fender and number plate. As well as a bunch of screws most of which we don't use and it's not clear on where or when they will used, so the parts counter threw up his hands in the air and left in a huff and a puff. Guess I need to summon a better imp.

We just add the number plate to the bonnet and that's phase 4 done.



"Uhuh, ok, yeah. Uhm, Grey, that's all nice and boring, but what about the interactive thing you mentioned?"

Well, we also get these



Yes, we get to make our own number plates. And with me having no idea what to put on there, this is where you come in.

From now until the instructions advise us to put the stickers on the plate, I will take suggestions for what the number plates should spell out. The best (and that likely means funniest) one will be put together and you have the dubious honor of having your suggestion proudly displayed on the number plate of a car model on some guys office window sill in Germany. I know, it's great.

8 characters max. EDIT: Oh and keep it worksafe, i guess.

Parts count: 1 imp yelling obscenities and pacing up and down the corridor.

There is no Problem with any of the Screws and Bolts
Which screws you need for which Part and component, you can read in the German Official Built. Everything is explained there exactly. Even the threads of individual bolts.

Looks like a cool kit and love the idea of making your own number plate.

Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)

We've got replacements. And I even got the correct screws for phase 3 this time around. All's well that ends well.

Anyhoo, let's start to finish this one up by completing phase 2 - the front left tyre.

The rim actually had the required holes this time around. Well, half of them anyway, but the two that weren't actual holes were deep enough they could be drilled out easily enough.

The tyre is very hard rubber, so I soaked it in 70°C water for 10 minutes to slip it onto the rim easily. The fit is absolutely perfect. There is no play at all, very unlike another current offering that I don't like to think about.

I slip on the rim ring and hub cap (loosely for now) and we have a beautyful tyre ready to go vroom. In... I actually don't know how long it'll take until we have this little guy up on it's legs. I'll have to find that out.



I'm not sure you can see that, there's a tiny little valve up in the upper left. It's so cuuuuute.