Anyone can build a perfect model all it takes is a certain kind of

Anyone can build a perfect model
all it takes is a certain kind of genius
BY WAYNE THOMS
F SERIOUS MODEL auto builders around the world have a
universal bond, it is a constant search for perfection.
Turning out work that is almost beyond belief, these are
master craftsmen in the fullest ^ense of the term. We exclude from the outset hobbyists who pass leisure hours assembling pre-formed kits. Not that there is anything wrong
with this type of activity; it is simply that the level of skill
required is far below that of the true craftsman. The finished
models, while pleasing as shelf decorations, prove nothing.
It is the scratch builder with whom we are concerned, the
man who can construct an exact scale miniature of any car,
working with such accuracy and precision that there is no
difference between the appearance of model and actual car
except size. Such a model, properly photographed, cannot
be detected from the real thing. Every accessory, every detail, every component is a true replica.
Although we know that there are thousands of expert
modelers (and we hope they will not be offended by our
arbitrary selection), we have selected three builders who are
representative of the finest work currently being executed
anywhere in the world. Two of these men are Europeans,
turning out models in steady quantities. Manuel Olive lives
in Barcelona, Michele Conti in Torino. Prominent in the
field, their work transcends hobbying because both men
earn their livelihoods fulfilling commissions for patrons of
the art. The third man, Don Oreck, is an American, strictly
a hobbyist, yet no less skilled in his meticulous pursuit of
miniaturization.
I
Conti's models have a
special fascination because he is totally conversant with full-scale
techniques, having
worked as a coachbuilder for some of Italy's most famous
shops. Beginning as a teen-ager, he was with Stabilimenti
Farina for six years, at Carozzeria Pininfarina for two and
a half years, and with Ghia for a brief period until 1958.
During this latter job he did nothing but modeling, continu-ing the work after hours for his own pleasure as he had
done since his childhood. As his creations attracted more
and more attention, orders began to flow in and ultimately
he was able to quit his job to do nothing but model building.
His first model of real quality, incidentally, was of an American leep, which he was inspired to build when the U.S.
Army .anded in Italy during World War II.
Today the 30-year-old Conti, who works alone, builds his
models in an immaculate but tiny 6 x 10-ft room on the
fourth story of an ancient Torino apartment house. Generally he works to 1/10 scale, occasionally to 1/12 and 1/20.
His technique is adapted from full-scale classic coachbuilding. First, he carves a model of the car from solid
wood. Over this he hammers and fits the panels, which may
be of aluminum or brass. A typical race car is made up of
three panels, while a coupe will have about six major body
pieces, which are soldered together. Most of his cars are
complete with engine, running gear, suspension that works—
everything true to life except a working powerplant. He
makes each part by hand, except for the wheels and tires.
Because he doesn't own a lathe, he has a friend turn out
the wheels and hubs in brass. Tires are pressed for Conti at
a tire shop from his own molds. His Borrani wheels, each
with 62 spokes, are perfectly authentic, while his engines
are marvels of detail.
One of Conti's greatest cars is a P-II Rolls-Royce convertible coupe, which he considers the model to end all
models. Much of his research was gleaned from the pages
of Road & Track, and his interpretation of the photos was
utterly faithful. Attention to such details as red leather upholstery, windows and top that go up and down, opening
rumble seat, working lights, including stop light and instrument panel, made necessary the 1300 hours he poured into
the project, far longer than he spends on most of his cars.
Normally, he works with incredible speed, or at least it
seems incredible to anyone who has ever attempted to build
to such precise limits. To construct a car with doors that
open takes him between 90 and 150 hours, most of which
is spent in carving the wooden form. The panel beating
goes quickly—as little as a day for a three-piece GP car.
An engine takes about another 30 hours, with the rest of
the time spent on details—seats, suspension, steering, radiator. A finished GT car, an Aston Martin or a Ferrari GTO,
for example, will run up to about 300 hours to complete,
with everything possible functional.
Conti's prices relate directly to the amount of time he puts
into a model. It is difficult to quote firm prices, but his cars
sell for somewhere between $200 and $500, up since the
figure of $60 quoted in Petit Prix. R&T, Sept. 1958, in
which Conti's cars were displayed. In effect, he works for
wages that would not be attractive to an American craftsman with a fraction of Conti's skill. Yet there is compensation; he earns a living at work he loves, a job situation
infrequently found.
His work has won him first prizes at shows all over
Europe, and was greatly admired as part of this magazine's
display at the 1962 New York Automobile Show. Conti's
customers include an imposing list of auto notables—Henry
Ford II, the late S. H. Arnolt, A. E. Goldschmidt, Carlo
Abate, Ferry Porsche, and a succession of the world's great
racing drivers, who apparently enjoy having replicas of the
cars that carried them to fame.
Mercedes SSK-L by Conti.
IT""*"
II
ffit«a»~<x"K^'*»>l««^^V^HMI^^^^^^K^HI^^B^HM^^
Ml
Some of the world's most expensive toys.
300-SL by Conti, complete with engine and opening doors.
Michele Conti, superb craftsman, holds a model Ferrari.
Conti's work is not restricted to duplicating newer cars.
The start of a Conti classic involves a hand carved model.
Conti's Rolls-Royce Phantom II mentioned in the story.
Conti-built 250-S Maserati was inR&Tbooth atN.Y.Auto Show.
Also shown was a Bugatti—built for a customer in New Jersey.
36
ROAD & TRACK
iOOELLISMO
Con questa nuova rubrica Torino Motor! intends presentare agli
appassionati dell'automobile in miniatura le ultime novita. II modellino di automobile viene generalmente prodotto su larga scala, da un
numero non indifference di fabbriche che hanno in comune I'impronta
del lavoro in serie. Per questa prima puntata abbiamo invece voluto
presentare uno dei grand! specialist! del modellismo, Michele Conti, che
insieme ad Olive Sans, Marc Antonietti e pochi altri si stacca decisamente
dal lavoro in serie per raggiungere una forma di artigianato d'arte. E
che arte sia veramente lo dimostrano le pregevoli opere uscite dalle man!
di questo modellista di alta scuola; ne e riprova il piccolo gioiello qui
sotto, la Ferrari Sport 3 litri, riproduzione in scala 1/12 della vettura
con cui Gendebien e Phil Hill vinsero nel 1961 la 24 Ore di Le Mans.
Iniziamo la rubrica dedicata al modellismo con un'intervista a Michele Conti. Troppo noto per essere presentato
Conti e uno dei piu conosciuti costruttori di modellini di auto. Li realizza con
cura, animato dalla passione piu che dal
desiderio di guadagno. Questo spiega la
perfezione raggiunta dalle sue creazioni e la certosina pazienza dedicata alia
riproduzione dei particolari, che corrispondono in tutto ai modelli originali.
Michele Conti, 32 anni, e un uomo alia
mano, un po' timido, che non si e lasciato montare dal successo. Ha iniziato
la sua attivita quando lavorava da Farina, dedicando le ore libere alia realizzazione di modellini in legno.
L'hobby si trasformava in lavoro vero
e proprio nel 1955, quando veniva assunto da Ghia per costruire modellini
in plastilina usati dai progettisti per lo
studio delle nuove fuoriserie.
I suoi primi modellini apparvero in pubblico al Salone di Torino nel 1955, ed
il successo e stato immediate.
Le ordinazioni hanno cominciato a piovergli da ogni parte del mondo, specie
dagli Stati Uniti, dove un articolo su di
lui apparso sul notissimo « Road &
Track » ha provocato una vera valanga
di lettere di ammiratori, che ha invaso
1'appartamento di Corso Casale. Nel
1958 decideva cosi di dedicarsi interamente alia nuova attivita,
L'ultima creazione di Michele Conti e
la Mercedes SSK del 1931, una fedelissima riproduzione in scala 1/12, che
presentiamo in anteprima.
Questo modello, realizzato in lamierino
di ottone, ha il cofano apribile, che permette di osservare il blocco motore, riprodotto in tutti i particolari. Recentemente Conti ha miniato 1'Iso Rivolta,
1'Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint, la Jaguar
3,4lt, la Simca 1000, tutte in scala 1/12.
In preparazione ha la Jaguar « E » coupe, la Ferrari 400 SA e la Fiat Zero.
Abbiamo lasciato Conti rivolgendogli
una domanda:
- Ha mai pensato di costruirsi una collezione personale?
- Lo vorrei tanto — risponde - ma non
ne trovo il tempo. Sono troppo impegnato a far fronte alle ordinazioni.
Strano, ma vero; Conti non puo permettersi i modellini di Conti.