Diatto 20 s Targa Florio 1922

**emanuele** · #1 10-04-2015, 02:17 PM

After the Bugatti 32, that was a little test for some new techniques, I started this new project. Ok, ok, many of you have never head of this little Italian brand and, to tell the truth, never I until two months ago. The Diatto was a small Italian brand, famous for producing the Bugatti 23 under licence in Italy (the Diatto 30), but produced even some original cars, like the Tipo 20. The Diatto spent a lot of money in races but, even if it was successfully in many little races, if failed in achieving in the major ones, even if won in its own category (2 litter, both Targa Florio and Le Mans). However, its place in history didn't come from its sport achievement, but from the fact that the Maserati's brothers worked for them. When in 1926 the factory failed, they gave to the Maserati a couple of chassis and spare parts of a Diatto tipo 26 instead of money...
the first Maserati, the Maserati tipo 26, was born.

I choose this model because it was really squared and I was lucky to find a draw of the chassis, well, at least of the sedan model, not the two seats sport version, so I modified the blueprint according to the pictures I collected. Moreover, there is a wonderful HD picture of the n. 17 car of Massola on the Targa Florio of 1922, so I started! As normal, I started with the 3d model...

**whulsey** · #2 10-04-2015, 07:46 PM

Wonderful, have heard of the car in reference as the starting point for the Maserati brothers. Will follow with great interest.

**emanuele** · #3 10-05-2015, 09:52 AM

The car I'm building still exist today, and it's one of most photographed. It still got the authorization to do a lap test on the Targa Florio (picture 2). Because there are plenty of good picture of it, I used them as a reference. However, if you compare the existing car with the picture taken in 1922, you can see a lot of difference, a clear sign that the car was restored/adjourned to road traffic somehow during its history. The main differences (check the picture 1) are:
1) No fuel pump.
2) No wind shield.
3) No compass on the front suspension.
4) No lights.

It's possible that even other details have been changed, yet, not having other sources, I had to rely on it for the interior, seats, cockpit, suspension.

**whulsey** · #4 10-06-2015, 11:47 AM

Always a problem with dealing with a restored car, especially one that had originally been a race car. Used to go to Riverside Raceway all the time and usually from the time the trailers pulled in until they pulled out. Have photos of cars with 2 or 3 different sponsors, different numbers, body mod, etc. Almost have to go this is a general version of the car or document it with this was how it was at 2:45pm on Friday afternoon at this track getting ready to qualify.

**emanuele** · #5 10-08-2015, 01:38 PM

As for the Bugatti, the model would be in 1/43, mainly because my collection of model cars is in this scale.

I started with the wheels. In the Bugatti, I use an octagon as a frame, this time, I will use a decagon one, so the thread will be a little more complex and, at the same time, I will avoid too layers of fishing rod. The tool I use for cutting the cardboard circle were 19mm instead of the 18mm required... I consumed the excess sanding them with a Dremmel. I need 6 wheels in total.

**LMSC** · #6 10-08-2015, 03:50 PM

This project is a very good, salutations

**THE DC** · #7 10-09-2015, 12:12 AM

Great project idea!

**elliott** · #8 10-09-2015, 02:13 AM

These are going to be some good looking spoked wheels. Looking forward to seeing them when finished.

**whulsey** · #9 10-09-2015, 12:31 PM

I make myself crazy doing wire spokes in 1/25th, the thought of doing them in 1/43 makes me hyperventilate. Excellent job.

**emanuele** · #10 10-09-2015, 03:33 PM

Thanks every one!

Once I got the 6 wheels, I started the chassis. As I said, I had the drawing of the sedan chassis, not of the two seats sport variant. I shortened the drawing according to the photo, hoping to do the same work they did at the Diatto nearly 100 years ago, and then I draw the sport body on top of it. Comparing the 3d model with the pictures, it looks that this was the right way to proceed, but I would be certain only when the model it's finished.