This is a build thread of the Jouets Ellen convertible car.
THE KIT
From information on the cover of this kit, it was produced in Montpellier (France)
by the Société d'Exploitation des Jouets Louis Neumann ["LN" - "Ellen"]
and the cover states that this is "Série A, Modèle No. 2". One could think therefore
that there was a No. 1 before, but so far no references to it, or any more details
on Jouets Ellen have surfaced on the web.
There is no copyright notice or printing information anywhere on the kit,
but it is generally listed by most internet sites as "1950".
The only thing resembling a date that can be found on the kit is this small inscription
on the firewall, besides the battery, which apparently reads "11.11.45". However, it is
a mistery what it refers to, as it is not a historically important date in the world.
And if it was relevant to the designer of the kit, the meaning has been lost to time now.
The kit is comprised of 6 sheets printed on both sides, held together by a couple of metal staples.
From photos available on the web, it can be ineferred the original cardstock is thick,
heavy and fibrous. Probably 0.3 - 0.35 mm thick.
Size of each sheet is 35X45 cm (13 3/4" x 17 3/4" inches), which is a rather unusual
size and does not follow current paper standards.
Instructions, as is to be expected, are in French.
DIMENSIONS
Once built, the model dimensions are 40X13X15 cm (15X5X6 inches approx.)
SOURCE FOR THIS BUILD
The original kit was scanned and uploaded by Patricia to her Agence Eureka blog.
The link to Patricia's site is this:
https://bibigreycat.blogspot.com/200...de-35-x45.html
And the same files can be accessed in her Flickr album here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/taffet...57605203771203
where they're available in different resolutions.
The digital files are of very good quality considering the source material.
I think she used a small A4 scanner to digitize the big sheets.
Besides scanning and stitching together the big pages, she doesn't seem to have
altered the graphics or corrected the colors in any way.
This current build was based off Patricia's scans.
VINTAGE, OR OLD?
In any case, more than 60 years have passed after its production.
For a worthy discussion on vintage/classic paper models we had some years ago,
please follow this link here:
Restored vintage decoupages
And also read Uyraell's comments on "Vintage Paper Models: Definition", which was the origin
for the Vintage Models subforum.
Uryaell's thread is a sticky here:
http://www.papermodelers.com/forum/vintage-models/
OTHER BUILD THREADS OF THIS KIT
I have not seen this kit being built here on Papermodelers.
But there is a build thread at Kartonbau.de by user Suncat:
https://www.kartonbau.de/forum/coach...les/t32685-f9/
He built two of it: one "out of the book", and another where he included more details.
He also pointed out the model closely resembles a 1946 Ford.
There is also another build thread at the French forum "Forum jouets anciens" by user dinky26:
http://forumjouet-ancien-fr.forumact...34-ellen-ou-ln
Both threads have images showing the different stages of the build.
Since it is a rather simple build, construction reports are short,
and so this will be the same.
ENOUGH PREAMBLE
Now, onto this build.
I downloaded Patricia's original scans (there have never been any challenges to any old kits
sourced from her website) and digitally cleaned and color-processed them to get a better look.
However after seeing photos of the
Ford 46 Superdeluxe convertible which may have been
the inspiration for this kit I changed plans and decided to apply some burgundy color
to the body, and and also changed the seats and top color to a beige one for contrast.
Since this thread is only intended as reference and inspiration, and as a recolor practice,
the modified digital files will not be publicly shared to avoid improper distribution
and to prevent the value of original kits to be dramatically affected.
But, of course, if yu have any concern about the validity of this build, feel free to
report the thread or contact the administrators about it.
This is what will be built.
More or less.
INSTRUCTIONS?
The original French text is actually simple and straightforward.
It basically instructs you to follow the assembly diagrams in a certain order.
Since the build is simple, you will only need to follow this order as suggested in the instructions:
SPECIAL NOTE:In the original kit all fold lInes are marked the same way (dashed/mountain lines),
but in fact there are several valley folds that need to be made.
Check the assembly diagrams for a proper folding.
1 - Chassis and wheels:
+ Frame of chassis
+ Floor supporting the seats.
+ Part "B" of the engine (to the bottom of the chassis and the seats support.
+ Part "A" of the engine (cut-out slots A and B on it and gle to floor of chassis).
+ Glue the steering column support.
+ Under the chassis frame, glue the boxes of the front and rear springs.
+ Superior and inferior springs to the intended locations on the above boxes
[Special note: the leaf springs will carry all the weight of the car,
for additional strenght I used CA glue to soak them.]
+ Build the brake drums by doubling them and gluing the hub support.
+ Mount that to the springs.
[Special note: be careful when building the hubs. The circular cutouts seem to be
bigger than they actually should be. The holes should be a bit smaller.
First bild the cylindrical axles, and with that diameter +1mm cut out the holes.]
+ Assemble engine part "C".
+ Glue the pump, and the fan to the designated places on the engine block.
+ Build the air filter and carburetor that will slide on the slots of engine part "C".
+ This assembly will slide on the slots of part "A" which is glued to the chassis frame.
+ Assemble the radiator and glue it to the chassis.
+ Build the wheels and mount the hub following the diagram [or the photos below].
+ Place the wheel by inserting the hub in the support and gluing disc "B" of the hub
which will prevent it from coming out of its support.
+ The brake drum must then be applied with a little "play" on the wheel to allow it
for rotation .
+ Finally, build the seats and glue them on the chassis floor. The rear seat doesn't
have a back, and will stay "in the air".
2 - Body:
+ The main body closes at the back by joining the lid of the trunk to the rear of the sides.
+ Remember to cut along the dark line until the middle of the door.
+ Assemble the dashboard and firewall. Place the instruments: clock, handbrake, pedals.
+ The battery is glued to the front of the firewall.
+ Glue the dashboard/firewall to the body where indicated.
+ Fit and glue the windshield on the body and the dashboard.
+ Now glue the front part of the body (front fenders and grill). The door line must align. Fit and glue carefully.
[Special note: here I found easier to glue from the front corner towards the back.
Makes fitting more accurate and assembly less difficult.]
+ Assemble the rear part of the body (rear fenders) to the indicated location.
+ Shape the headlight cones and glue to the front. Glue the mirror to the center pillar of the windshield.
+ Now you can mount the body to the chassis, gluing it to the places indicated on the chassis (front, back and sides).
[Special note: While it is rather easy to glue the body to the sides and front of the chassis,
it is a mystery as to how to glue the firewall to the floor.
There is no easy way to do it and the help of thin long dowels may be needed.
To correctly glue the body to the chassis remember to align the marks
of the rear seat.]
+ Build the steering column and the steering wheel. Glue the electric gear changer
to the steering column and under the steering wheel.
+ Install everything on the car by inserting the tube through the firewall,
and gluing it to the bottom of its support on the chassis.
+ Glue the hood. Glue the hood ornament to the front, and the support of the hood
which folds to the interior when in "closed position". Glue the hood on the body
using the two hinges provided.
This is the correct way of gluing the roof elements for a proper alignment.
+ Assemble the convertible roof following the diagrams. The two shafts
must be housed in the support provided in the rear seat.
The end of this support must be glued to the inside of the body in the designated place.
+ Fold and glue the front and rear bumpers to the body.
ADDITIONAL TEXT:
[The following paragraph closes the original French instructions:]
Quote:
The car is finished. You can try its amazing flexibility by placing the car
on a flat surface (for example a table) and weighing slightly on the front and rear of the vehicle.
You can decorate your car by making the windshield and side windows with transparent film or cellophane,
and by applying a layer of transparent varnish on the body and dashboard, and on the steering wheel
and wheels, with the exception of the tires.
If you want to keep your small car for as long as possible, it is recommended
that you don’t roll it over uneven surfaces unless they have rounded, non-abrupt terrain.
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