1:24 Fiat 131 Abarth Cromodora CD68 Rims

Cromodora CD68 rims for the Fiat 131 Abarth in 1:24 scale

The 1:24 Fiat 131 Abarth Cromodora CD68 Rims package holds rims for a model of the Fiat 131 Abarth rally car in 1:24 scale. It is not a kit of the car but a replacement for the wheels, used instead of the parts from the original box. The diameter, the material and the number of pieces are given by the manufacturer on the packaging.

Why the CD68 type

The Fiat 131 Abarth was built as a homologation special for the Group 4 class of the day. The body of the production sedan gained flared fenders and plastic panels, Bertone took part in the conversion, and under the hood sat a two-liter engine with twin overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. Light alloy wheels from Cromodora were one of the signature features of Italian rally cars of the 1970s, and the type designated CD68 is tied to this Fiat most closely of all. The spoke pattern and the depth of the dish decide whether the model reads as the right season at first glance, because the viewer takes in the wheels before any interior detail.

Painting and installation tips

• Dry-fit each rim to check how it seats on the hub and whether the tire rubs against the wheel arch.
• Apply a light wheel shade over a primer, because a thin coat on its own lets the surface texture show through.
• Darken the inner faces of the spokes slightly so the wheel does not look flat.
• Check the track and the camber of the wheels on a flat board until the joint has hardened.
• Keep dust weathering on the rims restrained, as the cars were cleaned during service halts.

Who the rims are for

The set will appeal to builders of rally cars in 1:24 scale who want to take a model beyond what the box holds, and to collectors of Italian machinery of the 1970s. It also helps where the wheels from the original kit do not match the shape used by a particular crew or season.