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Topic starter
28/04/2026 7:38 am
I found this model and thought it interesting. When speaking with the seller I learned he used the Bburago 1934 Bugatti Type 59 as the base of his experiment and he then 'treated the model with a special iron primer and an oxidizing agent from France to give it a rusted look.' He also blackened the spokes, which I like better. Very creative, from my perspective, and I liked it enough to buy it. If you look closely, you will notice the exhaust tailpipe is hollow at the end, lending more realism to the model.
1934 Bugatti Type 59 'Rat Rod:'
The original Bburago 1934 Bugatti Type 59:
And, last but not least, the young femme fatale who will be the 'driver' of the Bugatti Type 59. I just have to find a black helmet for her:
28/04/2026 10:37 am
His "special iron primer with a French oxidizing agent" looks like brown paint to me.... but OK, it does look rusted.
Rich also detailed one of these years ago; Bburagos make good 1/18 candidates for these types of mods as the basics are there - in scale, fairly good castings & finishes, unique subject matter, everything opens, etc.
And speaking of unique..... your driver qualifies! 😉
Topic starter
28/04/2026 3:48 pm
@chris It is not brown paint, Chris. The guy seems genuine and for the price he asked I felt like I should give him more. He has other models that he has given the same treatment, such as this Ford:
David Green and Christopher Moroni reacted
28/04/2026 5:18 pm
I hear 'ya but I see no evidence of any "special French oxidizing agent," just classic dry-brushing & light airbrushing techniques utilizing flat paints. Notice how the brown color does not seep into those recessed circles or linear creases? Any "oxidizing agent" would likely flow like water and not be "dry & stiff" like dry-brushing paint (...that would not flow into recessed areas or linear creases ).
Again, just my two cents, I could be wrong. He could be using Ferric Nitrate or something similar but that's not really suitable for dry brushing. 🤨 🤨
A great way to test this (assuming you'd want to ) is to, once your Bugatti arrives, take a toothpick, find an inconspicuous area and scratch off just a bit of "brown." If you're able to actually scrape off even a tiny fleck of color, then you'll know it's either brown acrylic or enamel paint.
Either way, I'm glad to hear you didn't pay much - that's ALWAYS a plus! 😀 😀 😀 And this Bburago does look better "rusted & weathered."
Topic starter
29/04/2026 10:14 am
Either way, I'm glad to hear you didn't pay much - that's ALWAYS a plus!
28 Euros, including tax and shipping. The driver will cost nearly three times that amount. 😎
Topic starter
30/04/2026 8:57 am
@chris She has arrived and after the important 'toothpick test,' I can assure you it is not brown paint, and the model looks even better in person. Whatever this guy in Berlin is doing it definitely improved the Bburago 1934 Bugatti Type 59, IMHO. Did you notice the 'blacked' wheel spokes? That definitely improved the look of the model.
30/04/2026 9:42 am
@gdh Glad you're happy with it and GLAD it's not brown paint. And yes, I like the black spokes much better too! 😀 😀
GDH and Tony Perrone reacted
01/05/2026 8:41 am
Weren't these Bugattis aluminum bodied?
Topic starter
01/05/2026 9:55 am
@bob-jackman Yes, the original type 59s were created using aluminum.
David Green and Christopher Moroni reacted