Citroën Type H 1950

1/24 scale Heller #80768

While browsing the Internet, I found some image of the real Café San Rivo truck and immediately knows that's the one I'm gonna make !
It (the real one) was sold at auction at Sotheby's in early 2019 for 43 700€, it is an unaltered 1950 Type H panel van, so an early production, with retractable indicators, split windshield, 3 rear windows...

The auction description says :
The HY van offered here is an exceptionally rare original and unrestored example that is offered with its original, single-letter Parisian license plate and in its original ‘Café San Rivo’ paintwork and livery. Believed to have been used as a publicity van for the French coffee brand, it is accompanied by a charming 1950s advertisement, showing the vehicle following several cyclists in a race, perhaps the Tour de France. Hugely original, the van includes a rare dashboard-mounted clock and three-spoke steering wheel. - Source

But this rareness makes a lots of details are missing on the 1/24 kits available ... As the Heller kit was the closest one (the manufacturer provides parts to make a 1957 or 1964 production) I bought it, knowing the brand reputation !
It's not as bad as old references but still not up to date, plastic is quite soft, details are simplified of missing, fittings are poor ... And as the wheels are provided in vinyl, I upgrade with resin ones.

I added some details to replicate the original (some are still missing, I did my best!) and slapped some paint, following by hairspray technique to make a chipped base.
Then I made custom stencils to make the Café San Rivo livery, then tweak it by hand.
A lot of chips where corrected or added by hand, in an never ending painting session.

It's always exciting trying to make the most accurate replica of a real vehicle, but also painful 'cause I can't be as accurate as I wanted ! ..