Techniques have changed since the world of expert modellers such as Rex Hayes and Gerald Wingrove.
Modern computers and 3D printers make it possible to create rare and unusual subjects, as Spanish enthusiast Antonio Martinez-Fresneda has proved, but the skills required to master today’s tools are just as clever.
Antonio has been captivated by cars since childhood, and became interested in models when he was gifted a Bburago Bugatti by his grandmother.
“It became an obsession,” he recalls. “I started building Tamiya and Heller kits. Car design really fascinated me.”
Many of Antonio Martinez-Fresneda’s models are one-off commissions, but others, such as this Napier-Railton are available off the shelf, both built or in kit form
After studying mechanical engineering, Antonio moved to Germany, where he worked for both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.
“I specialised in computer-aided design, but the bureaucracy of the industry started to thwart my creativity.
“I still made models, and a video of the Beast of Turin inspired me to design a miniature, so a friend with a 3D printer helped.
“I posted pictures of the finished piece on Instagram and started to get enquiries from people who wanted to buy it.”
A 1:12-scale 1912 Regal Underslung – the detailing is exquisite, even on relatively simple models (left); 1936 Riley 1½-litre TT Sprite Competition Sports, built for the owner of the full-size car
