Preamble
After the Citroën Citela, here is a new project born from our collaboration with Peter, better known as Marpytoys. This time, it wasn't simply a matter of reproducing a Citroën CX in 1:43 scale, but of capturing a very specific moment in its birth on the assembly line: the «marriage» between the bodywork and the mechanical assembly.
The idea came from Peter. It is a natural extension of the subjects dedicated to car manufacturing and’Citroën plant in Aulnay-sous-Bois already featured on Garage143. A period photograph served as the starting point for this industrial scene, now recreated in the form of a particularly original miniature diorama.
Aulnay-sous-Bois, industrial cradle of the CX
Commissioned in 1973, the Aulnay-sous-Bois plant began assembling the CX in June 1974. It was then considered one of the most modern car plants in Europe. Body assembly, painting, upholstery and final assembly were all brought together there, with a high degree of automation for the time.
Among the most spectacular moments of this manufacturing process is the marriage. The painted bodywork, suspended from its overhead conveyor, meets the mechanical assembly prepared on the lower line: engine, transmission, running gear, suspension and other essential components. The two parts, until then separate, then become a single car. It is precisely this moment that Peter wanted to reproduce.
From archive photography to 3D modelling
To recreate the scene in 1:43 scale, it was first necessary to break down the original image and understand the layout of the workstation. The CX had to remain perfectly recognisable while being depicted in an unusual state: bodywork suspended, bonnet and doors open, mechanical assembly visible and the assembly line reconstructed.
Garage143 provided a CX body modelling base (used for other projects such as for example: https://garage143.fr/les-dioramas-un-plaisir-un-art/Peter then reworked this modeling and designed the entire factory environment: the assembly station, the conveyor, the lifting structure and the figures that bring the scene to life. He also took care of the 3D printing, painting and assembly of the whole thing.
A diorama telling the story of how the CX was made
The result is not limited to a scale model car. It is a genuine slice of factory life that takes place in a display case. The CX body shell still seems to float above its mechanical parts, held in place by the handling system. The workers accompany the operation, while the base, the equipment and the identification plaque immediately place the scene back in its context.
At this scale, the whole assembly also makes it possible to observe what usually remains hidden beneath the bodywork: the mechanical layout, the running gear and the famous hydropneumatic suspension. The diorama thus tells the story of an automobile's complexity better than a finished miniature at the very moment it becomes complete.
A creation proposed by Marpytoys
This new collaboration illustrates once again what the sharing of ideas and skills can bring to our passion. The bodywork modelling carried out by Garage143 met Marpytoys' expertise in set design, printing, painting and assembly.
The Citroën CX wedding stage diorama is offered for sale. To discover this creation and place an order, go directly to the website of Marpytoys.