Realistic Speed Racer Mach V - Completed!

[Art Laski]

The upcoming Spirit of Speed model show at the NHRA museum this November has a Movie/TV theme class, so it inspired me to throw something together. I’m going to do a “What if Speed Racer’s Mach V was a real car?” So I am converting the Polar Lights kit to a realistic period-inspired race car.

I’ll be borrowing style elements from Shelby Cobra, Ford GT40, and Lola T70 references from about the time the cartoon was first out.

First thing I did was flip the headlights over, and open up the rear wheel wells to fit a set of GT40 wheels from Historic Racing Miniatures I got from my good friend Randy at www.modelbuilderswh.com.

Edited November 8, 2018 by Art Laski

[Art Laski]

Wheel well flare modification for fitting the GT40 wheels.

[Art Laski]

Got some putty on it.


 

 

[Art Laski]

First Draft of the body work with the first of many coats of primer. A lot to fix, but it's a good start! I deleted the big fins, since I really want this to look like it is a real race car, and the fins were too over the top for that, I thought.

 

Edited September 12, 2018 by Art Laski

[Ich_Will]

Cool concept! Looks very 60’s believable. 

[bobthehobbyguy]

Love it cool project.

Edited September 12, 2018 by bobthehobbyguy

[Ryansrust6]

What a great idea 

[Italianhorses]

Thats awesome!

[afx]

Great project Art, I'll be following.  Was a big Speed Racer fan back in the day.

[Day 2 Muscle]

This is going to be awesome.... only one thing I see that looks a bit off. if I may, the front track looks a bit narrow compared to the rear.

Robert

[Art Laski]

Thanks for looking and the comments, guys.

 

3 hours ago, Day 2 Muscle said:

This is going to be awesome.... only one thing I see that looks a bit off. if I may, the front track looks a bit narrow compared to the rear.

Robert

Robert, it is narrower in the front, but the rear tires are much wider than the kit wheels. Still, I think I can tuck the rears in just a bit more.

[Mooneyzs]

Art.... this is going to be a great build. You are off to an awesome start. Looking good Brother!!

[cobraman]

Interesting idea.

[Dann Tier]

SO COOL!!…..I have one of these too, i'll be following!!

[ismaelg]

I like where you are going with this....

[Eric Macleod]

Perhaps my favorite car of all time.  I will follow this one with great pleasure. 

[Hooked on Chaparral]

Really great project....not so sure how "Pops" is going to like it!

[Art Laski]

Thanks for all the comments! Finally getting back on this one.

Here's a quick update on the Real Mach V project. I narrowed up the rear wheels and flares a bit, lined in a hood and added a hood scoop, and made some side pipes from a set of headers from the Owens Corning Corvette kit. I also made a driver's seat from a Tamiya Porsche glue bomb I had.

I have decided to go a different direction from the roll bar shown here, but I will have it on the next update. Thanks for looking!

[Rider]

Great stuff happening with this. Best of luck with all the mods. 

[Mooneyzs]

Art... Awesome Work Brother!! This thing is shaping up quite nicely. Glad to see you getting some Bench Time in. I can't wait to see more Updates on this.

[Dennis Lacy]

This is great! Looks like a mid-late 50's Special with with the fenders and wheels. 

I need to make sure to attend this year. I live right down the street! Do you have a link to flyer?

[Dann Tier]

18 hours ago, Mooneyzs said:

Art... Awesome Work Brother!! This thing is shaping up quite nicely. Glad to see you getting some Bench Time in. I can't wait to see more Updates on this.

Same here, Art!!….its looking FANTASTIC!!!

[Art Laski]

Thanks for the comments! This post was supposed to go up at the same time, but I submitted it too soon and didn't realize it until now...

 

 

[Art Laski]

16 hours ago, Dennis Lacy said:

This is great! Looks like a mid-late 50's Special with with the fenders and wheels. 

I need to make sure to attend this year. I live right down the street! Do you have a link to flyer?

Dennis,

Thank you for the comment. We met at the GNRS earlier this year at Pomona as well. I hope you can make this one. I have a flyer to the show linked on my site here: Laski Scale Specialties Vendor Shows

 

-Art

[Bernard Kron]

This is something I've often thought about starting - and I can't think of anyone better to take it on!

It's interesting to note the difference in timeline/perspective that each modeler will bring to a project. Speed Racer (or Mach GoGoGo) was first introduced in 1966, by which time details such as you have included (wider tires, flares, braced roll bar, GT40 style wheels) would have been very much the standard of the age. But in the comic and cartoons the cars are kind of a throwback, something of an exaggerated, stylized version of late 50's pontoon-fendered front engine road racers along the lines of Ferrari TRs and Listers or, more specifically, the Sadler Mk. II and the Corvette SS. So when I have thought about doing one I have thought of doing it with narrower tires, no flares, and minimalist rollover protection.

One thing for sure, flipping the headlight position is genius in its simplicity - one of those breakthrough insights that has never occurred to me but is "obvious" once its shown to you! Bravo!

Build On, Art!

PS -  Speaking of The Spirit of Speed, one thought I had regarding doing it in an earlier style was to do one inspired but the great Stan Mott's iconic Pignatelli, cashing in on the already over-the-top body shape.