1959scudetto

I know, but the body proportions as a whole should be mostly identical (certain details of course not...)

When comparing the model with the real car, you will note similarities as well as differencies: Here you can spot the chromed headlights: The front half of the car looks quite ok, maybe the 1:1 has a more pointed nose, but I can live with that: The fuel filler has a cover, the indicators are included in the light housing (missing from the model). The side windows on the real car are not pointing inwards as on the model - this leads to the biggest issue: the window line results in 2 heavy longitudinal grooves above the rear wheels that run to the rear spoiler - these have to disappear ! First I thought that there were measurement issues - wheelbase, car length etc. but these are almost correct. The window above the engine is too large and in the wrong position - relocating it a bit further back is the solution... Here is a pic from a historic race in the 90's with several modifications inherited (David Hobbs at the wheel): though a bit distorted through perspective, it clearly shows the placement of the clear back cover (this also makes reshaping new NACA ducts a must) - the big additional left side duct for the oil cooler is totally missing from the model. Also the roof-mounted mirror has to go, and a roof window has to be cut. This leads us to the rear end: the original photo shows the car on its presentation to the public (NO rear spoiler, but 2 openings on the deck) - compare this with the rear of the model - you get the picture.... Plastic sheet, putty and a lot of time will be needed here !

Thank you for your generous offer, Dave - at the moment I have enough pics for this build. (But if necessary at a later date, I will certainly come back to it).

5 years ago, I got a very rare, built kit of the Ford 3L/P68 from an Italian ebayer (see below). My goal was to rework this and turn it into the #34 car from the 1968 BOAC 500 in Brands Hatch: As some of you encouraged me to write a WIP about it (which never was my intention), I finally decided to do it: Dave Bantoft gave me the last kick with his beautiful 3 D printed model, and I loved to watch Pierre Rivard’s WIPs on several sports racers over the last few years. Don’t expect too much – I just want to show how I tried (and often errored) to achieve some degree of similarity of the model with its 1:1 counterpart. A big help with reference material is Ed Heuvink’s book on the subject and of course the internet. Whereas at first glance, the model looked 90 % correct, it happens to have several issues and lots of details that have to be modified or added. The model has some features shown at the public presentation that were not on the car at the first race, so I believe it is supposed to be the very early version, albeit with an eye-balled rear body which is very wrong. Molded in dark green, the model had been clearcoated (also the glass parts !), so stripping the paint and removing the decals were a must (even a bath in brake fluid was not enough to remove this so I had to scrape the decals with a hobby knife and sandpaper. The clear parts have been polished - they were intact but the headlight covers will be replaced. They have been damaged when I removed the headlights which were chromed blobs. Obviously, the model was a battery-operated toy like many Japanese kits of the time (I'm sure this one dates back to 1968), therefore the Cosworth DFV under the opening hood looks a bit oversized, whereas chassis detail is non-existant, the front axle has a simplified steering mechanism.

Spot on , Dave - the flowing body lines are perfect ! Which colors did you use?

Came today per mail (from an Austrian ebayer - I was the only bidder): Modeler's 2D (I already have the Fujimi reissue):

Excellent upgrade of this old diecast, Tim ! The steel wheels are top-notch (finally a roadster without spoke wheels!). I can't await what will come next from your workbench!

Well done Hudson, Mario - it has that early 50's vibe with that color and the blackwalls - looks great !

Very nice model with your usual fine detailing, Pierre. No one would ever know that it has a diecast body if you hadn't told us. I have been watching your WIP (with my mobile phone during my holidays in Greece) , but only as a looker - I couldn't comment. I was a bit surprised about the RHD car with a driver from the 50's in a car with a (German) license plate from the present (the "H" stands for Historic, I guess it is from the E-type kit). It could be a participant of a classic rally (for Historic races probably some safety devices like seat belts, roll bar and modern racing wear would be required). But that does not detract in any way from the model (I will use Jason's wheels with red spokes for reworking my DB4 - now I can see how it looks.) Excellent also is the fabrication of the fuel cap - a model in itself !

Excellent model, Martin - as others said before, it looks like you could jump in and drive away (Especially the first 2 photos / rear and the side view) In any case, this is the best looking split-window Corvette i have ever seen + awesome photography.

From LeMans decals (Spain): decals for 2 classic Ferraris:

Dave, this is going to be great (again !) - the wheels look super (as if they came from a kit) - I intend to use the wheels from a Fujimi GT40, but maybe the tires are a bit too large in diameter ?

Dashboard and interior are looking excellent, Pierre !

Very well done, Rich - impressive collection of (new) racing Corvettes, and a very creative way of approximating the yellow decals with a thinned cover of clear yellow and orange to look like Tamiya's Camel yellow- bravo!

Cool model, David - I have been following your WIP with interest - great looking wheels!

Excellent idea of making a truck train getting stuck in the mud and then pulled out of it by a huge Cat dozer - you're really the diorama king, Charles ! So much to see here and so many details to discover...

Excellent setting for this truck, Charles - I would have been surprised if the customer had not bought the diorama for the truck/trailer combo.

Unusual color for a mid 60's beetle, Mario - but a great looking model - and the background, too !

Looks great in that color, Hugh - did you have any fitting problems with the hood (read frequently about that) ? Seems to fit perfectly.

Very nice Randy - I can't remember when I saw the last one built - did you modify the steering?

Pierre, that is nice - your brush painting looks smoother than my spray-painting efforts.

While the kit's proportions are a little bit off, you made a nice model out of it - the works livery of BMW is looking awesome!

One of the best- looking 80's NASCAR racers, period.

This one really is looking superb !

Dave, you make me wanna start mine much earlier than I had intended originally... Tread and dimensions of the tires look pretty good for a late 60's racer.