1959scudetto

Tim, model looks much better after all the modifications, especially the stance and the dimensions of the wheels. Someday I will tackle mine also - it just doesn't look correct (stnce too high, wheels too small):

It doesn't get any better than this, Steven - this is among the most beautiful American car kits I ever saw on the internet - color combination (interior and body) is mindblowing.

Once again you took the utmost out of an old, slightly misproportioned kit, Mario and made it look perfect - together with your excellent photography - great!

Another exceptional model, Thierry - I never would have the skill or patience for this not-so-easy-kit so I sold mine off when I had the chance to buy the PMA 1/24 diecast.

Another wonderful built from you - looks like the real thing! A fitting tribute to the late John Fitch and this rather forgotten car (everybody mentions the winning SLR of Moss/Jenkinson adn this is often overseen)

Another fantastic model of a classic French car from a long gone make, Thierry.

Superbe, Thierry ! Marvellous model of one of the "Grandes routières" - looks perfect.

Very nice model, David - the interior changes really pay off well (might take the same approach, as I have it in my stash, too) - just a question: are the exhaust pipes really that long?

Super nice Ford France version of the Cobra Daytona coupé with painful attention to all the details, David - very well done!

Very nice renditions of the Lindberg Cobras, Gary - the '64 Daytona version as well as the Filipinetti car - your attention to the details alsways pays off!

Fantastic model of this iconic racecar - Mario would be proud!

After 3 years of mostly disappointing results with their 12-cylinder against Ferrari and Matra, Alfa Romeo retracted from the sports car world championship at the end of 1974 – as a company in state property, they could not justify their expenses anymore facing economic problems due to labor strikes in Italy and the world-wide oil crisis. Willy Kauhsen, just retired ex-Porsche race and test driver, persuaded them to hand him over a few cars, engines, gearboxes, some mechanics and a budget and he would campaign the 1975 championship, seeing a good chance for winning. So WKRT (Willy Kauhsen Racing Team) was born, after the first win Campari came on board as a sponsor for the team and it actually won the 1975 world championship, albeit against weak opposition: Ferrari had left the scene after the 1973 season, Matra retired at the end of 1974. Alfa Romeo did not attend Le Mans, so this was won by the Gulf Mirage team (Jack Ickx/Derek Bell). AutoArt made an excellent, highly detailed 1/18 model of this car in its signature series (3 versions): the best-looking version is the white-nosed 1000 km Spa-Francorchamps winning car of Derek Bell/Henri Pescarolo. It is one of their very best models - enjoy the pictures (the rear view mirror sits 2 - 3 mm too high - but if I had pressed it into the body as I should, it would not have been possible to put it back in its protecting box again):

Super realistic model, Mario, in a stunning setting - the lighting is the icing on the cake! (Even my wife was very much impressed)

Oxymoron: not necessarily - nice model I would say: relatively speaking: yes (especially when you consider the initial starting product) - of course, you can't compare a reworked cheap die-cast with an outstanding high-end 1/18 top-class model (which is in another price range, too), but sometimes it is rewarding to pimp up and detail a cheap die-cast - and it brings quick results (Of course, we all have several 1/24 plastic kits in our stash (in my case: 3 Italeri, 1 Gunze-Sangyo, 1 Protar, 2 Fujimi) waiting to be built. But even 1/18 CMC and the like have their flaws and weak points here and there...

Very nice, Gary - those wire wheels are a big refinement, really upgrading the toylike GTO to a fine model - this makes a huge difference ! (I always thought the old - Italian made - BBurago GTO has better proportions than their new - Chinese made- GTO, though it may be a bit out of scale - too large for 1/24?) The newer version has the more realistic looking wire wheels, but the older one looks better to me.

Fantastic engine model - looks SOOOO real !

Excellent model of one of the last really good-looking (classic) Ferraris - fantastic details and photos of the engine! (I also have this in my stash)

Very well done paint and details - typically 80's look ! Good fitting wheels/tires.

Small addendum to your fascinating story, Rex: Standing beside CSX2287 on the Bonneville Salt lake is famed land speed record holder Craig Breedlove, who dueled with Art Arfons for the record in 1965 (recommended read: Samuel Hawley’s book SPEED DUEL: THE INSIDE STORY OF THE LAND SPEED RECORD IN THE SIXTIES) Breedlove achieved a record speed of 555,485 mph on November 2, 1965. This was temporarily beaten 5 days later, when Art Arfons drove Green Monster to an average speed of 576 mph, before Breedlove once again broke the record with his landmark 600 mph run 8 days after that. As the time window for record runs is very short (salt surface, weather conditions) and Breedlove had some days left, he used his booked "salt time" to the fullest, talked his wife into putting up a female speed record of 308 mph with Spirit of America, and then he drove the Cobra Daytona Coupe to the aforementioned 25 speed records. These actions had also the purpose to strain/ruin the surface of the salt and prevent his competitor from hitting back immediately. So the record stayed with him until 1970 (Gary Gabelich/The Blue Flame) – when trying to establish a new record in 1966, Art Arfons survived a 620 mph crash with his Green Monster which was totally destroyed at this occasion.

Nice pictures, Gary - when correcting the wheelbase: did you have to stretch the body also ?

Excellent model, Gary - looks great even without the front damage :-)

Fantastic model, Chris - everytime you look at the pictures, you will see new details. (I can't imagine how you could finish a model like this in such a short time...)

Full respect for carving this dreamcars from wood, Janos!

Very well done, Gary - perfect modifications!

Very nice pickup, Rich - I have never seen this year's model.