DonW

Awww Bill, you're not supposed to give the answer! Anyway I happen to know it's the rare turbodiesel version...?

I like that a lot!

In response to the talk about transmissions, automatics terrify me. I'd rather have full control. Good bit of exercise too, changing gear manually..

I agree - for me the joy of a model is in how well it captures the spirit of the original. Nothing is finer than a Gerald Wingrove level of perfection in miniature but my amateur 69 'Vette, '69 Charger in French blue, my Spit 24 and the pair of old Frog Starfighters hit the spot. Stance and function are key.

Said 'hot item' won't be the subject of this weeks Auto Id quiz on this forum to judge from the feedback its received. But then again to a collector of kitsch...

It's a race car and it's just right. Like the crew repaired the door in a hurry after it got dinged...

? I have an idea what it's based on - but as to what it is now I haven't a clue. I must admit to a morbid curiosity - who would do this, and who would actually pay money for it?

Thanks for the information Leslie. The taxi looks promising, with echoes to my mind of a chopped '49 Mercury.

Thanks! Keep up the good work. Cheers, -Don.

Hi David This is impressive work. I can't help noticing what seems to be a scale anomaly - the chap on the corner appears to be much taller than the ambulance and twice the height of the Rolls / Bentley nearest the viewer. Likewise the Rolls behind dwarfs both the other vehicles. Am I missing something? Not trying to pick holes, but genuinely curious! Cheers, -Don.

Leslie - At risk of veering off topic, am I right in my understanding that cats are a bit more lively in rough water than single hulled boats? Oh - and I've never imagined a chopped taxi before. Is it an FX4? Apologies if you have already posted this info! Cheers, -Don.

I built the Airfix Indy back in the seventies, it is a good representation. I always wondered why they modelled the Indy and not the Ghibli however...

Dave Deal had the same idea:

During testing of the Mercedes W196 F1 car, Rudi Uhlenlhaut , the Mercedes engineer who appropriated one of the two SLR coupes that had been built for his own personal use, was putting in laps quicker than their star driver, Juan Manuel Fangio! I love this car and the model does it full justice. Excellent!

As soon as I saw that I thought 'it's .........' - and I was right! !00% success so far this year!? Thanks Michael.

BMW 323i, E21. Plenty of power, understeered like a pig, not helped by the feeling that the steering box was only connected to the chassis by force of habit. There was about half a turn of free play at the steering wheel. As I recall I sold it as a breaker within weeks, which is why I'm still alive to type this! I always have owned and driven BMWs and they've all been excellent except for this beauty.

Sounds a bit dodgy in copyright terms?

Would it matter as long as it took it a long time away...?

Airfix also did a Porsche 917 in 1:32, that was a good little model too. Worth looking out for if you enjoy building the Ford.

I built one of these about 45 years ago, not a bad kit given its simplicity.

I don't imagine a ripe banana skin would flex with that roll cage and chassis under it! ?

Thanks Greg. That does strike a chord in my mind. I can see it all now, as an avid 'Alias Smith and Jones' watcher in my younger days... Cheers, -Don.

Fantastic work, although the early aircraft carrier concept is a little flawed!?

Beautiful. That smokestack is insane! Can you educate me as to what it's for, you don't see those designs on UK steam trains, just a simple funnel. Cheers, -Don.

Thanks both for the clarifications. To my mind the upshot is that the exercise looks good. And clearly Malcolm Sayer and Bill Heynes had it completely wrong, as did Enzo Ferrari when he described their Jaguar E-Type as "the most beautiful car ever made". ?