RancheroSteve

Thanks, Snake! That's a pretty nice replica, especially for one built that far back. At least I have the advantage of being able to start with the MPC kit and the Slixx decals. Like you say, the car changed from race to race - it's a little different in every photo I've found, but at least it's well documented. I'm aiming for kind of an "amalgamation version". I'm getting a bunch of smaller engine and chassis parts ready for painting and then things should start going together.

Yes, kind of odd - I didn't see Bill's post when I wrote mine last night.

Originally the 1963 Lotus-Ford Indy Car by IMC, which was updated a couple of times. The 1965 version was later re-issued by Testors in the "Those Famous Fords" series. The offset suspension pieces are a clue! https://www.scalemates.com/search.php?fkSECTION[]=All&q=imc+lotus+ford*

Applied the pinstriping, some decals (from Slixx) and a few coats of clear. It'll get a few contingency decals later. Brush painted the inside of the body and the rear fender wells semi-gloss black to represent raw fiberglas. Onward!

I probably used a light coat of TS-13, but I agree in principle with Ace's suggestion if you're going for absolute authenticity. I don't believe they were using clear coats back then.

MCW lists 6002 Ermine White as the Chaparral color. It's available in lacquer or enamel. https://mcwfinishes.com/shop I used the lacquer when I did my 2D.

Setting to work on the pinstriping. I'll be using 1/32" Chartpak tape cut in half, which is probably not quite to scale, but about the thinnest I think I can feasibly work with. First, made a chart of the striping with approximate lengths: I did the striping on top of the cowl first: I think I can pull this off! After I get the striping done I'll lay a good coat of clear on it to stick it all down and even it out a little. Inside of the body will get painted semi-gloss black later.

Gettin' some red on: Next, I'll try to tackle all that pinstriping, because I think the car won't look right without it. Wish me luck!

Well yes, you're correct. I was just thinking "not right at the airport where the passengers come in and out, like in the photo". Incidentally, a friend of mine grew up (and still lives) just a few blocks from the Venice (now Marina del Rey) shop but didn't know about it until I told her.

Nice use of the LAX Theme Building on the box lid! Since Shelby had his facility near the airport at this time, I wonder if this is based on an actual photo or if it's just a fantasy?

Glad to see you filled the nose seam, of course. It's actually not hard to make it removable (and prototypically correct) by making a cut on the underside.

Painted the chassis: I modified the kit wing, making it thicker and added mounts and new end plates (shown upside down) and modified the kit oil pan:

It does generally resemble an MSD ignition box, but whatever it is, it isn't a stock Bronco item.

Roughing in some smaller details: 1. Push bar mount. It gets a vertical roller later. 2. Steering box - modified from the kit piece - and the distinctive cut-away steering wheel. I used the wheel from the AMT '57 Ford, which was the closest thing I could find on the shelf here.

A quick spritz of primer to get a better idea of where things are at:

A little more progress. Shortened the chassis another 4mm, replaced the rear frame bars behind the driver, added side panels, wing mounts, engine mounts, and a fuel tank mount: With the engine block and grille shell in place: Grille shell is from the Revell Tweedy Pie 2 kit. Almost time to get some primer on this and see what it looks like.

R&M did carry one for the Monogram kit - I'm not sure if it's still available. I'm using it for this build here (yeah I know - gotta get back to it):

These are excellent: https://www.v-r-m.com/vrm-005---cobra-daytona-1.html

Starting up a new one - MPC's iconic Winged Express altered. Here's a mock-up of the basics as provided by the kit: Which - after reading up a little on the history of the car - I came to realize represents the second chassis, built after the first one was crashed and wrecked. I decided the first one is the one I want to build, but without going completely overboard (I want to finish it this decade) and scratchbuilding the entire chassis. So after some modifications, I'm at this stage: Not necessarily a 100% accurate early Winged Express - the chassis is probably closer to the later recreation - but something that I hope will capture the look of the car. Front section of the frame is from the Attempt 1 kit, front leaf spring, steering arm, and rear end are from the Miss Deal kit, spring perch is scratchbuilt; aluminum tubing used for the new roll bar and braces. I'll be raiding some parts kits and using some aftermarket items as I go along. Thanks for looking.

#220 just landed on my doorstep a few minutes ago. Congratulations on another fine issue. On a personal note, the thrill of seeing a model that I built in the pages of a magazine does not wear off.

I recall some simple plans in one of the model car magazines of the time, before the kit came out. I may even have it in my library if I knew what issue to look for. Apart from the Model T cowl, which is readily available in scale, it's really just all flat sections.

I fixed a minor detail that I realized I'd overlooked.

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. The decals were great. I'd had them sitting around for a few years - not even sure where I bought them at this point - but no problems getting them to go on. Besides giving you the option of doing either the white or red version, they are crisper and the gold lines are a true metallic as they should be. The one area where they missed the boat a little is at the back of the car under the spoiler - the decal there needs to be white to stand out against the red (on the version I did), so I ended up making my own decal for that. I found a font on my computer that was close, scaled it to size, then printed red on white decal paper. The other slight mistake is that the decal guide doesn't show the white going down off the roof and around the back window. A difficult masking job, but worth it, I think. Finally, the red paint I used doesn't match the red on the decals as closely as I'd like - my mistake here, but at least it's not very noticeable in the photos, ha. p.s. Indycals now does decals for the car, but only the white version: https://www.indycals.net/decals/lemans/81millermustang.html

Built from the Monogram kit as the "red" version using Speed Line decals. A few small modifications and details added. Thanks for looking - comments and questions welcome.

Cool, thanks for the look inside. I think the really rare one now is "Brother Rat Fink on a Bike", which to my knowledge has never been re-issued. They come up for auction, but always too rich for my blood.