Porsche Indy Car: 1988 Teo Fabi's Indy Ride

[ismaelg]

Hello,

As you may notice, after the Gurney Eagle I still have the open wheel racer kick. While the Corvette GTP is still my main project, the FW19 F1 is moving along, I have Michael Schumacher's 2005 F1 Ferrari on deck and I also started this:

1988 Porsche powered March 88c Indy car, driven by Teo Fabi. This is the old 1/24 Monogram kit.

OK, so the car was not very successful. It finished 30th at the Indy 500 (the embarrasing loose wheel incident) and during it's 3 year program, it only won 1 race: Mid-Ohio 1989. BUT... as a teenager at the time, I had a poster of this car in my room and the combination of the names "Indy 500" and "Porsche" was (and still is) appealing.

Now I know why you don't see these built very often. While not exactly crude, the kit needs help. It's heavy molded and the parts don't fit very well. But I see that as a challenge

First order of bussiness: Following David Thibodeau's advice, my good friend "Rusty Trusty" took care of the cockpit floor. Notice sink marks and gaps been filled.

After a lot of putty, sanding and primer, it's looking much better.

The fit leaves unacceptable gaps, so I had to add material here, there and everywhere.

Strategic steel pins and holes will keep everything in place, and help make bodywork removeable

And after a LOT of work, it is starting to look like something halfway decent.

Of course having removeable bodywork means I need to add details inside like radiators, wiring, plumbing etc.

These are not the final wire/tubes to be used. Just mock ups for placement planning. It will not be a super duper detailed monster. Just enough to give it some life.

What do you think?

Thanks,

Edited April 25, 2008 by ismaelg

[Gray Smith]

I think its coming along very well Ismael, I know with your level of skill it will no doubt be a stunner when done, good to see a build of an uncommon kit.

Gray

[curt raitz]

Oh boy!...looking forward to watching you build this model.

I have a few of the old AMT and Monogram Indy Car kits along with decals from IndyCal to build different versions of these Indy racers.

Hope ya don't mind if i use your build for inspiration and information when I pull those puppies out and start building them.

thanx

curt

[ismaelg]

Oh boy!...looking forward to watching you build this model.

I have a few of the old AMT and Monogram Indy Car kits along with decals from IndyCal to build different versions of these Indy racers.

Hope ya don't mind if i use your build for inspiration and information when I pull those puppies out and start building them.

thanx

curt

Hope I don't mind?! That's the ultimate compliment a modeler can receive! Inspire others!

Thanks!

[Raul_Perez]

Looking good, Ismael!! There's nothing quite like having several projects "in the works" at the same time!! I'm down to three on the bench and probably another three or four in various stages of completion on the floor in boxes next to the bench.

[curt raitz]

Looking good, Ismael!! There's nothing quite like having several projects "in the works" at the same time!! I'm down to three on the bench and probably another three or four in various stages of completion on the floor in boxes next to the bench.

be carefull were you put your size 13's...

[simonr]

Another weird kit that will have it's shot to become a decent kit. I know how you feel, because, I built this kit almost ten years ago, straight from the box not the nice detailed version you're doing, and I suffer a lot trying to get this model to a decent look. As you explain, perhaps it didn't performed as well as the people from Porsche and public in general, but, speaking about a Porsche and an Indy Porsche something so weird, I guess it's a classic anyway you see it. Being a Porsche fan, I will stick on this one.

Simón P. Rivera Torres

[ismaelg]

Hello,

I HATE gluing parts to a painted surface. More so if the part has any kind of structural load. Gluing the parts before painting is not always a viable alternative. That's the case with the suspension on this car.

So I took out my smallest drill bit, and ended up pining the A arms. I can say I have put blood into this build. I hurt myself not once but twice doing this.

Thanks,

[cotto]

Very interesting build there Ismael. Where did you get the kit?

[ismaelg]

Very interesting build there Ismael. Where did you get the kit?

Thanks Jay! This is an old Monogram kit from the late 80's. I got it from a fellow modeler but they are frequently seen at eBay.

Thanks,

[cobrit]

Thanks Jay! This is an old Monogram kit from the late 80's. I got it from a fellow modeler but they are frequently seen at eBay.

Thanks,

Ismael, this is a simple but very nice kit if built with a little care. The Porsche uses the same tool as the March Indy Car, and fills a void in the huge Porsche arsenal. I think John Andretti drove a later (blue) version, only available in 1/43rd scale. I built this kit about fifteen years ago, give or take. It still looks great under glass.

Good luck.

Rich B

[935k3]

Nice work so far. I like your style of building, I spend allot of time pre-engineering for sturdiness and fit. I am amazed at allot of very nice models in all other aspects but the builder does not address fit issuesw ith the main bodywork. BTW thanks for your thread on Plasticote Primer, I had not used it in years and forgot how great the stuff is, it sands beautifully smooth and drys quick. It is a little hard to find but I went to their site and found a dealer in my area.

[ismaelg]

Hello,

Final mockup before disassembling and start painting. The wings are not fixed so don't worry about them not been perfectly aligned.

This is what I'll start painting soon:

Thanks,

[simonr]

It remember me all those headaches I had around 10 years ago with this one, and it was much less perfect that yours!

Simón P. Rivera Torres

Edited April 29, 2008 by simonr

[ismaelg]

Hello again,

This model includes 2 sets of wings (front and rear) so it can be built in either oval (smaller wings) or road course (bigger wings) configurations. Of course I want to build it as it ran in the Indy 500, the Mother of all races.

But the rear wing is not completely accurate according to my scarce reference material on this car. The end plates are the wrong shape, size, location and thickness. So out came "Trusty Rusty" and quickly did the dirty job...

I'll eventually scratchbuild the correct end plates.

Thanks,

[Ariel]

Hello again,

This model includes 2 sets of wings (front and rear) so it can be built in either oval (smaller wings) or road course (bigger wings) configurations. Of course I want to build it as it ran in the Indy 500, the Mother of all races.

But the rear wing is not completely accurate according to my scarce reference material on this car. The end plates are the wrong shape, size, location and thickness. So out came "Trusty Rusty" and quickly did the dirty job...

I'll eventually scratchbuild the correct end plates.

Thanks,

Looking good

seems that living near the ocean has taken a toll on that saw.

[ismaelg]

Hello,

Work, Family and life in general have a conspiracy against the hobby. Workbench time has been very limited in the last few weeks and it seems it will only get worst.

FINALLY!!!! The first color is on. Photographing white models is a real challenge. It is really white but it looks washed in the pics. Anyway, most of the car will be green.

Cobra Colors Arctic white, Cobra Colors clear. By the time I get a chance to work with the green, it will be really dry.

Thanks,

[simonr]

Oh yes!, nothing like a perfect lay down paint job.

Simón P. Rivera Torres