1/5 scale Porsche 956

[monkeyclaw]

Hey Guys; I have just undertaken a log term project to get these BIG factory promos done. These things are HUGE....I mean the size of a coffee table! The bodies appear to be thermo or vacuum formed; and are intended for "curbside" display. This car wil be done in Rothmans livery; and done as a curbside; but I will be undertaking a massive (no pun intended) effort to develop all of the necessary stuff to convert them into a full detail model...I think that much of this can be accomplished with the use of 3-D scanning and printing technology; rather than fabricating all of it....I'll keep you posted as it progresses along the way..........matt

[Brendan]

This will be a very interesting project to follow. You need to put an actual working motor in it like the guy who built a Ferrari prototype with the working flat 12. I take it the kit comes with rims and tires or are you going to have to make those?

[monkeyclaw]

Bendan; The kits do have some rather bad tires (blowmolded) tht look like 1970's black naugahyde some one stuck in the blowmold machine....but they do have nice aero covers. I plan to have new tires done for them; along with aluminum BBS webbed rims for a little added POP. As far as ptutting a real motor....don't know enough about the gas powered R/C stuff to make it work; but I am sure there are R/C guys that could do it. I'll be happy just to get them to a decent full detail level.......matt

[ZIL 111V]

Wow! never seen those 956's kits:

- Resin?

-Made by who?

-R/C or curbside promo type kit?

-approx how many parts in the kit you have?

....Impresive

[monkeyclaw]

Paul; These 956 Porsches were factory promo kits from my understanding....they look to be intended for curbside display; and do include waterslide decal sheets that are nearly as large as a dining table!!! The kits that I have are both in Rothmans livery; and they are very simple; but mostly well executed...the wiper and mirrors are cast white metal; and the tires are blowmolded; and quite unattractive...but that's getting fixed for sure....the bodies seem to be ABS or perhaps PVC; and are either thermo-formed; or vacuum formed, about 1/16 inch thickness; and are done as tub and body (very simple) . I am handling this project for one of my customers; who wants to have an entire collection of them; especially the cars that won at Lemans; as he has also won there; and he has an obsession for collecting all things Lemans.... That being said; I am fortunate that this project is being approached with an open checkbook! As it will take a few $$$ to make really nice models from these cars...I will keeep everyone posted as this project unfolds...I plan to build one straight away; and use the other for Patterns............matt

[Nick F40]

This is going to be interesting, always liked these as well. I like the livery you're going to use. This is RC car size, oh man, like with Brenden, imagine the engine and the running gear. This guy wants the entire collection that won at LeMans? and he WON there? wow.

How much $$$?

Brenden, I love that Ferrari I have that one issure of RC Driver where they did the article about it, amazing and the sound...

[monkeyclaw]

Nick; I thought this would be an "interesting" project as well; although taking on a project of this size and scope can be a lot of work; I think the payoff will be ending up with full detail models in this size! I am currently researching what kits are out there in 1/24; and what will be the best source for 3-d scanning; in order to bring the rest of the "guts" of the car up to scale; rather than hand fabricate every piece of the car....by using the technology available; it makes the parts readily replicable; and in the long run; saves me much time by having the parts readily available for building. I think these cars will be pretty expensive to do; my guess is between $8K and $10K per car, when you consider the cost of scanning printing etc. I know that sounds crazy; but it's not really about the $$$; just satisfying the wishes of my customer/friend, who is by far the most fanatic racing collector I have ever met. Thus far I have been able to replicate a bunch of HIS cars in 1/12 scale for his collection; and this 956 project will allow me to truly challenge my own modeling skills, well outside my "comfort zone"... and hopefully learn a thing or two along the way...which I think for me (like many modelers) is a big driving force in tackling these types of projects. I have built a "few" spec models over the years; and it is nice to have a customer that just wants it done...with the associated cost not being much of a factor...gotta love it! I will keep you posted as this project moves along....my focus right now is to finish up all of my builds that I plan to go to Tamiya-Con in April; which will be my current build (935 K3 Sachs car), and the other two 1979 Lemans team cars 935 K2 from the Hawaiian tropic team...yellow #71 & blue # 72 cars....ambitious , but doable...I think (LOL) If in fact Tamiya - Con is on for 09; it should co-incide with the American Lemans series race in Long beach; which will make for one heck of a good trip this spring..............matt