1962 Ferrari 156 Willy Mairesse, Auto-Kits, 1/24, Roy Cross Tribute

[Matt Bacon]

So, the Ferrari 156 wasn't the most successful of Ferrari F1 cars, nor Willy Mairesse the most rewarded driver. However, in 1962, he did drive to victory at the non-Championship Brussels Grand Prix, run to F1 rules. And this is what Roy Cross chose to paint for this Eagle "Kings of the Road" cover. The 156 is a iconic car, for all of its failings, with that distinctive sharknose. And can you really have a series of racers without a red one?

I should have taken some "before" photos, but it has taken a fair bit of work with files, sharp knives, the Dremel and sandpaper to get to this point. There were some heavy seam lines and casting gates (you can still see them inside the cockpit coaming), and a lot of flash in the apertures in the body to be got rid of. Both halves are vulnerable to bending being softish white metal, so there is some gentle flexing to be done to get them to sit properly together when the time comes.

Today's first pleasing discovery... As you can see at the top, the dynamic picture I'm recreating requires the car to be turning hard right. I was wondering how I would tackle re-aligning the wheels, but then I discovered that the kit is designed to allow it. There's no steering link to keep them parallel automatically, but that's not a problem. Good job, Auto-Kits!

..and it also looks like this vintage Cox figure won't require too much radical surgery to get him in place and driving, which is a relief...

best,

M.

[1959scudetto]

Great next chapter in your Roy Cross tribute series, Matt! The 156 is one of the most characteristic F1 cars with its unmistakable shark-nose and long tail.

Edited September 21, 2024 by 1959scudetto

[Dave B]

This one's going to be good. Looking forward to more updates.

Dave B

[Rich Chernosky]

Matt...thank you for putting this one up. I have this kit that I  traded a fellow modeler for, many years ago. I have struggled with it on and off since then.  I know it can be built as I have seen several done. But you  are the first to show us how. Look forward to seeing your efforts. 

[absmiami]

Rich - my offer is still on - you make yours and ill make mine on the same thread …

[Rich Chernosky]

7 hours ago, absmiami said:

Rich - my offer is still on - you make yours and ill make mine on the same thread …

You're on.  I have to finish my WIP on the 1/12 Ferrari 641 first and that may take a while.  I guess everyone, now, knows who I traded with.  I really did start that kit ...ya know. 

[Matt Bacon]

Well, it's not modelling as such, but it IS a job that needs doing for these "dioramas" After a couple of hours of Photoshop:

I don't know yet how much of which bits of this I'll need for the display base and background, but I do need it without a car or titles on. There's a separate front panel image which retains the "Kings of the Road" caption and Roy Cross's signature. Now to go and play around with some cardboard.

best,

M.

 

[Matt Bacon]

Slow but steady progress. For an early 1960s white metal kit, the detail in the important (and visible) parts is pretty good:

The cockpit is only six pieces, but they are well cast and work together....

White enamel discs on the dials, followed by black acrylic paint on the smaller outer instruments, then scratch markings with a needle and finish with Citadel 'ardcoat for the "glass."

Red...

Ferrari 250 GTO wheels from Ukrainian Scale Car Productions, thinned down to 6mm at the front and 7mm at the rear. They aren't quite right, but they look a lot more realistic than the white metal inner and outer rims that came with the kit...

best,

M.

Edited September 27, 2024 by Matt Bacon

[89AKurt]

I've never seen one of these, will be lurking!

[Old Nasty]

Interesting subject.

[Pierre Rivard]

Another great build Matt. Such a wonderful race car. If you want the more accurate out-laced Borranis for the front end, USCP has them labeled as MB 300slr wire wheels and Jason Hupin (Jack Modeling) also makes them.

[Matt Bacon]

Got the base done...

The cover picture is from a lower angle than the Delage and Vanwall, looking more along the car as it turns, and one of the back wheels is breaking the frame, so the "Eagle" title arch needs to go further back than on those two as well...

best,

M.

[absmiami]

Hobby imitating art ?

or art imitatimg hobby ?

[Bugatti Fan]

Nice to see that old white metal kit being built Matt.

[Matt Bacon]

Test fitting the cockpit and rear suspension into the body seems to be OK:

However...

Even after trimming 1/8" off his back, this guy is not going to fit or hold the wheel...

Fortunately, today's delivery from RS Slot Racing of some Immense Miniatures driver figures (see my thread here:

provided the parts for a figure that will work. Very cleverly, the driver is steering with one hand whilst changing gear with the other, so you don't need to try and get the wheel slotted into the gap between two gripping hands...

best,

M

[Matt Bacon]

I know it's been a bit quiet. I've been waiting for a couple of spare parts fr the front suspension from our friends at Squires tools, so I can take the big step and join the top and bottom halves of the body until they have arrived and the suspension is built. However, I have had time to work on our racing pilot (and get in some more wheels...)

Thanks to @Pierre Rivard's prompt, I now have different pattern Borranis front and rear (you'll see elsewhere WHY I happen to have some Mercedes 300SLR wheels around the bench...).

Willy M in unforgiving close up. He's made up of one of the Immense Miniatures generic 1960s drivers and 60s heads, with arms and hands repositioned to fit the cockpit layout and wheel. The goggles are molded open, and I've filled the lens with clear 5-minute epoxy.

I'm very much hoping that the front suspension will arrive before the weekend! In the mean time...

best,

M.

[Pierre Rivard]

Fantastic stuff Matt. I love the idea of epoxy for the goggle glass, very realistic. These wheels will be perfect for this replica. You are taking this humble kit to the next, next level. No need to re-mortgage the house for a MFH kit...?

[Matt Bacon]

Hooray! A little package arrived from Squires this morning with the wishbone parts I needed in...

So, first test.... does it sit on all four wheels?

Yes, it does! And I'm so glad Auto-Kits made ii with poseable front wheel geometry, which has save me a lot of work reproducing that picture!

I really can't put off joining the body and sorting the seams for much longer...

best,

M.

 

[Matt Bacon]

Now I can get the wheels to (sort of) stay on, I couldn't resist trying this:

The seams have been treated with superglue and micro-balloons following gluing, and I'm letting it all set up solidly before trying to eliminate them tomorrow...

best,

M.

[1959scudetto]

On 10/9/2024 at 10:38 PM, Matt Bacon said:

I know it's been a bit quiet. I've been waiting for a couple of spare parts fr the front suspension from our friends at Squires tools, so I can take the big step and join the top and bottom halves of the body until they have arrived and the suspension is built. However, I have had time to work on our racing pilot (and get in some more wheels...)

Thanks to @Pierre Rivard's prompt, I now have different pattern Borranis front and rear (you'll see elsewhere WHY I happen to have some Mercedes 300SLR wheels around the bench...).

Willy M in unforgiving close up. He's made up of one of the Immense Miniatures generic 1960s drivers and 60s heads, with arms and hands repositioned to fit the cockpit layout and wheel. The goggles are molded open, and I've filled the lens with clear 5-minute epoxy.

I'm very much hoping that the front suspension will arrive before the weekend! In the mean time...

best,

M.

Willy looks very determined here, Matt - I will keep in mind the epoxy-filling goggles method. The next superb racer on your bench is approaching the finish line!

Edited October 11, 2024 by 1959scudetto

[Matt Bacon]

Though I say this myself, and probably shouldn't, I'm very pleased with the way the carburetor air intakes have turned out:

The underlying white metal "whaleback" shapes have some texture moulded into them, but on my kit it was inconsistent, and in some places the mould was clearly damaged and it had vanished completely. I've been puzzling over what to do for a while. Then I found a picture of the intakes from directly above (in fact it was a picture of the £16K Amalgam model), and printed some decals, extending the mesh "texture" around the intake throats, so the decal could cover the whole of the moulded mesh shape. A coat of matt varnish completes the effect. At a glance it really does look like open red mesh covering three carb intakes...

best,

M.

[Matt Bacon]

Got the wheels on and the whole thing freestanding today...

If you look closely in the profile picture above, you can see the short perspex disk that's relieving the white metal suspension of the weight of the body. The springs brace the wishbones pretty well, but I wouldn't like to be relying on them over the years...

Details and decals next...

best,

M.

[Matt Bacon]

OK, I think that's pretty much it. Proper photos in Under Glass sometime tomorrow...

I printed the outlines of the "10s" on white decal paper and cut them out inside the lines. As far as I can see Mairesse didn't have the Scuderia shields at the Brussels GP, though he did at the Belgian GP at Spa a couple of months later, and Roy hasn't painted them on the Eagle cover.

best,

M.

[Dave B]

Great build Matt and I love you answer to the carburetion and mesh.  Also your epoxy in the goggles is an OLD trick, doing that to slot car drivers back in the 60's.

Dave B