curt raitz Posted March 18, 2010 Posted March 18, 2010 My good budy Raul Perez gave me this kit as we were sharing a table at the recent NNL West. He and Steve Alamand told me it was a good kit. only problem was the body was broken under the drivers door. I've always been interested in this kit, it has been around for a long time and it's big! Of course I can't just build it straight from the box...I want to build a replica of the car Ken Miles drove at the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1965. This meant a little work on the exhaust, it dumps out under the body, fabricating a windscreen, roll cage, modifying the dash, etc. Gee...I thought finding photos of this car would be easy, not! I was able to come up with a couple, which appear to be restorations, oh well time to dig in... First thing, I had to add the scoop for the oil cooler, found a scoop in the parts bin and with a little glue and putty: Filled openings in body for exhaust and repaired break in body... Filled holes and ground down stock windshield supports... Already for some primer coats... thanx for lookin'
Raul_Perez Posted March 18, 2010 Posted March 18, 2010 It looks like you're off to a good start!! The oil cooler scoop looks pretty good!! This should look pretty cool on the tables at the NNL next year!! Later,
duesie Posted March 18, 2010 Posted March 18, 2010 I think it is great that you are attempting this cobra of Ken Miles. There are two unique features of this car. One is that this car had a 289 nose which is more flat across the bottom with faily small round corners. The doors in your picture are cut into rear fender like the FIA cobras. I look forward to your progress. Duesie
vizio93 Posted March 18, 2010 Posted March 18, 2010 Oh yeah lookin' good !!! I love cobra's and I'm sure you'll do a fantastic job with this one !!!
B_rad88 Posted March 19, 2010 Posted March 19, 2010 wow, that looks nice! i got that kit too! but i am missing 1 tail light, lol. good luck with this build, i can't wait to see more!
Darin Bastedo Posted March 20, 2010 Posted March 20, 2010 Good Start on your build, But if I may, I'd like to help you out with a few basic Items for your build. First the picture below is of an FIA 289 Roadster not a 427 Cobra. do not use this picture as reference for this build. Second I'm assuming that you are building a replica of CSX3002 which would be the only Cobra that ken miles raced, though he did not race it a LeMans in 1965 His ride for that race was a GT40. Regardless here is a link to my fotki albums for CSX3002 That should provide decent reference pictures for you. Third The MPC/AMT 1/16 427 Cobra kit is patterned after a late production street car and is not a true 427 S/C. That is why it did not have the oil cooler scoop. Aside from that there are many small details that while right for the street cobra are wrong for CSX3002 The Kit comes with this style of Taillight... CSX3002 has this type... The gas cap in the kit is the street style (the same type used on 289 Roadsters... CSX3002 uses the larger inset racing version... The kit has a street trunk floor... CSX3002 Has the Larger Competition gas tank so it has a raised trunk floor... Also note that CSX3002 is the only 427 racer with a foward mounted rollbar support as all the 427S/C cars had it running toward the trunk... In the above picture you will also notice that the dashboard is different from the one in the kit. it is a 289 dashboard as this was a prototype not a production Cobra. The one in the kit looks like this... While the front end work you've done is correct for any other 427 S/C Cobra, it is unfortunately all wrong for CSX3002... CSX3002 had a 289 style grill opening, and a different oil cooling scoop. Another hitch in your plan is that csx3002 has FIA 289 style wheels that aren't available in 1/16 scale. An accurate model of CSX3002 would be quite a sight in 1/16 and would really be a challenge but there are easier Competition 427s to replicate from this kit. Here is a link to all my 427 Cobra reference pictures. I hope it helps you. Either way you chose to go I hope I can be of service. I have a vast library of cobra books and data, as well as an ever growing collection of reference photos. If you need any thing feel free to PM me.
curt raitz Posted March 20, 2010 Author Posted March 20, 2010 While the front end work you've done is correct for any other 427 S/C Cobra, it is unfortunately all wrong for CSX3002... CSX3002 had a 289 style grill opening, and a different oil cooling scoop. Another hitch in your plan is that csx3002 has FIA 289 style wheels that aren't available in 1/16 scale. An accurate model of CSX3002 would be quite a sight in 1/16 and would really be a challenge but there are easier Competition 427s to replicate from this kit. Here is a link to all my 427 Cobra reference pictures. I hope it helps you.
Darin Bastedo Posted March 21, 2010 Posted March 21, 2010 Don't feel too bad, Andy Kellock made the same mistake in his Bench Racing Column in scale auto. There is a lot of misinformation out there about Shelby Cobras in general you have to do a lot of research to cut through the bull.
DanielG Posted March 21, 2010 Posted March 21, 2010 ANY 'race car' has to be researched six ways to sunday because they underwent mods constantly. Some changed from race to race! A nightmare for the dedicated modeler.
curt raitz Posted March 22, 2010 Author Posted March 22, 2010 Well... the Ken Miles version is not possible, not with this build anyway I did find this A Production SCCA racer online, will only require redoin' the exhaust to the kit configuration, putting the holes for the side exhaust back in, new set of decals and adding yellow stripes to the left front fender. I don't know what induction this car ran, but mine will have the 4 Weber setup or I could build this version... Nope, don't think so... Progress on engine and chassis, so far... thanx for lookin'
Alyn Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 That is one fine looking intake setup; the whole engine for that matter. ... can't blame ya for not wanting to built as the blue #65, the wheels are kinda smallish. On the other hand, your car came in blue plastic, so you wouldn't have to paint it.
RS Sport Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 or I could build this version... Nope, don't think so... thanx for lookin' I got this! Great work also!
Raul_Perez Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 WOW!! The engine detail looks awesome!! I guess now you don't have to fidget with that bottom exit exhaust system we were talking about... How's the second one coming along? Any progress yet? Later,
Dr. Cranky Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 Beautiful work so far. Keep it going. This one's going to be a beaut!
curt raitz Posted April 3, 2010 Author Posted April 3, 2010 Decided to build the #92 Car, Using Scale finishes Ford Guardsman Blue: Body painted, white stripes and roundels done... Headers, wheels and tires done... Interior done... Dash ready for gauges, etc... Yellow stripes, decals, doors, hood, trunk and windscreen done... Just need to put the body on the chassis (always scary...), install roll bar w/brace and wait for the white "AP" dry transfers to arrive @ the LHS... thanx for lookin'
Raul_Perez Posted April 5, 2010 Posted April 5, 2010 That one is looking pretty good!! How is the second one coming along?
cruz Posted April 5, 2010 Posted April 5, 2010 Looks terrific, great job on this! Are you clear coating it or just leaving it as is??
rustybill1960 Posted April 5, 2010 Posted April 5, 2010 You have a sweet little build there Curt! I like it. I have three 1/25th scales to build, gonna go with a red, blue and green. Two open roadsters and a coupe. Yours is very inspiring! Thank You for sharing Later Russ
curt raitz Posted April 11, 2010 Author Posted April 11, 2010 Finis... Moving on to Underglass... thanx for lookin'
DanielG Posted April 11, 2010 Posted April 11, 2010 Nice looking build, everything seems to be in the right place.
Raul_Perez Posted April 11, 2010 Posted April 11, 2010 That looks really good, my old friend!! I just may have to get me one of them there big scale kits and try my luck at building one, too!! Later,
cobrit Posted April 11, 2010 Posted April 11, 2010 Nice work. It's always great to see a Cobra done up in scale.
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