1/20th Parnelli-Ford VPJ4 #55 F1 1974

[curt raitz]

This is my current adventure into the world of 1/20th scale F-1 models.

Picked up the Bill Jorgensen Resin Conversion awhile back plus a set of decals from Indycals: www.indycals.net

Bill recommends using either the Tamiya Wolf or Williams kit as a donor.

Did not have either, but did have the Tamiya JPS Mk.III Lotus...so will be using it - hope it works

The Indycal decals are for the car Mario Andretti drove in the 1974 Canadian Grand Prix

Ford Cosworth Engine

Jorgensen Resin Kit and Indycal Decals:

Resin body/rear wing assembly/engine cover prepped and painted MM Classic White Lacquer:

Various parts prepped and painted. Inserted screws thru front spindles to hang front wheels on:

Interior tub w/modifications:

Already to mask and shoot the red paint, decal then clearcoat the body parts, assemble engine/transaxle/rear suspension, attach front suspension (gonna be a little tricky - has to go on after painting the body), finish interior tub w/driver figure and mount cockpit glass.

Tires present a problem...they have raised "GOODYEAR" on the sidewalls, Parnelli ran Firestones (decals provided by Inycals).

Gonna have to shave off GOODYEAR on sidewalls and prep for decal application

Stay tuned...more to come

Thanx for Lookin'

[elan]

Great start, can't wait to see more! Does this Bill Jorgensen have a website?

[curt raitz]

Great start, can't wait to see more! Does this Bill Jorgensen have a website?

No, he sells his kits on eBay...I found him thru a link @ IndyCal Decals

[Raul_Perez]

Looking good, my old friend!!

Do you have to pay your elves extra for working on resin kits?

My elves refuse to work on resin kits, no matter how much $$ I offer them.

Later,

[Bernard Kron]

Very cool subject. I always liked the radical look of the Parnelli cars. It should look sharp in full decals!

[curt raitz]

Looking good, my old friend!!

Do you have to pay your elves extra for working on resin kits?

My elves refuse to work on resin kits, no matter how much $ I offer them.

Later,

No, I have to build this one myself!

The reason your elves won't work with resin is due to their workers union:

the Elves Model-building Union...EMU, does not permit them to work with resin. EMU considers resin not only a hazardous substance, it also causes elves to hallucinate...

c;ya

[Rob Hall]

Very cool...I love the style of the '70s F1 cars...been looking at the pics from Monaco Grand Prix Historique on the Motorsports Retro website...

[coopdad]

Curt, does the decal sheet have the tiny little hood ornament "thing" that is in the center of the nose? I have been searching Google images for months to figure out what it is.

Thanks,

John

[curt raitz]

Curt, does the decal sheet have the tiny little hood ornament "thing" that is in the center of the nose? I have been searching Google images for months to figure out what it is.

Thanks,

John

No, the decal sheet does not include the tiny little hood ornament "thing"

I have not been able to get a close up photo of it...not easy finding pictures of these cars

[Modelmartin]

Cool subject! I will look forward to seeing you finish this one.

[curt raitz]

Got the red painted, Tamiya X-7...close match to decal sheet

IndyCal decals added and clearcoated (MM Ultra Gloss Clearcoat):

back to the bench

thanx for lookin'

[kyledr330]

Great job with the paint and decals. Looks like a winner already.

[crispy]

Curt, you just amaze me with each build. Nice subjects, built cleanly and expeditiously. I don't know how you do it. I heard about the elves, but I understand that if you don't pay them enough or pay for their health insurance they get real lazy real fast.....

Keep them coming Curt. Looking great!

Chris

[Roadkill2525]

Here's a picture of Mario's 1976 Formula 5000 car at the 2008 Danville dElegance

Edited May 18, 2010 by El Destructo Inc

[Peter Lombardo]

Curt, great job so far...the paint and decals look perfect...I really love those 1970's F1 machines. Loads of wings and scoops and less sponsorship distraction. Plus, you could go racing, back then on a small budget and be competitive. Most guys were running the same Cosworth V8. At the rate you complete models, I am sure this is a whisper away from completion.

[curt raitz]

Little more progress...

for lack of cockpit detail in conversion kit, decided to put a Mario Andretti driver figure in the car.

almost done...just need to install front suspension, finish Mario's helmet, install engine/tranaxle/rear suspension and rear wing

thanx for lookin'

[2lapsdown]

Elan

Bill J offers many unique offerings, but just an FYI, it takes months to get delivery from him.

[Bill Eh?]

Curt, your rendering of the Cosworth is a jewel all by itself. Thanks for sharing this in-progress!

[Bernard Kron]

Curt, your rendering of the Cosworth is a jewel all by itself. Thanks for sharing this in-progress!

I absolutely agree!!! And Mario looks right at home in that cockpit! Another stunner, Curt!

[coopdad]

Curt, I believe I found out about the "hood ornament"...

Parnelli's sig on top of a horseshoe.

I will be running out decals soon if you would like a copy (PM me with your address). Of course I won't put it on gold, will make it white.

By the way, great job! Can't wait to see more.

John

[curt raitz]

Curt, I believe I found out about the "hood ornament"...

Parnelli's sig on top of a horseshoe.

I will be running out decals soon if you would like a copy (PM me with your address). Of course I won't put it on gold, will make it white.

By the way, great job! Can't wait to see more.

John

Thank you

PM on the way

I just finished the model o'er the weekend, but it can wait for this decal

[Rob Hall]

Thanks for posting the in-progress pics...I love these vintage F1 cars.

[curt raitz]

finis...

thanx go out to "coopdad" aka John Goethert for finding the Parnelli logo...

I played around with it and came up with a decal really close to what appears to be on the nose of the car

hey...thanx for lookin'