[PastimeRaceway]

Hello all!

This is the first Classic fiberglass shell I've actually taken to a near-completion stage. I had initially intended to build the 1970 Ferrari 312B, but was unhappy with my attempts at the unique wing on this car. So, I defaulted to the 1970 Brabham BT33, painted the rather unusual combination of light blue/turquoise and yellow for Brabham's last go-round as a driver in F1.

Right now, a Patto's MJK 30 chassis sits underneath the shell with a Little Ripper motor and slot-it pinion and crown gear. The guide has not been installed yet. The following items remain to be done:

1. Decals added. and another shot of clear coat
2. The wing/airfoil needs to be permanently affixed to its supports
3. Rear wing needs to be clear coated
4. Minor engine detailing remains
5. Need to add a couple of detail bits to the roll bar to match 1:1 car
6. Driver!
7. Wind screen and mirrors

Anyway, far from perfect and not up to David's and John P's (among others) standards, but already this is my favorite car in my collection. The rear wing is a perfect example of where I could've done a better job. Even with those faults, I just love the looks of it. Here are a couple of shots:

Thanks for looking
Steve

 

[BEEJAY7]

Excellent Steve, are you going to enter it in Fate's Proxy Race?, and what inserts are you going to use?.

Regards

Alan

 

[Fergy]

Very nice, Steve!

Of course he is, BJ! No one builds these and doesn't enter them!

Little Ripper? Hmmm.... have you tried it yet, Steve? Sounds like a lot of horsepower!

 

[JohnP]

Absolutely terrific Steve - it's a great feeling when you've created something like that yourself isn't it. Looks fabulous set against your circuit backscene too!

Btw, ignore Fergy's motor comment - he's just worried about competition for his strap monster!

 

[PastimeRaceway]

Thanks gentlemen! Your comments are too kind. Anyway, as far as inserts, I'm not sure. BWA makes a couple of versions that are close to the Brabham style, so we'll see.

As far as the proxy, I haven't decided. I know, I know...

I've grown incredibly attached to this little car as so much of my energy and patience

has been spent on building it. When the shell arrived, it needed some work. There were more imperfections in this particular shell than any of the other Classic shells I have. Lots of sanding, cursing, sanding, cursing and more sanding took place over the last month.

Even now, I still notice all kinds of little problems.

Anyway, my decision hasn't been made about the proxy. I guess I'm being over-protective!

As far as the motor, Fergy, that remains to be seen as I haven't given the chassis a run yet. I suspect it will be a little much, but I wanted to try it.

Thanks again,
Steve

 

[Fergy]

QUOTE I guess I'm being over-protective!

I know the feeling, Steve! Going through that myself with the Matra. But... I figure if I can build one, I can build another if the need arises.

C'mon.... send it!

On the Ripper:
QUOTE I suspect it will be a little much, but I wanted to try it.

Man after my own heart!

 

[David Lawson]

Excellent work Steve and the smiling driver in your pit shot certainly looks pleased with the car!

I fully empathise with your feelings about the car, if it's your favourite - don't send it to the Proxy. If you've put such effort into the build then just enjoy driving it on your excellent home track.

David

 

[David Lawson]

Steve - In your list of work to do you mention the driver figure. Don't forget that Brabham used two types of crash helmet in 1970, the full face Bell helmet and a helicopter pilots helmet. Here at the Spanish GP he is using the military one.

David

 

[daleg]

First off, thats a nice looking model. Wish i had the time to sit and do something myself rather than buy new ones.

Being new and not wishing to look foolish, whats the Proxy?????

 

[PastimeRaceway]

QUOTE First off, thats a nice looking model. Wish i had the time to sit and do something myself rather than buy new ones.

Being new and not wishing to look foolish, whats the Proxy?????

Hey Daleg, that's why I posted this here, to show that ANYONE can make an attempt and make a fairly nice looking model. Just jump in and try it. I promise it will be one of the most rewarding experiences in the hobby.

The proxy is a mail-in slot car run/race for F1 cars from 1960 to 1970. Prof. Fate in the U.S. is putting it on. You can catch the thread on the subject under "Clubs and Events" I believe.

QUOTE Steve - In your list of work to do you mention the driver figure. Don't forget that Brabham used two types of crash helmet in 1970, the full face Bell helmet and a helicopter pilots helmet. Here at the Spanish GP he is using the military one.

Great picture David, as always! Thanks for the assistance. I had noticed that, but couldn't find a good picture. This helps immensely!

I do have a question, why did the car numbers change in 1970 almost from race-to-race? It also looks like the decorations/decals changed as well.

I wish I could see all the cars Jack raced during the 1970 season. It's difficult trying to determine which car # I should pick and what decals. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Steve

 

[ProfFate]

Hi

NUMBERS:In the period, the race organizers handed out the race numbers. So they changed from race to race. Some of the clever teams realized that it made the sponsers happy to have the same number every race for identification by the fans and started convincing the race organizers to give them a single set of numbers. Eventually, the numbers were assigned by the FIA.

Fate

 

[Cslotracer1]

great job! beautiful car, beautiful representation!

 

[Stradale]

Great looking car Pastime !! very well done.

On the question of car numbers, just had a look through the bookshelf and came up with the following.

In 1970, 4 Brabhams raced at the various events. two were BT26's( derek Bell and Gus Huthison ) and two were BT33's like your car ( Sir Jack and Ralf Stommelen,both in Jack's team "Motor Racing Developments" )

Of the two BT33's,only Sir Jack's appears in the blue and yellow livery. It carried a variety of numbers;

South Africa #12
Spain #7
Monaco #5
Belguim&Netherlands #18
France #23
UK #17
Germany #3
Austria #10
Italy #44
Canada #11
USA & Mexico #15

Hope this is useful ( if trivial ) in deciding how to finish your car,

regards

ken

 

[Stradale]

P.S I gues that makes David's picture above the Spanish Grand prix

 

[Stradale]

P.P.S. ( note to self - read caption of above mention photo before making obviously redundant comment )

by the way,that is a great pic of the car in action David.

Regards

Ken

 

[David Lawson]

Steve - I had a look through my 1970 magazines and these are the Brabham pictures I've got. The colour reproduction in print in those days was very variable and not always accurate and sunlight on the car affects the shade but on the whole you seem to have got the paint colour right. When I saw him race at the 1970 British Grand Prix it was a little more green than blue/turqouise but cars did change so much in those days - just look at the range of crash helmets Jack is wearing in the various pictures and the variety of engine covers. I hope these help with decal placement etc. If I was building the car I would go for the South African car as it was his last GP win, but it's your car not mine!!

South Africa - Last GP win.

Brands Hatch Race of Champions. Non Championship race.

Monaco - Looking very green! Good picture for helmet detailing. Scene of Jacks last corner crash.

Dutch GP at Zandvoort

Mexico - Jacks last GP race

Jack chatting to designer Ron Tauranac, mechanic Ron Dennis behind them.

British GP - my shot before I could afford telephoto lenses!! Another race Jack should have won.

David

 

[PastimeRaceway]

Great pictures David! Those are incredible. THANK YOU!

And, thanks to Ken as well. The # breakdown is very helpful.

Yeah, the color seems to be all over the map in the pictures I've seen. It must be the photo angles and other factors, because I suspect the greenish-blue is closer to the real deal. Admittedly, I am off on the color.

You know, I can't tell if a couple of those helmets are silver, instead of white?

I like the #12 -- good suggestion. As far as decals, I'm having a hard time finding the different Goodyear decals used on these cars. I think I have the "Champion" and "Esso" decals covered.

Again, thanks,
Steve

 

[Stradale]

Hi Steve,
I had a look in my pictures vault and found these.Are they of any use to you?

they look little dodgy at this size,but when shrunk to 8 or 10 mm on the car they
could look ok. I bought a couple of sheets of "Bare MEtal Foil" decal paper,print therm on the inkjet,give them a coat of varnish then stick them on the car.for hard to find bits its worked well so far.

regards

Ken

 

[David Lawson]

Steve - I think the standard open face helmet Brabham wore was silver, the military one is white and the full face Bell helmet was white. I was going to suggest trying Patto for the decals but Ken's already come up with a great solution.

David

 

[Russell Sheldon]

The car looks great, Steve!

As a matter of interest, here's a picture of Dave Charlton driving the BT33 in the 1971 South African Grand Prix:-

United Tobacco Company of South Africa, owners of the Lucky Strike cigarette brand, sponsored Charlton's drive in the works BT33 alongside Graham Hill. Charlton's car was fully bedecked in Lucky Strike livery, with the race number '15' being inside the brand's roundel on the nose! This was the first time that a Formula One car appeared in Lucky Strike colours.

Despite comfortably out qualifying Graham Hill (Q 19th), Charlton (Q 12th) was unable to raise the finances for a full world championship challenge.

Kind regards

Russell