[Quatrozero]

Whilst I sit and admire the work being done on the current Dallara Indycar in another thread,
I have been getting on with my own project
of exploring the possibilities of doing some Indycars from yesteryears.

I have put together a couple of Penskes from 1979 and am starting on a couple of Parnellis.
In the meantime I discovered the SRC McLaren M23 basic body and chassis presented me with the
possibility of looking at the McLaren M24b cars raced that year at Indy.

Started with the O'Connell entered Tom Sneva Sugaripe sponsored car that sat middle from row
between the Mears Penske and Unser Chapparal.

This car posed a problem with colour choice. Debated back and forth with some very knowledgeable chaps
on an open wheel modelling forum and the choice came down to a 'biscuit' or 'light creme' even though
most of the photos from the time showed up pale yellow. Settled on the creme and then when photographed,
it came up pale yellow. Still not sure but pressed ahead anyway.

The almost Ensign MN08 like narrow nose configuration was only raced at Indianapolis from what I can see
and did not quite get the tapered angle on the side I wanted but then it is hidden under the front wings.

Have to admit it is not my favorite car and did rush through a bit. And what gets me is realising that it is almost
like building two kits. The car then the driver. Had to chop out yet another Simpson 'star wars' lid...
The decals were home made and did the artwork twice as my reference material covered so many practise and qualifying days and hardly anything from the race itself.

A very basic livery and I am sure there is more to go on but there do not seem to be many close up shots of this car left. to look at on the internet. I have in the meantime ordered the 1979 Indy 500 year book with race days pics galore which might give me more clues as to what else I may have to add.

Yes. I have the Osterero Chapparal to complete the front row from that year with decals form Indycals for the 1979
version of the car.

I then went on to look at the McLaren Team Budweiser sponsored M24b of Johnny Rutherford.
There are enough differences in the cars to keep it from being a simple repeat process which I guess keeps
the interest up in the builder...

Again the narrow nose but the rear is akin to the standard M24 from previous years of which there were a couple on the grid in 1979.

Masking. Spraying and then the model technic Trimline comes into play. Thank God for Trimline
Unfortunately Indycals do not this version in 1/32 so it is back to the laptop and art working again.
I must learn how to do this with a vector programme rather than photoshop. Would tighten the quality of
what I print and give me a decent library of logos etc for future projects.

Went a bit mad with the driver figure. Another Simpson Star Wars lid with all the rimmings.
Got a few more logos to sort out for the side of the helmet but getting there.
And the drivers eyes decals from KevinOz are so great.

So getting ready for the final push. get my decals on and then sort the front suspension and Cosworth engine cover on.

I went for 1979, it was a tumultuous year for USAC/CART racing in terms of the politics and how the sport was run,
but more so because there was that interesting move from the mid 1970s evolution of design into the wing car era.
That year had cars from Penske, Parnelli, McLaren, Lightning, Lola, Wildcat and all sorts that dated back to the mid 1970s. I have some specific subjects I want to do from 1977 and 1978 but will plod on with this particular year for now given the material available to work from. Living in London in the UK, I originally looked at the cars that came over for the two races at Brands Hatch and Silverstone in 1978 but my experience of modelling at 1/25th leaned me to this year. As and when I finish these I will likely get to finish the Parnellis and will post them on the end of this as well as anything else I do from that year.

Already thinking about the narrow nosed Penske PC6 of Gordon Johncock to complete the front two rows...

Apologies if this rambled on a bit. I know this subject matter is not to everyone's taste but maybe it might prove of interest to some.

Regards to all

Joe

 

[theortoncobbler]

Fabulous work Joe , and if you do build up a decal library, I'd be very interested.
I was lucky enough to see the USAC cars when they came to the UK way back in 1978 and have been a fan ever since.
I've got a few cars on the bench at the moment , which are just reliveries thanks to Indycals ,as my modelling skills don't stretch to anything like these beauties.

Keep up the good work and keep the posts coming.

 

[EMPO_Z102]

... McLaren M23 basic body and chassis presented me with the
possibility of looking at the McLaren M24b cars raced that year at Indy.

A very basic livery and I am sure there is more to go on but there do not seem to be many close up shots of this car left. to look at on the internet.

I know this subject matter is not to everyone's taste but maybe it might prove of interest to some.

Hola Joe,
-Con un poco de habilidad, pienso que con un monoplaza parecido, se puede hacer cualquier coche. Mi próximo proyecto de transformación, es hacer el McLaren M25/1 a partir de un Minardi M193 de SCX.
-Del tema de las imágenes que no encontramos, me ha ocurrido en la actualidad. Con el Dallara secándose, estoy haciendo un Lola-Ford T95/00 del que solo tengo dos imágenes y son laterales. Los logos que hay encima del morro y de los pontones, solo se intuyen, por lo que los estoy haciendo por deducción.
-A mi si que me interesa el tema y supongo que a otros muchos foristas también. Sigue enseñando tus avances y no pienses en si los foristas opinaran, ellos se lo pierden. No lo hacen por tu trabajo, es por otros motivos.
Y ese piloto se ve genial.
Un saludo Joe
Frederic

Hello Joe,

-With a little skill, I think that with a similar car, any car can be made. My next transformation project is to make the McLaren M25 / 1 from a Minardi M193 from SCX.

-On the subject of the images that we cannot find, it has happened to me today. With the Dallara drying out, I am making a Lola-Ford T95 / 00 of which I only have two images and they are side. The logos above the nose and the pontoons are only intuited, so I am making them by deduction.

-I am interested in the subject and I suppose many other forum members as well. Keep showing your progress and do not think about whether the forum members will have an opinion, they will miss it. They don't do it for your job, it's for other reasons.

And that pilot looks great.

Regards Joe
Frederic

 

[42redcat]

Quatrozero, thanks for this interesting piece on some unusual (for U.K.) models, very well modelled.
I’m curious about one thing you say: “….the drivers eyes decals from KevinOz are so great.” What are these?
Mike

 

[Quatrozero]

Hiya 42redcat

I would make a terrible marketing exec. Do click on the link.

Driver Helmet Faces | kevinoz-decals.com

Anything I do now with a clear visor on a helmet has these lovelies go in. Kinda wish he would do them at 1/43rd too.

 

[42redcat]

Thanks - they definitely add to your great-looking driver!
Mike

 

[EMPO_Z102]

Anything I do now with a clear visor on a helmet has these lovelies go in.

¿Cómo haces la visera transparente? ¿De que material es?

How do you make the visor transparent? What material is it?

Frederic

 

[Quatrozero]

Frederic

Believe it or not it simple thin packaging clear plastic. Can find the kind that bends without frosting
and will not frost when applying clear laquer. Collectable card protection sleeves work well cut to size.

 

[EMPO_Z102]

Gracias por tu respuesta.
En lo que respecta al S&B, me creo todo lo que me explican y si puedo, lo pongo en práctica, por eso pregunto tanto.
Ya me imaginaba que era plástico delgado transparente pero la pregunta era por si lo hacías con algún sistema diferente.
De los plásticos que no glasean al doblarlos, hace pocos días comentaba lo mismo en el tema del Maserati 450S de GDSLOT.

Thanks for your answer.
Regarding the S&B, I believe everything they explain to me and if I can, I put it into practice, that's why I ask so much.
I already imagined that it was transparent thin plastic but the question was if you did it with a different system.
Of the plastics that do not glaze when folded, a few days ago I was commenting the same on the subject of the Maserati 450S from GDSLOT.

Frederic

 

[Philip P]

Fabulous little works of art Joe. They look fantastic. 😉

Thanks for sharing the builds.

Philip

 

[Quatrozero]

Completed as far as I can tell unless I find something else in future pictorial reference.

Something very odd happened with this one that has me a tad annoyed and mystified.
The laquer used on many other models went on fine. Rear wing still white. Sides still white.
top plane of front wings, nose and cowling... Well it went Ivory!
Have no idea why. Same primer. Same white. Same decal paper and clear on that.....
Can you sun bleach a laquered model like you can yellowed decals?

Potential there to do some other interesting cars from that era from McLarens to Lightnings and Wildcats.
Will all take time but I have launched into a Parnelli VPJ6 to do the AJ Foyt version.
Now off to test that laquer.........

One thing I will have to source are rear wheels and tires for these. Using F1 spec kit but could do with
something with the same radius but ever so slightly narrower to make for a more accurate profile.

 

[GRUNZ]

The final result looks really good to me.

 

[EMPO_Z102]

Aprovechando el tema, una pregunta:
Los coches que compiten en la Indy 500 ¿Llevan luz de lluvia / freno?
Gracias

Taking advantage of the topic, a question:
Do the cars competing in the Indy 500 have a rain / brake light?
Thanks

Frederic

 

[Quatrozero]

Frederic

Found this on Indycar 101.

Attenuator Light: A road-course rain light is mounted on the attenuator located on the rear of each car. The rain light doubles as a safety light at all tracks. Similar to track condition radio, race control activates the flashing safety light on the attenuator, indicating a caution so that drivers can see the flashing attenuator light on cars in front of them.

Hope this helps.

J

 

[EMPO_Z102]

Gracias Quatrozero,
La pregunta era porque en los óvalos no se suele correr con lluvia y el freno yo diría que lo utilizan poco. Cuando ya había subido la pregunta, pensé en lo que has comentado, la eficacia de la luz en el caso de que el coche de delante pierda velocidad por algún motivo.
He mirado decenas de imágenes de la Indy 500 del 2015 y 2017 y en pocas se ven los coches en una vista posterior, casi todas con el coche parado y en ninguna he visto la luz. Por esa razón he preguntado... aunque es para un coche de 1996.
Supongo que no quedará mal en un Lola T95/00.

Thanks Quatrozero,
The question was because the ovals do not usually run in the rain and the brake I would say they use little. When I had already raised the question, I thought about what you said, the effectiveness of the light in the event that the car in front loses speed for some reason.
I have looked at dozens of images of the 2015 and 2017 Indy 500 and few of the cars are seen in a rear view, almost all of them with the car stationary and in none of them have I seen the light. For that reason I have asked ... even though it is for a 1996 car.
I guess it won't look bad on a Lola T95/00.

Salut
Frederic

 

[Quatrozero]

Perhaps I should have started a new thread but it all comes under the Indy 500 from 1979
so will just keep this one going for now. Hope the faithful do not mind.

Another 'DNQ' production based conversion. Parnelli VPJ 6 of AJ Foyt who finished second that year.
Do not know anything about resin casting but this well proportioned base is of a resin that is so
nice and easy to work with without being brittle or difficult to sand, sculpt or add to.

Using a SRC McLaren M23 chassis with their inline set up which should match the performance of the
other cars from this race I have modified already.

Just waiting for the Ford Poppy Red rattle can and the scaled radiator mesh for the sidepods.
Front suspension is not entirely correctly proportioned but will risk mounting it without the usual
axle across the front which normally a solid safe way of hanging the front wheel assembly.
Fingers crossed.......

 

[GRUNZ]

That is an incredible transformation. Very nice results.

 

[42redcat]

Perhaps I should have started a new thread but it all comes under the Indy 500 from 1979
so will just keep this one going for now. Hope the faithful do not mind.

Another 'DNQ' production based conversion. Parnelli VPJ 6 of AJ Foyt who finished second that year.
Do not know anything about resin casting but this well proportioned base is of a resin that is so
nice and easy to work with without being brittle or difficult to sand, sculpt or add to.

View attachment 288349

Using a SRC McLaren M23 chassis with their inline set up which should match the performance of the
other cars from this race I have modified already.

View attachment 288350

Just waiting for the Ford Poppy Red rattle can and the scaled radiator mesh for the sidepods.
Front suspension is not entirely correctly proportioned but will risk mounting it without the usual
axle across the front which normally a solid safe way of hanging the front wheel assembly.
Fingers crossed.......

Beautiful result!
No metal front axle, though? That’s brave.
Mike

 

[Quatrozero]

Done I think.

This what I was going for.

This is what I came up with.

Not easiest of births.
Coulda done with a few epidurals along the way.

Happy with it but can do better. Wish I had some plans to work from.

Front wheels should be higher. Will try to sort that with the next one I do.
Means the front can be lower to the track and look more purposeful.
But so far have got away without the solid front axle given the suspension config on the real thing.
Have no idea what is on top of the engine cover.
Cannot identify all the decals from the ref I have. Indycals and a couple of my own on here.
Thought about running the leads from the engine cover.
If I do that I will have to go back and do all the others.
Want to use narrower rears with the same radius to look more USAC than F1 but cannot source any yet.
When I do I can finish the hubs correctly and just swap out the rubber over time.
I know the decals on the tires were opposite to each other in reality but done now just for appearance.
Did think about applying speed blured tire markings but would look odd when standing still
and you do not notice when running on the track.
Kinda like doing the radial blur on a propeller image and then onto a clear disc for a plane kit in flight.
Wish I could get a consistently good result when painting and laquering.
Temperature? The product? Me? Anyone got any Klear on sale in Europe?

Want to go on and do the Ongais car from that year. Hopefully improve on this one.

Want to thank 'DNQ' again for the base to work from. And loving the SCR M23 chassis and running gear.

 

[GDSLOT]

You are being to hard with yourself, the model looks quite good Imho, I like it🙂

There is always room for improvement on painting techniques but that’s step by step, even then from time to time you might still get some accidents, try airbrush if you want to step up a little.😉

Cheers