[dravenda]

Hello!

I turn to you for help. I have a very nice ERA car kit from Mr. George Turner. My intention is to make the car of B.Bira, that competed in the Prince Rainier Cup of 1936. I could not find much information about the appearance of the car in that race. This is all I have.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/189/1935erabtypeprofilebyst.jpg/

[img]http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/18/img0934tb.jpg/

I would be very grateful if you could give me some additional information and photographs about how looks the Bira's car in the Monaco race.

Thanks and Best Regards!

David

 

[superhornets]

hi david
not sure how much you know about biras era's
he had three the one oyu are asking about is the one nicknames romulus ,the others were remus, and hanuman
romulus was painted the white mouse livery of light blue body work ,yellow spoked wheels and yellow chassis side rails
No sure what the numbers were for that race oor undeed what colour they were ,on the picture i have the numbers are plain white on a blue body
hope that helps

cheers tony

 

[DJ]

This website LINK indicates that the car raced as number 78 at Monaco.

A recent sketch on this website.... LINK shows the car as it may have looked at this race. Can't be sure where the artist got his information from though???

More photographs of the car as it is now can be seen here... LINK and here... LINK and even more here...LINK

Nothing definitive but hope it helps.
Good luck with the build.

 

[JAK]

I have a very poor quality shot from Monaco which like your race photo would suggest that the car was all light 'Bira' blue and the yellow wheels and chassis came later in the cars life i.e. the coloured drawing is correct.

The other side of the car has the Siam Flag on the tail and the number and roundel are higher up (top of roundel must start same distance from the central bonnet hinge but because this isn't central the bottom of the roundel only just reaches a small way over top of the side louvers.) Picture is so bad I cannot make out if this side has the small Siam flag at front of bonnet.

 

[dravenda]

Hello!

Many thanks to all by your replays!

As Jak says, the only images I could find referring to the car that ran in Monaco was painted entirely in blue. I find the confirmation on the page of The British Racing Motors, at the entrance dedicated to the Romulus, said " For 1939 R2B added yellow wheels and chassis frame to its light "Bira" blue bodywork to match the newly specified national racing colours of Siam" before that year ran entirely in blue color. So the car actualy looks the 1939 decoration.

I try to reinsert the two only images that I have find in the network, I thing that the in my first post I did not well. I hope that now are Ok.

The two images are taken from the left side of the car and I don't have any idea of the other side, for example I don't know if the white rounds for the numbers are placed in symmetrical position or not, or if in this years the car have painted the name of Romulus like in the present days. The right side of the car is so mysterious to me as the dark side of the moon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thankyou very much to all for your coperation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best Regards,

David

 

[JAK]

When Bira raced his MG K3 at Brooklands in 1936 he had the small Siam flag on the LHS of front of bonnet like this ERA but on corresponding place on RHS he had a small Union Jack.

The other side - poor quality photo - details as stated above - but cannot see small Siam or even Union flag - hope it helps.

 

[dravenda]

Hello Jack!

Thank you very much! This picture clarifies almost all my doubts, in first place, the helmet, in every picture I have of Bira for the 1936, he wearing a helmet or hat different, and also clarifies the placement of the number and the rear flag of Siam.

With respect to the small Union Jack, the car in his actually look had the small Union Jack, but really in your picture does not seem to be. Always has to be some mystery unclear!!!!

Again Thank you very much!

Best Regards!

David

 

[JAK]

Bira raced an ERA at Donnington in 1935 which had the Union Jack flag on the bonnet as discussed above. Don’t know which of his cars this one was but I think you’ll be safe to add it to your model as it seems to be a common theme to his cars.

 

[dravenda]

Hello Jack!

I'm agree whit you, finally I find this pic in the net.

Is of the Romulus, but I don't know the exact year and place where was taken, and although is not of a great quality can be seen that the car had the Romulus name and the Union Jack flag. I think you're right and Bira use both small flags, Union Jack and Siam, in the bonnet like common theme in his cars.

Well, I think that I can start to make the car!!!!

Thank you very much!

Best Regards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

David

 

[ferraif40]

Hi David,

Looks like a super project, the ERA is one of my favourite pre-war cars, and it has been beautifully recreated by George. The above photo looks like it may have been taken around the Test Hill area at Brooklands. The bridge behind looks similar to the bridge at the first corner of the Campbell Circuit, which is located right next to the start of the Test Hill. Here is a photo of the bridge, and Dobson's Bimotore in the foreground

Link To Bridge

Please post photos of the build, looking forward to seeing how it turns out,
Regards
Jon

 

[dravenda]

Hello Jon!

Thanks for the identification!

I hope that my build will minimally approaches to the quality of the cars that are posted in this forum.

Thank you very much!

Best Regards!

David