[carver]

Another beautiful loser (sometimes called tipo152).

Photos are from leMans -64.

If anybody should be interested, the full story of these cars can be read here: http://www.theautochannel.com/publications/magazines/sci/apr-may-97/maserati.frame

I don't really trust the plan view I have found on the web, but you can find plenty of period photos.

The lime wood shell is made much the same way as I did the Maser Zagato 450s coupe last year, so no need for an endless build thread again.

We can move on a little quicker, at least for a start...

Some pics of the work so far.

I am going for the cut up version with a "skylight", not the alu-silver prototype.

This is where I am at present.

Very soon I will have to take a break. I need to figure out how to go about with the curved windscreen.

I don't do vac forming, it would take me long to build a former and learn how to.

It would also take long to cut up 684 PET-bottles trying to find the right shape...

Any idea or advice?

Cheers Carver

 

[carver]

Yes, I fear there are no shortcuts for the screen...

Or else I have to stick to older cars...

I have made a 75 mm wheelbase, hope it is right. It should be a little longer than the "normal" 151.

But I am not really a calliper guy...

For me it is also about getting the right impression together with the wheels I have availible.

Carver

 

[carver]

If there are two of us, then it must be right!

 

[carver]

Hi Phil,

I guess we can always find different specs for this kind of cars, I got my 2400mm from "Ultimate car page" and "Tech racing cars", 10 cm longer than "standard" 151.

I have read somewhere it was extended some inches.

1/32 will be 75 mm. What is right or wrong I don't know!

Cheers Carver

 

[carver]

Yes Peter, I do often wonder about the origin of specifications. I have learned to be suspicious, especially if only a few were made.

Sometimes I have a feeling the specs just have appeared somewhere and then been repeated over and over what ever they are right or wrong.

These are eternal issues we have to live with.

Here are my thoughts about this particular car.

The major changes were made when three Tipo 151...

...were rebuilt for the Drogo design....

….including the longer wheelbase. 2400mm is what I've found most likely, may be right or may be wrong.

Those cars were later to be crashed rebuilt and/or changed. But would they change the wheelbase?

I decided to believe they did not. You have to have something to start from when you begin carving, can't carve an adjustable wheelbase...

Then of course look at period photos of a certain car.

I may not be too serious about this, I just want to have a little fun!

Cheers Carver

 

[carver]

I like that one too, partly I think, because there are really great black and white photos of it!

The headlamp covers may not be too difficult. I plan to use clear acrylic rod, if that dose not work I go for the plastic-kit-spare-bin and if that dose not work something else...

It is the windscreen that bothers me. Meanwhile I will work on another project and suddenly a bright idea will come up! I hope...

Carver

 

[carver]

Thanks all for taking interest in this! It is all very confusing, for sure.

Today I used the calliper on the almost perfect side view in post#17.

The rims are 16", and with a little calculating I found that Phil's and Gripping Pneus' 2300 mm probably are right!

Of course not only the wheelbase decides the size, I will check up other measures as well. I may have gone a bit large over all.

I will think about it, I am not sure I will rework it. This car will only run on my home track, I can live with it, if it turns out looking good .

It is always fun to see different versions of a model. I have not seen the Fitzpatrick before but have seen the Hawk, I think that is what made me go large!

@Phil, very kind of you! But I'm sure it will not fit, I will solve that.

Looking at the Hawk and Fitzpatrick I'd say my version ain't too bad after all!

Carver

 

[carver]

I know now how to do the windscreen.

It is curved only in one direction, should have noticed that in the first place.

I will "only" need a perfect fit and then mount it from the outside.

Carver

 

[carver]

For a while I believed in the short wheelbase, but now I am back to the 75 mm...

I've seen dimensions connected to the two best reconstructions, both of them stating 2400mm as the original.

If they spent all the money on resurrection them I think it is likely that they did some serious research first.

From my point of view that's it. I take the risk of being remembered as the inventor of the1/30,8 scale!

Had I been more ambitious I would have bought this book:https://www.ebay.fr/itm/MASERATI-TIPO-151-THE-LAST-MONSTER-FROM-MODENA-LIVRE-NEUF-/152739429791?hash=item238ffabd9f:g:Yt0AAOSw9GhYjN5U

But it is a lot of money for something I have not seen IRL.

Back to business. I would describe this car as a very low flat top with large wheels...

...So I have lowered the car quite a lot and made the top flatter. The front wings are remodelled and openings have been tidied up.

The characteristic small side windows are created with a thick piece of styrene, this will make a strong support for the glazing.

The rear window always seems to be open, at least at the drivers side, this was another hot cockpit.

Again a layer of primer and test fitting the screen to get a view of the over all shape and to see what to do next.

Wheels and arches are not yet settled.

The rear part of the car is not to bad but the front still is too clumsy. I need to lower bonnet and wings more and make the windscreen larger....and so on.

It is a wonder there was room enough for the engine, it really is low.

Opinions and suggestions are of course still welcome although I may not follow them...

Carver

 

[carver]

It is easy to get lost in the Maserati jungle, I often do.

So a few words to correct whatever nonsense I've said earlier in this thread and clear things out.

In the winter '63-'64 one Tipo 151 was rebuilt and turned up looking like this..

...on LeMans test day. They were not allowedd to take part in the real race with that rear screen, so for the race it was rebuilt...

...and looked like this. In this shape it took part in three races during -64. LeMans (#2), Reims (#3) and Monthlery (#11).

The -64 car is what I try to model.

For 1965 it was rebuilt again and turned up at LeMans like this as #12.

After the tragic accident on the training this is what was left.

Hope I got things right this time,,, As I have said sometimes I do not know much about racing but learn something from every build.

Now, back to the work bench!

Carver

 

[carver]

The body has bee lowered to a better height, the profile is looking better.

After a layer of white primer it was obvious that it is to wide. I have narrowed it some 3-4 mm. Yes, I have a caliper.

More sanding and it came out like this.

Carver

 

[carver]

Yes, ain't that a beauty!

But to be honest, I try not to look at it too much!

That one recreates the #12 car above that was somewhat different from the one I try to model, e.g. the front is more smooth and rounded...

Compare to the -64 incarnation:

But lucky those who were at Goodwood -15!

Cheers Carver

 

[carver]

Some rounds later, going through most of it again...

... we now have a basic shape.

If something looks all wrong please let me know, things can still be changed.

Back to the wheelbase issue once again.

I look at Maserati dimensions as someone else may look at religion: You got to have something to believe in!

Here is my latest theory. I have seen stated that the Drogo chassis was extended 2 inches when it was built.

It is also said that it was further extended (not specified) for the 1965 season. I would suggest another 50mm, then we end up at 2400 mm just as the Goodwood car is.

So correct wheel base for the red -64 should be 2350, in scale 73,5 mm... Doesn't that makes sense? Just by coincident

my car has ended up 74 mm. So now I am a believer!

Anyway, I am sure my model has larger deviations than that somewhere else.

Cheers Carver

 

[carver]

Don't worry Gordon, the wheel base does not haunt me at night..

Cheers Carver

 

[carver]

Seems to be an interesting magazine. Why can't I read French?

Carver

 

[carver]

I have made another basic pop sickle/lolly stick chassis. This time also using some small brass pieces.

This is my first trial making spray masked stripes, a little touch up work needed.

Can anybody with more experience of this tell me how to go about with the ridges along the tape borders/edges?

Cheers Carver

 

[carver]

Thanks for input, but I am not sure I've made myself quite understood. Unfortunately there was no chapter about spray painting in my English schoolbook years ago...

The bleeding is not the main problem and the surface, I think, will level with some clear coats and polishing. What I mean is this: When I mask and then spray, a small "wall" or "lip" is built up against the thin edge of the tape and stands straight up when removing the tape. This I want to remove.

I will now let it dry and harden, but then? Should I first clear coat and then polish? Or first polish? Or do something completely different?

Sorry for lacking knowledge in English, they really ought to change those schoolbooks!

Carver

 

[carver]

Erh...I just found what I was looking for in "Scratch Building 101". I will rub it down.

Carver

 

[carver]

I wish that I had seen this thread earlier.

I make progress very slowly, I wouldn't say you are late for the party.

Sorry about the stolen car, but at least it goes to show that someone else liked it. Make a new one!

Btw: The model car&track drawings are nice and useful for a start, but many of them should not be relied on too much, I only trust factory drawings.

Nowadays we have got the internet, some trawling has given me >50 pics of the original ( not reconstructions ) that helps to get a fair view of the car.

It is strange, as far as I know there is no reasonably accurate 1/32 version of this nice car available.

Carver

 

[carver]

I thought I had most of it sorted out!

The strange rear screen went in as it should and test fitted side screens are almost OK.

The wind screen however I cannot get in place. The tension is too strong, the glue can't hold the corners.

Here I am with an almost ready made car with a big black hole!

I'm back to post#1! Better make myself a vac-former.

Carver