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Maserati tipo151/3, the Drogo coupe

29K views 106 replies 21 participants last post by  GRUNZ  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
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
 

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#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
Nice one Carver. As you know, I did this one too so when you find about doing the screen.....you can tell me! Mine is still sitting on the shelf waiting......

As a matter of interest, what wheelbase did you make it? I have the plastic kit version too but it is minute, I reckon about 1/35th. Looking at it in comparison to the GT40, it doesn't look that small, even allowing for the gap between the two.
 

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#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
Yes, I fear there are no shortcuts for the screen...
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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...
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For me it is also about getting the right impression together with the wheels I have availible.

Carver
 
#5 ·
Yes, I fear there are no shortcuts for the screen...
unsure.png


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...
smile.png


Carver
That is precisely what I made it
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I scaled up from the wheels. The kit is considerably smaller. I'm glad you did the same as I trust our eyes rather more than the kit makers.
 
#10 · (Edited by Moderator)
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!
smile.png


Cheers Carver
 
#12 ·
I have some 1/30 scale moulded from Scalex that are smaller than some RTR versions!
I think many Manufacturers extend the scale to suit what they want!
I think a lot if these cars changed during their racing life as repairs and new panels were made.
Finding the true info is like trying to match the exact colours from old pics, almost impossible.
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
Finding the true info is like trying to match the exact colours from old pics, almost impossible.
Ain't that the truth!

The Hawk kit is actually labelled 5000GT. Going by the attached, it's a centimeter too short! Maybe there were two! Or three, Bertone made one as well! Obviously, you need to match pics to specs!

Easy to get confused then.

And then 152 specs!!
 

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#14 ·
I often wonder where all these specifications come from and how accurate they actually are.

A close look at contemporary photographs seems to show distinct differences in the shape of the 1964 and 1965 bodies, especially around the side windows, which seem to have a definite sweep up on the 1964 car, when compared to the later 1965 car.

Orsini, in his 'Maserati' book, states...'for 1965 renovating once again in its frame, body and engine, increased to slightly more than five litres.'

Peter.
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
Absolutely. In racing, cars are probably modified from race to race. Back then, they were much simpler and it didn't take a computer, an entire factory and a few million pounds. A mechanic with a hacksaw, a spanner and some skill would probably do the job (almost!)

Who knows where the specs come from? Someone with a tape? The original drawings? Someone's memory?

In the end, the exact scale, it seems to me, is considerably less important than that the model captures the feel of the original. On this basis, Carver's is spot on.
 
#16 ·
I think that some of the confusion comes from the fact that 151/3 was originally chassis no. 151/002 1962 then in 63 rebuilt and renumbered as 151/1 then modified again in 64 then renumbered again as 151/3 and then again as 151/4
All very confusing. I wonder how much was rebuilt each time?
 
#17 · (Edited by Moderator)
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!
smile.png


Cheers Carver
 

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#20 ·
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
 
#22 ·
The reference to the 5000GT is erroneous. That was a road car, and the Allemano bodied version first appeared in September 1961.

The breadvan Maserati was a re-built Tipo 151 as Phil stated, and had the same wheelbase as the original at 2300 mm.The info attached (from "Maserati" by Richard Crump and Rob de la Rive Box) does give the origin of the breadvan's engine as the 5000GT though, which may be the cause of the confusion.

In "Maserati, a history" by Rob Pritchard, he states that the 1962 Maserati-France Tipo 151 (the red one with white stripes) crashed at Le Mans, and was re-built for 1963 race with a shorter wheelbase and a larger engine of 4941 cc - which is the same as the 5000GT road car. This car retired in 63 but is reported to have again been re-built for 1964 for Colonel Simone of Maserati France, as the breadvan. The car was built and tested by the Maserati works, but was presumably funded by Col. Simone. It raced at Le Mans in 1964 and was crashed at the 65 Le Mans test weekend, killing "Lucky" Casner.

Research into Maserati history is a case of "here be dragons". It is said of the 250F that of the 32 built, 41 are still racing.

Keith View attachment 151.pdf View attachment 151-1.pdf
 

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#24 ·
The reference to the 5000GT is erroneous. That was a road car, and the Allemano bodied version first appeared in September 1961.
Yup, I was aware of that but it just went to show how easy it was to grasp the wrong end of the stick.

We still have what appear to be authoritative sources saying different things.

So, in the end, I don't care! The model looks the part and it is near enough for all but those who care more for numbers than slot cars. The old digital versus analogue argument perhaps. I'll stick with the figures that fit what I've done
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#25 ·
I don't know if this will add anything to the discussion but, FWIW, here's my version of the 151/3 based on a Fitzpatrick Classic shell (he called it "1964 Breadvan")

gallery_99_85_6498.jpg


LOA 129 mm

W 56mm (over front wings)

WB 79 mm

The model was first build on a modified commercial steel anglewinder chassis (? make) fitted with a Plafit Fox motor. While a bit of a handful, it did win the first race on the then new 1/32 road course at Rad Trax in Las Vegas. It is now in pieces in a box awaiting a complete refit.

EM