modelbautony

Shunko are pretty good but again, and I know it's a bit anal, but for me there are still inaccuracies: It's that numeral - just not chunky (bold) enough... It seems to me that many of the decal producers get their references from 'historic' meets - Goodwood is a fabulous event where there are great photo opportunities and the ability to get really up close with the subject. However some life size decals applied to these present day examples are also inaccurate and cannot be relied on if you are trying to produce a realistic example of the car from the period when it actually raced.

I have ordered from LeMans decals in the past. Like you I found the accuracy sadly missing. As you say, incorrect typefaces for logos and inaccurate sizing. However, I find that many of the companies advertising 'replacement' or 'variation' decals (I can only speak for automotive) are inaccurate. Perhaps I am too critical but if I'm attempting to produce a particular vehicle for a specific race series, or even event, I want it to be museum quality. I've taken to producing my own - but that's a whole other minefield!

Thank you all for your input on this. I was convinced that I wouldn't get a definitive answer. I have to say an especially big thank you to both Motobitz for your efforts and Jörgen for the most definitive answer. I don't know how you did that - I've zoomed in and out of that picture a million times but only ever resulted in an illegible mush. From the work and enhancement you've put in on that I can determine there are a few lines of white/light coloured words and together with Motobitz insights I can put together something at least reasonably convincing. Thanks again, all of you who responded.

I am in search of a visual reference of a very specific item. I am working on a decal sheet design for 1973 RAC rally Timo Makinen Ford Escort Mk1 RS1600 'Are you getting enough milk' car, No. 13, as shown below: I am stumped by the 'electrical cutout' triangle sticker (not sure of its correct name). Usually this is a dark blue triangle with a red arrowheaded 'strike' symbol but as you can see, in this case it appears to be simply a solid (presumably dark blue) solid triangle with some white wording, which i cannot make out. Anybody any ideas? Thank you in advance and a very merry Christmas - grrrrrrr!

I admire your optimism Andreas. Do you intend to release all your modifications for sale once you have completed this immense task?

Thanks Desert Falcon, for your kind comments on both the model and the photography.

Brilliant. Thanks Malc. Now, I wasn't expecting the seat to look like that! Humph! Square across the top. Oh well, it goes along with all the other inaccuracies. Further senility is also proved - I did know about the 'Motorsport Images archive', even got it bookmarked but forgot I had until you mentioned it.

Thanks Spiny, Nick, Jörgen and Peter, your comments are most welcome and encouraging.

Ha! Well that's typical, after the horse has bolted springs to mind. Actually Malc, I would like to see that seat. I did reshape the top to what I could vaguely see in one photo. Do you have a link or address for the Motorsport Images photo archive? It's great too that you notice some things that I didn't list, on some photos the riveted panels on the body were visible but on others it looks like there were none, consequently i thought it perhaps wiser not to mention it. Love your insights about the Tamiya process too - where on earth do you get this information from?

Wow! That's very generous Jeroen. Sometimes I get too carried away with getting all the details correct, it can be very frustrating when there just isn't the research material there in photographic evidence.

Thanks Keith - now that really would be something.

If you are of a squeamish nature, look away now... I bang on a great deal about being true to the subject and history with regard to all the details on my models. This model must be the most botched, inaccurate depiction I have produced since I first started modelling, many years ago. The car number is incorrect to the body/mechanics etc; wrong stripe, wrong windscreen, wrong air inlet trumpets, wrong mirrors etc etc. In my defence Tamiya's description and painting/decal instructions are woefully incorrect and/or misleading. However I will support my tentative 'showing' here, by my builds redeeming feature... When I first started this model my immediate reaction was what on earth was Tamiya thinking when they modelled the exhaust system. I spent untold hours bending solder and puppet wire to try and improve the 'look' of Tamiya's 'dangling' pipes. A chance conversation with Malc2 on this forum and an introduction to Nick of 'Unobtainium', led to the development and production of a most fabulous 3D printed solution (available from Nick's online shop). Anyway, enough waffle - just look at the photos: Tamiya's system for holding the front cowl consists of some pretty big obtrusive screws. I experimented for the first time with some micro magnets superglued to the inside and the corresponding superstructure of the chassis - they seem to be holding. The seat is covered in a lovely thin real leather that I seem to have acquired. I've no idea now, from where, but together with some PVA glue and a dressmakers pin marker to represent the stitching, it has given a reasonable representation. Not sure of the accuracy of the shape of the seat however, absolutely no reference available. The brake calipers, front and back, are 'borrowed' from 1/12 Italeri Alfa Romeo 179 and a little scratch work; they are not terribly accurate. Nick's 3D exhaust pipes are completely hollow, all the way through. Bodywork: Tamiya TS7 Racing White from the can, no clearcote, and polished with micromesh cloths and Tamiya polishing creams. The crimson stripe and circle are Tamiya TS86 Pure Red with masked outlines, Tamiya TS14 Black. The engine is a variety metallic paints - Alclad, AK interactive Xtreme metals, Tamiya X range. I also used some Bare-Metal foil in places. Tyres had a variety of AK interactive 'dust effects' enamels and even some grains of sand pushed in to the treads. Any number of rivets and bolt heads were used, both metal from Top Studio, and resin from Plus Models (Czech). Compression fittings from Detail Master. Jewellery wire, fuse wire, Model Factory Hiro fuel line, hand coloured optical fibre, Zsus fasteners from replicas of Maryland, self adhesive mirrored sheet - and probably more that I cannot now recall. Nothing fancy with the photography - iPhoneX, daylight ring light on an anglepoise arm, black card, white card disc.

Many thanks PatW. It's always encouraging to receive complimentary remarks from those who witnessed these historic items in their heyday - not that I'm suggesting you are historic, by any means. I could easily have been there myself as an early twentysomething but only got to Silverstone once, as a spectator, for the British GP, and I cannot recall the year. Mansell was at Williams (I think it would have been an FW11?). It's strange to think you would probably have been there and we may well have seen each other.

Crikey, that's praise indeed. Thank you Zac.

Thank you. I quite agree. I was only thinking the other day whether the current Formula One cars will be regarded as design/engineering classics? My personal opinion is no. There was so much diversity too in design solutions in the 1960 - 80s.