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This is my recently finished model of the Porsche 917K owned by Solar Productions, and used as a camera platform, during the post-race filming of Steve McQueen's pet project, the movie "Le Mans". Solar Productions had the use of several Porsche 917's during post-race filming. JWAE loaned them chassis 013 (damaged when David Piper crashed and, subsequently, had his lower right leg amputated as a result of his injuries). Jo Siffert loaned chassis 024-2 from his personal collection, and Solar purchased this car, chassis 022. 022 was modified to full JWAE specifications, and the chassis further modified to allow movie cameras to be carried at both the front and rear. The picture above was the inspiration for this model. I first thought of this as a project many years ago when I purchased a 917 detail set by Vroom. There were no instructions, or any indication as to which kit it was best suited, but all the parts were beautifully cast with the main area of improvement centred around the cockpit. I later purchased a "part-started" Provence Moulage Porsche 917 kit on a well known internet auction site. I stripped the paint from the body and chassis, and then set to work updating the body to JWAE standard. This involved a replacement, vac-formed, cockpit roof vent, correcting the angle of the upper NACA ducts on the engine cover, and replacing the spoilers with the correct Le Mans style items. The second phase of modifications was the camera and mount at the front. I drilled/carved/sanded away the nose access panel to create the necessary space. The mounting plate, and the closing panel behind it, and the oil cooler and its mesh guard were scratch built from plastic card, Milliput filler, and various odds and sods I had lying about. The movie camera, and its mounting frame were constructed from Plastic card, rod and tube. I added the small, partial, mounting lip for the standard nose panel from lengths of plastic card strip. Next phase was the door. The Vroom set included a separate door, so it seemed rude not to use it. The body was again drilled/carved/sanded until the door opening was created. I subsequently added a narrow strip around the inside of the opening. The Vroom chassis could not be used with the PM body as the wheelbase was a bit short, mainly behind the cockpit bulkhead. I elected to discard the rear of the Vroom chassis, and use the PM part, fixing them together to create a hybrid chassis. I retained the Vroom spare wheel and transmission cooling ducts to be fitted to the PM part of the chassis. The inside of the body needed a lot of resin to be removed to allow the new chassis to fit. The instrument panel needed to be adjusted to the correct angle, and also widened, to sit at the correct orientation within the windscreen opening. All the parts were painted with Humbrol enamels, and the markings are by Le Mans Decals. Wheels and tyres are by Remember. All in all, a very satisfying build. As a finishing touch, I added the figure of "Michael Delaney". This is a Denizen metal figure, painted with enamels, shaded with oils, and with driving suit logos, etc. from my stock of decals. As a postscript to the story, chassis 022 was subsequently purchased by Auto Usdau Racing. In its first appearance under new ownership at Buenos Aries in 1971, it was still in its blue and orange scheme, and the driver's door had be been signed by Steve McQueen. The message read "Finished - Thanks for sticking together - Steve McQueen". I wonder if anyone thought to preserve the door before the car was repainted? Thanks for looking, Trevor