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Post by David Mitcham on Oct 2, 2014 13:48:56 GMT -5
Hi I've agreed with Andi that I can change my Matra entry to the Tecno PA123/6. There are several reasons for this but fundamentally the PP Matra is going to take too much work to modify it to the version I wanted to build and because of a family crisis over the last 6 weeks I haven't even made a start. In looking for an alternative I came across an old calendar photograph of the Tecno chasing(?) the Ferrari B3 at Monaco in 1973 (the car Mark is building) and thought what a great slotcar it would make. I did a bit of research and by chance came across the British Slotcar Bodies (BSB) Tecno PA123/6. It looked quite good on e-Bay so I ordered one and it exceeded my expectations. Its to scale, captures the look and feel of the real thing and is nicely moulded. It does need some modifications - to the lower part of the nose cone, the rear of the side pods, around the engine cover and to the wing support - but these should be relatively easy to achieve. The pictures below show the body as I received it together with a shot of the real Tecno and a drawing of the car (which I found on Andi's thread about his Tecno build a couple of years back). i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab13/d_m_mitcham/imagejpg7_zps4520048d.jpgThe Tecno F1 project was basically a failure. In 1973 Chris Amon finished 6th at Zolder in the Belgian GP (the car I'm building) and those were the only points scored in what turned out to be the Tecno company's last, truncated, season in F1. It was brave attempt, begun in 1972, but the Pederzani brothers overstretched the resources of the small company by not only buliding their own chassis but also their own flat 12 engine. In additon they bulit two different cars for the 1973 season (the E731 was practiced by Chris Amon but never raced). Political fall out with the main sponsor, Count Rlossi of Martini fame, and team manager, David Yorke, didn't help. In the end Amon quit in frustration at the chaos within the team at the Austrian GP. So why chose to build something so unsuccessful? Three reasons: first I really like the look of the car; second its different to the usual Ferrari, Lotus, Brabham entries; and third there's nothing that says lack of success in F1 means slotcar failure (I may regret writing that)! I'm hoping to start the bulid this weekend and will try to provide photographic progress reports. Best Regards David
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Post by Mark Huber on Oct 2, 2014 15:36:18 GMT -5
That's a sharp looking model David. Inspired by your decision and noting that David Lawson is building a Lotus 76, I did two or three minutes of research and decided that a Lotus 80 would be a GREAT car to model as my second entry. Of course I didn't stop to check the rules or contact Andi first (more about that later!) Now, why did I choose a Lotus 80? Like your Tecno it was a flop as a racer, but: 1) I loved the look of the car 2) I liked the fact that it wore the Lotus version of BRG (I believe that JPS didn't renew its longstanding sponsorship for about a year or so) at least where that wasn't covered by Martini Racing swirls. 3) And, BSB makes what looks to be a very nice model of this car. With a built in wing mounts and all the necessary pieces.. Even better! So I ordered one. And then I checked the GPdDFV2015 rules... DRAT two years too late.. the Lotus 80 isn't eligible! Oh well. By the way, there is absolutely no correlation between success on the 1/32 track and the real world. So your Tecno could (will) be a world beater!
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Post by David Mitcham on Oct 5, 2014 13:49:45 GMT -5
Too bad about the Lotus 80 Mark, sounds like we'll have to have another proxy series for post 1977 cars! I've managed to some work on the Tecno body as you can see from the photos below. The engine cover has been modified by adding a piece of pasticard on each side incorporating a couple of ducts and adding a little depth. The injection trumpets will be slightly repositioned as a result. I've removed the moulded in driver and chassis mount points inside the shell (designed for a PP chassis) plus the side-pod extensions which were not present on the Belgian GP car. The nose needs some modifications which I've started but I'm thinking of replacing the molded in front splitter with a thin piece of plastic, or maybe tin, sheet; the radiator inlet depth also needs increasing. The exhausts will be removed and replaced with bespoke pipes attached to the chassis. The wing mount will also have to go as the Tecno wing was supported by a rather fragile looking tubing framework (that will be a challenge to replicate so as to be strong enough to stand up withstand the rigors of a proxy series). Hopefully I'll do more tomorrow as the weather is forecast to be very wet. Best Regards David
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Post by Andrew Rowland on Oct 5, 2014 15:48:54 GMT -5
Looks interesting David
Having studied the Tecno a lot (maybe too much), where I think BSB's body doesn't quite capture the feel of the original is that the real car was very boxy. All straight lines which actually was why I chose it in my first attempt at CAD modelling a car.
Clearly the designer and fabricators were working to a budget and maybe compound curves were tricky for them too.....
Anyway I think your model would benefit from being slightly more angular, particularly the plan form of the side pods for example.
Not a criticism, just a thought!
Looking forward to all your planned mods and to see this develop.
Andi
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Post by David Mitcham on Oct 7, 2014 13:18:54 GMT -5
Hi Everyone A little more progress on the Tecno. I've been working mainly on the nose of the car. I've replaced the molded-in front spliter with aluminium, re-profiled the outer elements of the nose (probably not been drastic enough but I'm going to leave them alone now) and replaced the molded-in side and inner vertical plates, also with aluminium. Its not finished yet as the aluminium needs a bit more shaping and a little filler is required in a couple of places. I've also tried to sharpen up the side pods, as suggested by Andi, with moderate success and I'm in the process of producing a revised, more angular, engine cover using the David Lawson plasticard method. If this works I'm also going to modify the cockpit area as its too long at present. Best Regards David
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Post by Andrew Rowland on Oct 7, 2014 14:42:15 GMT -5
Looking much 'sharper' now David!
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Post by Mark Huber on Oct 8, 2014 14:28:58 GMT -5
It's probably a good thing for everyone else concerned that Andi's series is not being held on digital tracks. When I look at that razor front end of David's Tecno now, I keep thinking of Messala's chariot in "Ben Hur". Of course, things didn't turn out so good for Messala in the end.
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Post by David Mitcham on Oct 23, 2014 15:34:59 GMT -5
Here is the latest on the Tecno build. I've now completed the chassis although it is not fully soldered together pending making sure the body, suspension and engine/gearbox components fit. However it has been track tested and runs well. I took the plunge and removed the engine cover after making a new one out of plasticard and cutting ducts and louvres in it - thank you to David Lawson for his encouragement to do so, a la his superb Lotus 76. The new engine cover is now attached to the rest of the shell (after slimming down the cockpit sides). I've also modified the cockpit a little (it was too long) and filled in the indentation behind the dashboard which wasn't present on the real car. Beginning the surgery. No going back. The new engine cover ready to be attached. A little bit of filler and some sanding should see the main body finished and ready for priming. I'm now working on a dummy engine, which will be separate from the body shell, and then the exhaust system. The intention is that the dummy engine will also support the rear suspension, gearbox and wing mounts as per the original. Best Regards David
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Post by David Lawson on Oct 24, 2014 2:28:52 GMT -5
That is a very significant improvement to the original cover, it's very crisp and precise work, with the alteration you've done there and to the nose of the car you've demonstrated that you could scratchbuild the whole of the bodyshell....
David
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Post by Mark Huber on Oct 24, 2014 8:19:21 GMT -5
David, The enhancements and modifications you have made look great. A flex chassis eh? You are getting really serious now! Did you make that motor bracket or is it a trimmed down BWA bracket?
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Post by David Mitcham on Oct 24, 2014 11:58:18 GMT -5
Thank you David and Mark. Not sure about building something totally from scratch but the Tecno would be a candidate for the plasticard method - no complex/compound curves and mainly straight lines.
The bracket is a slioghtly modified AB Slotsport one in offset gear mode.
Best Regards
David
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Post by Andrew Rowland on Oct 24, 2014 16:53:12 GMT -5
David Looking great, I am glad to see someone else working on their cars as I fear many have left it very late to take part in next year's epic world championships!! (that's a hint for those who haven't begun their builds in earnest yet)!!!!!! Andi
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Post by Mark Huber on Oct 24, 2014 16:59:50 GMT -5
David Looking great, I am glad to see someone else working on their cars as I fear many have left it very late to take part in next year's epic world championships!! (that's a hint for those who haven't begun their builds in earnest yet)!!!!!! Andi I'd be done by now if it weren't for the @$%*ing wings.
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Post by David Lawson on Oct 25, 2014 6:35:50 GMT -5
Thank you David and Mark. Not sure about building something totally from scratch but the Tecno would be a candidate for the plasticard method - no complex/compound curves and mainly straight lines. The bracket is a slioghtly modified AB Slotsport one in offset gear mode. Best Regards David
David
The skills you've demonstrated here and all the model-making techniques you've learnt over the years mean that you could create a bodyshell from scratch. I think a lot of people don't even give it a go because they think they can't do it but it is in fact just a series of processes that they've carried out on various models brought together.
David
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Post by David Mitcham on Oct 25, 2014 11:50:03 GMT -5
David
Yes you are right. I recall that I did make some F1 bodyshells about 50 years ago out of plasticard (or whatever the equivalent was then) by first creating a shape out of balsa, cutting the outline in a piece of hardboard slightly over-size, then softening the plastic sheet on the hardboard under the cooker grill (a not entirely safe activity!) and finally pressing the balsa shape into the plastic and through the cut out in the hardboard. I think the results were quite basic but it made me happy at the time! So I have no real excuse not to have another go but properly this time with a silicon mold and resin casting. I'd better not be too ambitious to start with and chose a simple shape to carve where there is a good plan/drawing available.
However that will have to wait until the Tecno is complete and I've at least made a start on next year's GPd proxy entry.
Best Regards
David
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