DIECASTS IN THE ROUGH

Friday, April 6, 2012

PEUGEOT 205 T16 BELGA DARNICHE / MAHE 1985 YPRES RALLY

Done this car before and do it again this time.

This old Vittese has driver and co-pilot figures in it.

For a while it looks more like a slot car

Thursday, April 5, 2012

1991 JORDAN 191 MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

The figurine to go with Onyx Jordan 191

Jordan 7-Up team was in a crisis right before 1991 Belgian GP.

Gachot was sentenced to prison and car # 32 required immediate replacement.

Eddie Jordan was weighing on proven racers, the like of Keke Rosberg and Stefan Johansson.

Willie Weber convinced everybody that Michael Schumacher was more than willing and able.

Johnny on the spot, he was drive-tested in Silverstone and left everybody more than convinced.

Typical Onyx, hard to dismantle as underside is riveted

He was also literally right on the money, Mercedes, Dekra and Tic Tac were there to fork out the race seat fee.

Rear wing re-painted, original seated figurine removed

On the track he never drove before, he surprised even himself to qualify 8^th behind all the big names, Senna, Patrese, Prost, Mansell, Berger, Alesi and Piquet.(Later promoted to 7^th after Patrese was relegated for hand brake infringement)

How it all started. Stripped bare Minichamps figurine

His maiden F1 race was a short one as did not last a full lap but certainly left a lasting impression in F1 fraternities.

Next task, the car itself. Been saying this for the past two years

I reserve all the rights to relevant pixs to their rightful owner(s)

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

1994 TYRRELL YAMAHA MILD SEVEN MARK BLUNDELL

1994’s Tyrrell 022, powered by Yamaha OX10B 3.5l V10 engine, marks one of the earliest involvements of Mild Seven in Formula One.

Mark Blundell back then was the youngest pole sitter in Le Mans.

He entered F1 in1991 with Brabham but left without a race seat in 1992.

He returned immediately in 1993 in Ligier and signed with Tyrrell in 1994.

Among 3 podiums he achieved, the one at 1994 Spanish GP in this very car could well be the most significant. It was the last podium for the much storied Tyrrell camp.

I found this car buried way deep down inside my storage box.
Thought I could do more justice to it.

With that Mild Seven marking, it makes a world of difference.

Next I will have to make the best out of this dull Onyx. Maybe a camera on top of air intake cowling. A more prominent Goodyear tire marking.

Carbon black on the inner side of front winglet. Nice red block of paint on the front wing. And perhaps dark blue color of Blundell’s suit.

That basically will make it a 1994 Spanish GP version.

Update 10th May, 2012

That Spanish GP

FERRARI F2005 MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

I'm shutting down the other blog, Formula One Diecasts.

So this is the one I salvage from there.

I have experimented F2005 before, so I do it again for a super friend in Germany.

After complete dismantling, removing decals, repainting and reassembling, it feels good to put the three Ferrari emblems back.

I like the contrast between Schumacher's fiery red helmet and flat black chassis.

Friday, March 30, 2012

SUBARU IMPREZA 555 CAMEL ANTONIO PONCE 1997 EL CORTE INGLES

1,2, 3, I lost count. I really never seen any rally car with this many camels on it. 4 on the rear wing and on the front bumper alone, it is 12.

Too bad, Toni did not manage to finish the rally.

Not sure how this Italian A.R.T Engineering car ended up in Toni’s hands.

A.R.T Engineering was built by Alessandrini brothers, Paolo and Alessandro to race-prepare mainly Lancia back in 1988.

Impreza L613KWL was driven by Pierre Cesar Baroni in Motornet livery 1995 Rallye Monte Carlo.

Michele De Luca had his moment in Ciocco Rallye 1996

Massimo Ercolani drove it to glory in 1996 San Marino Rally.

In 1997 apart from this appearance in El Corte Ingles, this car was seen in San Marino Rally again but this time in the hands of Andrea Navarra.

In 1998 it went completely under the radar and was reported to be plying trade on Italian soil only.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

SUBARU IMPREZA CG 1994 SAFARI RALLY GR. N RICHARD BURNS

Ni Sawa Hasa!

The catch phrase of Sportsman, one of the most popular cigs in Kenya is prominently displayed on the car.

Ni Sawa Hasa! It is so good.

Or it is just right.

1994 was that good to the boy with no name, the late Richard Burns.

The year Richard Burns started to take on the world after dominating the domestic British Rally Championship.

This Subaru Impreza GC was just right for him to make a notable breakthrough in world stage.

Partnering his lifetime co-driver Robert Reid, he finished approximately 10 minutes behind the Group N winner, Patrick Njiru, who drove an identical machine but with unmatched familiarity with the routes.

Rebuilt from and made to finish better than Trofue. Trofue’s Njiru black and gold lining is corrected to black and yellow lining. The wheels are seven spoked instead of Trofeu’s eight. And all the rubber trims are completed.