PORSCHE 917/20.001 WHITE PIG 1971 LE MANS TEST WEEKEND

I was really intrigued by the shape of this machine, it certainly will instill fear for its shear brute if it happens to appear in my rear view mirror.

The Porsche 917/20, which was re-dressed in 1971 Le Mans as The Pink Pig made its debut at the test weekend in April 1971. Driven by Willi Kauhsen and Gijs van Lennep underneath Magnesium frame.

But the manner it ended the race that day is still ambiguous. Some says Lennep overlooked signals to pit which lead the car to run out of fuel. Some says it was an electrical fault.

Whatever it was, this pig paved the way for futher refinement of speed and power of its predesasor, 917K. 917K hit the fastest speed ever recorded at Mulsanne straight and I think until today hold the fastest lap in Le Mans circuit.

By its stocky and squatty look, wide and short frame, it was instantly dubbed as a pig

What we normally see in the market is The Pink Pig. In fact, there was abundance of High Speed's Pink Pig last time around.

 
I actually managed to pick couple of them up and strip them out. Then, I made use of 917 # 22 Lennep's 1971 Winner decal, the easiest to get, for its Porsche markings. Add CIBIE and startnumber 20, it was all done.

Who would believe the one inside Minichamps box is actually a High Speed. Now that's not sugarcoating but just want to put it where it supposed to be....

PEUGEOT 206 WRC01 JAN III SOBIESKI HOLOWCZYC 2001 POLISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

The car was unveiled at Arco Club in downtown Warsaw on 7th. February, 2001. Holowczyc was paired with Maciej Wisławski at that time. One of the most awesome livery on any 206. Dominantly red with crimson slanting stripes. Patched with asymmetrical white that blended well with Jan III Sobiseski letterings.

Photo at that launching event. Slightly varied from entry car with 5/6 spoke wheels and blue Peugeot Polska decal on both sides of chin.
I really plan to work on this version of Sobieski soon after the Elmot decal arrives.

The actual car when it is entered in Elmot

Soon after in Rajd Krawkowski, the navigator appeared to be Kurzeja

The model that I have had before. I just couldn't get the 11 spoke wheels at a decent price. Have to be contented with normal Peugeot WRC 12 spoke wheels

By the way, Jan III Sobieski is a traditional cigarette brand of Poland, made in the town of Augustow. My Polish friend once said that it pays tribute to Jan Sobieski, once the great Polish king.

FORD ESCORT RS1800 MKII BELGA 1981 RALLYE HASPENGOUW DROOGMANS

I got few emails asking for more on conversion-made-easy.

For now, let's start with something simple.

Some pointers to convert the Escort RS1800 into the one that been driven by Droogmans in 1981 Rallye Haspengouw. The conversion is done based on Reji's 1981 Rallye Skoda decal, which to me is the more common in the market.

Of course you need to have two things first. A base car and that decal

Here are some reference photos

Best of luck

LANCIA STRATOS CAMEL 1978 RALLYE SAN REMO VUDAFIERI / MANNINI

 This is my initial projection of what needs to be done on the IXO's  Chardonet of Darniche. People these days use 3D platform to conceptualize the idea, but me still in 2D, aka Dream and Draw.

To make it something more special like this one

Nothing much, just dismantle to whole body parts, strip it down to bare metal, repaint and reassemble. That's sound like everything but the only additional parts are front mud flap. Believe it or not, I normally use old credit card or auto teller card as it is plastic and rigid but easy to bend into shape and more importantly, easy to cut precisely even with NT cutter.

 So here it is. Actual body color is white but made to look vintage under yellow spotlight

MITSUBISHI EVO III RIZLA RALLIART 1995 YPRES RALLY AGHINI

Perhaps one the better known cigarette rolling paper in the whole world. Rizla was crucified for using the 'twist and turn' caption in its ad percieved as the act of preparing pot. Couldn't be said the same to this magnificently liveried Evo III that twisted and turned its way to finish 6th by June 25th, 1995.

The race went to Verreydt driving the Celica ST205 Castrol Marlboro.

This time around, as time permits, I want to put it all in a different perspective. Just to roll out some trails to capture my simple way to re-construct a mainstream die cast into a rarer one. Not the whole step by step roadmap, but few pointers that help me to execute the project with minimum time while getting the finishing comparable to those of a craftman or so I believe.....

This is my guide to ensure correct color scheme, painting and decal positioning. Only basic tools are needed, those readily available at any book store. The most exotic one should be cutex remover, which can come handy in removing existing decal. Strange but true. Yes, the one with pink lid there.

This is the cockpit which has been detailed out with Sabelt harness. OMP seats embroidered with names, vis-a vis, Aghini and Farnocchia. Decals are perfect but my camera is not, making them look smeared. Well, I don't expect much from a compact cam.

Waiting for decals to set in, dry completely before topping it with a clear lacquer. At this time, all headlights and tail lights and windscreens are not yet assembled, as they are vulnerable to lacquer attack. Flat black paint will then be applied to window trims.

Here it is almost done with the underside attached to the chassis.Notice the 5 spoke wheels used replacing the full disc wheels in original Altaya.
I try to minimize the amount of decals to be removed from the original car, So the red and silver stripes stay, so do other generic sponsor decals like Ralliart, Michelin and NGK.

View of the other side, with dark surroundings. The car really stands out, as it should. More so, with all the cannibalized parts around it. Those are of other model, of course.

Fixed on the plinth for safekeeping.
Perhaps, one fine sunny day, I will get closer shots and float them here.

And another Evo III on the left has started. It will be in that maroon Winfield, could be Auriols', Makkinen's or Burns'. Another cycle to go all over again

UPDATED 26th. February, 2011

FORD ESCORT RS COSWORTH RAS SPORT APRIMATIC BASTOS 1995 RALLY PORTUGAL BRUNO THIRY

After successful run in 1994 Aprimatic outfit, Thiry picked up where he left off. Always competitive but never really get that extra edge to win it outright in 1995.
This car ran in RAS008 instead of BASTOS in rallies where exposure to tobacco marketing is not favored.

RALT RT3 MARLBORO TOYOTA AYRTON SENNA 1983 GP MACAU WINNER

His last F3 race before progressing to F1. He emerged a victor on the streets of Macau right to capture the British Formula 3 Championship.

A Provence Moulage kit that comes with tobacco marking. Too bad driver figurine couldn't be completed.