1966 Ford GT40 Mk II; LeMans #3

Here's my annual LeMans palooza build; this year 5 of us converged on a friend's house to have fun, finish our LeMans palooza models, and watch the race. This one started as a Revell/Fujimi #98 (I remember when Big Lots got tons of Revell GT40's, the #2 and #98 cars, for $4.99).

Paint is Tamiya Italian red applied directly to the clean, white plastic, no primer necessary. Topped off w/UPol clear, decorated w/Shunko's excellent new decals for this car (as well as the silver decals for the #2 car and incorrect decals for the #6 car).

Model was prepped a few weeks back, for our ACME 24 hour builds we aren't at all militant about having to start/finish a model during the race. Emphasis on having fun and finishing the model to a level of quality that isn't rushed. Race teams prepare for a race, to be successful, we take the same approach w/the LeMans palooza. We get sleep, too! :sunglasse

These GT40's are fun kits; they're pretty simple, have just enough detail but are easy to finish quickly as a slump-buster or 24 hour build. I'm pretty happy w/my model, it's not quite as clean as I'd like, but that's okay. The photos flatter the model...sometimes it's the other way around.

http://images15.fotki.com/v1624/photos/8/10258/13070292/IMG_3080-vi.jpg
http://images116.fotki.com/v107/photos/8/10258/13070292/IMG_3083-vi.jpg
http://images108.fotki.com/v1623/photos/8/10258/13070292/IMG_3085-vi.jpg
http://images16.fotki.com/v387/photos/8/10258/13070292/IMG_3090-vi.jpg
http://images19.fotki.com/v275/photos/8/10258/13070292/IMG_3092-vi.jpg

Looks fantastic Bob. Not often you see the #3 Dan Gurney car built.

A real nice one!
Looks almost perfect from every angle.

Bravo!

wonderful model Bob. Gt40 forever !

Looks awesome to me! You've really nailed down how to use 2k.

Looks awesome to me! You've really nailed down how to use 2k.

Thanks!

As for 2K, I never use it. The U-Pol I use is decanted Power Can clear run through my airbrush w/10-20% Mr. Color Thinner. Goes down smooth as butter, dries really fast. So glad Tamiya quit selling their clear, I don't miss it whatsoever.

http://www.tptools.com/U-Pol-High-Gloss-Clear-Coat,3161.html?b=d*12779

I'll have to try that!

Another lovely GT40. Looks great, Bob. Great pictures too.

The blue lines around the tires came out nicely also.

Another great one. So glad they made these decals!!

Great work! I dont know how you build, talk & still watch lemans! I tried to finish a model while watching Bathurst 1000 (Australia) but ended up engrossed in the racing!

Nice GT 40, the photos look great.

Beautiful model...can't believe you did that in 24 hours! :)

Beautiful model...can't believe you did that in 24 hours! :)

Thanks! I did a lot of prep work ahead of the race (the red paint was the "primer"); I was mostly done after 14 hours, had to let the decal solvent do it's magic so I went to bed and slept 6 or 7 hours, and woke up to finish the small details 2 hours before the race ended. Our group is more of a "have fun and try to finish a LeMans model" during the race, with whatever prep ahead of time deemed necessary to finish a nice model during the race.

Beautiful montage. :thumbsup:

Zim