Le Mans Contest Entry: 1968 Ford GT40 Mk I

Time to lay my cards on the table and tell you all about my planned comp entry. It is a Fujimi GT40, originally a curbside kit. However this one is going to receive a HRM engine transplant as well as added innards under the nose panel.

I was originally going to build a 1968 Le Mans winning Gulf car but as I researched it I found out more and more problem areas. Seems that chassis P/1075 (the '68 & '69 LM winner) started off it's life as a Mirage M1 and is therefore very different to most other GT40s. Biggest problem I found was the rear wheels in the Fujimi kit are way to skinny, probably not an issue on a curbside but not with the engine cover open. So since I have no way to replace the wheels at this stage I decided to do a different GT40. Maybe I'll do a curbside Gulf car later.

Here is the chosen car, chassis P/1079 from Le Mans 1968, driven by Willy Mairesse and Jean Blaton (the cars owner, who raced under the nom-de-plume of "Beurlys"). It's race was very tragic, crashing on the first lap when Willy was trying to close the door after the "Le Mans" start. The car was wrecked and Willy suffered career ending injuries. So not a happy car but interesting none the less.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/GT-40/68lm08yMairesse-BeurlysFordGT401.jpg

Haven’t really done anything yet, just mocked up some pieces. Apart from the nose panel fit appears to be surprisingly good. The front has lots of room for detailing. Fujimi built their kit so a spare wheel won’t actually fit in the nose so all the framing and piping to the radiators will be visible. Here you can see the high scuttle that was one of the problems encounted building P/1075, it's was much lower, a legacy of its Mirage M1 beginnings.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/GT-40/Dscf1001.jpg

At the rear the HRM engine fits nicely. Trouble is there is a lot of suspension missing so that will have to be scratchbuilt. Will need additional bulkheads and mounting points too.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/GT-40/Dscf1005.jpg

Here is the shell, door handles will have to be changed to the regular type and the radiator exit will need to be straightened and deepened. Rear wheel arches will need to be modified and interior bulkheads built up in the windows. And lots of other little things besides!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/GT-40/Dscf1028.jpg

Updates sometime before July 2005 (I hope) ;)

Cool !!!
This is going to look great. Let me know if you need any turned parts. I need heaps of practice?

About time you showed us something ;)
I look forward to seeing your progress on this one Phil.

Wow, another nice competition entry. Like your choice of an odd GT 40. This competition turns out to have the "who is who!" of Le Mans! I´m looking forward to see all your attention to detail on this kit!!

About time you showed us something ;)
I look forward to seeing your progress on this one Phil.
:iagree: Great choice!

Great choice, good luck with this one!

Orange mécanique! Sad story :disappoin , nice car! :thumbsup: But that's LeMans legend too... :rolleyes:
Good courage! Another great thread to follow! :D

Oh great! not only one of the most mythical cars ever, but this one will even have full engine detail!

I hope you take lotsa pics, as I really love the way you tend to detail the crap out of otherwise pretty normal models!

Olivier

Thanks guys, need to get a few things out of the way and then I'll be into it with a vengance!

Orange mécanique! Sad story :disappoin , nice car!

Actually since this car is Belgian owned and driven I wonder just how orange the paintwork should be? The above pic is the only one I have, showing a slightly orangey yellow. Ronnie Spain's GT40 chassis history book lists the factory colour of P/1079 as yellow. I guess all I can do is print the above picture out and try to match it as close as possible. If anything I might err on the orange side ;)

Holy! whats with the horrible puke color plastic..quick through some primer on it! ahah
Sounds like you have some work to do, looking forward to seeing some progress.

Great choice Rally....I see what you mean about the color. It could be orange or yellow in that pic. Good luck!!

Oh, I'm looking forward to this!! I have a GT-40 kit in the stash and I'm hoping to put an engine in it too! Surely your build will be a nice 'reference'!

Murray

Watching

Yellow. There is a photo on the book "Fords at Le Mans".

Thanks DFV - I guess with a screen name like that you should know Fords. Any possibility of a scan?
I've checked out all my paints and decided the colour that looks closest is Tamiya Camel Yellow. At least it does sprayed on a flat piece of white paper, might look different once it is on the bodyshell.

Thanks DFV - I guess with a screen name like that you should know Fords. Any possibility of a scan?
I've checked out all my paints and decided the colour that looks closest is Tamiya Camel Yellow. At least it does sprayed on a flat piece of white paper, might look different once it is on the bodyshell.

I´ll make the scan tonight. Have you tried the Tamiya Chrome Yellow?

RallyRaider,

Here goes nothing.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/121073LM66_I.jpg
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/121073LM66_II-med.jpg

BTW, allow me: if you're a Ford fan or, a Le Mans fan, this book worth every cent. It has photos of all Fords (and other Ford powered cars)entered at Le Mans since 1923 (and no, I don´t get commission for selling the book...). Bonne chance!

Nice one Phil! The kit is one of Fujimi's best, I built the MkII which obviously shares many parts. Attching the body is a tense moment as it requires being prised apart to slip over the interior and chasis.

Tell us more about the engine your using, I've not come across them before.

What an esoteric car!!! I had no idea this one even existed...nad it's tragic retirement...

Which brings up a great point (pointed out by someone else recently), we may be holding a model contest but more importantly, were holding a history lesson as well!

Thanks for bringing this one to the table, Phil!

Now get to work... :evillol:

I agree with Bill, by this contest I will definitly learn alot abot history of Le Mans. I realy like that you picked up GT40 since this is the best car Ford ever made and the only one I realy like (not to offend anyone I just don't like Ford). I am looking forward to see the progress as this is probabl the next kit that I will buy.

Thanks so much for the scans DFV, now I am even more confused. Those pics look way yellower then the one I already had. Might have to hedge my bets and go with a lighter colour, like the Chrome Yellow you suggest.

I'll keep an eye out for the "Fords at Le Mans" book, always keen to pick up good books!

I think the Camel Yellow is a good match. I'm looking at my Lotus 99T (painted in Camel Yellow) and it looks pretty good.

o ya i did a 69 camaro in camel yellow and it looks alot like the yellow in those pics. nice idea.

Maybe you could also look into other '60 Ecurie Francorchamps cars (275GTB/C or 250 LM), it may give you a hint? (just a sugestion... otherwise, go what you feel its right)

Thanks for the inspiration! I'll be starting work on my MkII GT40 this weekend! suddenly I just can't wait to get stuck into it.

Been doing a bit of fiddling with the GT40. Although I toyed with the idea of dropping it for the comp when MickSz entered his already completed, HRM engined version. I decided to press on with it and up the ante for accuracy.

First thing to be attacked is building up all the missing structural parts, especially at the rear which missing a lot. At the front I've cut off the sides of the nose to be built up with tube and sheet styrene. Holes have been drilled in the radiator return housing and some tubing added to the floor. I don't have any detail pictures of P/1079 so will be doing this as a generic GT40, albeit one that is prepared by JWA to full '68 "Gulf Spec"

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/50846Dscf2086.JPG

At the rear I've started on the bulkheads, the pen marks indicate where the suspension and engine mounts will eventually be located.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/50846Dscf2088.JPG

That's all for now folks.

Despite the other GT40 I am sure that this one will be to good for all of us mortals.

Looking as another great project from you!

where did you get the hrh engine it sounds like a good kit. i'm amazed by the modifications you're doing judging by your previous builds this is going to be a kit to remember

where did you get the hrh engine it sounds like a good kit. i'm amazed by the modifications you're doing judging by your previous builds this is going to be a kit to remember

From Strada Sports, there is a link to them in the LeMans Contest thread at the top of the forum.

I´m sure, you´re going to kick this project very nicely to accuracy. Can´t wait to see your detailing and paint job. Keep it up! What do you use for constructing the extras as shown on the pics?

What do you use for constructing the extras as shown on the pics?

The white parts are Tamiya 1mm styrene sheet and Evergreen 1mm rod. Will be using quite a bit more of it and other sizes by the time it's done. Next thing I have to get hold of is some Plaststruct hex rod for making AN connections and bolt heads. Oh, the white brace at the rear is part of the HRM resin engine transkit.

Time for a bit of an update, not a lot to show. First pic shows the nose where I've tried to make a more realistic framework for the cover to sit on. Second pic shows the wheel cover that I've cut up to rebuild with styrene sheet. The radiator exhaust opening on the Fujimi part is too shallow, curved at the front where it should be straight and starts too far back. I was originally going to try and modify a Mk II part (which is an extra in the kit), but figured I might as well do it right! The opened up grill at the front can also be seen. Unfortunately the Studio 27 photo etched grill is too small to cover the hole, so I'll have to build it up a bit on the sides.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/50846Dscf2975.JPG

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/50846Dscf2984.JPG

Last pic shows the engine cover that is being modified in various ways and the wheels that have been stripped to be painted gunmetal at a later date. Also the P/1075 style door handles have been filled in, I'll have to make more conventional GT40 handles for it. If I had any sense I'd have just started with a non gulf kit :silly:

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/50846Dscf2989.JPG

Nice update Phil.
Do you ever get to the point when you can't seem to stop adding details?

Just on every model Rob! Eventually sanity must prevail otherwise nothing would ever get finished! Anyway, with guys like you raising the standard ever higher, I'm just trying to keep up :)

Keep Up ???? You're kickin' my ass !! Nice work on all the authentic modifications. You're a better man than I ;) I look forward to watching this come together...
Mick Sz.

Nice progress so far!!, this is going to be really Awesome when your finished!!

I say take your time and add all the details you like good job!

That's damn nice. Good detailling, and you still have some time until the race :) keep it up !

You´re working really hard for that contest, I wish, there wouldn´t only be progress pics but little video sections showing an even more realistic how to of a model. That would give me the chance to learn even more.

Do us a favor and show us all the progress you got, don´t omit any pictures!!

awsome build

Hi Phil I think your right about the Camel Yellow colour. This pic might give you an idea. Sorry for posting a pic of a skyline but it is done in Tamiya Camel Yellow over Tamiya white primer.
http://www.xpphotoalbum.com/data/5110/2835R34_skyline_Vspec_d-med.JPG?5856
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/121073LM66_II-med.jpg

It does look a bit orange.

Only two months left until the comp deadline. :eek: So time to pull the finger out and make some progress, although all this styrene work is very time consuming. New, deeper, straighter, radiator exit is ready for primer. Next pic of some detailing underneath, all the white stuff is styrene.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/GT-40/Dscf4511.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/GT-40/Dscf4522.jpg

Lots left to do!

ahhhhh, finally! :)
I was wondering when you would pull this out of the drawer, Phil.

The inner front details look very, very good. I hope you will keep us posted with this marvelous build.

I am also taking some notes to when I build my GT40 ;)

Best Regards and best of luck,
Pedro.

this Le Mans contest is just insane, and your gt40 is no exception

back into the swing of things Phil? Nice details!

back into the swing of things Phil? Nice details!
Here's hopin'. :D

Nice to see that you´re back on the contest subject. Go RallyRaider, go!

Finally some progress :D

A little bit more work, on the rear end this time. First up a lip has been added to the wheel arches as well as a big ol' Gurney flap on the back. Second pic shows some work to the rear bulkhead as well as the seating for the rear bodywork, used 0.5mm rod to simulate the rubber seal.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/GT-40/Dscf4547.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/GT-40/Dscf4548.jpg

Nice to see that you deeply ignore the strategy to simply build something out of box. attention to detail at it´s best. Can´t wait for the paint job... You seem to have something going for Styrene...

This will do the designer of the original GT40 (New Zealander & Formula 1 World Champion - Bruce McLaren) proud. Certainly one of the sleekest, bad ass cars out there!

Congratulations on a superb build so far!
Regards
WRCfan

Thanks WRC fan.

Sorry to be a nit picker, but Bruce never won a F1 World championship (although his team did rather well at times :)). Also don't think he was too involved in the GT40s development, could be wrong though.

Beautiful Phil... Cant wait to see more!!!!!!!!!

Sorry Rallyraider your correct, Bruce has earned 2nd and a 3rd in drivers championship. Bruce however had a heavy influence on the design of the GT40 as this was the year he designed his first Formula One car, which appears quite unknown, he also piloted one of the cars to victory in Le Mans 24 hour race.

thanks for pointing it out!!
regards
WRCfan

Erm, is that what I think it is?

progress???

Sweet!
Like how this is going, with lotsa extra stuffies I wouldn't even notice on the real car, but you're adding them all to the model, I can hardly wait to see the next update, so you know what to do , phil.

Oli

Fantastic build!! You are doing a great job on this build. You have definitely done your homework on it.
I have been working on the 1075 Chassis for a while and have found it very hard to find any reference material for the front compartment(trunk area). I have found some very good pics of the engine area and interior but, that's it.

Hey,

I apologize for the lazyness, but where did you get that engine from? Everything looks f'ing great!! Keep up the awsome work!

Frank X.

Thanks for the encouragement guys, I'm not getting much done modeling wise so far this year. :(

miarob - yes, 1075 was a very different GT40, good references of it are hard to find, one of the reasons I decided to go with a more conventional chassis.

Frank - the engine is made by Historic Racing Miniatures (HRM). I bought it from Kevin at Strada Sports (http://www.stradasports.com).

Looking great sp far Phil!