Porsche 917K - Steve McQueen's "Le Mans"

A long time ago in the very early '70s, Solar Productions released a film featuring not a lot of dialogue or plot and which didn’t make a big splash with the general public at the box office. However this film was no flop IMHO, but an inspiration! It featured the coolest actor in the world, racing the coolest car in the world, in the coolest race in the world. Sounds cool huh? The fact the cool guy in question ends up crashing out and not taking the glory for himself in the end makes this cool scenario even …umm... cooler! :sunglasse

That film was Le Mans, the actor Steve McQueen and of course the car - Porsche’s immortal 917K. This is my attempt to pay homage to that car in 1/24th scale. :)

The basics: Fujimi kit, HRM engine, Studio 27 PE, Renaissance PE and decals, and a lot of styrene. Progress thread with all the nitty-gritty detail stuff can be found here (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=691711).

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/917K/mcqueen-35.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/917K/mcqueen-36.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/917K/mcqueen-37.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/917K/mcqueen-38.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/917K/mcqueen-39.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/917K/mcqueen-40.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/917K/mcqueen-41.jpg

Let me be the first congratulating you to this fina art of craftsmanschip. I hope we will you a lot more again. Great job. You can be asured of my jealousy!

You can't fault perfection! :sunglasse This has been an inspiring build and the model is just perfect.

Give the man his MOTY trophy!

Just.... wow. Even more beautiful than I'd imagined. A stunning piece of work!

This is.....cool :D

Outstanding job Phil :worshippy

I learned a whole ton of cool stuff from your WIP - thanks for sharing your know-how :thumbsup:

Phil,

Im lost for words - simply beautiful. If I can come anywhere as good a completed model as this with mine then I will be delighted... and yes - we will have to do another joint build in the future - it has been fun, just slow down next time my friend! :-)

so whats next on the bench?

A great modeling accomplishment!

That thing is insane, i was about to do a High quality GT40 but i think il give up now :)

Again fantastic work.

Perfect build yet again, where can we see it in the flesh???

Peter from Australia

PUNCH ME!! PUNCH ME IN THE FACE!!

Perfection! :D
I won't say I love it..It's something more than that...o_O

But in the bottom end,i'm a bit jealous,too! :p

I see a similar car in someones sig...Guess who?!

Superb work!

Outstanding! If it has any fault, its that its too clean and perfect.

I won't say much because I can't stop to drool over the pics!

Awesome work Phil! Any plans for your next build?

Thanks for the kind words guys I'm glad you appreciate it.

If it has any fault, its that its too clean and perfect.
I know that in many ways the finish is too perfect for a 917 but this car is a movie star remember! :) Besides I've already fixed one fault that I noticed in the first picture with the fit of the windscreen (after I praised it in the progress thread too - doh!).

where can we see it in the flesh???
If all goes to plan this model will be on display at the Model Expo (http://www.modelexpo.com.au/) in Melbourne this coming long weekend.

Awesome work Phil! Any plans for your next build?

Thanks! :)

Plans, yeah lots of plans... :icon16: Probably a DBR9 or XJ220.

OMG, that is fantastic. Awesome build of an awesome car. Just beaultiful.

Superb work as usual!

Following your and Sean's progress threads made me order the Fujimi kit, some after market parts and the book French kiss with death - Steve McQueen and making of Le Mans. Maybe one day I'll have a model of #20 in my collection too :p

-Mikko

Its great every centimeter of it and detail down to the smallest, you should be very very very very very proud of it its a beautiful car built great:)

Simply perfect!!:sunglasse

Thanks! :)

Plans, yeah lots of plans... :icon16: Probably a DBR9 or XJ220.


zzzzlurrrp!!!!

well Phil speaking of classics, prototype and 60' cars I'm a sick ferrarist, but I can't avoid to pay my tribute to this awesome car as well as your fantastic build, congrats, I guess you aren't in need of whishes for the contest...

Sweet build, Phil. Just lovely. A magnificent tribute to a true classic.

Thats a beauty !

Another masterpiece from you.

You did it again Phil! A wonderful WIP and a top of the line result.
Your work is truly addictive.
By the way please don't get away for so long as you did before this build, really, we need our Pills err I mean our Phil dosis :evillol:

The Car is jaw dropping gorgeous Phil.. Extremely inspiring!!!!

DaveT

Fantastic model of one of the greatest race cars ever from the best car/racing movie ever :-)

Note for future projects list.......gotta try photo etching a 1/24 scale Heuer Monaco :-)

Fantastic Job that you made here, Phil!

:p :p :p

I love it!

Jamme

PUNCH ME!! PUNCH ME IN THE FACE!!

My thoughts exactly! The finish actually exceeds the beauty of the Work in Progress! This was one of the... the... most... the most interesting, best builds to watch progress, and to see it done is excellent. You really are a master among men. Gorgeous work!

10 of 10!

Fantastic!

Everything you build makes me want to try to build the same one... that is to say, your work is so good it's inspirational on the basest level.

I just started a Fujimi 917 and I have Hippycar decals for it, but after seeing yours, I took it outside and smashed it with a hammer!!!!!

Just kidding, but I am getting a lot of tips. great work.

Hello Phil, I see the photos of your model, is EXCELLENT, I like much exact of the colors, the good applied that are, the detail in the motor, in if, in all the model, the details and the finished one he is impressive, perhaps if you had given a small one washed to the rivets of the back aileron would give but realism, but single it is a personal appreciation.

!! CONGRATULATIONS ¡¡

Alfredo M.

OMFG... :worshippy :worshippy :worshippy

I have to weigh in again.

This model really blows my mind. It's so cleanly built - the cut out doors, hood, and hatch look molded in when closed! I know they're not operating, but they are movable. And that just confounds me! Also, I think you have the amazing ability to walk the fine line between building in too much detail and not enough. The work you have done faithfully reproduces the car, but you haven't done so much that it overwhelms the appeal and the spirit of the car. I find that some very skilled modelers feel the need to flood their models with so many details that you eventually can't see the forest for the trees. Models are sort of an art - and reproducing eveything isn't using a critical artistic eye. On the other hand, this model is an absolutely perfect example of adding all the needed detail and stopping at the appropriate place.

Really, honestly, this is one of the best models I've ever seen. I love it!

Once again, top notch quality build! It was fun following the WIP of this beauty.

Imagine needing to use that spare tire during a race :)

Excellent work. I saved the photos as reference material!

Im not really a fan of these cars but your workmanship on this is AWESOME, WOW, GREAT, STUNNING!!!!!!!!!

The first picture is killing me right now! Not only I like the car, but you have done an awesome work to make it even look fantastic.

The color is perfect too. And your photography skill is also very good!

I enjoyed admiring your Porsche, thank you.

Now that is just too Sweeeeeeet!!:eek: :eek:

absolutely stunning!

Great work Phil, don't know what more to say :D
I love your photos, as always.

Thanks for the awesome response guys, brings a smile to my face. :)

Willimo, I really don't deserve that much praise, for starters there is a reason all the closed up pics are only taken from the left hand side! The fit of the engine cover and door is not perfect, but good enough to give the right impression with some crafty photography. I'd love to go on adding details ad infinitum. However at some point the time, resources or talent run out and ambitions have to be reigned in. Shortly after I finish my models all I can see are the faults and things that should be done better. But after a period of time I move through that and can enjoy them for what they are, rather than what could have been.

Enough naval gazing. :p I've updated my website with a bunch of larger resolution images of the 917 model. So if you feel so inclined, enable you browser pop-up blockers and check the pics out before the freebie host crashes. :)

Cheers and thanks again guys.

Just checked the images on your site, and checked them again and again...

Can't get enough of them. Perfection is very close. Congratulations Phil!

Wonderful as always Phil!

Hi Phil,

Beautiful modelling,as always.The finish is perfect,the colours spot on.I would have to say the 1:1 car is a real favorite of mine and I think you have re-created it perfectly in miniature.You really have done Steve McQueen and the Le Mans film proud.I'm looking forward to your next project:thumbsup: .

Best regards,

Steve.

Beautiful job as always Phil. Can not say any more than what has already been said. Hope you do well in Melb.

This is one great awesome model. I love it. :naughty:

Simply stunning Phil! It would be great to see you and this model in Qld later this year?

Beautiful modelling,as always.The finish is perfect,the colours spot on.I would have to say the 1:1 car is a real favorite of mine and I think you have re-created it perfectly in miniature.You really have done Steve McQueen and the Le Mans film proud.I'm looking forward to your next project:thumbsup: .




:1:
Brilliant job Phil, I'm another with this one in the collection and it's tempting me to get mine done. Cool too that it's done just in time for Le Mans. :smokin:

OMG :eek2: That detail level is awesome! Great job dude!

oh my.

You had me with the welds on the radiator. I knew it was love from that moment on.

You're too humble. It's amazing.

Uh-oh!! Looks like the winner of AFMOTY 2007!!

Excellent work as usual!!

Phil:

Have all my respect and admiration to an outstanding work of art, engineering, and craftsmanship in scale.
Yours is the best 917 I have seen so far.
I’m very impressed!

Congratulations!

Just GREAT, Phil !!!!

My hat off. Amazing as always. Clean and as you said, like a movie star.
/Joel
(Please, do the DBR9 ;-) )

Thanks once again for the generous comments guys.
I was very pleased when my 917K took first place in the Competition Cars category at the Melbourne Model Expo on the weekend.

Of course it did! :)

Congratulations on a very very deserved win.

Of course it did! :)

Congratulations on a very very deserved win.
:iagree: totally well deserved!

Did you meet Kane who I think got some awards for his detailed street Enzo and for his Super 7 "For Sale" diorama?

Of course it did! :)

Congratulations on a very very deserved win.

yep, not surprised :naughty:, SUPER!

Congrats on the win, it's well deserved. Awesome model :sunglasse

It would be perfect on the table of the model show at Rennsport Reunion III in Daytona.

Congratulations Phil! No one will be surprized. Next time bring us something new like "Wow I got the second place..." :lol: :lol: :lol:

Congrats on the win. Your workmanship deserves it. Great subject.

Congrats on the win, it's well deserved. Awesome model :sunglasse

It would be perfect on the table of the model show at Rennsport Reunion III in Daytona.

Yes, I agree. Rennsport would be the perfect place to display this jewel.