HIRO DBR9 LeMans 2008

Wow! This build is great. I'm very imressed by the detail and that steering wheel is superb! I'll have to try the pastel technique myself.

Some remarks in time:

Dear Alex, i’m really honoured. Thanks for your comment!
You are doing outstanding things here…….

It is absolutely right, as always (even in my former times building 1-35 tanks and military stuff) it is so important to have attendant reference material!

Second (and very important) thing you are talking about are obvious mistakes and/or missing / wrong details. We are (sad enough) used to them when we open for example a Revell kit.
BUT we are talking about a very expensive and almost exclusive kit……that makes it some more irritating for me. I’m wondering on how Hiro can launch a
2008 Le Mans version of the Aston Martin with wrong air outlets and poorly and wrong interior detailing. Sorry but it is like that! As you can see so far I’m really facing the challenge BUT lots of time and energy is spent to make it look like it should….that is something categorical the manufacturer should look after in terms of customer satisfaction. We, the “users”, are then free to think about how far each one wants to go with individual (super-) detailing efforts.
I have to resume, the kit is a reasonable base for a detailed and correct custom build. Looking at the cost-performance-ratio it is almost deflating.


Hey Kev,
Thanks for your comment! Sorry for my poor explanation…..really…..this should be a wip!
I took a proper sheet of aluminium foil and a mesh from my former military modelling time which was used to cover air filters and / or vent openings. I then pressed the mesh onto the foil and rubbed the structure of it “into” the foil. That was done with the bottom of glass. So it is something like pressing the net on the surface of the foil.

Maybe it would work also if one would glue the mesh onto the foil and then turn it around and working it from backside. You would then have to glue the net-side on the demanded surface. I don’t know, it could be to “thick” and inelastic?!

I fixed the so structured foil into the compartment with normal plastic glue, on some edges carefully with super glue.

I hope this helps!?


Hello Sasa,
Why on earth….? Thank you very much for your kind words but I have to say again you and your efforts on your DBR9 were the starter for my one. Keep it up!!
And by the way you just started that formidable F1 racer! Great model!


Hi klutz,
Or should I say “eagle eye”….;-)
Thank you very much. Much appreciated!!
You are talking about my newest dilemma……..last week it came to my mind for the first time to display it with the drivers door open………mmmhhhhhh……BUT: mmhhhh……holy plastic heaven…….don’t you think it would disturb the look and the body lines of the racer?
And I say it like I feel: I’m a bit tentative about this minor conversion in this late state of the build………..and most of all I’m in need of some really kicking reference pictures about the door, frame, hinges (even if hidden) and the body molding ………

Man, get out of my brain!!!!!!!!
Joke!


Dear Rob,
Thanks a lot, man! I have to say it as dry as possible, you are one of those I’m looking up at!
Your contributions encourage me to go even deeper and help me pushing my skills by trying and trying (best example: your tortured tires!).
I have to say thank YOU, like it or not!



Yours
Jochen

Oh Lord, Jochen...!!! What an outstanding update. I always loved the multilayer styrene modification and your job on steering assembly is just fantastic.

It's a deep pleasure following your progress. Thanks again for sharing.

Robi :)

I hope you decide to open the doors...This level of detail deserves to be seen!!!:iceslolan

Thanks jochen for the explanation of your simple but effective technique. I would have thought on pressing the foil onto the plastic surface, it might smoothen it back out, but again, your results are great.

Having the driver's door open would help show off the interior without doubt, but without enough reference photos of the door mechanism, it would be an added challenge...but somehow I feel someone of your talent could easily accomplish it :evillol:

Im gonna have to agree with Klutz, with all the hard work on the interior, all the details surely took ages, it would be a pity to hide your beautiful interior creations behind glass, open those doors up.
Q. are you goning to do the body after it raced at Lemams, ie with all the brake dust & covered in dirt? I saw a Top Gear (TV show) with that DBR after the race, they didnt clean it, i think AM even took it to Goodwood a few weeks later without cleaning. It would be interesting, but id still love to see it shine in that beautiful Blue & orange livery.
Amazing work so far cant wait to see more!!!! Its addictive!!!

Ditto on opening the doors! Your detailing work is to die for!

Well, on the other side, isn't part of the fun correcting the mistakes and making the model one of a kind (correct)? But I know exactly what you mean.

Jochen, I must say, I`m simply speechless, car is amazing. I have one question though if you don`t mind... It seems you reached a great result with diluted black as a window tinter. I tried it as well, but my result was...let`s say different. The colour on the clear part made only stains, not a smooth surface. I sprayed heavily diluted x-18 acrylic from Tamiya, pressure was about 12 psi. Where is the trick?

Thank you and keep up the excelent work.

PS: 2all, please feel free to comment, if you have any idea, thank you.

Dear community,
unbelievable, thank you all. What a joy and enthusiasm! It really makes me proud and i feel heartly welcome. Like i said a few times i like this place A LOT!
RobiJ, keep in mind, it was YOUR pic in your first response that gave me an extra dose of thrill and energy! That dirty back of the AM with these brute racing slicks, all covered in dirt and brake dust..............man, it made click in my mind.

sam01contact, kev, ddtham, thank you!

da ashman, AHA you got me!!! Yes, this one will be shown totaly race worn like at the Goodwood show! Let's see if i can work it out to make it look like i want to interpretate the DBR9 after been flagged at the 24h race.

Alex, you are right, in the end it helps to improve our skills and efforts.

Bartak, thanks for your question. I sprayed diluted FLAT black not semi gloss. Give it a try at about 20psi, and do several times / several layers. Take special care of UFO (unholy flying objects) like DUST particles....aarrrrgggg.......I have to tell you that the actual windscreen is the 11th or 12th i did, all others before failed............due to various reasons. Try and error, like always in our beloved hobby.

To all: i'm not sure about the door. How would you cut that piece out of the body? Do you know the kit and HOW THICK the resin is in that area? I can tell you.......

One last pic for quite a while, now the first wiring is added.

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/030.jpg

Bye, cheers
i have to hurry because my weizen-beer is getting warm

Yours
Jochen

Superb :thumbsup:

(I meant the dash but the beer sounds good also ;) )

Superb :thumbsup:

(I meant the dash but the beer sounds good also ;) )

It made me szluuurp :cwm27: I mean the bear but dash is absolutely perfect to :rofl:

Check out Alex's next build hes opened the doors in a similar Resin kit. Its inspiring, im even considering doing it too.
Cant wait to see more!!!

Hi all,
it seems i have kind of a flow at the moment. Things develop quite satisfying. I scratched that cooler / vent device, made that flexible air host and the small compartement in which the host is fixed by several screws and / or bolts. I have to admit that not everything is 100% in scale but as i always mention it has to look cool and proper in the model subject. So this is just another "way of mine" to show things up.
(sorry but the first pictures were made with my mobile phone thats why they are not that accurate)

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/DSC00750.jpg

then that little "suitcase" it looks actually like a tool box.

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/case2.jpg

the two parts brought to place

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/vent1.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/vent4.jpg

I couldn't resist i had to make a small "shoot" with some parts in place in general just to see if things fit together and to have a impression of the car. Everything is removed again to begin the colour works pretty soon.
So this is just for imagination and documentation of the DBR9 so far.

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/034.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/035.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/031.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/040.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/015.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/029.jpg

OK, thats it for now.
(No weizen beer at the moment, i have to reduce calories ---- says my wife ----- but she's right ----;-)
So another draft of coffee.

Bye folks
Jochen

Great work as always. Those assembled pics look promising!

Fantastic. How did you bend the cone-shaped part?

Robi :)

Shaping up nicely! Great scratch work again!

Jochen...there`s a lot of very experienced modelers and plenty of great built on this forum. This is certainly one of them.

(No weizen beer at the moment, i have to reduce calories ---- says my wife ----- but she's right ----;-)
So another draft of coffee.

You do beer while modeling?? Wow. One question though... Do you achieve these great results - your interior is outstanding - without or with the beer??

Cheers and forget about Diät. Rich modeling deserves rich Weizenbier!


Robert

Fantastic work as ever :thumbsup:

What did you make the metal blower unit out of? Is it photo-etch or did you cut up some sheet metal? Or....? :)

Wow, incredible work, love the xtra interior pieces. I cant wait to see her in Blue, its gonna look awesome!!!

Well, i think you deserve a beer for that.

Hey,

thanks for all your nice comments, very much appreciated!

Alex,
I have three eyes on your F40, awaiting another guided slide through the 17 dimensions of plastic modelling.

RobiJ,
klutz 100,
The square unit has a base made out of a small plastic corpus made from styrene and Evergreen profiles and is then “wrapped” with thin sheet metal. The conical part is a triangle formed piece of sheet metal carefully bend over a conic file.

Dammed, I have to keep in mind to take some more progress pics. Sometimes I try and try and try and when something finally succeeds I’m too satisfied and happy to recognize that I should do some more documentation!! Sorry !!!!

Robert,
I had to laugh at your comment…….;-)
Rich modelling deserves rich weizenbier!!!! GREAT!!!!
No, don’t worry, I don’t drink while doing plastic modelling, but sometimes it makes me that thirsty…..tststs.
My legal drug is listening to “strange” music (like wumpscut and other gothic stuff) while sitting at my table doing funny little things. But only via ear phones regarding my kids and wife…..what should they think about me…….;-)

Bill,
Thanks a lot, man. I dream of that final moment when someday hopefully the car is finished quite satisfying. THEN I’ll have a glass of red wine, sit back and reflect about my experiences.

Greetings,
jochen

Superb! one of the best MFH builds I've seen, looking forward to seeing this one complete and I guess you are aswell.

how can i say this with out cursing???? eh can't figure it out at the moment.
shit looks sick bro!! :eek:
i like to sit at my "table/desk" w/some slipknot or lamb of god screaming at my ears..:evillol::ylsuper: haha yeah. ear phones as well. ipod, greatest thing to own. keep up the great work.

Hi Jochen,

another great job on these interior parts - I don´t dare to think how great the finished car will look when finished.

Oh my, what a beauty! If it weren't for that wooden base it could so easily pass for a 1:1. You continue to inspire and amaze.

Fantastic scratch building, everything looks perfect.

Excellent work that is the best looking control panel I ever seen :bigthumb:

Weekend, time for an update.

Hello all, i want to let you know about the actual state of affairs....;-)
The body is coloured, a mixture of FLAT white and blue of Tamiya acryls, decals are brought to place (man, the decals took me almost two weeks, some had to be pimped because these black thin lines at the orange parts above the sidewindows were completely missing..????????!!!!! So i had to improve with ultra fine cutted black 3M-tape from ScotchBrite.)

Holy ....., the orange decal session around the front air intake was a real challenge!
Some carbonwork was done, it was the first time for me to have an eye on these very special and typical racething. I want to say a BIG thanks to the man formerly known as "the saint".......;-) Thanks again for all your efforts also beside the forum!! Your hints on how to work carbon fibred areas and parts are a treasure for me.
I then gave the panel lines a very subtle wash with a very dark grey aquarel / watercolour (believe it or not, oils would be a step to "hard" from my point of view), also the fasteners were washed of course.

A short explanation about (my way of) colouring the car with flat coloures. I want to show the DBR9 after beeing flagged immediately after the 24hours longrun when the brute thing was totally covered by brake dust, films of oil and dirty rain and and and......Also thus i'm a big fan of flat finishes / surfaces (maybe a virus from my military modelling time....) i have choosen to finish it that unusual way. Later on the decals will be hidden by another coat of flat clear also. So the look might appear some strange at that actual point of the progress.
I must say that race cars have an even more impressive look with all that dirt on, but that's my personel point of view. Just to let you know about my impulsion.
ENOUGH WORDS!!!!!

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/013.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/008.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/012.jpg


http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/011.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/010.jpg

OK, lot of work ahead , time is running.
The compartement will be finished soon hopefully (only the seat, the cage and the belts), then i have to bring the modules together and then the wheels) and of course all the final finishing weathering steps!!

Bye for now!
And, OH, CONGRATS to AUDI winning the Sebring 12h!!!!! Stunning!!! Applause for (one of) the best sportracer crew of our times, Capello, Kristensen and McNish!!! I'm really looking foreward for the 24 hours.

Jochen

Beautiful work, Jochen :worshippy

I totally buy into your "flat and dirty" philosophy on this build :1:
I think it will be refreshing to see a realistic looking car instead of the quasi-shiny one I did. Really looking forward to seeing the effects.

:eek2: That sure is one helluva impressive job! :thumbsup:

What a great build. I just love your attention to detail. It looks really like the real one.
Btw, sad news though. Because Peugeot is gonna win Le Mans this time for sure!! I think... :smokin:

Awesome!

Fantastic! What an incredible W.I.P. this is.

Superclean job, Jochen !!!!

... just one negative point: all your fantastic job on the interior can hardly be seen now.

Absolutely fantastic, can't wait to see it nice and dirty, that is something I don't have guts to do on shiny finish :D

Your DBR9 looks terribly real yet now (apart the side mirrors, they look a bit big to my eyes). What a fantastic job...

Your former military activity is clearly evident, and for sure the final weathered result will be outstanding.

Silently admiring: Robi :)

Looks fantastic!

One thing I would do to it which would fix the one weak spot to my eyes....I would put a very thin coat of acrylic clear around the edge of the holes you drilled in the windows.

The holes make the 'glass' look out of scale in thickness....the clear will all but hide the edge therefor making it look thinner.

Amazing work! Can't wait for the weathering.

Nice work, the colours look spot on, cant wait to see that beauty covred in crap (for lack of better word) Do you know how your doing to do the brake dust & race dirt yet?
Cant wait to see more

simply fantastic build so far, will definitely use alot of these pics for my build in 1/43

I've just been through and read this thread from the beginning. :eek:
With each page I grew even more amazed at the extra details added. Spectacular work!
Be careful when the time comes for weathering, remember the saying - less is more! :)

Holy ....., the orange decal session around the front air intake was a real challenge!
Some carbonwork was done, it was the first time for me to have an eye on these very special and typical racething. I want to say a BIG thanks to the man formerly known as "the saint".......;-) Thanks again for all your efforts also beside the forum!! Your hints on how to work carbon fibred areas and parts are a treasure for me.


that's me... that's me :runaround::runaround::runaround::licka:
Seriously it is always great to chat with nice people and it was great to get some tips and techniques from you too :smooch:

The body looks awesome, the gulf livery looks really stunning on the Aston and you did a perfect job recreating this on the model... great work!!!

Thank you all very much!

It's very nice to have so many enthusiasts around and to have so nice (digital) dialouges. We all should meet one day and reflect about life, modelling and which kind of beer to have next.........

Some answers in time:
@Bartak: Let's see what happens at the Sarthe, i'm soooo excited!!!!
@Micha: Kind of modelers "fate"?....BUT it's nice to know that (almost) everything is "there". If i would have had more or better reference pics depending that particular area.....i think i would have openend both doors.
@Sacha: "Nice and dirty", yes, exactly SIR!!!!!!!
@Robi: Maybe you're right, another hint for wrong kit parts, i didn't rework them because on some pics they appear real large, like small wings. I used them straight out of the kit.
@Veyron: Man, thanks for your hint, i never thought about that. I have to think about how to solve that, something came to my mind. I'll keep you informed!
@da ashman: I'll work with pastels, diluted pastels, pencils of various coloures and with the airbrush. let's go!! I'll present some pics of the used materials when finished, i promise.
@Spike2933: Thanks, i'm honoured!!!
@RallyRaider: Thank you! Absolutely, i agree, i have to be careful when finishing begins.
@Decs0105: Many thanks, very much appreciated!!! I have to say that by now i think a bit "different" about the DBR9 in that powder-blue and orange livery.......one of the coolest outfits was that of the no.59 car from Modena Motorsports in the LeMans Series 2008......but that used finish / effect would not appear on that body color. Don't get me wrong, i still love that one (of course i do)....;-)

Bye for now
Yours
Jochen

Great great work!! I just ordered the 1:43 all open kit of this car that Provence finally released. Your build will be a great reference! Apart from those mirrors maybe....they are a bit big :-))

Great great work!! I just ordered the 1:43 all open kit of this car that Provence finally released. Your build will be a great reference! Apart from those mirrors maybe....they are a bit big :-))

you do it first, and I'll follow :lol: but I'm hoping that kit will be awesome, I have the C4 and it looks awesome, I cant wait for my DBR9 to come though

Dear community,
i started weathering yesterday and for that reason i want to keep you informed and BEFORE i'm in a flow and forget about taking pictures....althought not that much was done. It's about the first step of quite a few. I carefully masked the windscreen and the front lights (they are treated seperately and should not be covered by dust that "hard" because i'm quite sure that all clear / optical surfaces had been cleared often while the race). Then i made a mixture of XF20 grey and XF57 buff (one of the best tones ever!) and diluted the colour mix extremely until it appeared almost invisible on the surface and sprayed the body in ONLY ONE WAY, namely from the front to the back. I think it is very important to keep in mind on how the car / the surface is under exposure while the race and how the wind streams are surrounding the car. Don't just spray the dust simply all over, that would disturb the look in the very end when everything is done. There are so many steps still coming to make that dirty look. And i keep in mind what Phil said, "less is more". Once the dust is sprayed on you won't be able to remove it! Here we go.

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/006.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/003.jpg

I made a few tryouts to make the masked area of the windscreen some more interesting. The evidence of water is simulated with a sharp tip of a 01 brush dipped in some pure X20 Tamiya acrylic thinner and then just draw your lines......
http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/001.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/008-1.jpg

I'm quite happy about the look so far especially when i think of all the techniques still to come.
Thats it for now, have a dynamic week all!

Sincerely
Jochen (watching the LeMansSeries running in spain live on Eurosport)

I really like what you've done with the windscreen.
Looking forward to the rest of "all the techniques still to come".

very nice work so far, I'd say the way the race was, the car is about 4 hours into the race.

what ever that storm had the effect, every car was so dirty from that.

thats awesome, very cool.

Dude, if you STOP these detailed updates I will not only have withdrawl symptoms, I will come to your town and take the photos myself!!! :D :D ;)

Simply awesome boss!

Please, DO NOT forget to take pictures !!!

Interesting start on the weathering, lovely job on the windshield.

Robi :)

Back for dirt.....
Finishing sessions took me quite a while, it's almost done, only two or three more sittings for the whole thing in general.
Gents, i feel my energy fading away little by little on that i can tell you that....BUT i do love it still.
I'm also working on a nice little base plate with a small peace of race track on it and a corresponding appealing tag.
Dust was simulated with grinded pastel chalks in various tones, applied with different brushes and several pens came to use for the right look of the battle scarred front and the engine bonnet. The tires are not fixed by now thats why the brakes are not where they should be .......
I have to say that i'm not really happy with any of the pics i took.......dammed i don't know. It looks so cool in flesh but not one of the pics show that. Ok, here's my interpretation in scale of the 2008 Le Mans running Aston Martin DBR9 no. 007.

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/014.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/021.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/015-1.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/018.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/019.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/020.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/030-1.jpg

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/gulf009/008-2.jpg

Like i said before only a manageable amount of sessions to come and you'll find the next and last post about this one in the completed gallery.
Have a great time all, bye for now
Jochen

Very cool work again Jochen. The weathering looks very realistic to me. I like the little details like the dirt being wiped off the side window where it must have been touched during pit stops ( although i think they should have given the driver better visibility and clean the whole thing :-)
On the other hand it hurts a bit to see your painstakingly enhanced tires covered in dirt...
I'm still in "all glossy" mode i guess and have yet to master that task before wanting to build dirty cars :-)

It's an awesome looking build Jochen, the detail is amazing, I'll have to show the wife as it's her favourite car...although she'll want me to build her one in the ALMS 2006 livery;)

Amazing! How do you get the chalk to stick to the model though? As for the pics, l think they look really fantastic, but seeing as you were not so happy with them, I think my initial impression (which quickly fades) is that the contrast might be a touch low, just a thought, I dunno, they look good Jochen. Really good.

one word comes to mind, awesome!
looks great, looks very well used. can't wait to see what you'll build next.

Fantastic! probably the best, most accurate model I've ever seen. Congratulations you should feel very proud of what you have achieved.

Whats next?

Cheers, Lee

Hmm.... a "Marmite (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzeOPTkod4k)" effect :D

Jochen, I love this project and I really admire your concept and your execution ...but in the end, I am not sure if I don't prefer the shiny version LOL It looks more like a barn find to me the moment but I think this may be because the car is out of context. In an appropriate setting/diorama, I think this could "pop" into life and be truly spectacular :thumbsup: