Is the Nitto 1/20 BMW 3.5 CSL body accurate shapewise?

[robdebie]

This model was handed down to me via two fellow modelers many years ago. The chassis was mostly built, but the body and glass were mostly untouched. There was no box, and not all decals were there.

I worked a bit on the body, and noticed that it started to look really nice. However, older Japanese car models can be hit and miss accuracy-wise. Therefore I made the following six photos of the body.

If there's anyone with a good eye for BMWs, can you please comment on the body's shape and accuracy? Many thanks in advance!

Rob

[360spider]

From what I could see with a naked eye, its too narrow in the front, and shape of the rear fenders is wrong. But then again, it all depends on a particular car you want to build. They all were slightly different because racecar

[F1Tommy]

I wish someone would make a CSL again in 1/24th scale. The Tokyo Marui model is the best available now in 1/24th and it is not that good. The Nitto is inaccurate and will require major modifications to get correct. Scale Kraft from South Africa made a perfect resin 3.0CS body conversion kit many years ago but it is impossible to find and if you do find one it will be very expensive(ebay). You could just build the Nitto with the new decals available from Studio 27 and others and it will look sort of like the car.

[chris24]

Originally Posted by F1Tommy

I wish someone would make a CSL again in 1/24th scale. The Tokyo Marui model is the best available now in 1/24th and it is not that good. The Nitto is inaccurate and will require major modifications to get correct. Scale Kraft from South Africa made a perfect resin 3.0CS body conversion kit many years ago but it is impossible to find and if you do find one it will be very expensive(ebay). You could just build the Nitto with the new decals available from Studio 27 and others and it will look sort of like the car.

Are you following this thread Tom ?
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...1091632&page=4

Besides this, I wouldn't be surprised if Hasegawa released a street car and/or Beemax a race car.

[F1Tommy]

Originally Posted by chris24

Are you following this thread Tom ?
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...1091632&page=4

Besides this, I wouldn't be surprised if Hasegawa released a street car and/or Beemax a race car.

Very nice...I had not seen that. I hope Beemax does a race version. I used to own a BMW 3.0 CSI back in the 1990's before I went all Italian cars. Still loved that CSI. Heavy but still a great touring car.

[robdebie]

Originally Posted by 360spider

From what I could see with a naked eye, its too narrow in the front, and shape of the rear fenders is wrong. But then again, it all depends on a particular car you want to build. They all were slightly different because racecar

Thanks for your comments!

Your last comment was a good one, and I tried to do my homework first, before replying. My best guess is that the model represents a 1975 IMSA 3.0 CSL bought by the Faltz-Alpina team to race in the 1975 European Touring Car Championship. It was only raced twice:

- Nürburgring 4h (13 July 1975) as #2 driven by Helmut Kelleners and Harald Grohs (decal say N. Grohs)

- Zandvoort (10 August 1975) as #21 driven by Helmut Kelleners, Harald Grohs and Rolf Stommelen.

The model therefore looks mostly like the Nürburgring car, but with a lot of errors. But where did the decal designer see the 'Lumitas' sponsor marking? This almost makes me think the model represents another race.

And indeed the rear fender looks wrong in two ways: the upward slope of the top side, and the lower half of the rear half should extend more down.

Rob

[robdebie]

Originally Posted by robdebie

But where did the decal designer see the 'Lumitas' sponsor marking? This almost makes me think the model represents another race.

Ha! I found the 'Lumitas - Leuchttaster' marking. It was on the #3 car of the same team in the same race.



It seems Nitto copied the decals of the whole air dam from this car, and put it on the #2 car.. Why??

Rob

[chris24]

Originally Posted by robdebie

It seems Nitto copied the decals of the whole air dam from this car, and put it on the #2 car.. Why??

Rob

Because they thought it would look fun

Do you remember these odd black Martini Porsche's 935 with the yellow eagle on the front hood, "ala Firebird transam" ? ^_^

[robdebie]

Originally Posted by chris24

Because they thought it would look fun

Do you remember these odd black Martini Porsche's 935 with the yellow eagle on the front hood, "ala Firebird transam" ? ^_^

Yeah, Fujimi did at least two (1/20 935-76 and1/24 935-78) and Nichimo joined the fun (1/24 935-76). I've listed them on my 'Racing Turbo Porsche 911 / 934 / 935 in scale' webpage:


https://robdebie.home.xs4all.nl/models/911-935.htm


Rob

[robdebie]

Here's an update on the markings. My preliminary conclusion is that the models' markings are a mishmash of three cars / schemes. I've sketched it on the box art scan.





Rob

[lovegt40]

hum...something in wheel arches also..

[robdebie]

Originally Posted by lovegt40

hum...something in wheel arches also..

You're right! Thanks for the comment.

Rob

[robdebie]

Originally Posted by robdebie

Here's an update on the markings. My preliminary conclusion is that the models' markings are a mishmash of three cars / schemes. I've sketched it on the box art scan.

I have to correct myself: the car did have the box art markings at one time! I found the 4th 1976 issue of 'Autozeitung' on Ebay. I think the 5-page article shows the car at a press event. And there it was: the car with the markings exactly as Nitto provides.

Even better: it was clearly the basis for the box art, with the same viewing angle and steering angle! The article title 'Heimkehr eines Boliden' confirms that this a former IMSA car.

Rob

[chris24]

Nice drift ! Did you buy this magazine ?

[robdebie]

Originally Posted by chris24

Nice drift ! Did you buy this magazine ?

No, I did not buy it, my plans with this model are a bit too vague at this moment. And 20 euros is steep for a single magazine.

Rob