Completed: Revell Porsche 956 (Jägermeister colours)

[ales]

Another one that I finished a while ago.

This was supposed to be a quick Le Mans weekend build and a lot of the work was indeed done back in June but after I, predictably, DNF-d I lost motivation and didn't return to the kit for a few months (cheers, Steven!).

Anyway, about the kit - it's a Revell (reboxes Hasegawa) kit and it's really simple. It's also marketed as a Porsche 956 but I have a sneaky suspicion - I'm not an expert - that it's actually a 962 that Revell wanted to sell as a 956. Either way, the kit itself is full of inaccuracies but making a 100% correct model was not the point of this build. There are no suspension details to speak of and the cockpit is also very simple. The paint is RAL 2004 from PPG without clear.

I built it mostly box stock (added seatbelts, the little coiled wire for the steering wheel and the hose for the windshield washer system). The only annoying thing was the fit of the headlight covers and the numerous sink marks on the body.

I also want to mention that recently I got my hands on a Tamiya 962 kit and I have to say that I have no idea how anyone can build that. Sure it has more details and is more accurate in some areas compared to the Hasegawa/Revell kit but that body molded together with the clear parts and with the wing (it's not aerofoil shape!) and the radiators, etc mean that in my case I will not be attempting to build it in the near future if at all. Hats off to everyone who has built Tamiya 956/962 kits, it's no easy feat.

First time I have attempted this picture. You can pretty much see all the parts here - it's a very simple kit.



And completed:















Thanks for looking and I'll be looking forward to your comments.

Alex

[MAXIMA2278]

WOW!!! This is just Beautiful!!! Great Job!!

[ffreak]

Very cool build.Nice and clean with just the right amount of details ! And yes I have built the Shell livery Tamiya kit, and will never ever build that again. Nor do I recommend it to anyone. HORRIBLE piece to try. I do have the Cannon version but it does not have the glass moulded in. It is very buildable. Thanks for sharing.

[endac]

Great looking build. I like the first picture especially with all the parts laid out.

[ales]

Thanks for the comments.

Ffreak, I didn't know that some Tamiya 956/962 kits do not have molded-in windows, thanks for the information. I'll keep that in mind should I decide to build a 962 in the future.

[ScaleCentral]

All of Tamiya's 956's are full detail and do not have molded in glass. All of Tamiya's 962's have molded in glass and are curbside kits. The 962 and 956 are not interchangable as the 962 has about 6 inches added between the doors and front wheels. You can tell a 956 from a 962 by that point alone. This was done to put the driver's foot behind the front axle so it could compete in the US in IMSA. The 956 was not up to the standards required. To even go further the 956 kits are the 956B's which were electronically fuel injected. The 956A's were all mechanical. There are more differences, but you get the idea. One thing that really bugged me about the Revell kit is that there actually was a Jagermeister 962. Decals are for the 956 though. Neither the Hasegawa or Tamiya 962's are true to the real thing. Best way to make a 962 is to get the Studio27 transkits for the 956.
Nic

[NissanSkylineGTR98]

Excellent work, looks great!

[ffreak]

Yes Scale Central is correct on the 956 and 962. The Cannon 956 kit # 24232 and the NewMan 956 kit # 24049 Tamiya I also have and both have the glass separate.

[935k3]

Great job Ales. What orange did you use? Another difference betwwen 956 and 962's is the rear wheel diameter, the 956's had 17" rims and the 962's had a 19" rear rim as found on 935's. This caused the body work on the 962's rear deck to hav e bigger hump over the rear tire. Hasegawa/Revell's 962 is an 88 or 89 version. In 1988 the venturi(ground effect)tunnel had to be below the rear axle(as it is in the model)efectively lowering the height of the tunnel which reduced the amount of downforce. This and the wrong shape and lack of vents on the exhaust panel makes the Rothman's version inacurate as well because 1987 was the last year for the factory Rothman's cars. Also the Rothman's version did not have the brake scoops on the rear deck, just the NACA ducts.

[MidMazar]

Nice simple and clean, at first i thought thats how you were going to display it in the first pic.

[ales]

Appreciate the kind and useful comments, guys, thanks!

I did know about some of the differences between the 956 and the 962, I just wrongly assumed Tamiya approached both types of kits in the same way.

Nic, there has actually been a Jägermeister 956B - Revell are sort of right saying that the car raced in the Norisring race in 1985 driven by the late Stefan Bellof. It's just that that car has little to nothing to do with what's inside the box - what to me looks like an inaccurate 962something marketed as a 956C. But again, I'm fine with that for this particular build and I'll keep all the information you guys gave me for the future.

The paint I used was the two-component PPG paint (the one that does not require a clear coat) and the colour is RAL 2004. It looks spot-on to me.

Mark, the model is nowhere near detailed or accurate enough to be displayed blown up but I always wanted to have a picture of one laid out like that

[alex156]

First class build and a 956, can't be bad.

[ScaleCentral]

Originally Posted by ales

Nic, there has actually been a Jägermeister 956B - Revell are sort of right saying that the car raced in the Norisring race in 1985 driven by the late Stefan Bellof. It's just that that car has little to nothing to do with what's inside the box - what to me looks like an inaccurate 962something marketed as a 956C. But again, I'm fine with that for this particular build and I'll keep all the information you guys gave me for the future.

Yeah, Bellof drove the 956 as well with those markings. What I meant, was that it is kind of weird them trying to make a 956 out of it with 956 graphics instead of doing one of the 962 versions which would be more accurate. Either way though, yours is a great replica.

As for the wheels and tails, the 962 has used wheels from 16" to 19" depending on which year and place of entry. There also been 962's with the 956 tails, for example the #55 Fitzpatrick entry in the 1984 LeMans. Easiest way to tell is by far the area in front of the doors. I have even seen a restored 956 that was made into IMSA specs by adding the turbos and hump. It would have never made it through inspection, but someone out there (with a lot of money to waste) thought it would be neat.
Nic

[klutz_100]

Lovely job again on a very clean build, Alex

It was fun swapping updates with you over the weekend - maybe we try again this year?

Originally Posted by ales

I lost motivation and didn't return to the kit for a few months (cheers, Steven!).

Are you blaming me or thanking me?

[ales]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

Lovely job again on a very clean build, Alex

It was fun swapping updates with you over the weekend - maybe we try again this year?


Are you blaming me or thanking me?

Thanking you - it was fun

I'm all for trying again this year and I wasn't kidding about maybe even trying to get together with some other builders from Europe for the LM weekend? Just an idea...