Chaparral 2D help - info and references

[ales]

Hi, everyone

With the Lemans weekend not far off, I'm in the process of selecting a kit I'd like to try to build on June 11-12. The one that I've almost chosen now is the Fujimi's reissue of the Modeler's Chaparral 2D kit - it's a simple enough kit with an extremely easy livery.

The problem is that there's very little references available and what is available is sometimes conflicting. I'm leaning towards building the 1966 Nürburgring winning car because the LeMans car had additional lights that the kit does not have and I don't want to start any modifications.

Fujimi suggests that I use the taller rear spoiler/Gurney flap for the Nürburgring car but the pictures of the no. 7 car that is displayed sometimes at car events show that it has a lower spoiler without the taller central section. I don't suppose anyone knows for sure which one was used during the Nürburgring 1000 km race?

Secondly, the additional lights dilemma. It seems quite clear that at the LM 24 hrs race the car had the additional lights in the middle of the nose while at the Nürburgring race (or at least at some point during the event) the car had covers there. If you look at the contemporary pictures of that car, however, there's no trace of the light clusters. Is it safe to assume that the car had the covers back in 1966 and was modified at a later date?

And finally, while I'm not planning to add much details to the model, but it has a clear window in the engine cover and two on the sides of the engine compartment so things will be visible. My problem is that I have not been able to find a single picture of the engine bay of the 2D, not one. I don't suppose anyone can help with that?

It's probably a long shot but thanks in advance to anyone with advice on the matter.

Alex

[ScratchBuilt]

Hello Ales,

I'd say that the rear spoiler was in the higher position at the Nurburgring, compared to at Le Mans - I've got a couple of photos in books here which should help. I'll post them later. It rained at the end of the 1000km Rennen, so I guess it's not impossible that they might have adjusted the spolier when they changed to wet tyres - a four-minute stop, according the book.

All the photos I have of the 2D at the 'Ring show the central light covers in place - even at the end in the wet. A couple of weeks later at Le Mans, the extra lights are in use right from the start. I'd guess that the lights themselves were still there, but you could fit the white covers or the clear covers depending on whether you needed to use them or not. Porsche didn't even bother fitting lights to the 908-03's used at the 'Ring in 1970 and 1971 - the regulations didn't require them!

I haven't found much on the engine bay detail, but I'll see what I can turn up...

Hope this helps,

SB

[ales]

Hey!

Thanks for the information, it's already helpful, and I'll be very much looking forward to some photos, if possible.

The Modeler's/Fujimi body actually has the panel lines for the covers already molded in, so it appears I won't have to fill them. No way to choose between the lights or the white covers OOB even though there are decal options for both races.

As for the spoiler, here is what we have in the kit - the instructions say that the one on the left is for the 24hrs race and the one on the right - for the 1000 km race.

Thanks again for the help!

[ScratchBuilt]

Photos as promised...

Here's the pitstop at the 'Ring: that rear spoiler looks quite high to me, but there's no sign of the extra tab as on the alternative kit version:



Another from the 'Ring; again, no extra tab on the spoiler:



At Le Mans the headlights are in use, and I reckon that spoiler is set lower:



Finally, here's a close-up of the nose (from the 'Ring) showing the light cover panels:



Sorry - I can't find anything showing the engine bay. These photos are from 'Chaparral' by Richard Falconer with Doug Nye and 'Chaparral - Can-Am & Protoype Race Cars' by Dave Friedman (both from Motorbooks International).

Best of luck!

SB

[ales]

Thank you very much, this answers a couple of major questions. Really appreciate the help.

Alex

[Jenner]

Hi,

these photos are from the Nürburgring.





You see that the spoiler from the kit not is high enough.

The dimensions of the opening in the middle also do not fit (relation height to width).

I will correct there something, however, am quite disappointed by the kit.

I think that the proportions of the whole kit are not right. (too long or too level).

[ales]

Hi Jenner,

Thank you, that's very useful! It also answers the question whether there was that second position light at the back of the RH side of the clam shell - there wasn't in Nürburgring.

One of the few remaining headaches now is the attachment of the wing mirrors - it seems the brackets that the car has now weren't used in 1966. Also the car did not have the bulge in front of the driver that it has now. Of course there's still the proverbial lack of engine bay and cockpit pictures...

I wonder if the scoop at the top of the RH door is just cooling for the driver.

I completely agree that the kit is nowhere near perfect but I still think it's a good kit to build in two days - unless you're looking to build a perfect model. Since I'm not looking to do that, I'll correct whatever I can and build the rest as is.

Thanks again for the help, guys, really appreciate it.

[Jenner]

Hi Ales,

cockpit pictures I have only this one. (Le Mans 1966)



You find an engine picture here (falsely as "Chaparral 2f" called).

The bulge in front of the driver did not exist in the Nürburgring. I saw him up to now only on a photo of Daytona 24 hours 1966.

The scoop at the top of the RH door - I don't know.
I thought that it is perhaps an additional mirror - however, this makes little sense. Probably it serves really only for ventilation.

Here you see a picture of the qualifiyng session, there it not at existed.

Originally Posted by ales

I completely agree that the kit is nowhere near perfect but I still think it's a good kit to build in two days - unless you're looking to build a perfect model.

Yes, presumably you are right.

I had bought the kit because I thought that I am very quickly done it.
I wanted to build him oob (only belts add).
Then I searched pictures because of the correct colour and found more and more things which are not optimum. But that's probably my fault ...

Till present I have altered the spoiler, have opened the air intakes before the back wheels and have changed the aerial outlet in the front bonnet something.

Maybe I should leave it there.

[ales]

Thanks again, Jens, good stuff!

No external mirrors for the qualifying session as well, could be the easy way out ... Nah...

The reason I asked about the duct on top of the door is to know whether I should make a hole in the door under it. I think I will.

What did you change about the opening in the front? Are you talking about the exhaust from the radiator?

By the way, what were your conclusions on the correct colour for the car? On present-day photos it looks like very pure white and I don't think the car has been restored.

Alex