Very British

[corrrado]

Tony Pond. Triumph TR7. Manx Rally 1980. Airfix kit. It is difficult to find a rally subject more British than this. Despite all this, I felt that the Triumph TR7, one of the very few V8 engined car is somehow forgotten in both real and 24th scale. Looking at the video from the 1980 Manx rally, the car sounded awesome and I was really cought by the performance both the driver and the car. Pond showed an extraordinary drive up against drivers like Vatanen, Mcrae and Brookes. Luck was also on their side an this was one of the few occasions, everything ticked in to win the rally. Here is the link to the video, it is really worth to see if you want to hear a V8 roaring on Isle of Man and if you are really a classic rally fan;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T1mkj9uiqw

I got the kit assembled from my friend, who dug it out from his stash pile. He did it about two decades ago and was in a very poor state, missing wheels and lights, bent roof and missing a pillar. I started by removing the paint and building up gradually the different front and those vicious wheelarches. The interior was bit of a callange sice the kit comes with LHD and the car was right hand drive. After considering the quality of the kit's dash, sawing and
swapping the sides I decided to rebuild the whole thing from styrene sheets. Thanks to the 70's design, it was relatively easy job to do. Decals were done by my friend for this particular rally. Here are some photos of the progress:

[corrrado]

Interior on the way:

[jaykay640]

Nice start. The interior looks promising already.
Someone built this same car years ago for the 80's contest here on the forum. I don't remember if it got finished though...

[Niro750]

Really coming along nicely

[Cookster007]

Great subject. Looking forward to watching this build.

Cheers,

Anthony

[chris24]

OMG, another project I have always dreamed about (I got 2 of them on my stash)! Tony Pond was such a fantastic driver...
Looking at your 911, I am sure it will be a killer too.

PS: love the fabric inside the doors
PS 2: that's my video on YT

[Jayban]

Interesting

I remember it because I did the painting for the box art

JB

[corrrado]

Thank you gus for your comments. It is indeed a very nice subject to build. I fall in love with the 60-70-80's rally cars because I found them way more individual and diversified than the current WRCs. Thank you Chris 24 for the video, it is really great!!! If you plan to build the car, I can give you the Tartan pattern in high res jpeg to start with . It is a simple matt paper print, glued on with thin double sided tape. JayBan, it is really a pleasure to meet the artist here, who did this remarkable paint!!! Did you do some other Box Art as well? I aonly asking because I am kinda doing the same thing for living .
Here are some pics from the progress:

[Jayban]

[quote=corrrado;7185537]Thank you gus for your comments. It is indeed a very nice subject to build. I fall in love with the 60-70-80's rally cars because I found them way more individual and diversified than the current WRCs. Thank you Chris 24 for the video, it is really great!!! If you plan to build the car, I can give you the Tartan pattern in high res jpeg to start with . It is a simple matt paper print, glued on with thin double sided tape. JayBan, it is really a pleasure to meet the artist here, who did this remarkable paint!!! Did you do some other Box Art as well? I aonly asking because I am kinda doing the same thing for living .

I remember painting a BMW M1, a Mustang Cobra (Airfix asked me to paint it in yellow - even though the real car was white!) and I think there were a couple of others. The kits were all originally from Japan (Gunze Sanyo I think) and they didn't have access to the original box arts. - All a long time ago (early 80's) so I don't remember everything I did.

JB

[Cookster007]

The paint work is coming along beautifully!

[Martini Man]

very cool ! great job so far. i have one as well, was just going to build it stock.

How did you make the tires/tyres?

Paul

[Jayban]

Where did you get your Minilite Wheels from?

In particular the wider rears

JB

[chris24]

Originally Posted by corrrado

Thank you Chris 24 for the video, it is really great!!! If you plan to build the car, I can give you the Tartan pattern in high res jpeg to start with .

For the video, the ones to thank are the producers of the original footage
I think we share the same passion for older rally cars : nothing can beat them nowadays in terms of spectacle, colours, variety, coolness and emblematic/charismatic drivers !!

I won't refuse your proposal for the tartan JPEG, it will sure be useful

I assume this build is more advanced than what the pictures show (otherwise you build very very quick ). Too bad, I'd have asked you to consider duplicating this amazing work...

A couple of questions btw :
- who makes the decals ? And can they be purchased ?
- where did you source the Minilites and tires ?

Cheers !

[corrrado]

Jayban, it is really great to see your artwork! I am in a way in carbuisness as well so I really appreciate your work!
Chris24, I think you're damn right about the difference between old time and today's rallying. All the individuals/characters are lost to the business... The last few real characters I remember, were Panizzi and Colin. They did their job in a great manner. Just wondering, how many times Loeb or Ogier did a spin just for fun for the spectators while they were leading the race by minutes? ... None. There you go. They are too much of a professionals and they are not paid for that.
You are right about the TR7, I am not as fast modeler (although I did the 911 in 2 months! record for me! ). The Triumph was started a year ago than it was halted. I just dug it out watching the Manx video.... The Minilite wheel is a bit complicated. I started with a wheel from Virago Hobby / Air-Trax Talbot Sunbeam Lotus Minilite, with the Tamiya Renault 5 Turbo tyre on.
Then I casted it twice, hollowed one side and glued them to the proper 11 inches width on the rear, narrower on the front. I still have the molds, and if it makes you start your Triumph, I'll cast it for you!
I made the vector artwork for the decal in Corel and my friend printed it on his Alps for me. Here are some photos of the current stateof the model:

[afxracing]

Fantastic build. What kit did you start with?