Talbot Lago Le Mans Car

[Didymus]

This is the 6-cylinder Talbot Lago T-26 car that won the 24 Hours in 1950. It was based on a bi-posto pre-war Grand Prix car; they merely added lights and fenders for Le Mans. They just don't race 'em like that any more!

It's a 1/43 scale Southern Cross Miniatures resin kit made in Australia, and was actually the first car model I ever completed. I love those old road racers. Not realizing it, I picked a kit that was much too difficult - and small - for a beginner. It took forever and was really a struggle. I had to do everything about five times, and spent hours crawling around on the floor with a flashlight, looking for pieces that had snapped out of my tweezers. (I've since found better ways to pick up small parts.)

The blue paint is a custom-mixed automotive urethane over Tamiya primer. It's clear-coated with Tamiya TS-13. The "leather" is a mix of Floquil Model RR paints, rubbed with oil.

[da_ashman]

Nice work, very difficult for your first model & Small, congrats it turned out really good!!

[quadzero]

All your hard efforts really paid off, beautiful little model. Excellent subject matter too.

[dmacb]

Great lookin build

[endac]

Fantastic looking car

[DerXL]

If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have believed it was 1/43.

Incredible work. Certainly considering this is your first (completed) build... Brilliant.

[Didymus]

Thanks for your nice comments. I think a lot of the credit has to go to the beautiful proportions of the Talbot. It may have been out-of-date, but it was a real macho machine with great lines - form combined with function. Credit also has to go to the Australian guy who makes the kits. Just look at those gorgeous wheels! I bought the kit from Grand Prix Miniatures in the U.K.

The term "completed" gets a little complicated. After a very frustrating beginning and several disasters, I gave up on it for about a year and worked on other, simpler, models. Then I went back and finished it. By that time, it benefited from a lot more experience. I really should have said it was the first kit I started, rather than finished.