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Post by kuzlynn on Mar 12, 2023 7:13:26 GMT -5
As most of you know, I am offering a new conversion kit to do the version of the 1970 McLaren F1 car that Dan Gurney drove in his final formula one season. Before I go any further, you will need one of the old Heller McLaren kits to use as a donor. The kit is in 1/24th scale. My conversion kit to do the Gurney version consists of: a new taller windshield, 3D printed tires with rims, new front and rear shocks, taller roll bar (Gurney version), rear wing, and set of Indycal decals. This new kit was the brain child of Racer Magazine editor, Paul Pfanner, myself, and Michael Portaro. I will have the kit ready for shipping in April. The price is $45.00 plus $5.00 S&H Domestic. I am taking pre-orders for this new conversion kit now. If you are interested in pre-ordering please send me an email at silvercitymodels@comcast.net. Thanks Kevin   |
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Post by Gary Davis on Mar 12, 2023 13:28:20 GMT -5
This really looks good Kevin. I really don't care for the "HIGH WINGED" cars...of any type. This conversion kit fits the bill perfectly.
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Post by 1961redlegs on Mar 12, 2023 13:41:51 GMT -5
Money sent for this and the Eagle, thank you!
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Post by kyledehart5 on Mar 12, 2023 19:23:56 GMT -5
This really looks good Kevin. I really don't care for the "HIGH WINGED" cars...of any type. This conversion kit fits the bill perfectly. I couldn’t agree more Gary. If I had the kit I’d be all over this. |
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Post by arcticwolf on Mar 12, 2023 19:29:34 GMT -5
This really looks good Kevin. I really don't care for the "HIGH WINGED" cars...of any type. This conversion kit fits the bill perfectly. I couldn’t agree more Gary. If I had the kit I’d be all over this. I have one Kyle. |
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Post by kyledehart5 on Mar 12, 2023 19:52:26 GMT -5
I couldn’t agree more Gary. If I had the kit I’d be all over this. I have one Kyle. And just how insane would I have to be to try to build it? Lol |
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Post by arcticwolf on Mar 12, 2023 20:13:17 GMT -5
And just how insane would I have to be to try to build it? Lol Well...................
As you know I'm certifiable, and the kit's still in the box, so.........  |
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Post by kyledehart5 on Mar 12, 2023 20:31:01 GMT -5
And just how insane would I have to be to try to build it? Lol Well...................
As you know I'm certifiable, and the kit's still in the box, so......... Just the perfect amount of insanity then. 🤣 |
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Post by hurtubise56 on Mar 13, 2023 7:40:10 GMT -5
There are other issues with the kit as far as building an accurate replica that aren't addressed by Kevin's conversion kit. If anyone is interested, I can send you a copy of the MRRN article, which breaks down the real car differences race by race and also gives ideas on fixing the shortcomings of the kit. Built OOB, you can only build an accurate replica from one race where the side tanks were used.
Sorry, Paul, not trying to screw up a potential sale!
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Post by arcticwolf on Mar 13, 2023 9:03:42 GMT -5
There are other issues with the kit as far as building an accurate replica that aren't addressed by Kevin's conversion kit. If anyone is interested, I can send you a copy of the MRRN article, which breaks down the real car differences race by race and also gives ideas on fixing the shortcomings of the kit. Built OOB, you can only build an accurate replica from one race where the side tanks were used. Sorry, Paul, not trying to screw up a potential sale! No worries Brian. I bought the kit years ago to convert it into this:
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Post by kyledehart5 on Mar 13, 2023 12:59:49 GMT -5
There are other issues with the kit as far as building an accurate replica that aren't addressed by Kevin's conversion kit. If anyone is interested, I can send you a copy of the MRRN article, which breaks down the real car differences race by race and also gives ideas on fixing the shortcomings of the kit. Built OOB, you can only build an accurate replica from one race where the side tanks were used. Sorry, Paul, not trying to screw up a potential sale! No worries Brian. I bought the kit years ago to convert it into this:
That one is very pretty Paul |
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Post by hurtubise56 on Mar 13, 2023 14:04:19 GMT -5
Another Canadian, even tho he was born in the Netherlands!
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Post by arcticwolf on Mar 13, 2023 14:28:21 GMT -5
Another Canadian, even tho he was born in the Netherlands! A lot of us were born somewhere else.  I have several of Eppie's cars in my collection. His brother kept trying to sell me a Toyota.
Unfortunately, the Heller M7 doesn't convert to a M10 very easily, with that much work I might as well just build it in 1/12th.
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Post by leadercard on Mar 13, 2023 20:18:09 GMT -5
I also have MRRN article, and it is not entirely correct. On page 6, it says: "The surround part of the body (around the cockpit) is fiberglass that is attached to ty6he monocoque at the corners. So the many rivets in the kit need to be filled (sic) smooth". On page 155 of Doug Nye's book "McLaren", there is a picture of the M7B chassis under construction clearly showing sheet aluminum in the process of being riveted to the engine bulkhead and the dash bulkhead. The caption notes that M7A had fiberglass upper bodies while the "M7B is being built-up with a fully stressed structure extending into the roll-over bar area behind the driver-s head and over the dash-panel and scuttle above his legs." The "Prototype 1968-70" line drawing I have clearly shows the rivets this entails and the text also notes that this is the main difference between the M7A and M7B monocoques. If you are building a M7A from the Heller kit, sand the rivets off, but not if you are doing the M7B, or as I am, the M7C.
I am going to build my Heller kit as the M7C. You can go nuts staring at pictures of the M7A, M7B, and M7C, to find the subtle differences in the nose cones and the upper body, especially around the windscreen. So, my M7C will be close, but not 100% and closer to right than if I went the M7A route.
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Post by arcticwolf on Mar 14, 2023 0:04:59 GMT -5
M7A - semi monocoque with fiberglass cockpit surround - outboard tanks for 2 races, inboard afterwards
M7B - semi monocoque or full monocoque (depending on who you ask) with integral outboard tanks
M10 - full monocoque F5000 car
M7C - full monocoque F1 car based on M10 (only 1 built)
The Heller kit builds none of the above OOB, or any of them with some mods. Leaving the tanks off, sanding the rivets, and using the conversion parts should yield a good replica of the M7A that Gurney drove.
Good luck.  |
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Post by kyledehart5 on Mar 14, 2023 7:24:48 GMT -5
This has been most informative. I had almost no knowledge of the differences between M7s other than I like the look of the low wing much more. But I always enjoy reading about this stuff.
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Post by leadercard on Mar 14, 2023 9:53:51 GMT -5
Part of the confusion over the M7B is that there are references to it having been built from M7A/3. The picture in the Doug Nye book clearly shows the M10 like monocoque structure around the cockpit, which is inconsistent with the M7A structure. If the car was built up from M7A/3, then either McLaren stripped off the outer skins from the chassis and removed and replaced the dashboard and rear bulkheads, or they simply stripped everything off M7A/3 and bolted it all onto an entirely new tub. Which might explain why McLaren's first 1970 Alfa Romeo car was the M7D, instead of going straight to the M14D. Either they had the old M7A/3 tub sitting around, or equally, they just had a spare fourth M7A tub on the shelf. Either way, they had something for Alfa to run until the M14D was ready. I did find a picture of the M7B when Colin Crabbe was running it for Vic Elford, which seems to show the extended monocoque structure. Since I don't know how to post pictures, here is the link: forums.autosport.com/topic/220722-vic-elford-rip/?hl=%2Bmclaren+%2Bm7b#entry9812061I think I will post a question over there but will first e-mail Alllen Brown over at Old Racing Cars. Go to post 45 for the picture. On another note, why is that Heller did a kit of the most obscure M7, AMT did the Parnelli Jones Watson with the unique channeled body and air scoop, and the Mongram Kurtis is of a car with a one-off grille and somewhat unique cockpit side? At least the AMT kit was of the 500 winner, but what is so hard about going with the most common variant? Oh, well. |
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Post by arcticwolf on Mar 14, 2023 10:08:52 GMT -5
Bruce's M7B taken at South African GP, if you look closely it seems that the cockpit surround is integral and riveted as in the M10 (full monocoque), hopefully this helps
cheers Paul
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