1/43 Scale Indy Cars

[Deleted]

These are a great deal of fun!

SMTS, a model firm from England does a great line of 1/43rd scale Indy Car kits...Most of them take a day or two to build at the longest. They are fun and look good in a case. And are accurate from the most part.

Best to you

Russ

[mrindy77]

Interesting....it looks like the decals that I had commissioned through Mike Quarterman (MRRN) were used on your Sachs car.
I had produced the Sachs car years before SMTS did one as a built up only. The decals that SMTS supplied in their kit were the wrong size for the 1961 car.

[Deleted]

Hi ya Mr.Indy...

Honestly, I don't know where I got the decals for the Sachs' car...and I agree.....most of SMTS Decals blow chunks! I know I wish I had a few more sheets of those decals...I'm a big Eddie Sachs fan, always have been. I've tried to build has many of his cars as I can...for myself and his son. I talked Fred Cady into doing the 1/25 Scale Sheet he did. Those decals are sweet though, if you had your hand in them, thank you.

I do know that the proper decals for the Meyer Miller I got from Chris Etzel...and yes, the red out line is correct. I got that information from the driver himself before he passed away.

Best to you

Russ

[sandysixtysfan]

Hi ya Russ,
Great collection of 43rds. I've got some of 'em and yep, generally the decals arn't very good. For a long time that seemed to be a trade mark of English 1/43 kits- bad decals. The white was always an off white, they wouldn't conform to curves even when setting solutions were used and sometimes disintegrated when it was used. They seem to have gotten the message lately especially Marsh Models who've been using excellent decals for awhile.
You knocked these models out in "a day or two" ?!?! I've got a lot to learn from you brother!
Sandy
PS, How did the icon face get there? I didn't do it.

[Deleted]

Hi Sandy!!!

I learned a trick with the SMTS Decals.....by accident I may add. Some decals, like micro-scale and Indycals...you need to be gentle with....DON'T BE with the SMTS brand.....They are real thick! And...to get the color correct color as far as the white is concerned....Tape them to a window to bleach the clear carrier that holds the decals. Maybe for a day or two....It yellows over time. Just bleach out the color of the carrier solution and you'll be fine....The other colors are very strong and you'll get a true color. The hot water helps the conform to the courves....that and take your time...and sometimes, man handle them and push them down! With a wood shafted cue-tip. The Rathmann, 63 Jones and 64 Foyt cars are the old SMTS decals....the 69 Hawk and 77 Coyote are the new much improved SMTS decals made by micro-scale so they are very good.


Best to you

Russ

[sandysixtysfan]

Hi Russ,
Thanks for the info. Dealing with the decals has held me back from starting some of my SMTS kits. Maybe after some 'other' on going projects! Your '64 Foyt roadster in the photo looks great (heck, all of 'em do). Are those the kit tires on it? Without pulling everything out of my closet to get to the '1/43' box I seem to recall that the SMTS '64 Foyt roadster kit didn't have the low profile tires that gave this car such a unique look. The kit used the taller older tires. But I bought it 10 plus years ago also. These things tend to change along the way.
Sandy

[Deleted]

Hi Sandy!

Thanks for the kind words on the kits...The 64 Foyt Roadster is one of my all-time favorites, if not the favorite! The Shaw Maserati is right there too. As for the tires...they are the kit tires...I have to do major re-work of the nose on that car...The 64 Watson/Winner and a 'shark" like nose and it was very different from the other Watson's...I also reworked the openings too. I took Bob Clidinst's drawings a shrunk them down to 1/43 scale and took a file to it...One thing about the SMTS kits....a lot of white metal to remove from...It was easier than I thought.

Best to you

Russ

[sandysixtysfan]

Thanks for the info Russ!

[indy]

Sweet collection Russ!

Jordan