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Post by clm1545 on Aug 3, 2016 21:06:59 GMT -5
For those who are not familiar with this kit This is the kit I got. Yours might be a lot better, but I can only comment on what I got. When I got this, I took a quick look, and was quite impressed. You would think that at my age I would know better than to trust first impressions, but not so, I guess. My kit had LOTS of very heavy flash, on many of the parts. This, combined with very brittle resin made clean up a many hours project, much had to be done with a sharp point diamond burr. Some of the suspension parts arrived "pre broken", pinholes in really bad places, and 2 of the wheels came from mismatched molds. Any way, so far           The instructions are basic, to say the least. You must test fit on a continuous basis, during the build, trust me on this, much sanding, filing, and Dremel work is required. A real bummer was when I finally got the chassis done, and went to slip the body on, the left rear tire would not clear, more work as you can see in the photo. Thankfully I have not yet painted the body, more work. The body is well done except that like MrIndy I decided to remove the coolant tube cover, and make a new one, (I used a styrene tube split in half. I am sure that when finished, the car will look good, and I will be happy with it, but my kit was a major disappointment. More later Craig ps don't glue the seat in yet, it must be installed after the body is on, please don't ask me how I know  |
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Post by indy on Aug 3, 2016 22:47:39 GMT -5
Nice work, Craig, stick with it - it will really be something nice when finished.
Jordan
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Post by clm1545 on Aug 3, 2016 22:56:32 GMT -5
No worries, Jordan. My wife, and kids can tell you that I have a PHD in stubborn.
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Post by racerbrown on Aug 3, 2016 23:10:49 GMT -5
a good project for you craig as it gives you something to (expletive deleted) about.  you've got a great start on it though. thanks for sharing. duane |
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Post by alterrenner on Aug 4, 2016 4:46:43 GMT -5
I've read a lot of positive review on FPP models, and they seem to all praise the kits. Surely they weren't all reviews from people who only looked at the kit?
Any theories on your kit? Pre-production kit that was returned, but managed to be re-sold? Maybe you angered a Gypsy on the way to the mail box, and you've aquired a curse?
The test of a great modeler is how well the modeler can overcome a bad kit. It looks like you are a great modeler!
Stay positive and persevere, oh Great Modeler!
--Frank
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Post by kip on Aug 4, 2016 7:18:19 GMT -5
I ordered the Vanwall and Sharknose Ferrari from this manufacturer. I can't comment on the fit as I have not started them yet, but they arrived in much the same condition as the Cooper. The molding is crisp but there is lots, and I mean LOTS of flash. I am pleased someone is making kits of these cars, but I looked at the work to be done and put them on the shelf. On the other hand, the wire wheels are a work of art.
kip
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Post by macsparty on Aug 4, 2016 11:45:03 GMT -5
I like what you've done with it though! Anything worth doing has to have some challenge in it. At least that's what I keep telling myself!
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Post by eagle36 on Aug 4, 2016 14:27:07 GMT -5
For those who are not familiar with this kit This is the kit I got. Yours might be a lot better, but I can only comment on what I got. When I got this, I took a quick look, and was quite impressed. You would think that at my age I would know better than to trust first impressions, but not so, I guess. My kit had LOTS of very heavy flash, on many of the parts. This, combined with very brittle resin made clean up a many hours project, much had to be done with a sharp point diamond burr. Some of the suspension parts arrived "pre broken", pinholes in really bad places, and 2 of the wheels came from mismatched molds. Any way, so far The instructions are basic, to say the least. You must test fit on a continuous basis, during the build, trust me on this, much sanding, filing, and Dremel work is required. A real bummer was when I finally got the chassis done, and went to slip the body on, the left rear tire would not clear, more work as you can see in the photo. Thankfully I have not yet painted the body, more work. The body is well done except that like MrIndy I decided to remove the coolant tube cover, and make a new one, (I used a styrene tube split in half. I am sure that when finished, the car will look good, and I will be happy with it, but my kit was a major disappointment. More later Craig ps don't glue the seat in yet, it must be installed after the body is on, please don't ask me how I know Go here for a lively discussion, including the current owner of the car, regarding what color it was painted: forums.autosport.com/topic/39337-the-great-indy-cooper-debate-green-or-blue/ |
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Post by clm1545 on Aug 4, 2016 15:09:45 GMT -5
I have my own idea of the proper color or the car. The belly is already painted, but is not shown in the photos. Once the body is painted, I will explain my thoughts.
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Post by beardogracing on Aug 4, 2016 18:29:06 GMT -5
Eagle 36, Philippe de Lespinay, who is the owner, is a very famous modeller in his own right, being the designer of many of the Heller kits, worked for Cox, and Dan Gurney designing his colour schemes. (he also owns an Indy Eagle. He has a Group about this car on facebook, he has found definitive proof now the the car is blue. Compare the Cooper with the BRG car on the right. The news on his facebook page is current, as of a couple of weeks ago. Info here: www.facebook.com/groups/922727201179033/ |
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Post by Calvin on Aug 5, 2016 0:55:15 GMT -5
I think we should have a very intense color debate on this!  I enjoy blue debates as that's the hardest one and more controversial. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2016 4:23:34 GMT -5
I applaud clm1545's frank and honest review of this kit. Too many times I have paid out hard earned cash to be saddled with a project that is more trouble than it is worth. This happens ALOT with this hobby. Seeing these kits on eBay for months and months got me to thinking, "maybe I should get one" but in my heart knew that it was a pipe dream.
I prefer building by following directions.
Thanks again for the excellent review
Hubie
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Post by harveythedog2 on Aug 6, 2016 8:32:11 GMT -5
Great review Craig and great work on it so far. Sometimes cottage industry kits are a handful but it's better than not having the kit at all IMHO. Your pride in the final product will be that much more for having overcome its issues. I am sure!
Stu
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Post by raceparke on Aug 6, 2016 14:01:07 GMT -5
The day after this thread appeared, I got my package from Portugal. The Indy Cooper and the Indy Ferrari. They both were as described in terms of flash. Certainly not as clean as a Lance kit but not show stopping. The basic shapes are very good and the subjects very interesting. That big 4.5 l V12 will be fun to enhance. To toss a match into the color debate bon-fire, yesterday I got the August issue of Motor Sport on page 120 is a retrospective group of photos from 1960 Oulton Park F1 racing. One pic shows Brabham sitting in his Cooper. It is as blue as the restored Indy Cooper in that photo. I am sure the car really is painted in Cooper green, but that photo looks convincingly blue. Somebody just tell me what paint to get. Please.
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Post by clm1545 on Aug 6, 2016 18:24:23 GMT -5
I can't really tell you what paint to get, Dan. I will be painting my Cooper in the next few days, and I will post what I have deduced, but, as always, I could be wrong.
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Post by beardogracing on Aug 6, 2016 19:21:59 GMT -5
Not to be troublesome, but if you went on Facebook, and looked up this group:
Cooper-Climax Indy Car "Kimberly Special" Fan Page: www.facebook.com/groups/922727201179033/And ask Philippe de Lespinay, he'll tell you exactly what paint to use, and it was OK'd by Jack Brabham. Chris |
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Post by racerbrown on Aug 6, 2016 20:20:26 GMT -5
Thanks beardog!
That was fun and interesting reading.
Duane
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Post by clm1545 on Aug 6, 2016 20:39:15 GMT -5
I was hoping to get some paint on my Cooper tonight, but after priming, I noticed some more pinholes that needed attention, no big deal.
Just to clarify my initial remarks on the kit. I am certainly not a master builder, but this kit is not "my first rodeo", the flash on my rear suspension was more than a 1/16 inch thick, you can't cut it off because the suspension links are very fragile and the resin is very brittle. 2 of the wheels were so mismatched that I had to cut them in half, and reglue to get them to line up enough to get the tires on. The flash on the steering wheel could not be cleaned up, when I tried, the wheel just crumbled, it will have to be replaced. It looks, to me like the same chassis, and basic body was used for both this kit, and the F1 cooper. The Indy car had a longer wheelbase, this would account for the tire hitting the cowling. I preordered this kit when it was announced, so I don't think I got a returned product. I also have the Indy Ferrari, and it is a much better kit.
There are some neat things about this kit, and some of the details are outstanding. It was let down by poor casting, and what seems to be total lack of quality control. The build will be finished and I'm sure I will be happy with it, but it could easily have been great with just a little more effort.
I could go on, but you get the idea.
Craig
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Post by Patrick on Aug 7, 2016 16:29:56 GMT -5
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Post by beardogracing on Aug 7, 2016 19:19:22 GMT -5
Is Philippe getting soft in his old age? From being adamant about the blue colour to it was a "Dark Shade of green with some blue mixed in". Oh good grief, the world's coming to an end, or the whole Indy fraternity ganged up on him. |
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Post by raceparke on Aug 7, 2016 19:26:20 GMT -5
So, then, the question becomes- what TS-number is Cooper green? TIA very much. . .
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Post by indydog on Aug 7, 2016 19:40:58 GMT -5
Respect to Philippe, but I still think it was blue.
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Post by 2lapsdown on Aug 7, 2016 20:37:02 GMT -5
I really appreciate this this unbiased critique of this kit. I've thought many times of buying it because of the historical significance of the car. Me thinks I'll pass. Besides, nobody knows what color it was. John |
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Post by clm1545 on Aug 7, 2016 21:01:28 GMT -5
Well, we seem to have the greatest color debate of all time. This is what I'm doing, the body is not painted yet, but I did paint the belly a while back.   Many reference books talk about the car being green, and many photos seem to show a dark green. Later photos, after the livery was painted on seem to show more of a blue color. The car, on race day looks blue, to me, and the restored car is, for sure blue. So, was the car repainted, before being lettered, or not? Should the car be greenish blue, or blueish green? It seems that even the man who restored it, and owns it doesn't know. I painted the pan, and will paint the body TS43 topcoated with TS19. In sunlight it looks pretty close, to me. Agree, or not, as Rhett Butler said "frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn"  |
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Post by alwaysindy on Aug 8, 2016 9:24:54 GMT -5
My 2 cents...this car, like all Coopers, began life probably a dark British racing green...at the Speedway, someone told them about the "green curse"...then I believe, the car was over sprayed with a blue color before the 500 ..that would answer the questions about pictures that show so many different colors...I'm sure the Cooper guys had a lot more on their minds than the car's color; such as making sure it was ready to race...I also wonder if somebody from Kimberly said "it should be blue"(?)...
Tim
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Post by clm1545 on Aug 8, 2016 14:32:12 GMT -5
I think it's funny that the car has been on display many places here, and abroad, but you have to come here for a huge color debate.
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Post by Calvin on Aug 8, 2016 17:13:45 GMT -5
I think it's funny that the car has been on display many places here, and abroad, but you have to come here for a huge color debate. All I can say is, at least we aren't playing Pokemon Go. LOL  At least we are interested in a subject that is more on the gentleman side of society. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2016 20:52:43 GMT -5
somebody got Stirling Moss's email address?
Jim Kimberly lived quite a long while but is dead now. I think he lived in Southern California and was no doubt super rich. I bet someone in his family is still around and they have a boat load of pictures of this car.
research anyone?
I called Greg Pickett at home one time. They thought it was funny as I'll get out (you sensors, the Mormons are more lenient)I got the "On Track" magazine Christmas crossword puzzle correct. Pre Internet. Only guy in the whole world! They gave me a bunch of really nice things in the mail. I miss Paul Oxman Publishing. It's the issue of Dale Earnhart making a pit stop on the cover, 1992. My name is in it.
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Post by mrindy77 on Aug 9, 2016 10:06:54 GMT -5
Isn't TS19 metallic blue? I've never seen any reference to indicate it was metallic.
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Post by mrindy77 on Aug 9, 2016 10:45:14 GMT -5
My experience with the kit has been much more positive. I've had to do very little clean up and there was little or no flash on the components. The steering wheel needed some clean up but a new xacto blade took care of that.
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