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Post by eagle36 on Aug 9, 2016 14:30:02 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 I agree, Kimberly's sponsorship would explain the car being blue with white stripes, American racing colors, although they really white with blue trim. Kimberly died in Florida some years ago. He was from Wisconsin, an heir to the Kimberly-Clark paper company empire. He was a big time sports car racer in the 1950's. He died pretty much broke from what I recall, after one of the all time messy divorces from his final, trophy, wife. |
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Post by Patrick on Aug 9, 2016 18:10:13 GMT -5
I still believe Pinto's kits are great. The wire wheels are fabulous!
Patrick
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2016 18:53:58 GMT -5
I've been sitting back as a spectator on this thread but now I'm reminded of the great Aston-Martin T70 coupe debate. The big Tamiya kit specified dark blue but that was based on a pic of the dark green high gloss paint under a bright blue sky. Yes it really did look blue but it really wasn't. In the case of the Cooper I really don't know but I do have a set of wheels inbound from Pinto that I'm looking forward to. I now return you to your regular debate  |
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Post by clm1545 on Aug 9, 2016 20:34:24 GMT -5
Thanks for your post, mrindy. Sandy took several photos of the car at Indy, I looked at them, and thought the car looked metallic blue. After seeing your post, I went back, and took a much closer look. I think you are correct, the car is not metallic. Painting plans have changed, and I will repaint the belly.
I did say that I could only comment on my kit. I glad you had a much better experience. Without the problems, the build would have been quite enjoyable. I also have the Pinto Ferrari Indy kit, and it looks great.
Craig
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Post by clm1545 on Aug 10, 2016 8:57:09 GMT -5
Kimberly died in Florida some years ago. He was from Wisconsin, an heir to the Kimberly-Clark paper company empire. He was a big time sports car racer in the 1950's. He died pretty much broke from what I recall, after one of the all time messy divorces from his final, trophy, wife.[/quote]
That will, for sure, do it. I have fooled around with airplanes, boats, motorcycles, cars, and just about anything that will burn up your money, but a woman can break you much faster than anything else. Even I have been smart enough to stay away from that deal.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2016 8:31:40 GMT -5
:-)
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Post by clm1545 on Aug 27, 2016 21:20:40 GMT -5
    Right, or wrong, that's the color I'm using. If someone can give me a ticket in a time machine back to race day 1961, I might change it, otherwise no way. The instructions call for RAL5003 on the body. I don't know what that is, and I don't speak Portugese, but I think it translates to "your guess is as good as mine" I don't care for the idea of just sticking a decal on for the panel, so I'm making this.  I will see how it turns out. More later Craig |
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Post by racerbrown on Aug 28, 2016 6:36:06 GMT -5
right or wrong on the color who cares. at least it's getting done and done well.  duane |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2016 6:46:36 GMT -5
Looks great
and it also looks very much like a slotcar body!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2016 14:38:08 GMT -5
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Post by Calvin on Aug 30, 2016 0:36:14 GMT -5
To my disappointment of no color drama......I think you got the color right....  |
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Post by harveythedog2 on Aug 30, 2016 6:56:21 GMT -5
Craig - I use this term to much but it's what I say! SUPER SWEET!!!
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spyder
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Post by spyder on Aug 30, 2016 7:18:59 GMT -5
Just read an article in this month's Cooper Monoposto Register. Seems one of the lowly mechanics has solved the issue of what color the Kimberly Cooper actually was on race day, 1961. According to the aging Tony Snickelfritz, that car was actually black as were the numbers. He also confirms that the stripes and number balls were white, so no worries there. Hope this clears this all up. spyder
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Post by clm1545 on Aug 30, 2016 8:23:31 GMT -5
Just read an article in this month's Cooper Monoposto Register. Seems one of the lowly mechanics has solved the issue of what color the Kimberly Cooper actually was on race day, 1961. According to the aging Tony Snickelfritz, that car was actually black as were the numbers. He also confirms that the stripes and number balls were white, so no worries there. Hope this clears this all up. spyder Thanks a LOT, Ed.  |
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Post by mrindy77 on Aug 30, 2016 8:36:09 GMT -5
I think the color looks to be a pretty good match to the restored car. I have not seen any definitive race day photos that would really clear up the color debate. If your happy with it, that is all that counts. Seems like everyone who 'was there' has a different recollection of the color anyway.
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Post by clm1545 on Sept 10, 2016 21:13:12 GMT -5
This looks better, to me  I was able to salvage the center of the wheel, and make a new rim  It's on it's wheels, getting closer to done. I'm trying to take my time on this build, but, truth be told, I just want it done, and on the shelf.    Next post should be the finished project. |
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Post by Calvin on Sept 11, 2016 1:15:32 GMT -5
I'm so glad you are hanging in there and getting it done! I'm so proud of you!  Oh and BTW its looking beautiful! |
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Post by racerbrown on Sept 11, 2016 8:01:55 GMT -5
this is really looking great craig!
duane
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Post by Patrick on Sept 11, 2016 14:48:55 GMT -5
I am not one of the blue body crew. Cooper BRG is a very dark green...almost black (as the mechanic said). Philippe has stated that a recent photo of the car on race day is definitive that the car was BRG. You guys know I have followed Cooper Cars closely and have been on top of the color controversy for a few years to present. I have seen Philippe's restored car and been in personal contact with him. The model, as presented here, is very well done and looks great, too.
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Post by clm1545 on Sept 11, 2016 18:58:33 GMT -5
You will get no argument from me on the color, Patrick. My initial thought was to paint the car a Tamiya BRG and the topcoat with a blue. I tried several samples without much success. When I found a system that I could live with, mrindy pointed out (correctly, I might add) that the car was not metallic I was back to square one. I looked at the cans on my shelf, and found a blue that I thought was close to the restored car. Sandy (sandysixtyfan) had taken several photos of the restored car and I made the call to go with them, as much as possible. Ed's post about the mechanic was very much "tongue in cheek" I don't think there was a guy named Snickelfritz on the crew.
As I mentioned, I just want this thing finished. I have seem many Pinto kits, and was quite impressed. When he announced this kit, and the Ascari Ferrari, I ordered both of them. The Ferrari looks just great, but, and there is no nice way to say it, the quality of the castings on this one was really bad. It will get finished, and I'm sure I will be happy with it, but it could have been so much better.
Take Care
Craig
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spyder
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Post by spyder on Sept 12, 2016 6:15:01 GMT -5
Kudos to you Craig. I have followed your struggles with this car and your patience is to be admired. I have the kit. It has a lot of flash and, like your kit, has a broken left rear suspension. Life is too short for me to duplicate your struggles and this kit is now in my "For Sale" pile. I also have one of Pinto's Vanwalls and it is a very different kettle of fish. It has some flash and the instructions leave a lot to be desired, but it is quite well molded and looks to be quite buildable. It will remain on my "To Build" shelf.
My post on the Cooper being black on race day, 1961, was very much "tongue in cheek". I'm still a believer that the car was blue on race day, but I have seen so much skepticism on this Forum that I now have my doubts as well. Has anyone questioned Donald Davidson on this issue. He's not a modeler and is more into the personalities than the "nuts and bolts" of the cars. But he is an ex pat Brit who would have had an interest in a British entry at Indy. There must be more photos and video out there that should, in time, clear up this issue. Keep digging oldphotos.
Great job Craig!
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Post by sandysixtysfan on Sept 12, 2016 9:57:43 GMT -5
Speaking of color, this is on youtube-
The Cooper photos start at 3:30 minutes into the film. It's still a close call, but I think.... blue. Very dark blue. The bottom line here is Craig did a great job building this kit. Btw, a good film overall.
Sandy
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Post by indy on Sept 13, 2016 8:16:34 GMT -5
Craig, you are doing a good job on a hard kit and it looks really good. Given the discussion here, I cannot fault your color decision. I love the blue and hope you enjoy your finished build on your shelf for years to come.
Jordan
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Post by Chris on Sept 14, 2016 10:33:03 GMT -5
 From this past weekend, Phillipe behind the wheel at the Cooper Reunion... |
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Post by hurtubise56 on Sept 14, 2016 11:41:19 GMT -5
I don't usually jump into these color debates, but I just read the book "Parnelli" by Bill Libby and he mentions the Cooper at Indy and the furor over it's smallness and rear engine, but ALSO that the old-timers didn't like it because it was GREEN (like the car ahead of Phillipe)! FWIW! Excellent work on the kit Craig, and the blue does look good.
Brian
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Post by alterrenner on Sept 15, 2016 5:12:48 GMT -5
Is it too late to mask off one side, and paint one side green, and leave the other side blue?
I think the model looks great in the blue color that I always thought it was!
Maybe you can set a shelf aside for "controversial" cars, and display the car there. Blue or green, it was quite a controversial car, and cemented a new era.
It is a great looking model. Nice build.
--Frank
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Post by clm1545 on Sept 15, 2016 10:11:58 GMT -5
That's quite an idea, Frank. If you had mentioned it sooner, I might have done just that, just for kicks. Too late now, however.
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Post by clm1545 on Sept 19, 2016 19:39:23 GMT -5
Time to put a fork into this one, it's done      Underpowered, underdevloped, and running the wrong tires, this car should have shown everyone at Indy what the future would be, with a top 10 finish despite an extra stop, and pit work that was slow and sloppy even by the standards of the day. But it took 2 more years for the truth to start to sink in. If I were to build this car again (yeah right) I would stretch the wheelbase, and mount the tires last. That just might help the clearance issue with the engine cover. If you are building one, my best advice is test fit about 10 times more than normal. It looks like a very simple kit, but it's not. Thanks for all the encouragement, and for following alone on this saga. Take Care Craig |
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Post by kuzlynn on Sept 19, 2016 21:26:34 GMT -5
A fine build on a really cool looking car. Great Job Craig! Kevin, Silver City Models
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Post by Calvin on Sept 20, 2016 0:47:06 GMT -5
Terrific! Way to go in getting it done! We are proud of your effort! No matter what the circumstance you always pull off a presentable build!
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