Western Kits 1:43 Tyrrell P34 Prototype

[dr_gn]

This is a kit I got from work for my birthday. It dates from about 1975, and represents the version of the car as initially shown to the press:



I remember a similar picture to this, but in colour, was in the cover of Motoring News:



Note the flat-topped rectangular side pods.

My Dad built one for me when it was first released:





I always fancied having another go at it, but I couldn’t bring myself to dis-assemble my dads efforts. So that was that...until Monday, when I got this for my birthday:







Complete, apart from the wheels, which have been made out of wood! and decals:



I can cast new wheels from resin using my originals. Indycals do an early P34 decal set, with the correct fluorescent yellow stripes, but without the “PROJECT/34” logos and number backgrounds. I’ll have to think about that one.

I always wondered why my dad painted it a blue that seems way too light. However, reading the instructions, it calls for “Austin Morris Tahiti Blue”, which is exactly what he used.

Plan is to build it in the spirit of the original, but with a few refinements like seatbelts, rear wheel nuts, plug leads and radiator mesh. I noticed that the front wheel viewing windows probably shouldn’t be there, but I’ll leave them in. It makes an interesting comparison with the state-of-the-art, like the Ferrari I also got as a gift:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[gruffgriff]

Watching with interest. Western Kits or Western Models as they became were top tier in the burgeoning white metal world; finely mastered and engineered to justify their higher price compared to John Day, FDS, Mikansue etc.

[dr_gn]

gruffgriff said:

Watching with interest. Western Kits or Western Models as they became were top tier in the burgeoning white metal world; finely mastered and engineered to justify their higher price compared to John Day, FDS, Mikansue etc.

Yes, I built a Western Models MG EX135 - very nice castings. Also a Birkin Bentley (can't remember the make, but red white and blue box), and some K&R Replica MG stuff.

[Eric Mc]

That looks like an interesting project.

[gruffgriff]

Red white and blue striped box will have been one of Grand Prix Models own I suspect

[dr_gn]

gruffgriff said:

Red white and blue striped box will have been one of Grand Prix Models own I suspect

Yes, probably was. I've still got the box somewhere!

[dr_gn]

These are the metal models I built that I’ve still got. Built in early ‘80’s.

[dr_gn]

Thought I’d make a start - at least getting the parts together I’ll need to build/improve it a bit.

Began by making a silicone mould for the wheels, using the old model items as a pattern:









I’ll make the other half with the resin feeds tomorrow.

[tyrrell]

Looking Good

[72twink]

I did a bit of this earlier in the summer, I bought a batch of 6 very battered factory built Marsh Models for £15. The GT40 Mk2 of Hill was up first. Quite how it got in such a state is beyond me!

[dr_gn]

72twink said:

I did a bit of this earlier in the summer, I bought a batch of 6 very battered factory built Marsh Models for £15. The GT40 Mk2 of Hill was up first. Quite how it got in such a state is beyond me!

Good work - always nice to bring something back from the edge of the bin. Was that cast or printed?

[dr_gn]

Got the mould done:







...and salvaged one decent set from a combination of three casts which isn’t bad:

[72twink]

dr_gn said:

Good work - always nice to bring something back from the edge of the bin. Was that cast or printed?

Thanks, they are hand poured resin with no vacuum chamber so like you I have some spares. I used a full set of spare parts (from another kit) as masters so now have a stack of fronts as the rears would never mould cleanly ........ live and learn!