“Enhancement” means improving an existing model to make it look better, usually by adding more detail, decoration or fixing errors.
Three famous Bathurst racers had their tobacco decals applied this week – two Brock Commodores and a Moffat Mazda. ACE Model Cars 1982 Bathurst Winner Another beautiful piece from ACE, the Peter Brock/Larry Perkins VH Commodore that won Bathurst in 1982, modelled in resin, 1:43 scale. It’s a fairly recent release, limited to 1000 pieces. … Read moreBrock & Moffat Bathurst Tobacco Conversions
It’s Christmas time and lots of toy cars will be received as gifts on the 25th. Here are some of the toy cars I ‘enhanced’ as I began my interest in scale models many years ago.
Before and After photos of another batch of tobacco decal applications to F1 models.
I haven’t had time to do any serious modelling recently, but I did get to apply the tobacco decals to this trio of F1 cars.
New technology, manufacturing methods and materials sees the model cars of today a superior product compared to those of the past. Case in point are these Wolf and Brabham Formula One racers from 1977. Both of these cars were produced as part of the Technica/Eidai F1 collection. They have also now been modeled by Minichamps. I … Read moreThen & Now: F1 Models 35 Years Apart
Spark recently did a run of 500 pieces of Jim Richards’ Group A 1985 Australian Touring Car Championship winning BMW 635CSi (Spark item # AS017). When the 6-cylinder Bavarian bullet arrived in the post the other month, there was a glaring assembly issue with the car – the rear axle was ajar, the left wheel … Read moreJim Richards’ 1985 ATCC Winning BMW
If only we could have the standard Spark plinth utilise the Minichamps stackable case… I like the way Spark models have a rather straightforward display plinth – model neatly aligned with driver/car details printed alongside. I don’t like the card outer sleeve or that stickers are used to hold the clear display case on … Read morePlinths and How Models Are Displayed
Having looked at the misaligned push-rods on the Buzz Calkins Indycar (see Quick Review article HERE), I decided I’d have a crack at fixing them. After removing from the plinth, 2 screws hold the model together and the main upper body has to be pulled back a bit to clear the rear suspension. I … Read moreFixing Buzz’s Suspension (and other things)
A selection of before and after shots of 1:43 Spark Formula One models and the naughty ciggie decals that come packed underneath the plinth:
Portuguese manufacturer Onyx marketed a range of 1:43 scale Indycars in the early to mid 1990s. The models were very basic – plastic base plate, 1-piece diecast body, plus plastic driver, rear wing, suspension, rubber tyres and metal axles. The paint was usually good, but the decoration was often out of alignment. From a distance, … Read moreIndycar Enhancement, Paul Tracy (Onyx 1:43)
A number of models that I’ve purchased (some from quite a while ago!) that needed to be fixed or enhanced in some way. Firstly, the GTHO Super Falcon from Models56/ARMCO. Next is Classic Carlectables’ 2010 HRT VE Commodore of Garth Tander/Cameron McConville in the retro livery ran at Bathurst that year to commemorate 20 years … Read moreSome Touring Car Fixes & Enhancements
Spark’s classic F1 models generally have better fine detail than their Minichamps counterparts. They also usually include the tobacco decals for the collector to apply to complete the decoration of the model and make it historically correct. This saves having to source aftermarket decals. Here are a few before and after shots of some Spark … Read moreF1 Tobacco Conversions
Some tobacco conversions on ATCC race cars: Above & Below: Gricey’s Craven Mild LH Torana from 1975 (Biante 1/43, aftermarket decals) Above & Below: Bathurst winning Benson & Hedges Ford Sierra 1988 (Apex 1/43, aftermarket decals) Above & Below: Jim Richards’ JPS BMW M3 (Apex 1/43, aftermarket decals). Some of the JPS logos are really … Read moreTobacco Conversions on 3 x ATCC Cars
Technically, this is a minor enhancement job, not a Code 3 build. The early Brumms, and I classify this as one of them, were pretty crude. When compared to photos of the real car, the body shape of this model is quite a way off. The yellow paint isn’t too bad, but there is very … Read more1951 Talbot Lago
In time, I’d like all the models in my collection that are supposed to have tobacco markings, actually have them. It will be a big job to organise, purchase and apply aftermarket decoration to them all, but at least a start has been made. Above & Below: Before and after application of after market tobacco … Read moreMore Ciggie Signage & Biante Fixes