Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/04/26/more-on-the-team-lotus-caterham-deal/
Saturday, 30 April 2011
More on the Team Lotus Caterham deal
The decision of the High Court in London on the question of the use of the name Team Lotus in Formula 1 is coming shortly, but Tony Fernandes and his business partner Kamarudin Meranun are not really bothered about the result. They seem to be fairly confident that they will be given the right to [...]
Zagato TZ3 Stradale details and real photos released
Based on the Dodge Viper ACR, the TZ3 Stradale features a carbon fiber body with a Kamm-tail that pays tribute to the original TZ and TZ2.
Ecclestone softens on F1 sale
Reports emerged last week that the pair were ...
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/hpsdoCohtV4/ecclestone-softens-on-f1-sale
Mercedes models blast off with the Brabus PowerXtra CGI Performance Kits
German tuner, Brabus, has been tuning Mercedes models for quite awhile, so getting a slew of performance kits to slap onto different versions of the luxury brand is neither surprising nor unexpected. Their new PowerXtra CGI kits can be applied to the S550, the CL550, the S 63, and the CL 63 . Depending on the model, this new package can increase the total output for the Mercedes up to between 490 HP and 620 HP. The top speed has also been pumped up to an impressive 200 mph.
For the S550 and CL550, the new performance kit increases the V8’s output from a total of 435 HP to an impressive 490 HP and the peak torque gets raised to 575 lb-ft. The S63 and CL63 models will receive the same kit, but will also get a water-to-air intercooler powered by an electric auxiliary pump. This will increase the total output to 620 HP and the peak torque to 737 lb-ft. As a result, the sprint from 0 to 60 mph will be made in 4.3 seconds, while top speed has been increased to 200 mph.
The kit also includes a special sport exhaust system with exhaust flap that will control the sounds of your engine. Aerodynamics will get boosted with a new front spoiler, carbon-fiber moldings for the gills in the sides of the front bumper, aluminum sport fenders, a carbon-fiber diffuser with integrated reflector, and a carbon-fiber rear spoiler.
Mercedes models blast off with the Brabus PowerXtra CGI Performance Kits originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 30 April 2011 06:00 EST.
Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh Lucien Bianchi
Friday, 29 April 2011
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Test your F1 knowledge and take the Mobil 1 Track Challenge
Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi Jaime Alguersuari Philippe Alliot
Team Lotus Launch Their 2011 Machine The T128
Team Lotus (the one who raced last year) have become the second team to officially pull the covers off their new 2011 car. The green and yellow liveried machine will start be raced by Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen this season under the name of Team Lotus as the management’s row with Group Lotus, now [...]
Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/team-lotus-launch-their-2011-machine-the-t128/
Icona Design Fuselage concept unveiled
Featuring a futuristic design, the Icona Fuselage concept is simply stunning. Details inside 
Team orders in spotlight again
 Will Christian Horner regret not utilising team orders in Brazil? |
?The extra seven points Alonso collected when Ferrari ordered Felipe Massa to move over for him in Germany earlier in the season are now looking even more crucial. ?And the �65,000 fine they picked up for ruthlessly breaking the rules will seem loose change if Alonso clinches the title in his first year with the Maranello team. ?Red Bull could have switched the result yesterday given their crushing dominance and still celebrated their first constructors' championship just five years after coming into the sport. ?That would also have given Webber an extra seven points, leaving him just one behind Alonso.?The Guardian?s Paul Weaver says that if Fernando Alonso does take the drivers? title in Abu Dhabi, Ferrari owes a debt of gratitude to Red Bull for their decision not to employ team orders in Brazil.
?If Alonso does take the title next week it would not be inappropriate were he and Ferrari to send a few gallons of champagne to Red Bull's headquarters in Milton Keynes. ?While Red Bull should be heartily applauded for the championship they did win today their apparent acceptance that Ferrari might carry off the more glamorous prize continues to baffle Formula One and its globetrotting supporters. ?Their refusal to make life easy for Webber, who has led for much of the season and is still seven points ahead of Vettel, means that whatever happens in the desert next week Alonso, the only driver who was capable of taking the championship in the race today, only has to secure second place to guarantee his third world title.?The Independent?s David Tremayne is also of the opinion that Red Bull may regret not using team orders in Brazil.
?Had Red Bull elected to adopt team orders and let Webber win ? something that the governing body allows when championships are at stake ? Webber would have left Brazil with 245 points ? just one point off the lead. For some that was confirmation of his suggestion that Vettel is the team's favoured driver ? which generated an angry call from team owner Dietrich Mateschitz in Austria and was much denied by team principal, Christian Horner. ?And it sets up a situation where, if the result is repeated next weekend, as is likely, Vettel and Webber will tie on 256, five behind Alonso.?The Mirror?s Byron Young has put Lewis Hamilton?s fading title chances down to an inferior McLaren machine and he admits the 2008 World Champion now needs a miracle.
?Sebastian Vettel's victory sends the world title fight to a four-way showdown for the first time in the sport's history. ?Hamilton goes there as part of that story with a 24-point deficit to Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, but with just 25 on offer in the final round in six days' time it would take more than a miracle. ?Driving an outclassed McLaren he slugged it out against superior machinery and stiff odds to finish fourth.?
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/team_orders_in_spotlight_again_1.php
'The point of no confidence is quite near'
 The wreckage of Jochen Rindt's car at Barcelona |
?Colin. I have been racing F1 for 5 years and I have made one mistake (I rammed Chris Amon in Clermont Ferrand) and I had one accident in Zandvoort due to gear selection failure otherwise I managed to stay out of trouble. This situation changed rapidly since I joined your team. ?Honestly your cars are so quick that we would still be competitive with a few extra pounds used to make the weakest parts stronger, on top of that I think you ought to spend some time checking what your different employes are doing, I sure the wishbones on the F2 car would have looked different. Please give my suggestions some thought, I can only drive a car in which I have some confidence, and I feel the point of no confidence is quite near.?A little more than a year later Rindt's Lotus suffered mechanical breakdown just before braking into one of the corners. He swerved violently to the left and crashed into a poorly-installed barrier, killing him instantly.
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/09/the_point_of_no_confidence_is.php
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
'51 Anglia Gasser
I saw a Ford Focus ST in a metallic orange (They come stock in this colour and a nice yellow-green metallic) and I immediately thought of the Anglia I had on my shelf.
It's a Model King re-issue of the original. I had some difficulties with the chassis, as it was warped towards the front end. Brute force and superglue won.
Extras: Detail Master harness, wired magneto, aluminium push bar at the rear and a few decals that I made. Batteries have cables attached.
Paint is from a rattle can.
I didn't wet-sand the paint, just gave it plenty of clear which I warmed up in a bowl of hot water to make it flow better.
Thanks for looking
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/953431.aspx
1968 Dodge Hemi Dart Is Completed!
My new project is the Revell '68 Hemi Dart with a new storyline featuring McNally, Boston PI. The story is called "Childhood Friends" and is only to show what is driving this WIP.
The Build
Revell's '68 Dodge Hemi Dart. This will represent a street driven Dart with the Hemi and a stock looking body.
My paint is Model Master Hemi Orange Lacquer.
I am considering using a 6-Pack hood scoop, but I might just stick with the Hemi scoop.
The Story
1975-
The two teenagers found the old Dart at a used car lot. They both saw the potential in the old car, what it could be and what it would look like. One of them didn't have the money to buy the car, but the other did and they both would work on the car together. The old Dart would have a big block engine, mag wheels, and a 4-speed transmission. And a bright paint job! The car was going to be a fast and colorful car and quite the chick magnet. Johnny Hallis and his childhood friend, McNally would share everything involving this car. It was their dream ride...
2011-
Portable lighting lit the crime scene brightly and was accented by the blue flash from the surrounding squad cars. Det. Sgt. Adam Troy was writing down notes when a patrol officer called his name from the tapeline. He looks over to see McNally standing at the line and waves him through. "Do you know this person? He has your card in his pocket." McNally kneels down to look at the victim's face. "Yes, it's Johnny Hallis. I grew up with him."
McNally will return...
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/951578.aspx
Birabongse Bhanubandh Lucien Bianchi Gino Bianco Hans Binder
Ecclestone softens on F1 sale
Reports emerged last week that the pair were ...
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/hpsdoCohtV4/ecclestone-softens-on-f1-sale
Hamilton decision-making under the microscope
 Lewis Hamilton has come in for criticism |
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/09/hamilton_decisionmaking_under_1.php
Michael Bleekemolen Alex Blignaut Trevor Blokdyk Mark Blundell
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Starting the season in style
Can I start by saying how great it feels to have F1 back on the BBC, and in HD glory?
I loved the tweets telling me about all the F1 parties going on around the UK and, even though many of you had to do some serious coffee drinking to cope with early morning action, #bbcf1 was trending on Twitter the whole weekend, which was awesome.
Mind you, it's funny how life can conspire against you sometimes isn't it? Having waited all winter, and an extra couple of weeks, I wanted to have the perfect preparation ahead of the opening race weekend of the 2011 F1 season. But it didn't quite work out like that.
Now, I'm an eight-hours-a-night man at the best of times, so having spent the day grabbing the latest info in the paddock and then grabbing a late dinner, I was already worried about finally getting to bed at midnight ahead of Saturday's first qualifying session of the year.
However, an hour or so later and my night was set to get worse. A lot worse.
You know those horrible, startled wake-up calls that you get sometimes when you spend the first 20 seconds just trying to remember where you are? That was me, staring into the darkness trying to work out what the sound of rushing water was in my hotel room at 2am. Moments later I was flying across the room in panic as out of the ceiling, on to the laptop, all over the desk... a water leak!
Thankfully, I managed to rescue the computer and, after moving rooms, eventually got my head down - welcome to the new season, Jake!
It felt really strange starting the season off in Australia again, actually.
The last time I welcomed you guys to the BBC's coverage of the opening race there, it was 2009 and I was in a serious state of panic. I'll never forget standing in the pit lane in Melbourne and hearing 'The Chain' for the first time. I'd never stood under the winner's podium, interviewed a driver, or even done live TV with Eddie Jordan and David Coulthard before. It's amazing how quickly you can get used to something isn't it?
Mind you, after a break of a few months it always feel a little bit like it's the first time you're popping in your earpieces and hearing the seconds count down until we're on air.
Like anything that involves a group of people working together, you get a great flow going when you do something regularly, and equally after a big break you can feel pretty rusty. I'll certainly admit to feeling like a badly oiled bike this weekend.
Before each show we always get together in the production office to discuss what's on the programme and watch the taped elements of the show. I also talk with Steve Aldous the assistant editor about where we want to be. We try to inform the teams so we don't surprise them by suddenly appearing inside their garage live on air and then we take to the pit lane - all seven of us!
With Steve, a sound man, monitor man, a couple of cameras, me, and two pundits we can be quite a big group to negotiate what is at times a really rather claustrophobic pit lane.
Australia was particularly busy, with my random moment of the weekend being former Westlife member Brian McFadden having a beer with Beppe Di Marco from EastEnders while Leo Sayer and Danny Cipriani wandered past...That's F1 for you!
One element I really did enjoy was the F1 Forum and if you're in the UK and you've yet to see it I'd suggest you take a look on the iPlayer. We had the Sauber drivers, Paul di Resta, Sebastian Vettel, and DC getting cake in his face - so pretty much something for everyone.
So, what did you make of the first race of the year?
I feel really sorry for the Sauber pair of Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez after their cars were ruled illegal. Perez in particular did an awesome job, just one pit stop, great speed and points on his debut that have now been taken away from him.
If you check out the F1 Forum it's interesting to see the surprise on Kobayashi's face when talking about Perez. If there is one thing an F1 driver likes less than a slow car it's a fast team-mate!
We'd actually made it away from the track when the Sauber news broke and we were heading out for dinner. A quick U-turn in the car, though, and it was back to the track for a late-night piece to camera. It happens every season!
One rookie was certainly not left frustrated. It was great to speak to Di Resta live ahead of qualifying. We always ask for drivers to join us live before the action gets going on a Saturday and they frustratingly rarely say yes.
But Paul was happy to chat and I think he did a great job. He was pretty candid in saying that he thought his car could struggle to make it into the top 17 in qualifying, so to finish with points after the stewards had punished Sauber was great news for him. He did, however, let his team-mate through twice so we'll have to watch that situation carefully.
Despite all that was going on, it was all about one performance this weekend, wasn't it? Vettel's dominance was incredible. No Kers power-boost system but the best start on the grid, masses of speed over a team-mate who he really does have the beating of currently. And most pleasing of all? He's still such a normal guy!
There are a few drivers in F1 that I have interviewed numerous times now yet they still wouldn't give me the time of day. They'd walk past me in the paddock, probably not even know my name. They're so intense that whatever you do you just can't get close to them.
Vettel definitely doesn't fit into the category.
He took the time out to congratulate DC on his 40th birthday having just started his title defence in style, not scurrying off for a massage and avoiding the media at all costs. Relaxed, approachable, honest and stunningly fast, I think it tells us so much about him that he can put in such amazing performances and enjoy it at the same time. He will go on to be an even bigger star if he can marry up such personality with such speed for seasons to come.
So, we head to Malaysia with Red Bull looking like they're around a second quicker than the rest with a super-confident driver very much playing a game of 'catch us if you can'.
The best news of all, though, is you'll only need an 0800 alarm to enjoy the action on race day, so I hope I'll see you then.
Jake
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jakehumphrey/2011/03/can_i_start_by_saying.html
Jenson Button: ?It?s been an incredible journey??
Jenson Button says he’s delighted with the way the season has started, given the problems that McLaren faced in testing. However the 2009 champ was frustrated to drop to fourth having led the opening stint in China, and admits that … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/04/20/jenson-button-its-been-an-incredible-journey/
What next for Robert Kubica?
Robert Kubica has been in hospital in Italy for the last 10 weeks, following his rallying accident at the end of February. He says that he is now beginning to feel better and his strength is beginning to return. He will leave the Santa Corona hospitalin Pietra Ligure soon and will then spend a little [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/what-next-for-robert-kubica/
Clemente Biondetti Pablo Birger Carlo Abate George Abecassis
Podcast: Chinese Grand Prix Review
Click here to listen to Manish Patel and Paul Hadsley give their thoughts on one of the most entertaining http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/YjevW7FqpZk/podcast-chinese-grand-prix-review
Ernesto Brambilla Vittorio Brambilla Toni Branca Gianfranco Brancatelli
Awesome Vettel lays down intimidating marker
"I don't think it was an easy race," Sebastian Vettel said after winning the Australian Grand Prix, but it certainly looked that way.
The world champion was never more than nine seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton's chasing McLaren until the Englishman ran into trouble with a damaged floor on his car midway through the race. But the Red Bull driver always appeared to be in total control.
The German was 2.5 seconds clear after the first lap, when admittedly Hamilton had been compromised by having to hold off Vettel's team-mate Mark Webber at the start, and he pulled out another 0.8secs on lap two.
Although Hamilton pegged him after that, the suspicion must be that Vettel was already in cruise mode, even though he said after the race that he was struggling with tyres in that first stint.
It was probably not a coincidence that the margin between the two men on that second lap was pretty much exactly the same as it had been in qualifying. That's how much faster the Red Bull appeared to be in Melbourne, at least in Vettel's hands.
There was a sharp intake of breath along the pit lane in Albert Park when the sheer speed of the car was finally unleashed in final practice on Saturday morning and nothing that happened after that did anything to diminish that impression.
Following Vettel's pace in qualifying, his fastest race lap was nearly half a second quicker than Hamilton's. On that evidence, McLaren and the rest have some work to do if they are to stop Red Bull running away with the championship.
That said, it is unwise to read too much into the results of the first race of the season - particularly in Melbourne - and it remains to be seen whether Red Bull's advantage will be as big at other circuits this season.
Albert Park can be a bit like that. If a driver and team get everything just so in conditions that leave others struggling a bit - exactly what appeared to happen in Saturday's cool weather - it is possible to eke out a quite extraordinary advantage.
The mind immediately turns to 1997, when Jacques Villeneuve was on pole position in Australia by 1.8 seconds from his Williams team-mate Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Michael Schumacher's Ferrari was third on the grid that weekend, 2.1 seconds slower than Villeneuve - and yet the title battle went to the last race of the season between the Canadian and the German.
The common denominator between that Williams and this year's Red Bull is Adrian Newey, then Williams's chief designer, now Red Bull's chief technical officer and for some time F1's pre-eminent genius - and I do not use that word lightly.
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Like the Williams FW17, the Red Bull RB7 is the third iteration of a car-design concept. This is what Newey is like - he does not always nail the key to unlocking a set of regulations but when he does, as he has with this generation of Red Bulls, he just keeps chipping away, refining the concept, and the others find it very difficult to catch up.
Further evidence of Newey's uncompromising approach to design emerged after the race on Sunday, when Red Bull team principal Christian Horner revealed that the team had decided not to use their Kers power-boost system after Friday.
The fact that Red Bull's drivers did not use Kers in qualifying led to tongues wagging in the F1 paddock on Saturday, when there was speculation they had a mini-Kers system that would be used only at the start.
The truth was more mundane. Red Bull have been struggling with Kers reliability all winter and the team decided it was more trouble than it was worth in Melbourne.
Red Bull's problems with Kers have been created by Newey's absolute determination to make the car as fast as possible - and to trade off performance as little as he can.
"Adrian being Adrian would not compromise the car around the system," Horner told BBC Sport, "so the systems had to fit into his aero shape."
This has led to problems with reliability - not for the first time with a Newey design honed to the nth degree. In this case, the car is so tightly packaged that the team are finding it hard to manage the heat the Kers system generates.
Red Bull say they are working hard to get the system on to the car for the next race. But Vettel's performance in Melbourne may well reignite the debate that has been raging in F1 since Kers was first introduced to the sport in 2009.
That is as follows - putting Kers on a car makes it about 0.3secs a lap quicker. But, under the current regulations, can a car optimised without it - or in the case of Red Bull, designed with fewer compromises than normal - actually be made to be quicker? There is no definitive answer to that question for now; perhaps one will emerge over this season.
There were many more subjects about which the same could be said.
Most striking of all, perhaps, is what on earth happened to Webber in the second Red Bull? He and the team both shared the general mystification about the massive gap between the Australian and Vettel.
Fernando Alonso's post-qualifying prediction that Ferrari would be stronger in the race was proved right with a fighting drive back to fourth from a terrible first lap, during which he was briefly down in 10th. There was nothing fake about Ferrari's pace in pre-season testing - what can they achieve when they have a smooth weekend?
Alonso just missed a podium thanks to a superb drive from Renault's Vitaly Petrov in a car that is genuinely quick. It immediately made you wonder what the injured Robert Kubica could have achieved in that car.
There will be no quick answer to that one as the Pole continues his recovery from the terrible injuries he received in his rallying crash last month. But even with Petrov in it the car is a contender. The Russian's experienced team-mate Nick Heidfeld will surely bounce back from a poor start. Can Renault keep up with the breathless pace of development at the front?
The much-talked-about moveable rear wing, or drag-reduction system as it is officially known, seemed to work pretty well - in that it made overtaking possible but not too easy, although the debate about whether it is a step too far in terms of artificiality will doubtless continue.
If Sauber's Mexican rookie Sergio Perez continues in the manner he has started - notwithstanding the team's disqualification for a technical infringement - how long before the rumour mill starts wondering about this member of Ferrari's driver academy replacing Felipe Massa as Alonso's team-mate?
All these and more will keep people guessing for much longer than the two weeks before the Malaysian Grand Prix.
But there is no doubt about the biggest question of all. Hamilton said afterwards that he was confident McLaren could catch Red Bull. Is he right? On the evidence of Melbourne, the season could depend on it.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2011/03/can_anyone_catch_red_bull.html
Juan Manuel Bordeu Slim Borgudd Luki Botha JeanChristophe Boullion
Monday, 25 April 2011
Need a mid 50's Oldsmobile Rocket V8
I was wondering if any of the hot rod kits ever came with this engine. I have some old issues of Scale Auto that did a story on hot rod engines and what kits they came in but finding them would be a big undertaking. If anyone knows I'd appreciate it.
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/954046.aspx
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Top Gear - Jeremy's Alfa 75
i've decided to do some of the cars from the top gear (uk) series. i wont do the 'review' cars, as they are too generic. i'm going to recreate more interesting 'challenge' cars for the most part.
First up is Jeremy's Alfa 75. The Challenge is to buy and Alfa Romeo to prove they are a Driver's Car.
I found the only 1/24 scale Alfa 75 is Bburago's Metal Kit.
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/953389.aspx
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Whitmarsh: ?We?ve just got to keep progressing?
Martin Whitmarsh believes that McLaren can continue to make progress in its pursuit of Red Bull, but he doesn?t underestimate the task at hand. McLaren has made a huge leap since winter testing, but Whitmarsh knows it won?t be easy … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/04/19/whitmarsh-weve-just-got-to-keep-progressing/
Friday, 22 April 2011
AMT/Ertl Model King 79 Bronco WIP
The bug has bit me so I dusted off the Nostalgic Drag box and decided to start with the Bronco. Here it is in all its glory. LOTS of tiny pieces with LOTS of flash..........this should be a lot of fun
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/954266.aspx
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Jeep introduces the 2011 Wrangler Mojave limited edition
Special edition Jeep Wrangler comes with "Mojave-lizard" decals and 117-inch rims wrapped in 32-inch tires. 
Robert Kubica Hospitalised Following Rally Accident
UPDATE ON KUBICA’s CONDITION: �http://wp.me/p3uiu-11K Renault Lotus F1 driver Robert Kubica has been airlifted to hospital following a car accident while competing on a rally. The incident, described as a high speed accident, left the Pole injured and he had to be airlifted to hospital. �His co-driver Jakub Gerber was uninjured in the incident. While [...]
Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/02/06/robert-kubica-hospitalised-following-rally-accident/
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Will Force India pull any Chinese Crackers?
The Silverstone-based team were expected to be off the pace and struggling to keep up with the likes of Toro Rosso and Sauber. But it has not panned out like that ...
Revell 50 Ford pickup mild custom
Not sure whether to put this one here or in the truck section but here goes.
I see I missed an ejector pin mark inside the bed , Oh well, that's a good excuse to make a bed cover.
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/918824.aspx
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