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Brabham BT-46B Fan Car [FINISHED]

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  • Member since
    October 2020
Brabham BT-46B Fan Car [FINISHED]
Posted by Scale-Master on Sunday, August 13, 2023 12:18 PM

After building the new Gordon Murray GMA T.50 last month I felt the need to build this.

Western Models white metal kit in 1/43rd from 1981.  Like many of these kits, some of the parts are a little deformed.

Besides the bent cockpit area, one wing is missing part of the leading edge and it also has some missing material at the fill points.

 

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: UK
Posted by PatW on Sunday, August 13, 2023 4:09 PM

Interesting! As a race/airfield marshall at Silverstone I saw this car on it's first testing and later race. It was though banned later due it's superior ground effects technology!

Remember , common sense is not common.

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Sunday, August 13, 2023 6:02 PM

I read an article recently that claims the car was actually "banned" by Bernie Ecclestone who was running Team Brabham at that time.  Not because it was superior, but because he wanted to be more involved with Formula 1 (and we know what happened on that front) and fighting for the "interpretation of rules" calling it a cooling fan system could've tarnished his reputation.

 

 

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Sunday, August 13, 2023 6:03 PM
After straightening and some clean up (there was a lot of filled in and crusty areas due to a worn mold) it's starting to come along.  A small chisel was very helpful.
The fan fits pretty well but the casting is rough. 
The rear wing still needs more work.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Monday, August 14, 2023 2:21 PM
The leading edge of the left wing was filled in and reshaped.
That's a little better…

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: UK
Posted by PatW on Monday, August 14, 2023 4:21 PM

Yes you are possibly right although he blamed the FIA for banning it. Bernie was a one for complaining about other teams as if he was perfect, I don't think as I came across him numerous times in my 20+ years of marshalling at Silverstone, any rules in place on the circuit side he would break them and shout people down!

Everthing he did was for his benefit only!

Remember , common sense is not common.

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 1:32 PM
The aluminum rims were pretty rough inside and the lips were not consistent sizes, so I cleaned and trued them up on my lathe.  The centers of the front wheels are white metal so I polished them to brighten them up.  (The one on the left is raw white metal.)

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 8:42 AM
The decals were very yellowed.  I taped them to a window for a few days in direct sunlight and they bleached out quite well.  (The set on the bottom still need to be sun-bleached for comparison.)

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Thursday, August 17, 2023 12:57 PM
I shot the body with Tamiya Italian Red.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, August 18, 2023 8:54 PM
The rear rims were very rough inside too, so I machined a clean bevel into the centers.  This is a mock-up to determine the track width of the axles.
The decals and instructions are interesting…  There are multiple errors on the instructions, and some of the decals are shown to be applied in multiple places, but there are not enough of them despite the kit coming with three complete (and different) sheets.  They don't fit well either (too small in some cases and the casting is irregular left to right) so I mixed a dark blue to do a good bit of freehand touching up and filling in.  I made a couple decals to make up for the missing ones.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Saturday, August 19, 2023 6:54 PM
Nothing like a coat of clear to even things out…

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Monday, August 21, 2023 8:32 PM
The windshield is not a positive fit, and it's also short and stubby at the front, on par for these kits...  (I trimmed and fitted it before painting.)  Canopy glue did a good job of hiding much of the fit issues.  It is vac-u-formed in the tinted blue color.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 6:55 PM
Finished.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 7:16 PM

Looks great Mark.  Those wheels really look sharp - makes me want to order turned/cast wheels for all my car kits.

Thanks,

John

fox
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Narvon, Pa.
Posted by fox on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 7:20 PM

Another excellent build Mark! Very nice work.

Stay safe.

Jim Captain

 Main WIP: 

   On the Bench: Artesania Latina  (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 10:25 AM

Aha!

    That is, without a doubt a fine looking and executed build, Kudos for a job "Well Done"

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