67 replies to this topic

[Jean-Michel Piot]

What follows is very classical.

In the last steps I will only further comment what is not straigthforward.

Here there is just one thing quite confusing when you will see some pictures later: I decided AFTER the painting to drill holes behind the back of the pilot, for the safety belt.

I should have made it earlier ...

As I modified during the process (and as far as for the painting surface itself the modification is not noticeable) you will see in some next steps those 2 holes suddenly appear...

For the other 2E to come (exception being made to Don's one as he does not want those holes) I will drill the holes before the white primer, of course...

2 painted bodies.



The beginning of the masking process.



Once airbrush painted.



The decals are from Fischer, I found them on ebay. Perfect because the numbers have the correct size (the Cox are too big) which notably allows the "Chaparral" logo not to be on the vertical lower end but still in the same plan than the front race number.



After two coats of gloss varnish for the body (no Chris, I said 2 coats, not 2 cans ... ) I put the different meshings on. The mesh is first sprayed with mat varnish (to prevent it from rusting) before being cut and glued.



As can be seen I also added photo-etched Dzus fasteners and home-made door hinges.

[TSR]

Thanks for using Phil Hill's numbers on the model, as this was the only ever Chaparral Can-Am win after they utterly dominated the 1965 USRRC season. Phil was a personal friend of mine, and his recent passing away is very hard on all of us.

[Jairus]

Jean, what clear paint are you using?

[don.siegel]

Jairus: that's Jean-Michel - it's a compound name, like Billy Bob, and not a middle name...

It can also be very confusing; for instance, my first ping-pong team here was me and Jean-Michel, Jean-Claude and Jean-Philippe...

end of paid advertising by the Académie Française!
Don

PS, so JM, when's it going to be ready, eh? You were probably taking care of your new baby on that four-day weekend, instead of finishing my car, right?

[Jean-Michel Piot]

Jean, what clear paint are you using?

"Jean-Michel" (this is my first name ) uses cans of "Gunze" clear. It also exists here in Europe under the brand "Mister Hobby". On the cans I have, both are written. I use the Gloss one, sometimes the flat just like for the last coat on the Cox Chassis.

Not to confuse with their "super clear".

[Jean-Michel Piot]

Jairus: that's Jean-Michel - it's a compound name, like Billy Bob, and not a middle name...

It can also be very confusing; for instance, my first ping-pong team here was me and Jean-Michel, Jean-Claude and Jean-Philippe...

end of paid advertising by the Académie Française!
Don

PS, so JM, when's it going to be ready, eh? You were probably taking care of your new baby on that four-day weekend, instead of finishing my car, right?

Almost that ... Will send you an e-mail. I will keep on working on your 2E this week-end.

[Jairus]

Well, gee... thanks for the double correction on the name.

Funny, I have NEVER corrected anyone on spelling of MY name, even though it has been written wrong half the time. But thanks for the info Jean-Michel but want I wanted was the type of paint. Enamel, Lacquer, acrylic enamel, acrylic....?

Guess I will just be a lurker to this thread from now on. Sorry if I offended.

[TSR]

Funny, I have NEVER corrected anyone on spelling of MY name, even though it has been written wrong half the time.

Yeah Jairus, and you have not seen how many times I corrected the misspelling of your name on many people posts here...

In France as in other countries, often the first name of persons is a compound of two names, example Jean-Michel, Jean-Marie, Jean-Pierre, Jean-Jacques etc.
The French are also surprised to see what appears strange to them in American names such as "AJ" Foyt for Anthony-Joseph Foyt... or a name followed by "Jr." or beginning by a letter, like in G.W.

[Prof. Fate]

Hi

Also, americans consider it a mark of affection to use a diminuative or variant of a first name.

Thus, I often refer to Jairus as Jai or Jay. (remember the old line about "you can call me jay"?)

Or we call Stube..stube or Mike(not Michael) or Mikey.

My First name is actually "Rockland"...no one ever uses it except the government and my mother when she was ANGRY!

Ron is not really ron, rick isn't really rick,

Oh, and I am not really Prof.Fate, but a great many racers have used THAT over the years. As a joke.

Rocky

[bosmeck]

After two coats of gloss varnish for the body (no Chris, I said 2 coats, not 2 cans ... ) I put the different meshings on. The mesh is first sprayed with mat varnish (to prevent it from rusting) before being cut and glued.

Hey JM,

Regarding 2 cans of clear...

I use a large amount of clear on my cars because they are "slot cars". When these cars come off the track they will get scratched up pretty badly over time. Having a "thick" coat of clear varnish allows me to sand the scratches out or I can use compound. Needless to say, these are not "models" these are slot cars.

By only doing 2 coats of clear coat on your slot car you will be more than likely in danger of scratching badly your beautiful paint work the "first time" it comes of the track. I will bet that the scratch will go straight through to the priemer or at least more. There will be no way to repair the damage other than repainting and therefore...

Protecting your beautifully painted slot cars with a thick coat of clear varnish is really the only way to go

[Jean-Michel Piot]

Well, gee... thanks for the double correction on the name.

Funny, I have NEVER corrected anyone on spelling of MY name, even though it has been written wrong half the time. But thanks for the info Jean-Michel but want I wanted was the type of paint. Enamel, Lacquer, acrylic enamel, acrylic....?

Guess I will just be a lurker to this thread from now on. Sorry if I offended.

Sorry, Jairus, I did not want you to feel that I was offended ... I was not and I know that coumpound names are not very frequent in the US.

Certainly not after all those compliments...

I'm also sorry if I do not always understand certain things at the first time just like your question about "clear paint". I had a doubt and thought it was about "clear". Eventhough I've been working about 50% of my everyday time in English for years, I'm not a native. It's easier for me when its specific legal language or everyday wording, not the case with technical one.

So, as concerns the paint itself, it's the Tamiya can of "pure white" just as Chris Clark suggested to use few months ago.

[Jean-Michel Piot]

Hi

Also, americans consider it a mark of affection to use a diminuative or variant of a first name.

Sure ! Many of my American colleagues and some lawyers in Michigan with whom I've worked for long call me "JM" and I appreciate this.

Just as I appreciate the way I've been welcome by many people here

After what might appear as a little misunderstanding, I propose to go back to our common hobby ...

[Jean-Michel Piot]

Hey JM,

Regarding 2 cans of clear...

I use a large amount of clear on my cars because they are "slot cars". When these cars come off the track they will get scratched up pretty badly over time. Having a "thick" coat of clear varnish allows me to sand the scratches out or I can use compound. Needless to say, these are not "models" these are slot cars.

By only doing 2 coats of clear coat on your slot car you will be more than likely in danger of scratching badly your beautiful paint work the "first time" it comes of the track. I will bet that the scratch will go straight through to the priemer or at least more. There will be no way to repair the damage other than repainting and therefore...

Protecting your beautifully painted slot cars with a thick coat of clear varnish is really the only way to go

Chris, all this looks pretty clever !

I know understand.

Thanks for the explanation.

Besides, I do not race my cars but for sure they will go on my home layout. I will try your method one day.

[don.siegel]

J,

Absolutely no criticism meant in our reactions, as Jean-Michel says, just pointing out a different custom here.... And yes, I do realize your name is probably misspelled more than anybody else's! If it's any consolation, I'm thanked in Tony Condon's new book on slot racing in England - and he spells my name wrong!

Back to the paints, not only am I nowhere in the league of my esteemed colleagues, but after all these years in France, I still haven't got straight if "laque" in French means lacquer or enamel, and what the other one should be....

Don

[Jean-Michel Piot]

Just completed this morning ...

[TSR]

This is about the nicest Cox 2E I have ever seen...

[Tex]

Bravo, Jean-Michel!

[Jean-Michel Piot]

Thanks Tex.

You see, Philippe was right: no magic there, only work...

Although, you were right to a certain extent: even when you know how it works, it is still magic to see the wing moving successively upward and downward when you run the car ...

[bosmeck]

Hey Jean

Magnificent ! Brilliant and Great

This is MAGIC

[Jairus]

J-M. Very nice build!

[Jean-Michel Piot]

Here is the second one, on the right... Completed few minutes before January the first.

Not a restoration, simply the complete and genuine Cox model that belongs to my friend Don Siegel and that had never been build.

Don did not want me to drill holes in the body. Just accepted some additions (and some lines engraved).

Please note the genuine rear view mirror.

Happy new year to all !

[Tex]

That's a nice pair o' cars, Jean-Michel.

I remember reading about the real 2E's debut in either "Car and Driver" or "Road & Track". The writer spoke of photographers helplessly taking picture after picture after picture of the car as it was first being wheeled out of it's trailer and onto the ground at Bridgehampton. Compared to the cars it competed against that day, the 2E was the embodiment of innovation. Of course, everyone was gaga over the first high-mounted rear wing, but the shape of the 2E's body is quite dramatic also. A car for the ages.

[TSR]

Jean-Michel,
Beautiful work. To be totally accurate, the helmet should be white and black as Hill drove this car...
Happy New year and please let is see more of these beauties in 2009!

[Jean-Michel Piot]

Jean-Michel,
Beautiful work. To be totally accurate, the helmet should be white and black as Hill drove this car...
Happy New year and please let is see more of these beauties in 2009!

Philippe,

I still have 3 copies to make as well as a restoration of a third genuine 2E for a friend of mine.

You can see here what I still have to do ...



Then I will make at least one 2E that will be closer to Hill's car, with an additional aerodynamic blade at the rear (like Chris Clark did on his car), with the "Firestone" decal further on the rear.

Should you have pictures of Phill Hill's B&W helmet, this would help me.

Besides, yes I will keep on restoring vintage slot cars in 2009. Pretty soon, another Cheetah.

All the best.

Jean-Michel.

[Steve Deiters]

I seemed to remember that Phil Hill ran at least some races in the Chapparal with what appeared to be a 1/2 or 3/4 helmet with the lower portion being transitional padding. This was the era just befomre the Bell star helmet. I did some searching on the internet and it was hard to tell if the lower portion was indeed black or padding. One thing I did come across that I hadn't seen before was Hill (or anyone) driving the 2E with a black wing.
Phillippe, I sure you have some comments.....................