THE CHESSINGTON POST (memories of a Brabham builder)

[Brabham]

Hi James,
it is very inspiring. I have couple of Brabhams just waiting to be started. (but unfortunately they cannot jump the queue)
I have one question. What kind of resin are you using? It is not so easy to find something in modellers shops.
Best regards
Pavel

[JamesB]

Hi Pavel! Thans for the compliments. Hmmm jump the queue? why not, only you will know!
Resin is polyurethane. But surely don't look for it at modeling shops, but at resin and composites shops. At a modeling shop, you'll get small amounts at crazy prices!
Where do you live?
THis one is great both for big parts and also tiny stuff like these brabhams' rims for instance...

[Brabham]

Hi James,
more than 30 Brabhams are now waiting in the queue in my box
It seems that I will never be able to finish them all. Problem is that there are so many nice kits which can be bought but no time to built them. (BTW if you know about BT3 it would complete my Brabham range.)
Anyway, I was experimenting with Biresin G26, G27 and Elastosil M4512 for form but smallest packing of these is 1kg of each. With so many kits I have no aspiration to make more complete cars but rather use it for smaller parts as gearboxes, engines, uprights to enhence some older stuff.Hence my question regarding resin you are using.

Thanks
Pavel

[JamesB]

Wow that's a queue, Pavel!
Well, the resin I am using can be purchased by 5+5Kg packs, or 1+1... yes, it sounds weird when you use amounts around 15grams... but that's the ticket you gotta pay! if the price stops you, then you don't do it. Not sure if the guys that sell it would send by mail. Nevertheless the resin is lie paint: costy, you always seem to have too much and end up asuming that you'll trash an amount when it passes its "best before" date.
But I see it that way: from the moment I have duplicated 1 or two models, I have by far covered the cost of resin... and then you have a lot of possibilities to experiment.
Now as promised, some pics of the fully finished cars.
That's Fabi's Mk.I, as in Brazil and S.Africa, big radiator vents...
Note I had not yet put the front numbers (2) that go.. on the rear winglets!!!







Piquet's Mk.II one, Monaco and France, IIRC, radiator exits have been reduced...






My favourite. Not the Canada or Detroit winner, but the one that got some podium finishes on the late season European GGPP... Austria, for instance...






Change of season. Brundle's San Marino BT60Y, 1991





And Giovanna Amatti's BT60B, S. Africa 1992





And finally a family shot.



Er... a BT53 kit? You better use a set of parts as the one I have made. Body, front wing, engine mock up, steering wheel, front and rear uprights, decals, rims...
Just have a look at the process, all the rest is not hard to do.
In the end there was nothing left of the Tameo kit.
I think quite seriously to make this into full kits, I'd only need a set of PE rear wing and suspensions.
I again forgot to find the pics of some build steps, I'll do when I can.
Thans for looking, Best regards and again
Merry Xmasand Happy New Year!!!

[daveyman]

Top work as ever James. That's a nice collection of Brabhams.

[vekkuli]

Stunning Job, all I can say .

[JamesB]

Thanks guys
let's get them keep comin'

[Brabham]

Hi James,
very good results and admirable procedures.
Especilly your enhancement of basic shape of BT53. I would never undergo such a “torture”.
And last but not least: Nelson’s helmet. I suppose that you have made your own decals, right? Very nice.
P.

[JamesB]

Yes, my own decals for Nels, also for the others. Umpteenth version and not fully satisfied yet. Hard to park in such a small space.
I am sure you can build a great BT53 from my parts.
Forgot to say: I have used Heller 1/43 tyres on most of them.
BR
James

[Jeff]

very nice Brabhams James!