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Connew model alert!


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#1 Kitkent

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Posted 30 June 2011 - 09:08

Someone has now made a model of this car - http://cgi.ebay.co.u...d=p5197.c0.m619

Was looking on ebay and then this popped up,looks a bit crude but someone has made a 1/43 metal kit....how could anyone's collection be complete without one?!

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#2 SWB

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Posted 30 June 2011 - 23:22

Not sure about 'has now made a model', it looks ancient to me and considering it is decibed as 'rare'. But I have no idea who the manufacturer was. But there seem to be enough parts for somebody to have a bash at a good build. I love Ebay, its amazing what can turn up!

Steve


#3 glyn parham

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Posted 01 July 2011 - 08:49

The kit looks very seventies in its style and layout etc. Could it have been produced in Italy by a typically small maker?

Glyn

#4 Barry Boor

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Posted 05 July 2011 - 11:38

I have to say that actually they don't seem to have the nose shape awfully accurate and I speak from some experience.

The area around the oil coolers looks a bit off, too.

Maybe I should get my finger out and rebuild this:

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#5 D-Type

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Posted 06 July 2011 - 09:07

(1) I have to say that actually they don't seem to have the nose shape awfully accurate and I speak from some experience.

(2) The area around the oil coolers looks a bit off, too.

(3) Maybe I should get my finger out and rebuild this:

Posted Image

Point (1) - File, filler and plasticard job for you plus softener on the decals
Point (2) - If it's an engine bit that's wrong, there are enough 1/43 Cosworth engines around to adapt; if it's bodywork then the techniques used for the original air scoop should work in miniature
Point (3) - Yes you definitely should (and at the same time make a model of Ted's clumsy ill-mannered customer to stick pins into)

Looking forward to pictures ofyour built 1:43 and re-built 1:18.

#6 Barry Boor

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Posted 06 July 2011 - 09:49

1/12th, actually, Duncan.

#7 Kitkent

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Posted 08 July 2011 - 07:55

1/12th, actually, Duncan.


Very nice Barry,looks a labour of love although the 1/43 needs more than a bit of TLC! It is rather crude but at least there is a model of the Connew after all. Also spotted on Ebay a red bull,which is strictly verbotten by red bull.. its a far better kit and described as black horse or something similar!! It's the 2009 car.

#8 Barry Boor

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Posted 14 July 2011 - 19:36

Well, I decided that I ought to buy one and then Rocky2 alerted me to this:

http://cgi.ebay.it/n...=item2a124f513b

Now I'm wondering if I should have bothered!

#9 D-Type

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Posted 14 July 2011 - 21:38

Of course you should.

If you bought a built one, all you would see would be the inaccuracies. If you build it yourself you'll be able to correct most of them.

Edited by D-Type, 15 July 2011 - 22:48.


#10 Barry Boor

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Posted 20 July 2011 - 13:12

Still awaiting the arrival of my kit.

#11 Mal9444

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Posted 21 July 2011 - 19:37

Still awaiting the arrival of my kit.


Ah! Gives you time to finish my BRP BRM then :)

Ooops - sorry. I'll get me coat...

... bye :wave:


#12 Barry Boor

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Posted 24 July 2011 - 07:32

Well, chaps, the kit arrived on Saturday morning and I must say it is a very fair representation - of a BRABHAM BT.44. It has sloping sides to the chassis and tapers considerably from the rear of the chassis to the front.

The Connew had a parallel sided chassis, the outside surfaces of which, in cross section were parabolic.

All in all, I would rate this kit as bloody awful. Quite the worst I've ever seen. Even the side mounted oil coolers are just lumps of metal, roughly rectangular but nothing like the real shape at all.

I cannot quite understand why anybody bothers to do something like this and then does it so desperately badly.

Can I make something of it? Mmmmm.... I'm not sure I can but I suppose having spent money on the thing I might as well have a go.

The decal sheet is very good.

#13 D-Type

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Posted 26 July 2011 - 21:47

Go for it! File, filler and plasticard.

Did you get two, ie one for Peter as well?

#14 Kitkent

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Posted 27 July 2011 - 18:52

Go for it! File, filler and plasticard.

Did you get two, ie one for Peter as well?


Oh dear! I feel guilty now for highlighting this model.........anyway,I see that they do another version as well,the blue one. Sorry Barry.............................. :|

#15 Barry Boor

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Posted 13 August 2011 - 07:38

Update:

I posted neutral feedback on Ebay about this model. I didn't criticize the seller but did hammer the kit itself. Turns out the seller is the manufacturer.

I have received a very nice message from him, basically apologising for the poor quality of the kit and offering my money back if I return it. A very, very fair offer, which I will take up.

He says he evolved the Connew model from a Shadow DN8 kit.

I have sent him a series of pictures of my 12th scale model in case he feels like having another go.

This gentleman, Claudio Villa, has shown a very high standard of decency and customer relations and I applaud him for it.

#16 Mal9444

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Posted 14 August 2011 - 13:13

Update:

I posted neutral feedback on Ebay about this model. I didn't criticize the seller but did hammer the kit itself. Turns out the seller is the manufacturer.

I have received a very nice message from him, basically apologising for the poor quality of the kit and offering my money back if I return it. A very, very fair offer, which I will take up.

He says he evolved the Connew model from a Shadow DN8 kit.

I have sent him a series of pictures of my 12th scale model in case he feels like having another go.

This gentleman, Claudio Villa, has shown a very high standard of decency and customer relations and I applaud him for it.


Claudio Villa might have done even better to re-fund your money but invite you to keep the model, set to with the file, filler and plasticard then send him pictures of the 1/43rd scale outcome so that he might correct his errors. Indeed, since you have already sent him the 1/12th scale pictures I would say that he owes you no less.

That way, he would have a satisfied cutomer AND the means of producing an accurate kit.

Edited by Mal9444, 14 August 2011 - 13:13.


#17 Barry Boor

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Posted 14 August 2011 - 13:45

I looked at it but with the best will in the world there really is no way it could ever be made to resemble the original.

#18 Kitkent

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Posted 14 August 2011 - 20:39

This must be the peson who makes Villa Models,they are white metal copies of Brabham's Loti etc. seen at toyfairs sometimes.I would imagine that the Connew must be his 1st.attempt at a completely new subject? Maybe someone else could take up the idea now.

#19 group7

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Posted 22 June 2016 - 14:20

some european model sites, CK Model Cars from Germany is one,  are now showing the Spark Connew PC 1 as in stock, I've placed my order ! looks good !  :clap:  be interested in what Barry thinks ?

 

Mike (group7) in Canada 



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#20 cpbell

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Posted 22 June 2016 - 16:32

some european model sites, CK Model Cars from Germany is one,  are now showing the Spark Connew PC 1 as in stock, I've placed my order ! looks good !  :clap:  be interested in what Barry thinks ?

 

Mike (group7) in Canada 

 

Diecast Legends (no affiliation, just a previous customer) have them as well.



#21 Barry Boor

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Posted 22 June 2016 - 17:38

The car is a little late arriving at dealers because Peter and I didn't like the look of the airbox and told Spark. They agreed to remake it but I've yet to see if they improved it.

#22 Barry Boor

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Posted 22 June 2016 - 17:43

Just had a look on the CK models site and I think they have done a very good job with the airbox and indeed, the whole thing. It looks excellent.

Edited by Barry Boor, 22 June 2016 - 17:43.


#23 Barry Boor

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Posted 18 August 2016 - 17:18

How embarrassing!

Just learned that Spark have discontinued manufacture of the car. And neither Peter nor I have got around to buying one!

#24 Tim Murray

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Posted 18 August 2016 - 17:27

Arttidesco has one, which I had a look at last week. It looks great.

#25 Emery0323

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Posted 21 August 2016 - 15:18

How embarrassing!

Just learned that Spark have discontinued manufacture of the car. And neither Peter nor I have got around to buying one!

:wave: There are several listings on ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.u... spark&_sacat=0



#26 D-Type

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Posted 21 August 2016 - 19:59

How embarrassing!

Just learned that Spark have discontinued manufacture of the car. And neither Peter nor I have got around to buying one!

Blimey, that's a short production run!  :eek:



#27 Barry Boor

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Posted 21 August 2016 - 20:14

We were discussing earlier today, how many they might have actually made.

#28 dwh43scale

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Posted 22 August 2016 - 19:32

Have you tried Grand Prix Models ?



#29 Barry Boor

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Posted 22 August 2016 - 19:51

As Emery pointed out yesterday, there are quite a lot on Ebay so getting one for Peter and one for me shouldn't be too difficult.

However, given the amount of detail and information we gave them during the production of the model, we did think that we might have been granted a couple of freebies.

We still might!

Edited by Barry Boor, 22 August 2016 - 19:53.


#30 D-Type

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Posted 22 August 2016 - 22:23

Barry,

Have you a contact address, email or name at Spark?



#31 group7

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Posted 23 August 2016 - 02:13

Barry, I'm surprised that you didn't get some examples gratis from Spark ! Grand prix models is sold out.  Carmodel.com (Italy) and Alpimodel (Switzerland) still show it as in stock. mind a little more dear in Euros than Pounds, plus shipping. I don't know how these prices compare with Evil-Bay ?

 

Mike in Canada



#32 Barry Boor

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Posted 23 August 2016 - 05:18

Duncan, all this came about because Vincent Mausset (Darnval) is friends with the Frenchman who is the boss at Spark in China.

They are on holiday at the moment but Vincent is due to speak to them when they return in September. Peter has been in touch with Spark all the way through the development of the model.

Mike, several dealers are sold out but that doesn't tell you how many they had in the first place. We have surmised often about how many Spark actually made.

#33 Jager

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Posted 24 August 2016 - 12:51

Hugo Ripert.

 

You can read about him and his background in the "About Us" page of the Spark website........Sparkmodel.com . You'll also find other articles about the Spark operation if you google his name.