34 replies to this topic

[Magoo]

In my opinion this is the most beautiful Tony Matthews cutaway to be featured at Mac's Motor City Garage: the BRM V16. Truly, this painting is a work of fine art.

The BRM V16 ia race car of magical, nearly mythical status, and one of the most intriguing mechanical devices ever devised. That it wasn't successful only adds to the legend. Most of us will never have the opportunity to take apart one of these fabulous machines and inspect it piece by piece, but here Tony has provided us with the next best thing. LINK:

Tony Matthews Cutaway: BRM V16 | Mac's Motor City Garage.com

[desmo]

Astonishing really. There are probably only a handful of works in the Louvre I might trade for the original artwork of that. In a rational art world (I know), that artwork would be worth more than any Warhol.

[Tony Matthews]

I agree.

[bigleagueslider]

While I have great regard for the cutaway artwork of Mr. Matthews, with all due respect I would propose that Mr. DaVinci's cutaways are also quite nice.

[Tony Matthews]

Apart from the fact that we are not in competition, DaVinci's automotive work is somewhat lacking.

[malbear]

I agree.

I think da vinci had to work with stolen boddies in the dead of night by candle light away from the knight inquisitors of the church.

great work toni

[Tony Matthews]

great work toni

Toni? I didn't realise that anyone knew that my day-job is hairdressing - my guilty secret is out!

[Catalina Park]

I think da vinci had to work with stolen boddies in the dead of night by candle light away from the knight inquisitors of the church.

So pretty much the same way that Tony worked.

[Tony Matthews]

Toni, hairdresser and grave robber. When does he sleep? And why is there a clay-covered carbon tub in the back of his van? These questions need answering, and quick.

[Magoo]

Toni? I didn't realise that anyone knew that my day-job is hairdressing - my guilty secret is out!

Now we are dating ourselves. Nobody under 40, or maybe 50, will have any idea what we are talking about. At some point, every word we utter will have this quality.


Presented as a public service for the informational benefit of any young little snots in attendance:

[Magoo]

Apart from the fact that we are not in competition, DaVinci's automotive work is somewhat lacking.

Indeed. And did you see that ridiculous ornithopter? I mean seriously. What a crackpot.

[malbear]

Indeed. And did you see that ridiculous ornithopter? I mean seriously. What a crackpot.

thanks guys that has brightened my day, How are your easter eggs this morning

Edited by malbear, 30 March 2013 - 20:51.

[Tony Matthews]

I'll let you know when it's Easter Sunday.

[gruntguru]

As a kid fascinated by engines, the V16 BRM was my favourite (along with the Napier Sabre aero engne). 16 cylinders, bore and stroke under 2", 80 psi boost, 600? bhp, 12,000 rpm - from an engine designed in 1947. Unbelievably audacious - foolish even - but I still love it.

Wonderful art Tony and yes, we all wish you had been able to do the engine too.

[Rasputin]

The most fascinating side-story of the BRM V16 is that it was no BRM at all, it was based on engineering material taken as war-loot from Auto Union during/after the war.

Who knows.

[275 GTB-4]

I agree.

Matthews! Sit Down!! I do not want to have to tell you again!!

[Tony Matthews]

Yes sir, sorry sir.

Actually, reading your post did give me a vivid flash-back to my school days.

[Tony Matthews]

... it was no BRM at all, it was based on engineering material taken as war-loot from Auto Union during/after the war.

Some of the design was 'borrowed', but it was still a BRM. There aren't many racing cars that don't owe something to designs that went before, and some were just clones. I think you'll find that some aspects of the chassis, transmission and gearbox were based on Mercedes designs, not Auto Union.

[Kelpiecross]

Some of the design was 'borrowed', but it was still a BRM. There aren't many racing cars that don't owe something to designs that went before, and some were just clones. I think you'll find that some aspects of the chassis, transmission and gearbox were based on Mercedes designs, not Auto Union.

And wasn't the BRM blower based on the Spitfire blower technology?

[Tony Matthews]

Hardly surprising as it was made by Rolls Royce!

[Fat Boy]

Apart from the fact that we are not in competition, DaVinci's automotive work is somewhat lacking.

If you're going to be compared with another artist...

[Tony Matthews]

I have never called myself an artist, I was a technical illustrator. Well, when I say never - I did my apprenticeship with James Allington, and he refered to himself as a technical artist, so I followed suit for about a year, until I thought about it.

[desmo]

da Vinci was a technical illustrator of course of some note as well.

[Magoo]

The most fascinating side-story of the BRM V16 is that it was no BRM at all, it was based on engineering material taken as war-loot from Auto Union during/after the war.

Who knows.

BRM must have made a hash of that as well. A respectable copy should have a clear and striking resemblance to the original.

[Rasputin]

Anyone but me remembers Ted Turner, he was/is an artist, no?

[MatsNorway]

The BRM V16 is one of my favorite engines. Thanks largely to the sound it makes.

Im also surprised it got dual shafts on each side of the driver. Sounds so complicated and heavy.
I like the fact that the gearbox is actually under the diff more or less.

And ofc. the numbers alone is impressive even today!

[Tony Matthews]

Im also surprised it got dual shafts on each side of the driver.

Has it?!

Ah, the shaft on the right of the car is the gear linkage...

Edited by Tony Matthews, 02 April 2013 - 17:31.

[MatsNorway]

Has it?!

Ah, the shaft on the right of the car is the gear linkage...

Silly me. Need to look closely first.

Edited by MatsNorway, 02 April 2013 - 17:54.

[Magoo]

For your convenience, here are all the Tony Matthews cutaway stories featured at Mac's Motor City Garage.com so far, as a collection:


Tony Matthews at Mac's Motor City Garage.com


And here are links to all the features individually:


Maserati 250F

Williams FW07

Honda Accord BTCC

Ilmor Chevrolet 265A Indy engine

Williams FW14

Auburn 851 Speedster

Buick Ilmor Indy V8 Never-Was

1994 Penske PC23

Chevy Ilmor 265B Indy engine

Penske 8760 Series damper

Lotus 95T Renault

Penske PC9 Cosworth Indy Car

BRM V16

[gruntguru]

Looking at the two images in the preceding post I am struck by the "Vintage" feel created by Tony's render of the BRM. Is it little details like the leather trimmed seat, the older technology on display or just the colours and textures of the age - reproduced faithfully? Perhaps Tony deliberately used a graphical style reminiscent of that era? Fabulous work in any case.

[Tony Matthews]

Glad you like them, gg. I didn't use a specific, different technique for the BRM, but there is 10 years between the two illustrations. By 1981 I was just about getting the hang of painting, and bits of the BRM were done in the same way as similar bits of later cars, and later artwork, would have been done. I think it is just a case of it being hard to make carbon fibre look old (although there is quite a lot of old carbon about now!) and hard to make louvres, polished aluminium and leather look new. The BRM has a slight yellow caste to it that I am not able to clear, that 'ages' it a little, I think - it looked OK to me, so it was not a problem using it as is.

[NeilR]

Have you ever tried a wacom tablet...I've been itching to try one.

[Tony Matthews]

I'd like one for tidying up digital files - all these cutaways have to be 'cut-out' before posting, as the ostensibly-white backgound always shows up as a color. Sometimes this is quite marked, and if the illustration was poorly lit for photography, there can be considerable fall-off of light end-to-end or corner-to-corner. Working closely around a 'knobbly' outline and inbetween spokes using a mouse is tedious and eventually painfull, so a tablet and pen would, I think, be a help. If I was to illustrate again, however, it would still be with a pencil on film, and a brush on board or paper...

[Magoo]

Just did a magazine piece about custom car designers and their methods, etc. The Wacom tablet seems increasingly popular.

[NeilR]

I'd like to use one for my drawing, but they can be spendy.