Monday, 25 November 2013

Fiat Bartoletti Ferrari Transporter

This limited edition model has just been released by Racer.  It's a reproduction in 1/32 scale of the Fiat Bartoletti Ferrari Transporter that was used in the fifties and sixties to transport up to three Ferraris to races.  It is a working slot car model with two motors and the rear ramp can be lowered.  I won't be buying one (RRP £450!) but I do think it's a beautiful model.




You built a time machine… out of a DeLorean?

Continuing the theme of modelling slot cars on famous Film & TV vehicles, I proudly present the DeLorean DMC-12 from Back to the Future.


I bought the resin bodyshell from a Spanish eBay seller and adapted a chassis from a Scalextric Lamborghini Diablo.


I painted the body with a brush rather than spray as I thought that would give a better representation of the brushed stainless steel bodywork.  Marty McFly was painted with his jeans and red body warmer.


I fitted some mounting posts and then put it all together, adding the final touch of a little sticker with the number plate from the movies.



The model reflects the car in the second film, with the addition of the Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor (installed in 2015) which replaces plutonium as the primary power source of the DeLorean's time travel capability.

In the third film, the car goes back to 1885 but can't get back because the time circuits are not functioning correctly.  The DeLorean is hidden in a mine for 70 years because suitable replacement parts to replace the destroyed microchip would not be invented until 1947.  The car is recovered from the mine on November 14, 1955 and restored to working order by replaced the microchip by a tray of valves and other 1950s electrical components.  This tray was included with the bodyshell I bought and so I've painted it up too.


Great Scott!