Lockheed F1/17 Formula one car, test at Watkins Glen September 1982

I found an old build.


What should one do with an inaccurate F-117 in 1/144 scale?
Ignore the faults and build it? Try to fix the faults? Throw it away? But that isn't my way. No, I will build an automobile.
(Model finished 2009)


The first thought that crossed my mind was a Batmobile but that would be to easy. Just add four wheels and it would be done.


Mix it with parts from a 1/43 scale Ferrari F187 from Heller and it will be a Lockheed Formula one car. The model F-1/17 from the 1982 season.



My intention was to use the wings from the Heller kit on my car, but the front wings was too short after they had been cut in the right shape for the nose.
Instead I decided to use the wing tips from the F-117 for the front wings and glue the rest of the F-117 wings together and cut out a new rear wing from it.


I wasn't happy with my front wings. I felt that they were misplaced and upside down. So, I removed them and repositioned them.


Then I made the mounts for the rear wing. They were placed in the slots for the fins on the aircraft.


I am really surprised to find that the F-117 has so much race car in it. The rear wing shall be modified, a roll bar and some other small details need to be added but now the general look can be seen.


Finished at last. A break for vacation is always risky for the projects that has to rest. It is easy that they die meanwhile.


I was in the middle of the boring job of puttying and sanding when I broke off for the vacation and it was hard to find the motivation to restart on it again.


There was no choice but black for this car. I first thought of a John Player Special livery, but I wanted it to be American. When I saw a Texaco oil drum at work I had the livery for my car.


I drew the decals and printed them on decal paper. The result wasn't perfect though. I then made a base for the car. I always liked the concept with bases for models but I've always been too lazy to do it.
Lately I have been making some and I feel that it is worth the extra time needed to make a simple base.
So here we are! Two kits to be scratched from the long list of unbuilt kits in the closet. A 1/144 scale F-117 has been transformed in to a 1/43 scale Formula One car with some parts from a 1/43 scale Ferrari.

Very original subject ! Thanks for sharing.