Just finished this car today. I ran out of slicks so I had to put dirt tires on, supposed to be a pavement car.

I tried to build this as close to the rules at my local race track. This car now has a 350, full race interior, fuel lines, plug wires, battery box and tow chain. No sponsors, unfortunatly, and a bunch of dings. You know what they say, "Rubbin's racin".

Alex Blignaut

I'm building a replica of a '77 Firebird Esprit out of a Revell '78 Trans Am kit for a friend, and I need a set of Rally II rims from either the Revell 1970 1/2 Trans Am or their 1969 GTO kit to do it right. Does anyone out there have a set they aren't using?

Alain de Changy Colin Chapman Dave Charlton Pedro Matos Chaves Bill Cheesbourg Eddie Cheever

This week FOM, the Formula One Management company run by Bernie Ecclestone, has announced it will be providing native High Definition Formula One coverage for the very first time.  This heralds the entrance of the sport into the super clear broadcast territory. High Definition television has been available for some time now in the United [...]

Edgar Barth Giorgio Bassi Erwin Bauer Zsolt Baumgartner Elie Bayol Don Beauman

Fernando Alonso is the new favourite for the title © Getty Images

Fernando Alonso is the new favourite to win the Formula One drivers? title, said David Coulthard in his column for The Telegraph.

?He is the man with the momentum and, on the same basis that I backed Mark Webber to win the title before Korea, is now my favourite to claim the world title in Abu Dhabi on Nov 14. ?When the cars are so evenly-matched you have to back the man in possession. Especially when that man is a two-time world champion and arguably the finest driver of his generation.?

The Mirror?s Byron Young drew comparisons between Alonso and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher as the Spaniard bids to become the sport?s youngest ever triple world champion.

?Like Schumacher, Alonso accepts no opposition within his team. Ultimately he fell out with McLaren over their refusal in 2007 to bring Lewis Hamilton to heel. ?He returned to Renault on condition he was No.1, only to be at the centre of the Singapore cheat scandal – engineered to hand him victory. ?The Spaniard has always denied involvement but at the German GP in July he was brazen enough to radio Ferrari to rein in team-mate Felipe Massa so he could start the winning streak that has taken him to the brink of history.?

Stefan Bellof Paul Belmondo Tom Belso JeanPierre Beltoise Olivier Beretta Allen Berg

Harry Blanchard Michael Bleekemolen Alex Blignaut Trevor Blokdyk Mark Blundell Raul Boesel

Sauber F1 Team launched their 2011 challenger, the C30 at Valencia on 31st Jan’11.

As compared to its C29 predecessor, the new racer comes with more aggressive sidepods and a single mounting for its rear-wing (rather than double mounting), while also incorporating a blown diffuser. In addition, it has been confirmed that the car will be fitted with a Ferrari-developed Kinetic Energy Recovery System starting with the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

?We want to finish in the points regularly and clearly improve our position in the FIA Formula 1 constructors’ world championship,? stated his intentions the very owner of the team Peter Sauber. ?2010 marked the 41st year of our company history and one of the most difficult.?

He insisted that after a difficult campaign in 2010, the team is now committed to progress.

?Never before had we faced such reliability problems, but we managed to overcome them in the second half of the season. We implemented some well-considered structural changes. The appointment of James Key as Technical Director already bore fruit last season, and he is now in charge of development of the Sauber C30-Ferrari.?

Technical specifications

Chassis	carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque
Suspension (front)	Upper and lower wishbones, inboard springs and dampers, actuated by Sachs pushrods
Suspension (rear)	as front
Engine	Ferrari Type 056 2,398 cc (146.3 cu in) 90° V8, limited to 18,000 RPM with optional 60 kW (80 hp) KERS naturally aspirated mid-mounted
Transmission	Seven-speed semi-automatic carbon-fibre sequential gearbox with reverse gear electronically-controlled, quick-shift Limited-slip differential
Weight	640 kg (1,411 lb) (including driver)
Fuel	Shell
Tyres	Pirelli P Zero
	OZ Wheels (front and rear): 13″

Link
Sauber C30 ? Launch Detail and Analysis (Scarbsf1′s Blog)
“Development was held back last year as the team focussed its resources on the new car, which first hit the wing tunnel in May. This switch in resource was partly the reason the exhaust blown diffuser was not developed in 2010. Their new car sports just such a device, with an interesting twist. Otherwise the car is largely a logical evolution of the already quite advance concept of the C29. With Key having sorted the Ferrari engine installation problems and the cars ride height sensitivity which blighted the teams early season last year, Now the team can expect a strong run in the midfield for 2011.”

Sauber C30 launch pictures

Photos © Sauber ag

Francois Cevert Eugene Chaboud Jay Chamberlain Karun Chandhok Alain de Changy Colin Chapman

I have been looking at my Micro-Mark catalog and thinking that I need to liquidate supplies from an older retired hobby to concentrate more on the many models in progress.  Well, one quick post this morning and that stuff is paid for and ships out today. 

So, I can't decide what I need from Micro-Mark or any other supplier for that matter.  What tools beyond an airbrush do you feel are indispensable or on the top of your want list?  I am building again alongside my teenage boys after decades of time off.  I currently have three models in various stages of completion and each is custom from chopping and sectioning to crew cabs on older trucks with detailed engines, interior and other points.  What are your favorite tools to accomplish such tasks and make life better?

Happy modeling,

James

Ian Burgess Luciano Burti Roberto Bussinello Jenson Button Tommy Byrne Giulio Cabianca

Rene Arnoux Peter Arundell Alberto Ascari Peter Ashdown Ian Ashley Gerry Ashmore

Giulio Cabianca Phil Cade Alex Caffi John CampbellJones Adrián Campos John Cannon

Adolf Brudes Martin Brundle Gianmaria Bruni Jimmy Bryan Clemar Bucci Ronnie Bucknum