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 Rank: Vice-Master       Groups: Registered
Joined: 07/01/2015 Posts: 856 Points: 2,479 Location: Sevenoaks, UK
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A few days ago I asked which of the two kits I have in mind I should build next, and you guys helped me to choose: the majority of votes went to Tamiya's old but still perky Porsche 935 in Martini livery. Who am I to argue? 
So here it is.
The kit occupies a large box, so big in fact, it only just fit into my light box (which is 70cm wide). I won't bore you with sprue photos, but the box is beautiful and conveniently shows some internal details of this racing machine - so here it is.
The kit is a refreshed version from 2009, adding some photo-etched metal and new issue of decals to already excellent kit from 1977 (which is incidentally the same year I was born in, so it will be a kind of double 40 years anniversary build.) I just realised that, so here it is.
But that is not the only box that will be used in the construction of this kit. Behold, the famed and elusive Super Detail Kit from Scale Motorsport, one of just 505 ever made.
Inside we can find 8 sheets of photo-etched metal of various colours. Well, seven and a quarter really, but the last is one full of tiny details and utilises the convenient technique of using rubber-backed photo etch that doesn't require any attachments points between parts and the fret. Very convenient.
Next is a piece of seat belt material, but I'm not sure I'll use it - there's also a version in the Tamiya's box (another 2009 addition if I'm not mistaken) and I'll have to choose between the two.
Before I move on to more exciting things, here's the biggest disappointment of the details kit - the beautiful livery decal sheet has a glaring mistake. Can you see the wavy stripes on the top left and bottom left of the sheet? The wide dark navy strip should have another light blue strip on it. I'll have to use the base kit's decals, or maybe I'll cut the strip out of them and apply over the Scale Motorsport decal. We will see.
The instruction is mostly wonderful. It's wonderful because it's quite detailed, and follows the steps of the Tamiya's instructions, explaining what to add or modify on the each step of the build according to Tamiya. The "mostly" part refers to the fact it follows the build steps of the original 1977 release, and there are various differences and changes to the order and numbering of things. The other thing the "mostly" part refers to, is that the instructions don't cover everything. There are details missing around window framing and throttle linkage - while the parts are on the p/e frets, they don't get a single mention outside of the parts list. I'll have to use reference photos for that.
But even that's not so easy. You see, at some point early in the history of 935, Porsche was forced to get rid of the water-to-air intercooler they installed in the original few cars and replace it with an air-to-air intercooler of a completely different construction. This was done to reduce the height of the engine and fit it under a standard production model-based Porsche 911 engine hood. The expanded hood that could fit the first version of intercooler was deemed too much diversion from the road car and against the rules.
Unfortunately all cars that were racing got modified this way, and this is what all reference photos are showing. The Tamiya kit, on the other hand, seems to be based on the first version of the car. I was unable to find a single photo showing the original construction - the only reference is the image on the box. This would be fine, but the changes also required modifying throttle linkage, which is conveniently missing from the details kit manual.
Fortunately the throttle linkage of Porsche 934 seems similar to the one used in early 935, at least based on the box picture, and of course there are Tamiya parts which can pretty well work as a guide.
Ah, and I almost have forgotten about the photo CD included in the SMS Details Kit. It's a wonderful piece of reference material. Aaaand it also shows the version of engine with replacement air-to-air intercooler. Not cool.
To sweeten the deal, apart from the construction manual, the details kit also contains wiring and tubing diagrams for many electrical and hydraulic systems of the car: complete ignition loom, cooling, lubrication and fuel system, and so on. This will come very handy for superdetailing.
So, I better stop babbling. Here's the shot of the manual.
And here's what under the manual - the turned parts. I'll just leave it here because frankly, I'm speechless.
While waiting for the details kit to arrive, I managed to get a head start on the construction. This was possible mostly thanks to courtesy of Matthew from Scale Motorsport who sent me the PDF version of manual - so I could see what I can do while waiting for the parcel, and which parts I can start to modify.
Humble beginnings of the engine with injector pump, so far unpainted (the pump was chromed but I stripped the chrome from all the parts with some oven cleaner before starting). BTW, the gray (almost silver-looking) plastic part from the only sprue that seems to be injected in the modern Tamiya plastic. The rest is either the harder plastic they have used in the past, or the quite soft light yellow plastic under the chrome and on two other sprues that mimics the look of fiberglass.
Did I say mimics? Well, not very successfully. Here's the fuel tank and the cooling shroud dry-fitted on the engine. I have some plans for it...
And here's the chassis with the main floorpan - details that will be replaced with P/E already removed, and some other parts glued in:
And that's it for now, watch this space for more soon :)Any images I post on my personal builds are free to be used and shared under Creative Commons Attribution license, which means you can do what you want with them, on the condition you mention I'm the author.
Happy building :-) http://www.model-space.com/gb/
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 Rank: Super-Elite  Groups: Registered
Joined: 17/12/2013 Posts: 3,982 Points: 11,974 Location: NY, USA
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 Very detailed kit and a great start Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
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What an amazing set of parts
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Great start to what is almost certainly going to be a superb build, I will be following this!
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 Rank: Pro  Groups: Registered
Joined: 22/02/2017 Posts: 155 Points: 474 Location: Ireland
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That all looks fantastic michu. I'll follow this with great interest. Graham I was drowning my sorrows. But my sorrows they'd learned to swim.
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Rank: Vice-Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 07/01/2015 Posts: 856 Points: 2,479 Location: Sevenoaks, UK
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Thank you guys. Some initial thoughts: - The Tamiya kit certainly shows its age. There is a fairly amount of cleanup needed - the mold parting lines are quite prominent at places, and I've also seen and cleaned some flash already. The fit is not what more recent Tamiya's products taught me to expect, but it's not that bad either. I had two instances of parts that wanted to occupy the same space :D so some shaving and trimming was in order. But nothing that can't be easily resolved. - What's in the kit box and in the details kit won't be enough! I'll need to get at least some extra wiring and various fittings to replicate all of the plumbing of original car. It grows into a serious project, but that's fine. I don't want this beautiful details kit to go to waste by skimming over areas which it doesn't cover. - While I built my last Porsche as a showroom car, this one will be weathered. I'm planning to achieve the look of a car that has seen some races already. To summarise, this is all well above my skill level. But that's the way to grow, I guess... :) Any images I post on my personal builds are free to be used and shared under Creative Commons Attribution license, which means you can do what you want with them, on the condition you mention I'm the author.
Happy building :-) http://www.model-space.com/gb/
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Rank: Super-Elite Groups: Registered
Joined: 17/12/2013 Posts: 3,982 Points: 11,974 Location: NY, USA
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Good information Micu.I think you will do this justice based on your previous builds.
Carl
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Rank: Administration  Groups: Registered, Forum Support Team, Administrators, Global Forum Support Team, Moderator, Official Builds Joined: 09/11/2012 Posts: 8,301 Points: 23,991 Location: East midlands
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That looks like one neat kit. Good luck and looking forward to your build. Regards delboy271155 (Derek) COME BACK GUY FAWKES "YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU"
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Rank: Super-Elite  Groups: Registered
Joined: 28/07/2014 Posts: 4,269 Points: 12,713 Location: Scotland
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Looking good i think everyone loves Tamiya kits   will follow regards Phil COMING SOON =1/72 Italeri diorama`s Battle for the Reichstag and Stalingrad battle at the tractor factory 1/16 Trumpeter King Tiger with loads of extras ON THE GO= refurbishment of 1/25 Tamiya tiger 1 , amt Star trek kits and space 1999 models
So Much to Build,But What a Hobby!
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Rank: Super-Elite  Groups: Registered
Joined: 27/01/2014 Posts: 5,060 Points: 14,980
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Nice start Those turned parts in the detail kit look absolutely beautiful
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Rank: Super-Elite  Groups: Registered
Joined: 19/06/2013 Posts: 4,588 Points: 13,553 Location: West Yorkshire
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This is going to be a great build definitely one to follow. Al
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Rank: Super-Elite  Groups: Registered
Joined: 30/01/2013 Posts: 4,604 Points: 13,607 Location: Monmouthshire UK
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Looks an absolutely awesome kit, especially with the rarity of the extras you have. Good luck with it, looking forward to more Steve
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Rank: Super-Elite  Groups: New Members, Unapproved Joined: 11/11/2009 Posts: 3,432 Points: 10,280 Location: Colwyn bay
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Very nice kit there. Those extras are really nice it's going to turn out a real nice model when finished. Chris On the bench 1/350 Revell Tirpitz Platinum Edition (Pontos PE and Wooden deck) plus extra Eduard PE set and extra MK1 door sets.
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This is certainly one I'll be watching, good luck with the build..... Regards Alan
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Rank: Vice-Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 07/01/2015 Posts: 856 Points: 2,479 Location: Sevenoaks, UK
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This baby is for now on hold. Weird thing has happened. Probably someone versed in psychology could be able to explain this, I'm completely baffled. Some time ago I asked here on the forums which kit I should build next - this one, or the McLaren MP4/6. The overwhelming response was in favour of Porsche, so this build and this diary has been started. The thing is... I've been waiting to collect all aftermarket I've been planing to use with McLaren for a few months. I've been absolutely hyped up to start that build. Not sure why I even asked, probably it was the joy of sourcing the ultra-rare details kit for Porsche that temporarily made these two builds equally desirable for me. No longer the case. And the funny thing is that starting the kit I am less excited about caused me to completely lose my mojo and leave the bench for four months, with only some short sessions during that time. So, this one goes on hold. A new diary will pop up over the weekend for McLaren. And even without asking, I'm pretty sure this one will go back on the bench next, after finishing the McLaren. It just works like that, in this order, in my head. The brain can sometimes be a funny animal. It's quite a relief that I figured out where has my muse gone. Now this is out of the way, I have been building every day since Monday. So, see you later, Porsche. Any images I post on my personal builds are free to be used and shared under Creative Commons Attribution license, which means you can do what you want with them, on the condition you mention I'm the author.
Happy building :-) http://www.model-space.com/gb/
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Rank: Pro Groups: Registered, Official Builds Joined: 10/02/2012 Posts: 475 Points: 1,237
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Sweet! The detail kit looks fantastic. I wonder why MFH has passed this car over, thus far? They would do a great job of it too. Tired, Old, and Cranky!
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 Rank: Master  Groups: Registered
Joined: 07/07/2015 Posts: 1,292 Points: 3,928 Location: Allentown PA
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They are your kits do them how you feel happy working on them. I do look forward to when you get back to this one as it has always been my favorite racing Porsche.
DeAgostini kit builds:
Millennium Falcon: 18% Complete
Shelby GT-500: 28% Complete
Thunderbird 2: 13.75% Complete
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Rank: Vice-Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 07/01/2015 Posts: 856 Points: 2,479 Location: Sevenoaks, UK
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Yeah, I know, I'm just sharing the story as a tale about how a weird psychological effect might be a total mojo killer. The moral of the story is - build what you want the most, folks. I've heard plenty of stories how, for example, taking a commission build can completely kill the mojo. I guess this is exactly the same mechanism. Funny thing is I really do want to build that Porsche. Just not in this order. And this was enough to keep me away from the bench for so long. I made the right decision now and it's like flipping a switch - can't wait to start building in the evening while sitting at work during the day. Any images I post on my personal builds are free to be used and shared under Creative Commons Attribution license, which means you can do what you want with them, on the condition you mention I'm the author.
Happy building :-) http://www.model-space.com/gb/
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Hello Michal,
Don't know how, but I missed your unveiling of this Porsche build, apologies, but what a fantastic kit and set of detail parts?!
I am sure it will build into an awesome model, especially after seeing what you did with your 1:12 Porsche Carerra GT build. I fully understand why you are putting it aside though as the same thing happens to me and I suspect a lot of other modellers from time to time and once the mojo has gone on a project, it is VERY difficult to get it back without walking away for a while?! On the plus side, I am super pleased that you will be building your 1:12 McLaren MP4/6. I used to have that kit along with the very rare 'Perfect Parts' detail set for the chassis and engine (couldn't find the brake detail set anywhere though). Unfortunately had to sell it some years ago for financial reasons before I even got to start the build, but wish I hadn't, that really hurt!! However, I will comfort myself by watching your build instead Michal and I wish you luck with it - I'll be following your McLaren build all the way, and if I'd seen your original request for which kit to build I would have said the McLaren immediately. 
Great fun using these superdetail parts isn't it and they are worth the expense as they make all the difference to a model. I have just finished building all four brake disc/hub assemblies on my 1:20 McLaren MP4/4 build and though very fiddly in that scale I enjoyed it immensely and the reward was a great feeling of satisfaction when I had finished them (photos added to build diary)!
Thanks for sharing Michal, I'll be watching!!
Kev 
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