Real "Period Correct" Speed Racer Mach V

[Art Laski]

This model was intended to be a quick build to participate in the Theme class at the Spirit of Speed Model Contest held at the NHRA Museum last Sunday, November 4th. I have a hard time building for contest themes because I am usually heavily involved in some long term build, and just don't usually have time to build for them. But in this case, I had some time, and had a kit and an idea I had kicked around for a while, "What would Speed Racer's Mach V look like if it were a real race car and not a cartoon?". Well, I thought I would find out! I decided to make it period correct with details on the race cars around the mod to late sixties, also when the series was first running. Details and styling cues were borrowed from the GT 40, of course, as well as the Lola T70 and 427 Cobras.

I started with the Polar Lights 1/25 scale kit (which actually looks a little smaller), and had some HRM GT-40 wheels and tires I got from my friend Randy Ditton at Mode Builder's Warehouse (www.modelbuilderswh.com). I had to open up the rear wheel wells and add flares to fit the tires, but the fronts fit right in. I also decided to flip the headlights over, since no real race cars had them on the underside at the time. 

I thought about making it rear-engined, but the proprtions were off to be able to do that, so I scribed a hood, added a hood scoop, and side pipes to represent the engine being up front.

I added a roll bar and re-did the interior, and added Pro Tech accessories for the windshield nuts and spoiler bolts, hood pins, and fuel cap (available at scaleproshop.com). 

See the WIP HERE

Hope you like it, and thanks for looking!

Edited November 8, 2018 by Art Laski

[Art Laski]

 

Edited November 8, 2018 by Art Laski

[Art Laski]

[Dennis Lacy]

I spent a good amount of time looking at it at the show last weekend and I think you nailed your idea. It looks killer sitting on those wheels and tires, the flipped headlights are sweet and the interior is awesome. Would have been my pick for the theme award!

[slusher]

Fantastic ,creative, and impressive build Art!

[TooOld]

Love it  ! Great build Art ! 

[Dave Van]

I really like what you did.......cool.

[OldTrucker]

Art is the man!

You really nailed it! This could have been something that would have been built back then if one looks back at some of the wild looking body designs that were run!

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

That's really cool. Big smile.  

[Hooked on Chaparral]

Beautiful  job Art, it just flows so well. WOW!!

[Jonathan]

This is a work of art!

Or should I say, a Work of Art.  

Absolutely brilliant work and I enjoyed seeing the WIP as well.

[Rider]

Very cool looking, I like all the changes you have made to it. 

[espo]

You took an otherwise uninteresting kit and really made something great out of it. The way you finished the body and decals make it outstanding. For myself it's the way you did the interior and all of the fine detailing that really make this such a standout. 

[FabbricaP]

Very cool and fun build Art

[Lovefordgalaxie]

Looks cool to the extreme. 

I'm not a fan of the headlights on top, as the original position is kind of a trademark of the car, like the M on the hood, and the overall design, but I understand why you changed it, and I would end doing the same thing. 

The execution os top notch. Paint, finish, all are great, and the car looks very believable, and not just a fictional piece.

[Silver Foxx]

Well done on all of this , it looks awesome .

[Ken Gilkeson]

excellent

[Dragonhawk1066]

Phenomenal job! Very well done! Great craftsmanship on this one. She looks very realistic and believable as a racer from...say the 60's to compete against maybe the Cobras and Ferraris of the period. Bravo!!

 

[bbowser]

What can I add?  Great model.

[da_ashman]

Great work, Looks awesome!

[Dentz]

IMHO The Mach 5 never looked better although I confess I'm not much of a cartoon car fan. You nailed an early 60's concept Sebring car or the like if one was unaware of Speed Racer. Well Done!

[Ralph Henderson]

Very cool.  I followed this as a WIP but it came out looking like it couldv'e come from the manufacturer like this.  Great concept and execution.  Looks like it could be competing with the Cobras, Scarabs, Ferrari's and Chaparral's of the day.

Great job!

[89AKurt]

I don't know what the original kit looks like, but this is done so well that I can't tell what was changed.  Very fun subject, thumbs up 'like'.

[Tonioseven]

This is pretty freakin' COOL!!! I wasn't sure I'd like it at first (not that my opinion matters) but you completely made me a fan of this build!! I'm going to start on one of my full-detail Aoshima Mach V kits pretty soon as a result of this beauty! Thanks for sharing the build! 

[Metalmad]

Art the Mach 5 came out awesome !