Tamiya 1/20th Jaguar XJR9-LM

[dr_gn]

I'll have a go at this one:



The intention is to use the Studio 27 photo-etch set, carbon decals and Silk Cut logos (all aftermarket) plus additional scratchbuilt engine refinements.

Hopefully it will form 1/3 of my Group C project, the others being the Tamiya Sauber C9 (but using the Revell "Kouros" decals, and finally the Tamiya Rothmans Porsche 956. All with full engine detail.

[72twink]

Ahhhhhh, I remember that race like it was yesterday - my first Le Mans! These guys also do some sets for the XJR-9

http://www.scalemotorsport.com/merchant2/

I'll be taking careful note of this one as I too have that kit "in the stash"

[dr_gn]

72twink said:

Ahhhhhh, I remember that race like it was yesterday - my first Le Mans! These guys also do some sets for the XJR-9

http://www.scalemotorsport.com/merchant2/

I'll be taking careful note of this one as I too have that kit "in the stash"

Yeah, I remember the car too, but from '87 Silverstone 1000kms. I'm building the cars I remember watching, and that stick in my mind (luckily Tamiya do the main ones!). I built the Hasegawa version back in about 1990 - it's a nice model (and had "Silk Cut" decals as standard back then, but no mechanical detail.

Maybe you can help me with this question:

http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

The Scale Motorsport stuff looks great, but it's across the pond...Grand Prix models can get hold of it, so I might try them, but it would be unlikely I'd finish it in time (3-4 week delivery time).

[72twink]

I'll keep it tidy and answer here. From memory I seem to recall pictures of the winner with a tank taped repair over the rear o/s arch - you can see it in the top picture - maybe this was taken at an interim stage when the damage had been done but they'd not replaced the spat - it certainly didn't run long enough like that for it to register in my memory.

If I recall correctly the Hasegawa XJR-8 came in 2 versions, Sprint and Endurance, the sprint had a bigger rear wing, spats and a single headlamp nose whereas the endurance had smaller wing as per your pics, open rear wheels and twin headlamp nose. I saw the XJR-9 at LM and the 1000km at Brands later the same year, the configurations were as per the XJR-8 but I never saw a 9 run without spats.

I'll have a rummage around and dig out any pics I took and programmes etc if that would help?

[dr_gn]

72twink said:

I'll keep it tidy and answer here. From memory I seem to recall pictures of the winner with a tank taped repair over the rear o/s arch - you can see it in the top picture - maybe this was taken at an interim stage when the damage had been done but they'd not replaced the spat - it certainly didn't run long enough like that for it to register in my memory.

If I recall correctly the Hasegawa XJR-8 came in 2 versions, Sprint and Endurance, the sprint had a bigger rear wing, spats and a single headlamp nose whereas the endurance had smaller wing as per your pics, open rear wheels and twin headlamp nose. I saw the XJR-9 at LM and the 1000km at Brands later the same year, the configurations were as per the XJR-8 but I never saw a 9 run without spats.

I'll have a rummage around and dig out any pics I took and programmes etc if that would help?

Thanks for that: I think I'm slowly figuring it out now. As you say, there were two versions of the Hasegawa XJR-8, sprint and LM:





There was *also* the one I built, the XJR-9LM.



I'd assumed that there were just two Hasegawa models, both 9's, one open wheeled (LM), the other closed (Sprint). The open wheeled LM version is actually the 1987 Le Mans version I think?

This doesn't really explain why I have a photo that I took at the '87 1000kms of an XJR-9LM with open wheels. There was also an XJR-8 Sprint in that same race, small lights and closed wheels.

Next question is then: what is the difference between the XJR8 and the XJR9 ?

Thanks a lot for your help.

[72twink]

I was unaware that Hasegawa had done a XJR9 - learn something everyday! From my understanding there were only detail differences between an XJR8 and an XJR9 and some XJR8 were rebuilt as XJR9 for the '88 season, I have also always understood the chassis types to be seasonal so XJR8 ran in '87 and XR9 in '88 (but I'm willing to be corrected on that).

This does beg the question as to why there was a Sprint and LM spec car at the same race - was the race before LM and they were trying the low drag spec or was the Sprint spec new and they were hedging their bets, also are you sure the open wheeler was an XJR9 - TWR were kind in that they badged the cars so if you have a rear end shot you'd know for sure.

www.hiroboy.com also stocks Scale Motorsport but looks like he's out of stock of the Jag sets too!

[dr_gn]

72twink said:

I was unaware that Hasegawa had done a XJR9 - learn something everyday! From my understanding there were only detail differences between an XJR8 and an XJR9 and some XJR8 were rebuilt as XJR9 for the '88 season, I have also always understood the chassis types to be seasonal so XJR8 ran in '87 and XR9 in '88 (but I'm willing to be corrected on that).

This does beg the question as to why there was a Sprint and LM spec car at the same race - was the race before LM and they were trying the low drag spec or was the Sprint spec new and they were hedging their bets, also are you sure the open wheeler was an XJR9 - TWR were kind in that they badged the cars so if you have a rear end shot you'd know for sure.

www.hiroboy.com also stocks Scale Motorsport but looks like he's out of stock of the Jag sets too!

Yeah IIRC they were using the Silverstone 1000kms as a test for the XJR-9LM. The shots I have were from practice, but the team also entered an 8 according to the program.

Having said that, according to Wikipedia and this site:

http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/Silverstone-...

They were all 8's. I'm *sure* it was a 9 according to the program though. The 9 posted a DNF.

ETA, yep, see car #6 :

Edited by dr_gn on Tuesday 24th May 11:07

[72twink]

Hmmmmmmm the programme says XJR-9 with 6500cc engine - but a quick surf says one of the detail changes on the 9 was the 7 litre engine??? This needs more time to find out what the car actually was!

In looking around I did find a nice interior shot and one of the damaged rear clam but with Spat re-fitted.

http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/223851/jagu...

[dr_gn]

72twink said:

Hmmmmmmm the programme says XJR-9 with 6500cc engine - but a quick surf says one of the detail changes on the 9 was the 7 litre engine??? This needs more time to find out what the car actually was!

In looking around I did find a nice interior shot and one of the damaged rear clam but with Spat re-fitted.

http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/223851/jagu...

Yep I was looking at that website yesterday. It's a good shot of the correct carbon colours of the interior.

One of the daft things I remember fron 24 years ago (for no apparent reason) was Ian Tichmarsh saying that the XJR-9 was new, and the team were treating the race as a shakedown test for Le Mans. It retired with valve spring failure, so maybe it was the new, enlarged engine.

At the end of the day I want to model the car I saw, which *apparently* was an open wheeled XJR-9. Hopefully it's a question of simply cutting the spats out, using a different rear wing, and different mirrors. The photo I have shows gunmetal DYMAG wheels rather than the spoked gold/silver ones of the Le Mans version in
the article you linked to.

[72twink]

The evidence is starting to point that way - perhaps at that point they'd not even tried spats on an LM spec set up?? If you have pictures then you're mostly there.

I always prefer the look of the Dymag 5 spokes but every time I've seen the cars run since it's been on the later XJR10/12 split rims, it might just be a case of 24 year old Mag being unstable or simple economics.

[72twink]

DeCad in a 9

[Red Firecracker]

Drop Don Law an email at http://www.donlawracing.com/

They run the Jag XJR's in various places, including Goodwood, so if anyone can help, they can.

[dr_gn]

Why did I put 1:20 in the thread title? It´s 1:24.

[thatone1967]

really looking forward to seeing this.... some of the builds you have put together in the past have been downright stunning ( as have many on here)

[dr_gn]

thatone1967 said:

really looking forward to seeing this.... some of the builds you have put together in the past have been downright stunning ( as have many on here)

I appreciate your comments! I'm looking forward to it too. I've got the Studio 27 photo etch kit for it, some scale electrical connectors and a few other things on back order.

I did notice it was made in the Phillipines rather than Japan, and some of the detail isn't as crisp as on the S2000 I recently built. Anyway, we'll see!

[dr_gn]

So I made a start. I bought the technical analysis book from a shop on Amazon (only £11) and it's a useful reference.



I've also contacted Jaguar Heritage and they are sending me some engine detail photos I requested (they were very helpful).

Going for the Full Monty on this one, so I got the Studio27 etch set and some Tamiya seat belts. I was also given some machined electrical connectors:



One thing I need is scale braided hose. A contact gave me a sample of some cast white metal stuff, but it is extremely expensive. I also picked up some elasticated nylon braid from Hobbycraft fr 35p per metre. If anything, once overcoated with satin varish it looks more realistic:



One thing I couldn't find were machined aluminium inlet trumpets to replace the plastic ones which are too tapered and, well, plastic. I'm modelling mine sans air filter, becasue TBH it's not the most aesthetically pleasing engine bay, and the trumpets are its best feature IMO. I decided to make some. After experimenting with various methods, I ended up spinning them (much like the real things!) from Aluminium tube in my lathe. Basically it involved finding the right wall thickness of tube, spinning it at high rpm in a collet and pressing a hardened steel mandrel (in this case an old scrber tip) into the end. This tapers and flares the tube in one go:



The results were quite pleasing. Not perfect, but better than the plastic ones and hey, I made them, so I'll use them!



Doubt if it will be finished by the end of the group build since many of the detail parts I ordered (carbon decals, resin hose and wire connectors and clamps) from Grand Prix Models are on back order.

BTW, I'm building three Group C cars from my Silverstone 1000kms days in the '80's. Today I picked up a Tamiya Sauber C9 with photo etch for £25 from a shop not 5 miles from my house. I didn't know the shop existed until last Friday. It's a tiny shop, but absolutely rammed with Tamiya gear. Just need the Rothmans Porsche 956/962 now.

[perdu]

Oh that is lovely work on the inlet trumpets doc, funny enough I came across a length of braided elastic t'other day which I have stashed for the same purpose as you show.

I havent even started mine yet, probably not worth starting my thread on it.

(But I do have my metallic blue now)

I think I will sit it out and enjoy your builds this time round

[dr_gn]

perdu said:

Oh that is lovely work on the inlet trumpets doc, funny enough I came across a length of braided elastic t'other day which I have stashed for the same purpose as you show.

I havent even started mine yet, probably not worth starting my thread on it.

(But I do have my metallic blue now)

I think I will sit it out and enjoy your builds this time round

Cheers Perdu, If you (or anyone else for that matter) fancy having a go at the Revell Sauber C9, but with the Tamiya C9 wheels, decals (and probably p/e set that comes with the kit) substituted, just let me know. It's a 'kerbside' model with no engine detail and would be very straightforward to build. The unused Tamiya decals will be the "AEG" ones. As I said before, I bought the Revell C9 primarily for the "Kouros" decals that came with it.

[dr_gn]

Here are the trumpets test assembled to the plenum box. I might substitute a couple for the spares I made to make them all as similar as I can. Much better than the plastic originals even now:

[Eric Mc]

Great work there. I still haven't found my Lotus 7 model so I may drop out of the group build.