Notes: Since there doesn't seem to be a model of this coming at all, let alone any time soon, I decided to make it another decal project of mine. Originally I was going to wait for the Marsh Models kit to come out and build from there. The Penske version should match the Dyson bodywork. The cars that ran the LMS and Le Mans do have subtle, minor, but annoying changes to them.

After further thinking about it, I was ready to move on with my project, so I bought a Spark Model to strip the paint and take apart. Not so much building, but not straightforward either. I needed to make the front fender parts again since Spark didn't make these correctly, and I needed to add the vents across the top of the front fenders. For the vents, I used the smallest available Evergreen quarter round strips, cut to size. For the 2 parts each side tieing the front fenders to the body, I used sheet aluminum for the larger one and plastic sheet for the smaller panel towards the front. The larger panel is trickier due to needing to bend and fit the space correctly. I used the original Spark part to get the size and shape I wanted, doing my best to replicate it on the opposite side. Little front winglets also needed to be made. A paper pattern and some sheet plastic helps make that. Repeat for other side. That's it for body mods. I did need to remake the fuel filler later, as I seem to be doing a fine job dropping and losing at least one part per model these days. That was remade with different sizes of round tubing. A little tape on the outside fit the part to space. Then I painted the outer and inner areas black leaving the raised ring unpainted. Fit in place and done.

But this project is all about the 25th Anniversary livery. Originally I was going to paint the orange and decal the yellow. I was advised to try and make the orange part decal also. It does make things easier as far as symetry. Harder to work out the decal pattern. Besides, if I painted, I would then to need to add the thin black outline to the orange. I generally avoid masking if possible. Utimately, I'm glad I made them decals. Wasn't so sure for a while, but strong hairdryer use, and choosing to print on the stronger white decal paper made it all work. The regular clear decal film wouldn't hold up to the compound curves of the body. And any overlap would be rather noticable. No problems there with the white paper.

Other than stripping the paint, and having to melt the larger decals in place, it was pretty easy taking apart and putting things back together. Most parts do pop off. Just keep track of them when they do. Good organization doesn't hurt with the smaller parts. But you don't really need instructions either. Depends how long it goes between taking it apart and putting it back together. But then, it is always handy having some extras for the parts bin. Since these photos were taken, I've added more carbon fiber decals around the cockpit and on the front winglets. Still more can be added to the rear wing support and so forth as well.