Williams FW08 1983
Tameo kit | TMK 297
Kit Notes: 19 July 1983, Donington, Private test. There was only one thing that attracted me to this kit: the FW16. If I had not come across that kit sitting further down the store shelf, I would not have returned to this one. And vice-versa. They make up an homage to Senna, ‘bookends’ if you like, although that depiction is somewhat tacky. This is a much more sophisticated kit compared to the FW16. Turned parts and photo-etch are more abundant than that earlier kit and the part count is increased. The turned lower wing support and shift lever are worthy of note. Also the white metal brake calipers are a substantial improvement are over photo-etch. What a shame that they are almost completely obscured from sight once the wheels are attached. Same goes about the two piece brake discs complete with ventilation holes. The instructions show the intake ‘snorkels’ as a separate piece. They are in fact, cast together with the body and therefore prevented any attempt to deepen the openings. That and laziness. It was difficult trying to decide whether or not to fill in the panel line where the snorkel ‘attaches’ to the body shell. All supplied renderings do not show any panel line indicating this is a separate body part and all pictures I referenced were inconclusive. The lines were left intact, again partially due to laziness. I’d like to offer two points that I have found very helpful when building the body. One: after preparing the body for decals, do not drop the white metal body onto a tile floor. Two: after mending the damage caused by point one, do not drop the freshly re-painted body onto a linty carpeted floor. Either (alone) may lead to questions as to whether this chosen hobby has any actual stress reliving therapeutic qualities. And as if that was not enough, it was confirmed that a super-glue bonded rear wing will shatter even if dropped from a height of 6 inches. Moving on to the suspension now. The multi-piece rear assembly consists of white metal gearbox, hubs, and upper suspension, photo-etch lower arms and support frames, and turned shocks and drive shaft boots. Together, they form a rigid substructure that allows only one method for adjustment in setting the ride height: brute force. The front was matched to the rear, requiring nothing more than bending and gluing the photo-etch suspension arms. I thought it sat too high until I attached the front wing end-plates (look at the clearance). Additional details include a reshaped roll bar; it needed to be shortened and the top be wider than as cast, strands of wire simulating toggle switches on the dashboard, and the gearbox linkage added. The exposed monocoque where the front suspension connects was masked and left unpainted. Why use a silver decal to simulate metal when you are working with metal? On display next to the FW16, this car looks almost cartoon-ish in shape, stance and proportions. I will trust Tameo to have gotten the form correct. Together they act as a snapshot to the advances in engineering, safety and aerodynamic theory that occurs over any ten (eleven) year period. |