Cowley's latest projects...

I like guessing games

You can all carry on guessing away until the cows come home - I'm just not going to ackowledge you that's all lol!

Ah! In that case, it must be Michael Shield's car, then!

How big can you get the font on the forum, David? Steve

Aha! That's about 8" across, which is quite a big font! Hang on, maybe it's another clue, you cheeky so-and-so!?

I got it, it's Tarzan's chimp-friend, Cheetah? Hold up, he didn't compete in rallycross, he couldn't reach the pedals! Perhaps it's Barry Lee and his Toleman 6R4? Mr Lee was known to ape around on the circuits. And he was one of the early competitors in rallycross, but never in a 6R4. Oh, this is more tricky than I thought, David.

Who is it, then? Barry Hathaway? Cor Euser? Steve

Sometimes, just sometimes Steve - I really don't know what hallucinogenic substance you've been smoking mate!

But whatever it is lol, can I have some?

Cowley wrote:Sometimes, just sometimes Steve - I really don't know what hallucinogenic substance you've been smoking mate!

But whatever it is lol, can I have some?

David, I've never smoked anything (not even held a lit cigarette!), but I am wondering if there's something else in the insulin I inject!! Wouldn't recommend trying it unless you really have to! Five jabs a day makes me feel like a tea bag . Have just realised that might sound dodgy for those who involve themselves with video games... but it's not what you're thinking!

Sorry David, the answer to your query is, it's my warped sense of humour! And you're welcome to it! I'm busy this week and next inflicting it on audiences in two musicals I'm performing in. First one opens tonight in Walton on Thames. Can't wait!

Thinking of answers to questions, what was your answer to ours? Both Mark and I want to know! I could plump for Steve Palmer as that leaves plenty of options open. He used quite a few, multi-coloured liveries which would make a fabulous collection in themselves....starting with the de-stickered version of the Rothmans colour scheme his car had when he collected it at Brands Hatch! Now there is an idea!

Cheers, Steve

Fair play to you mate for taking my comments n the manner in which they were made. My father was insulin dependent for over 60 years, so to an extent I know a little of what you are going through. He beat diabetes with courage, but it was 'The Big C' that got him in the end. Anyway, I digress....

Steve Palmer, Michael Shield, Barry Hathaway and Cor Euser are all very worthwhile subjects to make a model of, and I dare say a couple of them might well be part of my future plans. However, I am NOT going to say anymore on the subject of my current rallycross 6R4 model project - you will have to wait and see! I'm not saying YES to any of them, just as much as I'm not saying NO to any of them also!

Sorry Steve, but we will all get so much more satisfaction from the finished model if I keep the subject matter to myself, and you don't know what it's going to be!

Hampton Caught wrote:starting with the de-stickered version of the Rothmans colour scheme his car had when he collected it at Brands Hatch! Now there is an idea!

Any photos of that one?

There's some in the Retrocrosser group on Facebook, Juha - quite a simple conversion by the looks of things...

This is what the plain white bodyshell a few pages back eventually turned into - David Llewellin's 1986 Rothmans Circuit of Ireland Rally 'Austin Rover Motorsport' liveried winning entry...







This was created by applying some decals from an old RPM resin kit, along with a few decals of my own, ie coloured wheel centres / wheel nuts, and the number plates (as I didn't like the ones included on the decal sheet). The Michelin men were also added from my spares and remnants, as the ones on the original sheet were far too small and weak.

Next on my work bench are the following two : (left to right) the 'before' gloss paint stage is going to be David Llewellin's 1986 National Breakdown Rally entry (also using some old RPM resin kit decals), and the 'after' gloss paint stage is going to be... Well, I'm not 100% too sure to be honest!... Maybe it will be 001 of my future Code 3 production run lol... Time will tell, but either way, you can guarantee that it won't stay plain white for long!



Even though I say it myself, I am very pleased with the paint finish on the latter. All I used was one coat of primer, warmed the Halfords Appliance Gloss White in a jug of boiling water for 30 seconds, and then applied two coats of that, and it all seems 'ticketty-boo' as far as I can see - no need to polish and no need to lacquer to get a good quality shine!

A tip I picked up from Simon was to add the door pods on separately after the gloss paint stage - that way the gap between the two is still evident, and not filled in with paint as it is on the other model further up this page lol - doh! The front spoiler is also added on separately, after I have painted the black holes in the front bumper otherwise it does restrict access to them somewhat.

That CoI one is sweet David. Very sweet, indeed.

Thanks you Ted, that is very much appreciated.

I enjoyed making this model immensely, especially as it is such a historically significant model...

FIRST International victory for the MG Metro 6R4, David Llewellin, and the R-E-D team!
FIRST Four Wheel Drive victory on the Circuit of Ireland!...

...and on such a hard, long and demanding rally as well! For added reference material, I usually try and find videos on You Tube, and for this particular event the footage is absolutely immense - Part One of five 25 minute programmes is here! > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUBS0ZYZjNc < watch it, and then you will be taken to the next part.

Rallying was so much different in that era - five days, early starts, late finishes, long days, long stages... ...God I miss it!

Juha wrote:

Hampton Caught wrote:starting with the de-stickered version of the Rothmans colour scheme his car had when he collected it at Brands Hatch! Now there is an idea!

Any photos of that one?

Hi Juha, I would have replied that I didn't have any photos of the car when I first saw it on the back of a lorry at Brands, but then David came up trumps with the photos of the car in action (and partial 'destruction' ) at a later date. I do like that idea still, though!

And a very many thanks to David for digging out the photos splendid stuff! I wonder what (or who) Steve Palmer had bumped into before that shot of the re-arranged bonnet and removed rear wing?! Something pretty solid, I'd guess? Maybe a Volvo 340?

Cheers, Steve

Cowley wrote:There's some in the Retrocrosser group on Facebook, Juha - quite a simple conversion by the looks of things...

Excellent. I just downloaded the hi-res versions.

Any idea what the small light blue logo is next to the TRX sticker on the side?

Dai's Circuit winning 6R4 is pure class, must go away and do my own. It's historic significance alone makes it a have to have in the collection. Well done superb work..

Juha wrote:

Cowley wrote:There's some in the Retrocrosser group on Facebook, Juha - quite a simple conversion by the looks of things...

Excellent. I just downloaded the hi-res versions.

Any idea what the small light blue logo is next to the TRX sticker on the side?

No problems Juha - I'm always happy to help if I can!

Not sure on the blue & white sticker, but it must be a championship or a series sponsor as it is also on some other cars in photo taken at the same meeting as well. Leave it with me and I will do some digging around.

Good thinking there!

I also saved pics of the Mavropoulos Quattro and it's on his car too.

Niallod wrote:Dai's Circuit winning 6R4 is pure class, must go away and do my own. It's historic significance alone makes it a have to have in the collection. Well done superb work..

Thank you very much Niall - that does indeed mean a great deal.

The 1986 event was such a 5-day tarmac marathon, and for Dai and the Metro to emerge victorious, it really was totally against any pre-event predictions, or previous 'form' of the other entrants! For a start the Metro by then had gained a reputation of being somewhat weak, and on a long hard tarmac event against proven opposition of the previously dominant and bullet-proof Mantas, it was not predicted to do very well. Add in the fact of Dai's relative inexperience on such events, and the fact that R-E-D were a fairly new team to the British Rally Championship at the time, and it really does bring home the significance of such an important victory. Just watch the YouTube clips if anybody is in any doubt!

Cheers again Niall, as your kind words and compliments are very much appreciated.

Juha wrote:Good thinking there!

I also saved pics of the Mavropoulos Quattro and it's on his car too.

Yeah I noticed it on Dimi's Audi as well, so it must be in the regulations that all cars competing in that event or series must carry the sticker.

Apparently - and this really has nothing to do with 'Cowley's latest projects.... - but I have been told...

I could be wrong but i think it was a company called 'Applied' who used to come to meetings and jet wash the cars in exchange for them running their stickers

...it certainly looks like it says 'Applied' Juha.

That'll do it then. Looking at Youtube footage it's 1988.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBbg7m5V0-k

Llewellin CoI 86 model pics are getting me outta the bat cave. Looks outstanding mate, love it. Need to get the full run.... Skip Brown, Port Talbot, Scottish, Hunsruck & Ulster...Have I forgotten any?? Seeing as you have the Manx. RAC, National Breakdown & Welsh are(were) available.

Many thanks Dave, that is very kind of you - all you need to do now is stay out of that 'batcave' long enough to complete your own mate!

The full run of Llewellin's 1986 6R4 entries is : Skip Brown, National Breakdown, Circuit of Ireland, Welsh, Scottish, Port Talbot, Hunsruck, Ulster, Manx, and finally the RAC to finish the season off - so you were absolutely spot on with your summary of his 6R4 carer mate! We'll make an anorak of you yet lol!

The only Llewellin models that I have at the moment are the National Breakdown (on the model bench now!), Circuit of Ireland, and the Manx. I do however have decals to produce the Hunsruck, Scottish and RAC when I find a moment, and when I source the appropriate base models.