SPA Modeler

PART I: PORSCHE RS-60

Engine Location : Mid
Drive Type : Rear Wheel
Body / Chassis : Aluminum body on steel spaceframe chassis
Production Years for Series : 1960
Weight : 1279 lbs | 580.145 kg
Type: 547/3
Engine Type: I4 1600 cc | 97.6 cu in. | 1.6 L.
148 HP (108.928 KW) @ 7800 RPM
130 Ft-Lbs (176 NM)
Bore: 85.0 mm | 3.346 in.
Stroke: 66.0 mm | 2.598 in.
Transmission: 5 Manual



Like the RS 60, RS 61s were offered to privateers in almost identical format to the cars campaigned by Porsche themselves, and the RS 61 available today is one of those privateer-campaigned Spyders. Chassis 718-066 is one of the earliest RS 61 chassis constructed, and it is graced with a fantastic U.S. racing history under the names of two very well-known privateers, Bob Donner and Don Wester.

When asked about the car, Donner’s wife remarked that “it was one of his very favorite cars” and that the family had many fond memories of the car with Bob behind the wheel. There is no doubt that some of those memories come from the 1961 12 Hours of Sebring, which was quite far from Donner’s home state of Colorado. At Sebring, Bob Donner, Don Sesslar, and Ernie Erickson drove 718-066 to an incredible 7th place overall finish and 2nd in their class. Later that year, the car was entered in the USAC Sports Car race at Pikes Peak, where it proved to revel off the mountain air and finish in 1st place.

Don Wester, owner of Wester Motors, a Monterey, California, area Porsche and Volkswagen dealer, purchased this RS 61 from Bob Donner in 1963. Under Wester’s ownership, the car was repainted in a distinct two-tone yellow and black paint job, one which was adorned by many of Wester’s cars, making it easy for fans and competitors alike to identify his Spyder on the track. Wester also replaced the Porsche’s original 1,600-cubic centimeter engine with a 1,700 Homer Worth engine for added power and torque; this was something that he did with many of his racing cars.

Sotheby’s catalogue/provenance
In 2014 this car sold at auction for 2,750,000 USD

PART II: REVELL 1/24 RS-60

Type: 1/24 slot car
Body: styrene plastic
Frame: aluminum
Tires: rubber
Year: 1966









PART III: THE BUILD

Beautiful aftermarket resin figures from Immense Miniatures.
Handmade in the great state of Texas.





Sculpting contour curves.





It was a bit tricky/tough/nerve-wracking to open the cockpit.
Now I am adding the driver for fit ideas.
This is a "plate" installation above the motor.

Don Wester's race livery was Light Yellow, black nose spear.
His race number was always 60.

This should be fun...

BUILD DRIVER TEST FIT

I am so glad you are here!
I repositioned the driver’s arms by cutting the resin pieces at the elbow, then gluing in position first.
Your advice about using glue and sanding to roughen the surface worked well.
I have not finished with sanding and whatnot but I feel pretty pumped!

Ahhhh, the good old days when drivers had no cell phones!

Stikpusher wrote:Ahhhh, the good old days when drivers had no cell phones!

That quote gets a big “thumbs up,” bud.

Also I have the “Han Solo in Carbonite” idea to take the top parts of his legs from the lower half.
A visual “cheat,” it may fill out the dead zone a bit better!

In that case I suppose that the trick will be giving the illusion of depth on the legs and such.

You are right, Carlos.
Good thoughts.
The trick will be creating the impression that there is depth.
Thanks, bud.