Triple build--Johnny Rutherford's 1970s McLaren Indy cars.

Modeling Subjects Autos
1

Hey everyone! Long time no see! [:D] I’ve been into my own build here, not really posting work blogs, and this project took me WAY longer than I expected it to!

I started about 6 months ago; it sounded good on paper–built not just one, but all three orange “Lone Star JR” McLarens from the 1970s. Correct what I could without turning it into a major project, and modify what could be done without a lathe and blueprints. Well, it took me five old hard-to-find kits to get what I finally am calling “finished”. Pretty pleased with how they came out–I could have done a little more detailing, but after quite a few frustrating setbacks and rebuilds–not to mention paint screwups, glossing difficulties and decal replacements, I stuck with basics. I corrected the rears of the cowlings as best I could, used some Indycal exhaust pipes, modified other kit parts, shortened the wings where needed, built new front spoilers, usd some Indycal fuel ports and roll bars and used Indycal decals. Gotta love Indycals! ;)

I used to go up to Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond when I was a kid with my Dad, and Johnny Rutherford was my hero. We used to get the pit pass, go to practices, races, and I had an RC Cola satin jacket covered in race patches. My Dad built me the AMT McLaren when it came out. I can still see him trying to mix the correct color of orange…great memories.

So here’s my new collection. Enjoy!

From left to right: 1973 Gulf McLaren, 1976 Hygain Special, 1974 McLaren Special.

The 1973 car, the Gulf McLaren:

The 1974 car with AM driver figure.

and the presentation:

And the 1976 car…this one fought me the most. It’s the latest year, so it required more mods.

Together with my older build of the 1975 Gatorade McLaren, I now have most of JR’s McLaren rides that mattered…

I’m glad that this project is over, sheesh, with gloss paint and metallic paints and all that…time to get back to the camouflage and road wheels! :slight_smile:

2

Great job on the open wheelers

3

Very nice! Love the presentation on all of them.

Sure wish indy cars were more popular today. I’d love to model one of the current cars. Guess it will be a scratch project.

4

Thanks, Johnny! I appreciate it!

5

Thanks, Don! I agree—I wish they would do some more old Indy cars. Indycals has a large number of decals that allow you to do many of the old “classic years” of Indy cars. As long as you can find one of the old AMT models, there are a quite a few solid specific cars to build.

The problem is that there was so much innovation and experimentation that it’s hard to build anything close to accurate from what’s available out there from the early-mid 1970s. The AMT “Penske Special” can be used for a few cars from 72-73, but not much beyond that. The Rutherford McLaren and another McLaren model of the CAM2 has the same exhaust, turbo stack placement and suspension from the Penske molds, which are totally wrong for any car past 73. There are the Johncock-Savage Eagles (very rare) which can be built into those two, as well as fair representations of some of Mario’s and Al Unser’s cars, like the Viceroy Eagles. ANd of course there is the Olsonite/Jorgenson Eagles. I have a few of each, bought in a frenzy from an eBay estate sale last year. Spent a good penny, and am looking forward to building some more after I get back into the tanks for a while. :slight_smile:

6

Just saw these, Nice work Karl,

I always love to get driver figures which are not always easy to find. I’m in the camp that feels the figures add to the model (In all genres). I appreciate the wrestling with car and truck builds as the painting schemes leave little room for error. Gloss paint/finishing requires a whole other set of skills and patience, and a clean room.

I just built an Italeri truck model which I’ll put up soon and it was trying to say the least. I’m going to attempt the Tamiya LaFerrari soon, and that should really test my gloss painting resolve.

Nice story about your Dad as well. Certain models , like songs, can take us right back to a moment in time.

Nice to see these cars, figures, and the cases as well.

7

Thanks for looking in, Wilbur, and for your thoughts and comments. :slight_smile: Good luck with those models—I agree that gloss paints are a real patience-tryer…

8

The presentation with Rutherford standing is spot on Doog, everything looks so balanced and complimentary between the picture, the car, and the figure. Excellent job!

Scott

9

Thank you so much, Scott! I genuinely appreciate that!! :slight_smile:

10

My thoughts exactly. Thanks for sharing these, Karl.

11

Wow what a tour de force. Great displays. I too like the drivers, make your work look “more real”

12

Thanks, Greg and Stever! I appreciate you looking in and taking time to leave your thoughts. Thank you for the nice compliment!