Scalextric 1970’s F1 Cars (2)

＜Scalextric Tyrrell P34 Twin Pack＞
This was released in 2020―I remember it clearly.

Unfortunately, perhaps in order to save licensing costs paid to tire manufacturers, the tires were released completely blank―lacking the Goodyear logos that are such an essential part of the visual identity and atmosphere of vintage Formula One cars.

For one of the greatest superstars in F1 history―the only six-wheeled car of its kind―it feels genuinely depressing that modern Scalextric could release it with such a lifeless appearance and still consider that acceptable.

The driver figures were also disappointing. Their helmets feature open visors with visible faces, but those faces are rendered in a completely flat flesh tone with no shading whatsoever. Honestly, that looks even worse than simply hiding everything behind a black visor.

However, for those who know the solution, these issues are not serious at all.

So I shaded the drivers’ faces with heavily thinned paint, hand-painted black edging around the helmet openings to simulate the rubber seals, and touched up several areas where the helmet tampo graphics had been incompletely printed.

Compared with the Ferrari 312T2 and McLaren M23, the design was clearly much newer, and there was an enormous amount of space available on the chassis for ballast.

In fact, there was almost too much room―enough that I had to exercise some restraint to avoid overloading it.

The rear tires were replaced with Paul Gage XPG urethanes and trued, and Patto’s tire decals were then added to complete the build.

As for the tire lettering on the Ferrari 312T2, McLaren M23, and this Tyrrell P34, I intentionally pushed the realism well past its limits.

Real F1 tires of the period did not carry the “EAGLE” sub-logo, and even the actual “Goodyear” branding used in Formula One had a unique aspect ratio specific to racing tires.

This time, I combined various sizes of Goodyear logos until the tire sidewalls became almost absurdly crowded with lettering.

Perhaps I overdid it a little.

But at least now, I will never have to do this work again.

And perhaps that, more than anything, is what it truly means to lighten the burdens of the heart.