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Raison D’Etre
If anything I have made brings pleasure and a degree of wonder, please do give God the glory and praise, for it is merely the talent He has given, that I am exercising. Amongst the F1 designs I have incorporated as wall tiles in my workspace, are two with the Bible texts John 3 v 16 and Romans 10 v 9 which help me keep my mind focussed on what really matters. Do give them a read. These models were built as one-off, hopefully unique cars of the 1970's mainly (some late 60's and fewer 90’s and later) which I am now prepared to sell from my personal collection, to the right special people. Over the years, I have been unable to accept commissions due to lack of time and an over indulgent approach. Each model is a museum-display exhibit and they are not in any sense 'working models'. Over many years, I have built 1/12 scale F1 models almost exclusively, each being in the order of 12-14" (30-36cm) long. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, my aim was to increase in a small way, the 1/12 scale representation of Grand Prix car entries to the F1 World Championship that were not available commercially, as kits to be built. Since 2010, Model Plus and Model Factory Hiro especially, have supplied more and more of these older subjects to model makers. The models shown here, perhaps represent my desire to own the the full-scale car, yet that is not feasible or practical (unless you are Bernie Ecclestone) and each of my models feels like the real thing to me, having often spent so much time with the actual car. The photographs of the original cars were taken with special permission. Out of respect to the owners of actual Grand Prix cars or race 'shop owners, these photos are not available for further distribution, nor are my own inexpert engineering drawings. The models are built with the idea of 'no effort spared' and to look as realistic as possible. I will go to eccentric and sometimes otherwise unreasonable lengths to replicate every detail of design and engineering in order to satisfy myself that I have something properly accurate. This includes the concept that all bodywork should be removable in the same way as on the full-size car though not actually with working miniature fasteners of course, but instead faithful visual representations of these important details. In this way, I am able to allow the model to reveal the engineering within. Additionally the underneath of the car is also modelled, for there is much to be enjoyed regarding 'how it all works' from seeing what is not normally visible. I have felt that in this way, these models may serve to educate interested folk as to what makes a Grand Prix car 'tick', for access to the real thing is rare and makes this aspect somewhat mysterious. I have shown some of those I consider the better models at shows, but do so relatively infrequently due to the effort and logistics of getting to often far-flung venues, not to mention the potential accelerated ageing effect on the models themselves, in transporting them. Inspiration comes from the great model makers such as Henri Baigent, Gerald Wingrove, also my friends involved in the same hobby and in particular folk like John Shinton here in the UK and especially Andy Matthews from America who produces 1990s 'gems', which are wonderful to study. Hopefully that covers everything; now all it remains is to enjoy! MRO, August 2010 (updated November 2023)
Author Archives: Mark
New photobook – 1975 Hesketh in 1/12 scale, now available!
October 7, 2021Track Limits (www.tracklimitspublish.com) invites orders of this re-released photobook about the iconic Hesketh 308B.If this title is the success we think it will be, then Track Limits will re-publish all of my previous titles in the coming months in a … Continue reading
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Photobooks – Important Update!
September 29, 2021MRO F1 Engineering Photobox photobooks have been disasterously affected by the Adobe/Flash issue in January 2021. This means, that although these can be bought on the strength of what’s written in my website or following other recommendation, they are no … Continue reading
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New Menu item, ‘For Sale’
August 11, 2019The Menu item, ‘For sale’, has been added today in order to find new homes for artworks, books and models. The purpose is to share them with others, generate a little space and provide exit strategies and ensure progress with … Continue reading
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Tribute to Derek Gardner
March 13, 2016This week, I had opportunity to think about Derek Gardner once again and reflect on how much Derek’s memory is cherished by Margaret his widow and their family, Helen and Rachel, when I visited them. It’s been a little over … Continue reading
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Volume 2: McLaren M23, (1974 and 1976) photobook available!
November 29, 2015After many months of detailed research of the real cars and that of two 1/12 scale models made between 1998 and 2005, the photobook is finally complete and available to view on-line via Photobox, click here. With two cars being … Continue reading
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Third Photobook, McLaren M23
October 10, 2015This Photobook is in the closing stages of completion, due to be finished in late November hopefully. It will be available as usual on-line, as a link to Photobox. This volume (:2), deals with the 1974 and 1976 McLaren M23’s … Continue reading
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Chica RIP (Photobook available)
May 20, 2015Hi folks, just to let you know our sweet looking black and white cat Chica seen in some of the photos, passed-away on 9/4/15 amid much sadness being only 6yo. I have recently completed a photo book of her life … Continue reading
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Wingrove models
November 15, 2014I have been a long time admirer of Gerald Wingrove and his 1/15 scale classic car models, – www.wworkshop.net is well worth a look. Gerald has been England’s foremost model maker for the past four decades. The subjects of Gerald’s … Continue reading
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Jackie Stewart, Matra MS10, 1968
November 3, 2014I recently had the very real pleasure of meeting Sir Jackie Stewart OBE. The occasion gave opportunity to artist friend Anthony Dobson and I to meet Sir Jackie in relation to a painting depicting his epic drive at the Nurburgring … Continue reading
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1975 Hesketh 308 Video
November 3, 2014With recent publication of another photoboook, MRO F1 Engineering Volume 1: Hesketh 308 (1975), it’s an appropriate time to release a short four minute video I made of the car during restoration in June 1998 (308/2). I hope the limited … Continue reading
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