AirDave's Kool Wheelz Collection

[airdave]

[Amccombs3]

I built the Ford Escort RS 2000 over the last couple of days, while listening to baseball games on the radio. I am of the opinion that model building and baseball games are the perfect combination -- for me, anyhow. I had downloaded and printed this model back when Dave posted it, in March, and I can't really explain why I chose this one out of the KoolWheelz collection -- it isn't a subject that happens to have any intrinsic interest for me. But it was a pleasant build, and the only reason it took 2 days was because my cat kept interrupting the proceedings. I think my example came out well. The subject is well suited to the KoolWheelz style of design, and it is perfectly straightforward to build, though there are a couple of fiddly bits due to small parts (like the spoiler ends). Sorry about the poor photography. Thanks for the models, Dave!

P.S. The Udvar-Hazy Center opened to the public on Friday, with timed-ticket admissions. I wasn't there, but will be next week. It'll be interesting to have people looking at us from the mezzanine again! A side note that I am interested in is that we are changing food vendors. McDonald's has departed and the new vendor hasn't moved in yet, so we will have food trucks for lunch service, which I am looking forward to checking out.

[airdave]

Looks good Anne.
The box is a fun addition I think.

The "worlds most expensive McDonalds" is gone?
I know its not that expensive...the most expensive is in Japan I believe...but it wasn't cheap!

Any idea who will be moving in?
I think Sonic would be a good fit (the name anyway!).

It would be cool to see something more aeronautically themed.

As long as you don't charge like the Museum in DC!
Now that is expensive!
We paid something like $46 for two small subs and 2 drinks at the self serve food vendors.

[Amccombs3]

Yeah, we used to be perversely proud of having the “world’s most expensive McDonald’s.” The one at the mall building downtown was a little higher than the one at Udvar-Hazy, but only because D.C. restaurant taxes were a little higher. The downtown McD’s closed first, so we inherited the honor for a while. I have heard what the new food vendor will be, but I’m waiting for clearance from our Public Affairs people to be sure I can state it here.

[Don Boose]

Good model, Anne. And I enjoyed the saga of the food vendors.

Don

[Michael Bunny Exclusive D]

It for every body else! i'll just wait until it's released first! tommarrow!

[airdave]

More boorish stuff...don't be upset.

I first encountered the Renault Espace F1 mini van playing Gran Turismo.
The console video game series was always one of my favorites, and the premium bonus vehicles were always an exciting achievement.
The Espace F1 appears in Gran Turismo 2 and can be purchased at a late point in the game from the Renault Dealership for 2 million credits.

In real life, the Espace F1 was built by Matra Autombiles in the mid 1990s to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Renault Espace MPV and Renault's involvement in Formula One racing.
While it may appear to look like a heavily modified Espace mini-van, the body is in fact a lightweight carbon fibre body hiding a formula one inspired carbon fibre chassis.
It uses F1 style suspension, F1 carbon ceramic Braking, and an 800 horsepower V10 motor pulled from the Williams Renault Formula One racecar!

Lowered body, ground effects, superwide tires, and an active roof wing all contribute to its Formula One handling and performance: 0-100 mph in 2.8 seconds and a top speed of well over 300km/h.



With four racing seats (including the Driver) it offered passengers a modern Formula One driving experience...and it did just that for famed Race Car driver and F1 team owner Frank Williams.
Williams was tragically injured in a car accident in 1986, leaving him paralysed and confined to a wheel chair. He has experienced more than one ride in the Espace F1.

I'm not a big fan of the golden colour or the overall two-tone paint scheme.
I'm surprised it didn't feature more graphics or wasn't painted more like the Williams F1 cars of that time ...or any of Matras previous racing legends.
And other than the large roof Renault logo, the paint scheme has no direct connection to Renault (that I know of).
Although I do like the way the dark side panel gives the illusion of a smaller race car from a distance.

The Renault Espace F1 MPV currently resides in the Matra Museum in France, but you can download this Koolwheelz version ...find it in the Racerz section of Koolwheelz models.

[Miles Linnabery]

Dear AirDave:
Live and learn neat history with a model as a bonus
Thanks
Miles

[Vermin_King]

A truly unusual vehicle. You sure do great research

[rickstef]

One hell of a Ring Taxi