Connaught A-type: wanted scale-model...

[Marc C]

As I'm very interested by the Connaught A-type 2 litre F2, I would like to know if a recent small-scale model exists.

The only reference I've found was a 1957 built, by Crescent n°1287.

A 1997-dated magazine, Formula One Collector, estimates the price around 60-70£ and the models seems to be sold more in auctions those days. Crescent made its mark its marks in 1957 with the introduction of a range of 8 single-seaters:
Mercedes Benz W196 streamliner ref 1284,
BRM MkII 1.5-litre ref 1285,
Ferrari 500/625 ref 1286,
Connaught A-type 2-litre ref 1287,
Cooper Bristol 2-litre ref 1288,
Gordini 2.5-litre ref 1289,
Maserati 250F ref 1290,
Vanwall 2.5-litre 1293.

The Crescent models are increasingly difficult to find. Metal fatigue seems to be a serious problem with this range, baseplates and drivers particularly showing considerable distortion and cracking.

I've got a book (in French) called " The illustrated dictionary of the small-scale racing cars, 1000 listed models", written in 1976 by Alain Van Den Abeele, a Belgian Journalist. The Crescent Connaught was of course mentioned.

[TimD]

Took me an age to find the serial number - I eventually found it when I dug out a box of unbuilt white metal kits that I'm planning to finish when I retire....

There is a nice 1/43rd scale replica of an A-type Connaught, made by K & R Replicas in England. I'm certain they've a website, but I can't for the life of me remember what it is. Failing that, K & R models are stocked by Grand Prix Models in St Albans. They are included in the links page to the 10-tenths site.

There are two versions - KRRL22, which builds as the 1952 International Trophy entrant, and KRRL23, which makes a car entered for the '52 British GP.

They are available as kits or factory-builts, and I think I paid about £23 for my kit. The handmade version would be more in the region of £55-60.


Just thank your good fortune that you wanted an A-type. The B-Type Syracuse car was made only briefly by a company called Penelope Pitlane, which was in business for only about 8 months. The B3 Dart was done by Circuit Series in the 1970s.

For Connaught sports cars, I have two models made by a tiny company called Echoes. Actually, it's not so much a company, but one very talented man who makes the kits as a labour of love. He has modelled the L3 sports car, MPH329, and the AL/SR as driven at Le Mans in 1955.

Echoes also do the only HWM-Jaguar Sports kit I ever saw. That's a nice little model too, even if the front wing treatment isn't quite right.


Hope you get the model you want, Marc.

[SL]

You could try TRAX Motorsport. www.trax-models.co.uk They have a large advert in Motorsport that seems to show every car except the A-type Connaught. A note at the botom of the ad refers to a brochure of other models.

SL

[RAFY]

There are some nice Connaught photos in the latest Historic Motor Racing with Graham Gauld's story on Ken Downing.

[Marc C]

Historic Motor Racing seems not to available in bookshop in Belgium. There's a British bookshop in Brussels but I never sees a single edition of this title.

Do you know how to subscribe ?

[RAFY]

Their website is www.historicmotorracing.com
I think that will give you a contact address.