[woodcote]

Hand-crafted at Pendle Slot Racing HQ in Nelson, Lancashire, the new Penelope Pitlane Ferrari 156 kit looks sensational...

       

       

The model is of the car driven by Lorenzo Bandini at the 1964 Monaco Grand Prix. The 156 'Aero' was the 1963 update of the 156 'Sharknose' that had taken the drivers' and constructors' titles in 1961. The updated car had the same 1.5 litre V6 engine, but with fuel injection increasing the power output. The main difference was the more traditional nose section. John Surtees drove the 'Aero' version to fourth place in the 1963 world championship, winning at the Nürburgring - his first Grand Prix victory.

Surtees would switch to the V8-powered 158 for the start of the 1964 season, with Bandini racing the 156 'Aero' at Monaco, Brands Hatch, the Nürburgring and Zeltweg. The Austrian Grand Prix was the final win for a 156 and would be Bandini's first and only time on the top step of a world championship podium. Here is Bandini driving the 156 'Aero' at Monaco and Zeltweg...

       

The Penelope Pitlane kit is available as body kit only (£34.99) or as a complete kit with the Penelope Pitlane SM1s metal chassis and all the necessary running gear for an extra £30...

       

       

The kit and chassis must be built and decorated ready for the display case or the race track...

       

The windscreen and engine cover are both vac-formed clear plastic. The pictures of the completed kit show how some fairly basic detailing of the driver, wheel inserts, engine, gearbox and suspension can deliver a wonderful looking classic F1 car...

       

       

The kit is available now at Pendle Slot Racing - details are here: www.pendleslotracing.co.uk/penelope-pitlane-ferrari-156-aero-monaco-gp-1964

The Penelope Pitlane kit of the Ferrari 1512 - the Flat-12 evolution of the 158 car which raced at the Watkins Glen and Mexico City rounds of the championship-winning 1964 season - is also available at Pendles: www.pendleslotracing.co.uk/penelope-pitlane-1960-ferrari-1512

Personally, I think the 156 'Aero' is the better-looking car and Pendles have done a fantastic job with the new model.

A very big thank you to Neil at Pendle Slot Racing for sending us all the pictures.

[dvd3500]

Excellent detail!

[BAracer]

I have to say I think I would hesitate to buy anything serious from a company called Penelope Pitlane.

I'm sure it's nice stuff, but that's just how I am I suppose...

[Gordon Steadman]

I have to say I think I would hesitate to buy anything serious from a company called Penelope Pitlane.

I'm sure it's nice stuff, but that's just how I am I suppose...

Perhaps they could do a Pitlane Pete especially for you  

I know what you mean though, I had a pause the first time I saw the name and wondered how serious they could be. Nice products though, so jumped to conclusions were proved wrong.

[BAracer]

I suppose what I was trying to say was that I have always ignored looking at their products because of the name, but Mr Woodcote and Slotracer Online have opened up my mind to them now.

[munter]

It looks like a nice kit but one thing worries me....that green ff motor.

Those things are powerful and looking at the gearing the brakes will not be that great.
If the chassis isnt set up properly a rickety ride could result.

Penelope Pitlane was started by Steve Ward who sold up to Pendles a while back. They always produced nicely detailed resin bodies and car kits.

I am glad to see the range and name continuing.

[woodcote]

I’m pretty sure what most people running these Classic F1 cars do is to reduce the voltage to the track down to a level where the cars behave nicely.

An alternative for the FF motors is to use a less powerful version. I have a box of FF-050SH-10200 motors that I got direct from China. They are rated at 14.7k rpm @ 12 volts. They are a good option for running RTR cars with FF motors alongside standard 18k Mabuchi S cans on the same voltage - eg on a home analogue or digital track. There is another option with the ARC Air and ARC Pro systems to reduce the ‘Max Power’ setting in the software for each lane or car.

That sorts the power, the poor braking characteristics of the FF motors is something the driver has to work around and adjust their driving style to. Playing with gear ratio can help a little and some controller brake circuits will be marginally more effective. If everyone is racing a car with an FF motor, everyone has the same challenge!

[munter]

An alternative for the FF motors is to use a less powerful version. I have a box of FF-050SH-10200 motors that I got direct from China. They are rated at 14.7k rpm @ 12 volts. They are a good option for running RTR cars with FF motors alongside standard 18k Mabuchi S cans on the same voltage 

 agree

[Scuderia_Turini]

I'm a sucker for Ferraris with blue wheels - love it !!
Shame it doesn't come with the suspension links though.

Leo
PS - On reflection and comparing the 1:1 pictures with the model, the driver looks too small in scale and looks lost in the cockpit.

[auntyellis]

I have a number of PP f1 cars with ff mtrs all either 15 0r 18 rpm{ also t53 Cooper from Munter a good resin body supplier} I have built them over a period of time so have forgotten what mtr is in each car.but have altered the gear ratio so theyre all about same speed The guys that race here enjoy using them I cut the power back to just under 10 volts that way .we dont have many offs and you have push your trigger finger thru the controllerto get in front. have a 4 lane  wooden 12mtr lap track,
  sometimes we race the new scaley historics same voltage saves damage from tangled wheels
aunty ellis