Delorean Time Machine

BTTF Delorean
Time Machine

Scale :	1/24
Manufacturer:	N/A(Scratch Build)
Category:	Curbside/Sci-Fi

This is one of those earlier works, and it shows my incompetence everywhere, but I still remember how much passion and energy I had when I built the replica of the time machine from the popular movie. The model was completed between the release of the first video and theatrical release of the part 2 in Japan, which was about 5 months earlier than the release of the Aoshima kit. Because of that, it created a lot of appreciation when I took the model to a local hobby store. When the Aoshima kit was released, the shop sold so many of them compared to other stores, so Aoshima contacted the store to find out how it happened. Apparently, the model drew a lot of people to the shop, and the customers who saw my model were eagerly waiting for the kit. When the kit was released, they bought the kit from the hobby store instead of somewhere else.

I started the project by researching the actual car first, and drew several sketches as usual. Then the drawing was transferred to a sheet of plastic to make the chassis and interior components in accurate dimensions. The dashboard was constructed from plastic sheets, and the seats were made of epoxy putty. The body was vacuum formed two piece construction, and the front and rear bumpers were added later. Additional devices were plastic sheet and junk parts. The wheels were also scratchbuilt and I picked four good ones from the six wheels I made. The tires were 17 in. and completely inaccurate. They have to be 195/60HR-14 front and 235/60HR-15 rear. During the transportation for photographing, the DMC badge fell off, so it's missing in the picture, but it was restored later. Although there are some inaccuracies, I was very happy when I completed the model. The model is still in my hands, and it keeps reminding me of how much progress I've made, and how much more I can do in the future project.

Recently, I had a chance to sit in the cockpit of a real Delorean at a local auto dealer. The fit of the panels are poor by today's standard, (and probably so by the standard back then too.) The car sits low and wide, and it looked very stable and attractive. The panels are stainless as you know it, and the car still has the original body care kit. The interior is spacious for a car of this kind, and the seat is comfortable, but it's narrow despite the car's overall width because of a huge center console. The front windshield is also narrow, which limits the view, but getting in and out is easy. I finally had a chance to take a close look at the engine cover under the rear louver, and that would help me a lot when I build a normal version of the car.

Questions and comments?
Send mail to Hiroaki Fukuda

BTTF Delorean
Time Machine

Boxster

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