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

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.

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.

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

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

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 ?

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