Pole Position Cockpit Topper Revisited

[Phetishboy]

So I had some time last night and today (6+ hours) to work on getting this topper closer to finished. This has been a nearly 4 year long project that I have been working on. It started with blurry photos from the net and several measurements from Nash, and ended a couple years ago when I finally got the 300 dpi scan I had asked for when I first started the project. I was so far into the 'close enough' repro done from photos that when I finally saw the differences in the scan, it just turned me off to the whole project. Well, I'm now, finally, one element from finishing. I just need to render the car above the steering wheel. If anyone knows an easy way to auto trace just that part, please let me know. I'm so tired. Here we go, not perfect (getting there), not finished, but oh so close to being ready to print:

 

[80scoinops]

Lookin' good. I haven't seen the original so forgive my ignorance: what does the car look like above the steering wheel? I'm presuming it's not a white silhouette like the wheel is.

 

[Phetishboy]

Lookin' good. I haven't seen the original so forgive my ignorance: what does the car look like above the steering wheel? I'm presuming it's not a white silhouette like the wheel is.

 

[cleverlyj]

that looks awesome! so how big is it going to be, and how are you going to put it on the cab? use something to make it stand on top, or attach it to the top somehow?

 

[TheShanMan]

Did I perhaps provide a little motivation to finish this?

I'm interested in the final product! Nice work!!!

 

[joeycuda]

I'll be interested in this, depending on how it gets printed and price. Thanks for taking this on.

 

[Phetishboy]

Did I perhaps provide a little motivation to finish this?

I'm interested in the final product! Nice work!!!

Nope, it was actually Tooz who inspired me to get back on it. He gave me the original scan. Here's the original:

Compared to the repro so far:

 

[smalltownguy2]

I don't want to step on any toes here, but it appears to me that he drop shadows on the turn signs are a bit heavy.

 

[Phetishboy]

I don't want to step on any toes here, but it appears to me that he drop shadows on the turn signs are a bit heavy.

Got it, and fixed about 10 other little details while I was at it (repro on top):

 

[gorfchampion]

Nice job Phetty, it looks awesome...

 

[80scoinops]

I see what you mean. That car's gonna be tough if that's the highest res version you have to work from.

Excellent job so far, you've obviously spent a LOT of time getting it to this point. Here's some more nitpicky detail feedback, also not trying to step on toes and happy to offer an assist if you're comfortable sending the file.

- Pole Position in the upper left corner is the wrong font.
- The red speeds are the wrong font. The original uses some kind of Collegiate variant.
- The copyright line on yours is a serif font; the original is a sans-serif. Same goes for "outside corner" and "inside corner" near the arrows on the bottom left.
- The "legend" on the original uses a smaller, but bold, Helvetica (or whatever sans serif font you've used).
- The starting gate on the original is a little bit taller and wider.
- Arrow for 0.1 km radius turn is pointing to a spot a little lower and to the left in the original.
- The first turn and final corner turn on the track could be smoothed out some.
- On the original legend, the "recommended" and "apply brakes" boxes, the lines are centered inside.
- "Fuji Speedway" font is *really* close. In lieu of an exact match, the U and J could be a bit wider.

 

[vintagegamer]

Can you elaborate on the prob you're having copying the car that's over the wheel? I'm assuming you're using Photoshop?

 

[80scoinops]

Can you elaborate on the prob you're having copying the car that's over the wheel? I'm assuming you're using Photoshop?

Phet's repro was rebuilt as vector art, he's not using Photoshop. The problem is probably that the detail of the original isn't clear enough to accurately draw as a vector image. If the original is a really clear hi res scan then there's no problem per se, it's just a very time consuming object to draw.

 

[videodan]

Anyone have any idea of how many of these toppers were made back in '82? I have an original topper on my PP cockpit.

 

[Phetishboy]

BTB, here's the repro I had been working on from just pictures and measurements compared to the repro now:

 

[Tooz]

So far you pointed out everything I was going to tell him. I can rescan mine in as high of resolution that he needs. Also all of the font's are WAY to thick. Mine look just like the scan, thin. LMK what you need.

I see what you mean. That car's gonna be tough if that's the highest res version you have to work from.

Excellent job so far, you've obviously spent a LOT of time getting it to this point. Here's some more nitpicky detail feedback, also not trying to step on toes and happy to offer an assist if you're comfortable sending the file.

- Pole Position in the upper left corner is the wrong font.
- The red speeds are the wrong font. The original uses some kind of Collegiate variant.
- The copyright line on yours is a serif font; the original is a sans-serif. Same goes for "outside corner" and "inside corner" near the arrows on the bottom left.
- The "legend" on the original uses a smaller, but bold, Helvetica (or whatever sans serif font you've used).
- The starting gate on the original is a little bit taller and wider.
- Arrow for 0.1 km radius turn is pointing to a spot a little lower and to the left in the original.
- The first turn and final corner turn on the track could be smoothed out some.
- On the original legend, the "recommended" and "apply brakes" boxes, the lines are centered inside.
- "Fuji Speedway" font is *really* close. In lieu of an exact match, the U and J could be a bit wider.

 

[vintagegamer]

Phet's repro was rebuilt as vector art, he's not using Photoshop. The problem is probably that the detail of the original isn't clear enough to accurately draw as a vector image. If the original is a really clear hi res scan then there's no problem per se, it's just a very time consuming object to draw.

Thanks, was trying to figure out how to assist if possible.

 

[Phetishboy]

Cleaned up a few more details, fixed some fonts, unbolded much of the fine print. Really though, if anyone of you arm chair guys wants to find me the exact font for the speed signs, be my guest. I've gone thru about 100 of them. This is the closest I could find in my library. It seemed the 'one' from most every font I tried always has a serif platform on the bottom, or the top hooks too much.

 

[Takeman]

Hey Phet,
I know a cracker that has an original panel on his pole position cockpit and can make the metal panels that your overlay would stick on

 

[joeycuda]

Hey Phet,
I know a cracker that has an original panel on his pole position cockpit and can make the metal panels that your overlay would stick on

do it!--------