| Within the review pages we try to
give a balanced 'first view'of new kits, hand-built models, books
and videos. Our aim is not to set the world to rights but to give
collectors who cannot visit GPM an idea of whether the models on offer
are accurate and of good value. We also try to give a little background
to the cars. Our aim above all is to try to ensure that when you receive
a model or book or video through the post from GPM - that you know
in advance whether it has any 'hidden'snags or problems |
Click on a link
to order a model or the logo to see the complete range from that manufacturer |
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| MOM033
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Schmid-Orpheus LSR Design Study 1960 - kit
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£52.90
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| MOM033M
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Schmid-Orpheus LSR Design Study ‘60 - built
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£88.15
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| MOM037
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Dixon Dart 1936 Design Study - kit
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£44.05
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| MOM037M
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Dixon Dart 1936 Design Study - built
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£96.95
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Never
one to go for the obvious, Ian Jones at Mach One Models has taken
to the history books to look for inspiration. The result? Two very
different LSR contenders that sadly never made it beyond the drawing
board and scale model stage.
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Leopold Schmid’s
design shows a novel approach to the rule book by diverting 40% of
the thrust from the jet engine to a paddle wheel which, in turn transferred
drive to the rear wheels, making the machine eligible for the wheel
driven record. The project was apparently scuppered by engine manufacturer
Bristol, who declined to supply their Orpheus engine in order to protect
British LSR attempts.
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| The Dixon Dart was a British
project and was intended to be powered by a 1000hp two-stroke engine!
Both kits feature well cast resin bodies, in three pieces for the
Schmid and one piece for the Dart, and will require a modest amount
of clean up for feed tags etc. |
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The balance of the
parts are in white metal except for the rubber tyres, vacformed screens
and decals. Both will be very simple builds and will make unique additions
to LSR collections.
The built Dart is up to Mach One’s usual standards, though the
vacform isn’t the clearest we’ve seen, and the rub down
marks are fairly well visible under the paint on the Schmid. It is
quite likely that the original machine was intended to be bare aluminium,
in which case it looks pretty authentic!
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| RUF050 |
Ferrari Daytona Watkins Glen 1974 #82 |
£47.85 |
| RUF050A |
Ferrari Daytona Daytona 24hrs 1977 #64 |
£47.85 |
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| We’re very glad that we
decided to keep the recently published Ferrari Daytona book by Christian
Huet and it appears that we may not have been the only ones to get
hold of this great volume. |
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André-Marie
Ruf is embarking on a project to produce some of the more interesting
versions of this car to have raced and by the look of the first two
releases they should be well received. Ruf have long had a reputation
for producing models that are slightly generous in proportion but
we can confirm that, according to the original Ferrari documentation
reproduced in the book, the dimensions are spot on with this one.
The surfaces of the castings are clean, with just the usual feed tags
to clean off and flash in some of the vents and openings but nothing
serious. The kit features a reasonable amount of p/e detail, including
side window frames to lay over the very clear vac-form and liners
for the headlight openings. The decals are clearly printed and both
offer slightly unusual versions.
The Watkins Glen car features an unusual red, yellow and green paint
scheme. A two-tone finish is needed for the red and green and the
sweeping yellow arrow decal then hides the join. In the race the car
ran out of road after 25 laps. The Daytona car was actually one of
the first two racing 365’s built and was originally supplied
to Scuderia Fillipinetti in 1971. By 1977 the car was owned by Clint
Eastwood and in the Daytona 24 hours was driven by Paul Newman, Milt
Minter and Elliot Forbes-Robinson to 5th place overall, the best non-Porsche
finisher. Apologies for the rather poor picture scanned from the instructions.
As soon as we have colour photos of the models we will publish them
in our colour pages. |
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Click on a link to order a model
or the logo to see the complete range from that manufacturer |
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| PM2782 |
Nissan R88S Le Mans 1989 #32 Cabin - kit
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£34.70
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| PM2788 |
Subaru Impreza WRC 2003 Press - kit
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£34.70
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| PM2789 |
Aston Martin DB2 Le Mans 1951 - kit
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£34.70
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| PMNAT027 |
Peugeot 304 Saloon Street 1972 - built
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£32.40
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Based on an older PM kit, the
Nissan provides a subject not modelled before by the major kit makers
(PM, Starter, DAM etc). Although the basic parts were from an older
kit they have been updated to current standards with a good level
of p/e detail, clearly printed decals and the now popular metal rear
wing. Overall the shape and decoration look to be pretty accurate,
though the two small vents in the front panel don’t look tapered
in the race photos we have. The car was entered by Cougar (largely
for convenience) and was the same March chassis entered the previous
year by the Italya team.
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Hurt by criticisms
of the styling on their latest Impreza, Subaru have given the car
a face-lift for 2003. PM have done the same with their rally car kit
to represent the press launch version of the car that Makinen and
Solberg will attack the 2003 WRC with. A reasonable amount of p/e
is included, windows are vacformed and the kit also contains a bespoke
resin roll cage.
The DB2 is also based on an older master and has again been updated
with some fine p/e parts. The windows are supplied as printed acetate
with p/e frames and fit neatly onto a cast in mounting flange. Decals
are included for all five 1951 Le Mans entries. The instructions detail
the road number plates for the three works cars, but none are included
for the #27 and #28 private entries. As no number plates are visible
from the front and all of the photos we’ve been able to find
only show the front we can understand these omissions. Most modellers
will probably go for the works cars which finished 1-2-3 in class
anyway. One small but easily rectified error is that the number plate
for car #26 is printed as VME 64, it should be VMF 64. A touch of
black paint or decal will cure this.
Like the 204 Coupe in the last issue, the Peugeot 304 saloon is very
well built with a reasonable paint finish. The 304 was basically a
face-lifted 204 and the model captures the lines very well. The model
has four little bumps on the roof which look as if they could be roof-rack
mountings of some sort and this does make things look a little odd......
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| MRA484M
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Datsun Violet 7th Sweden 1980 Pioneer
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£84.50
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| As we said when we looked at
the kit of this subject in FSW 09/2002, we don’t have a photograph
of this exact car to compare with so will have to trust that Mini
Racing have done their homework properly. |
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| The model is generally
well finished with neatly applied decals and ancillaries. There are
one or two blemishes beneath the lacquer coat and the vacform isn’t
the clearest we’ve seen, but the model should still be welcome
in many a rally or Datsun themed collection. |
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