Click on a link to order
a model or the logo to see the complete range from that manufacturer |
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| RLBP006 |
Vanwall Monaco/Portugal/Monza
57/58 - kit |
£40.55
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| RL080MA |
Lotus 21 1st USA 1961 Ireland
- built |
£79.30
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| RL080MB |
Lotus 21 France 1961 Clark - built |
£79.30
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| RL080MC |
Lotus 21 Italy 1961 Moss - built |
£79.30
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| RL081MA |
Lotus 18/21 1961 Rob Walker -
built |
£79.30
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| RL081MB |
Lotus 18/21 Goodwood 1962 UDT
- built |
£79.30
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We
commented in the last issue that our first impression of SMTS’
Mercedes 300SLR was that it looked a slightly wide. The same thought
struck us with the Vanwall and checking the dimensions we find that
this time it doesn’t quite check out.
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The overall length
and profile are pretty much spot on and the car was a bulbous design
but, by our calculations, it’s carrying a good 3mm of extra width.
The kit has been very well thought out though. The nose is cast as
a separate piece and two different designs are included, the long
nose for Monza and Portugal and the shorter version for Monaco, we
also get two styles of wheel and vacform. Apart from a fairly large
feed tag in the front of the main body section there is very little
excess material to clean up and the smaller parts dry fit very well
indeed (we even managed to get the exposed chassis frames to fit the
cockpit bulkheads neatly relying on nothing but gravity). The suspension
parts are well cast and detailed and providing you have a steady enough
hand to paint the cast in small details this will make a simple and
enjoyable build. The decals offer a choice of four versions, Tony
Brooks’ 2nd placed Monaco car from 1957 and his Italian GP winner
from 1958 or the Stirling Moss cars from Monaco and Portugal in 1958.
The last of these races Moss won and would have clinched the World
Championship, had Hawthorn not taken fastest lap. With a little spares
box raiding for numbers and filing off of the oil-cooler bulge on
the longer nose several other versions could also be made if you’re
feeling adventurous.
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| The built Lotus models are all
very well finished with excellent paint, the masking between the two
colours on the Moss Italy car is particularly good, and carefully
applied details. When we reviewed the kits of these models in the
last issue we pointed out that the Clark French GP version is incorrect
for the race as the side panels were removed due to the high temperatures,
it’s OK for practice though. One decalling detail on Ireland’s
US GP winner is that there should be another race number on the tail
of the car which SMTS have omitted. The three Moss cars all look pretty
good though. Colour photographs of all of the Lotus models can be
found in FSW 01/2003. |
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| MM079M |
McLaren M1B Can-Am Riverside
1966 |
£141.00 |
| MM080M |
Autocoast Ti22 Can-Am Laguna Seca 1970 |
£146.30 |
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| We reviewed the kits of both
of these in FSW 07/2002 and they were the first models we’d seen
from Marsh using a new type of resin. At the time we said that you
wouldn’t be able to see the difference once the models were completed
and the built models prove this to be true. The overall standard of
build and finish is everything that we have come to expect from Marsh
with very fine even paint, lacquered in decals where necessary and
neatly applied photoetch. |
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| Whether you go for
the Pole-sitting McLaren or the 2nd placed Autocoast, both of these
will do justice to any Can-Am themed collection. |
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|
Click on a link to order a model or the logo to
see the complete range from that manufacturer |
|
|
| JPS260 |
Alpine A310 Gendarmerie |
£34.15
|
| JPS261 |
Ferrari 312P Le Mans 1974 #1
|
£35.35
|
| JPS262 |
Matra 660 Paris 1000 1971 #10 |
£35.35
|
| JPS263 |
Peugeot 406 1st French Silhouette
Champs 02 |
£40.20
|
| JPS264 |
Seat Toledo French Silhouette
Champs 02 |
£36.60
|
| JPS265 |
Peugeot 206XS Street |
£34.15
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|
In the days before the French
motorway police were equipped with their high performance Renault
Clio diesels, some of them had to slum it in the rear engined V6 powered
Alpine coupe’s. The basic shape is good and the body colour looks
just about spot on leaving just detail painting and assembly for a
simple project.
The Ferrari and Matra are slightly more involved with parts included
for the semi-exposed engines. Again both check out very well when
compared to photographs, though on both there are (unusual for JPS)
blemishes in the paintwork. The NART run Ferrari had the usual boxer
engine replaced by a V12 unit and this led to the car having an appetite
for accelerator cables. It eventually finished 9th, having been as
high as 4th.
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The Matra was driven
by Amon and Beltoise and was leading the Paris 1000kms when the gearbox
cried enough at about two-thirds distance.
The French Silhouette saloon car series features many spectacular
subjects which, despite looking like the machines you or I might drive
to the supermarket, feature mid-mounted V6 engines in space-frame
chassis. JPS have modelled previous versions of the Peugeot 406 Coupe
but to our eyes this is the best looking livery yet. Oh, and Soheil
Ayari won the championship in it as well, so that’s two reasons
for buying one. If you need any more incentive it’s also a fine
kit with a visible engine, very detailed cast resin roll cage and
plenty more interior detail. The masking between the two main body
colours is cleanly done with decals provided to cover the join and
the finished article will look stunning. Vincent Radermecker won several
races in the same series with his Snobek-built Seat and, while not
quite as colourful as the 406, this will also produce a spectacular
model with its silver and yellow livery. |
| Finally we have a machine that
probably a few of you will be very familiar with, the Peugeot 206
road car. The 3-door body is well finished in silver and we suspect
this may be a model of Mr J-P S’ own road car, judging by the
JPS decal on the tailgate. |
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| SHM043K
|
Maserati Tipo 151 Le Mans 1962 #4 - kit
|
£33.20
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| SHM043M
|
Maserati Tipo 151 Le Mans 1962 #4 - built
|
£104.00
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Maserati’s aggressive looking
T151 coupes are particular favourites here at GPM and SHMR have captured
the shape pretty well, though we’re not totally convinced by
the tail which looks fine from some angles and very odd from others.
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|
The kit is well
cast with just a small amount of flash to deal with and there are
some well made ancillary parts in resin, metal and p/e. The instructions
are well drawn and a couple of colour photos are included for decal
placement. There are a couple of errors however. Placement of the
race numbers on the right hand side of the car should be totally different
from the left and not as shown in the instructions (see race shot
here) Also the numbers and roundels are too large and the side exit
exhaust pipes are too long when compared with race photos, though
curiously the assembly drawing shows a more accurate design!
The finished model is generally well built with pretty good paint,
but all of the errors on the instructions are, of course, repeated
in the build. |
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