Four Small Wheels 2/2003 - reviews, page 5

reviews, page 5

Click on a link to order a model or the logo to see the complete range from that manufacturer

New 1:43rd resin and metal kits and decal sheet

BBP289	Ferrari 360 Modena LM 2002 #71 JMB	£36.65
BBP290	Ferrari 360 Modena Le Mans 2002 #74 IFB	£36.65
BBD045	Marlboro Ferrari F2002 2002 Decals 1:43	£4.50

The second of the JMB Racing Ferrari 360 Modena kits from Le Mans shares very similar parts to the first one we looked at last issue, and will again require two-tone painting. Unlike the sister car all of the decals appear to be pretty much spot on and this will build to make a very nice model indeed. The IFB Auto Palace machine is based on similar parts and this subject has a much simpler red livery with white stripes. When compared to photos in Auto Modelisme (AUTO2002) and our own race shots, there are a few small sponsors decals missing.

Our guess is that BBR’s reference photos were taken at scrutineering and that these decals were added at the last moment. A bit of spares box raiding should yield the small arrows missing for the panel clips but the ‘v-images.com’ logos may be more of a problem.
The F2002 decal sheet is intended for use on a die cast and includes the Marlboro logos for the car and driver’s crash helmets. Two cars can be decorated from one sheet.

New 1:43rd resin & metal kit

TWM001

Miss America X 1932 124.91mph

£79.30

In the 1920’s and 30’s power boat racing and record breaking was a very high profile international sport attracting huge crowds and extensive coverage.

Few were as well known or as successful as the American industrialist Gar Wood and in 1932 he successfully defended the Harmsworth Trophy against the challenge of Miss England III piloted by Kaye Don, before breaking the waterspeed record two weeks later in Miss America X. This first release from Touchwood Models captures the four-engined boat superbly with a very cleanly cast hull and a large number of resin and metal ancillary parts. Some of the smaller resin castings such as the engine blocks have a few pinholes which will need a little attention but we don’t think these will pose much of a problem for most who will tackle this kit. We say this because there are a few advanced modelling techniques required in the build, such as painting the wood-grained hull and creating various parts of plumbing from the brass rods and heat-shrink tubing supplied, so we would expect those who are building it to be fairly experienced. We have seen a completed model (see FSW 09/2002 p16) and know that with care this will build a very impressive model.
STOP PRESS. As we were putting this page together, Touchwood Models called to say that in future the engine blocks are to be cast by CMA who also produce the hull. This should mean an end to the pinholes and also there will be slightly less to assemble as some of the castings will be amalgamated into larger pieces.

New 1:43rd metal hand built

SRC056MP

Brabham BT49 1979 Piquet

£129.10

We’ve been waiting a fair time for this model and gave a sneak preview of most of the kit parts in FSW 07/2002. Judging by this hand built, those who are waiting for the kits will not be disappointed.

The two removable body sections fit well (not always the case with lift off panels) and the overall shape is very good. For a long time now we’ve been on at SRC to include more p/e on their models for items such as the suspension wishbones, but the castings are so fine on this model it is near impossible to spot the difference. The Ford engined car made its debut at the Canadian season-closer and was significantly more competitive than its Alfa powered predecessor, running a strong third before the gearbox failed.

Click on a link to order a model or the logo to see the complete range from that manufacturer

New 1:24th and 1:18th resin kits

MGM3705GT	Ferrari 250GTO LM ‘62 #19 1:24 with engine	£129.50
MGM1803	Ferrari 550 Le Mans 2002 #58 Prodrive 1:18	£107.15
MGM1804	Ferrari 550 FIA 2002 Team BMS 1:18	£107.15

Last summer (FSW 06/2002 to be precise) we brought you news that MG were to release the complete history of the 250GTO in 1:24th kit form.

We are pleased to say the first kit is now here and it superbly captures the Guichet/Noblet car which finished 2nd at Le Mans in 1962. We know that the parts will go together very well as this particular version was released as a built model some time ago in the Mytho Mania range. Those of you who prefer to build your own models will not be disappointed by the kit contents. The main resin parts are well cast with any flaws already dealt with by MG for you. A mix of resin and metal ancillaries are included for the detailing and two bonnets are included giving the option of building the model open or closed, but with the well detailed engine kit included we would expect most to go for the open version. A wealth of p/e parts are supplied and these extend to the spokes in the kit form wire wheels. Ready assembled wheels are available as an accessory ref MGAC068. As these kits are released they will certainly build a very impressive display of one of the all time greats.

Whether the 550 Maranello will achieve such legendary status as the GTO remains to be seen, it’s a great looking machine and if it can be persuaded to perform on longer distance events, who knows?

The kits are simpler than the GTO with no engine detail and many more of the ancillary parts in white metal, but there is still a good level of p/e detailing and we know from previous versions of this car that they will build superbly. The Le Mans car retired after just over half distance following a fire but in the shorter three hour races of the FIA GT series the BMS car of Deletraz and Piccini won 4 races in the latter half of the season.

New 1:43rd resin kits and metal handbuilts

COM133M	Lancia Montecarlo DRM ‘81 Fruits White - built	£129.05
COM134M	Lancia Montecarlo DRM ‘81 Fruits Blue - built	£129.05
COMGS008	Lotus Esprit Gr5 Zolder 1979 Polaroof - kit	£47.15
COM131	Chevrolet Camaro DRM 78 Jagermeister - kit	£42.15
COM160	Porsche 935 K4 ‘ring 1981 #52 Wollek - kit	£45.90

This seems to be a pretty good month for fans of Group 5 machinery (that’ll include us then!). We start with the two hand built Lancias.

The kits were reviewed nearly two years ago now and the models are based on Racing 43 parts with alternative decals to build Hans Heyer’s DRM machine. The builds are pretty good with some fine etched detailing and carefully applied decals, though the latter are slightly out of register in places. The white car represents the machine from the first race of the season and sits beautifully . The later blue car features gorgeous turned aftermarket wheels but these are somewhat large and so the ride height is better suited to a rally car than a circuit racer.

The kits all follow a similar pattern with simple resin bodies and baseplates, a few resin and metal ancillaries and some excellent p/e details. The Esprit and Porsche both feature etched side window frames for use with flat sheet while the Camaro has vacforms all round rather than just front and rear. In the Lotus kit we are provided with an engine (visible through the rear screen) and this appears to be the classic twin-cam on Weber carburettors that you would find in the Europa,

Cortina etc. We managed to contact Richard Jenvey, the original driver of this car, and he says the car featured a slant-4 engine with slide throttle injection. The engine may be wrong but, he says, the overall shape and decoration look very good. There are some very nice touches in the Porsche, which Wollek helped to third place in the Nurburgring 1000kms, such as the turned inserts and p/e trims for the wheels which will look great when assembled, but you’ll have to work it out for yourself as the instructions aren’t particularly helpful with anything other than decoration and basic assembly. With a little care these will all build into dramatic models.

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