| 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 |
| SMTS |
| New 1:43rd metal hand built models and kits |
| RL020CM61
|
Watson Roadster Indy 500
1961 Sachs built
|
£88.10
|
| RL020CM64
|
Watson Roadster Trenton 1964
Andretti built
|
£88.10
|
| RL066AM
|
Eagle-Offy 1st Indy 500 1968
Unser built
|
£88.10
|
| RL066BM
|
Eagle-Ford 2nd Indy 500 1968
Gurney built
|
£88.10
|
| RL066CM
|
Eagle-Ford 4th Indy 500 1968
Hulme built
|
£88.10
|
| RL066A
|
Eagle-Offy 1st Indy 500 1968
Unser kit
|
£40.55
|
| RL066B
|
Eagle-Ford 2nd Indy 500 1968
Gurney kit
|
£40.55
|
| RL066C
|
Eagle-Ford 4th Indy 500 1968
Hulme kit
|
£40.55
|
|
We
have been very critical of some SMTS builts in the past but their
single seaters always seem to be pretty much spot on and these certainly
are. Eddie Sachs put the Dean Van Lines Special on pole for the 1961
Indy 500 and finished the incident packed race in second position,
just 8 seconds down, after pitting to replace a rear tyre on the 197th
lap. SMTS have captured the shape and decoration of this attractive
white, red and blue machine superbly and the overall level of finish
is very good with the decals well applied and lacquered in. We were
a little confused at first about the naming of this car as it is listed
in Rick Popely's 'Indianapolis 500 Chronicles' as a Ewing chassis
but looks near identical to the Watsons, Kuzmas et al. This is because
Watson couldn't cope with demand and allowed several other parties
to copy the cars under 'gentlemen's agreements'.
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|
We were also slightly confused about the Andretti car as he didn't
make his Indy 500 debut until 1965. A little digging and it appears
that this car is from Mario's first drive for the Dean Van Lines team
at Trenton. Again the decoration looks pretty good but the race photo
we've found shows that the car should only have a single fuel filler
and not the double filler used at Indy. In 1968 Eagle chassis filled
three of the top four places at Indy, though all running different
power units. Unser's vivid red, white, yellow and black machine had
a turbo Offenhauser unit while the works Olsonite Eagles ran with
Ford V8s, Weslake modified on Gurney's car. Again these look to be
pretty accurate and the very fine metallic paint on the Gurney and
Hulme cars is particularly noteworthy. The p/e mirror mountings on
the Unser car are possibly a little on the tall side and those building
the kits may wish to adjust these slightly. The kits themselves are
very well cast, requiring just the usual small amount of flash removal,
and should be a joy to build. All of these will be worthy additions
to any Indy collection though some collectors may choose to add tyre
side wall decals, Firestone on the Watsons and Goodyear for the Eagles,
which are for some reason not included........
|
| Alezan |
|
New 1:43rd resin hand built model
|
| ALE243M
|
Lamborghini Urraco P250 1973
|
£70.50
|
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|
| At
first glance we had doubts about the proportions of this model, thinking
it looked a little long, but after checking the measurements it appears
to be pretty much spot on. |
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|
We can only think it is an illusion created by the rather unusual
metallic emerald green of the excellent paint finish and possibly
the slightly small looking rear tyres. |
|
|
Click on a link
to order a model |
| Profil
24/Le Mans Miniatures |
| New
1:24th resin kits and painted resin kits |
| PFL2418
|
Porsche 917K 1st Le Mans 1970
1:24 kit
|
£76.50
|
| PFL2418PP
|
Porsche 917K 1st Le Mans 1970
Painted Kit
|
£115.00
|
| LMM4055
|
Porsche 917K 1st Le Mans 1970
1:24 kit
|
£80.95
|
| LMM4055PP
|
Porsche 917K 1st Le Mans '70
1:24 Painted
|
£111.95
|
|
We
don't usually make direct comparisons, but with kits of exactly the
same subject arriving simultaniously from two manufacturers we have
fallen into the trap! The subject is of course the red and white works
machine of Attwood and Herrman which recorded Porsche's first outright
Le Mans victory. At first glance both are instantly recognisable as
the 917K, surely one of the most purposeful-looking machines ever
to turn a wheel in anger, but differ ever so slightly in size, the
LMM model being about 7mm longer overall. The cockpit dimensions are
near on identical, as is the nose length and this extra size all seems
to be in the tail.
|
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|
A quick calculation shows that overall the Profil is just under 1:24th
scale and the LMM just over, but we are talking about decimal points!
Both kits have very well cast resin bodies but it is the approach
to the underside detailing that shows the most significant difference
between the two. Le Mans Miniatures have concentrated very much on
a quick, simple build, with the basic engine detail (that is visible
from below) cast into the chassis and then a combination of resin
and metal parts for the exposed rear chassis frame, gearbox and suspension.
Profil 24 have gone a little further in this area with a complete
engine kit and even fully detailed drive-shafts, though some of these
resin castings do have a few pinholes in them and much of this fine
detail will be hidden when the body is on. Both models feature sharply
printed decals by two of the best printers in the business, Interdecal
for Profil and Virages for LMM, but you will have to find your own
tyre sidewall decals and paint the window frames for the Profil kit.
Instructions in both are very similar, with several clearly drawn
assembly diagrams, a colour guide for the detail work, and a brief
history of the car written in both French and English. The Profil
kit has a black and white decal placement drawing, while LMM give
you a colour sheet. The painted versions both have pretty good finishes
though there are one or two rubbing down marks to be seen beneath
the paint, which is usual with painted kits from both of these makers.
The colour of this car is one of those that if you look at 10 pictures
you will see 10 different shades! We've always thought of the car
as being a strong scarlet red but some photographs show it to be nearer
to orange and this is what both manufacturers have gone for. The colour
on the Profil kit is a touch paler then LMM's choice and Philipe Boyer
of Profil admits that it may be slightly too light. We would have
gone for a darker shade but we may well be wrong! So, the choice is
yours. The Le Mans Miniatures kit will proabably be the simpler build
but with Profil 24 you do get a little more detail. Whichever you
choose, the model will look very handsome when built. |
 |
| New
1:43rd resin and metal hand built model |
| GMK099
|
Fiat 124 Sport Coupe Series
1 1967
|
£28.15
|
| RGMB026
|
Ferrari 250GT Lusso 1962/64
Metallic Red
|
£120.55
|
|
|
Built
for RGM by BBR this is, as we would expect, beautifully finished and
detailed. The subject is a Pininfarina bodied Lusso and checks out
well against photos of other full-sized Lussos.
|
 |
|
The dark metallic red is a colour we would normally expect to see
on an Aston Martin DB6 but, as can be seen on the cover of FSW 05/2002,
it suits this elegant car perfectly. |
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