Four Small Wheels 6/2004

news

Wish Lists

We’ve seen a few subjects from our recent lists either appearing in future schedules or as physical models. Keep the lists coming and well done to the manufacturers who have taken the plunge.

BRM P48 1960
John Miles’ MG R1
Porsche GT3RS ‘Ring 2004 Recaro
Porsche GT3RS Sebring 04 Racers
Lotus 17
Ford Escort 1st RAC 1972
Delettrez diesel Le Mans 1949

It was on there!

We mentioned in the last issue that eagle-eyed race goers may have seen the GPM logo on the Epsilon Courage. A few queried this as it wasn’t visible in the photos we printed. Perhaps if we’d included a shot of the correct side of the car it might have helped! That’s it above the fuel filler!

Co-operation

We’re often complaining about the duplication of subjects and the fact that manufacturers clearly do not think to talk to each other to avoid this. It is refreshing to hear therefore, that Renaissance and Jade are collaborating on a number of Maserati 250F models, but curious that they are all ones that we’ve seen before.

Several options will be offered in Jade kit JAD4316 and they will also be available in hand built form (see forthcoming insert page for list). These are all ones that we’ve seen from Renaissance, who have provided the decal artwork, but they will be much simpler builds in Jade’s typical style. If you have been a little daunted by the prospect of building the Renaissance models with their complex p/e front suspension, or don’t quite have the budget to justify the very nice Renaissance hand builts, these could be the answer.

For those experienced builders who enjoy a more detailed model, the Renaissance models (REN4329 and variants) are still available too.

Quality guaranteed
We can usually be pretty certain when we look at a BBR hand-built model that it will be top quality. BBR themsleves are so confident of this that they are shortly to introduce a Lifetime Guarantee on their hand-built models. We’ll allow them to explain.

How often has it happened that a BBR model loses a wheel, photo-etch part or decal or that a window discolours?
Not often and this is because quality controil has always been one of our priorities.
However on occasion a model can get damaged. In the event of this happening, BBR, in conjunction with its authorised dealers, will now offer customers a warranty service. When returning a model for repair you will be required to present the Lifetime Guarantee Certificate which will have been authenticated at the point of purchase.
As with all types of guarantee, the model will be returned to BBR by the retailer for repair by our specialist technicians. It will be returned to your retailer in perfect condition.
But the guarantee will also have another function which is important for you as well as for BBR.
Unfortunately imitations of BBR’s hand-built models have been appearing on the market. Modern technology now means that rogue companies can cheaply produce inferior copies, at the expense of those who invest time, effort and money to manufacture world class hand built replicas.
To this end, your Lifetime Guarantee Certificate will not only offer a Lifetime Guarantee but will serve as a certificate of authenticity guaranteeing a true BBR hand-built model.

Look out for the new boxes from BBR with these certificates. The scheme should start in October

Le Mans 2004 - vital reference source

In the last issue of FSW we showed you Gordon Dawkins’ excellent photographs of all of the 2004 Le Mans 24 hours starters, to help you choose which subjects you need kits of for your collections. Just as we were closing for press a sample copy of this years Automodelisme Le Mans special arrived. This shows every car in detail, along with dimensions and colour suggestions. We’ll have a more detailed look at it in the next issue.

If you haven’t already ordered your copy, don’t delay. Last year it sold out very quickly and you wouldn’t want to miss out. At only £5.85 it is an absolute bargain. By the time that you are reading this we hope that the stock will have arrived and the first kits (from Provence Moulage of course!) shouldn’t be long either.

...line by line...

Marsh Models are producing a very limited series of the two AC Cobra 260s which finished 1st and 2nd at Riverside in 1963, driven by Dave McDonald and Ken Miles. Only 25 numbered pieces of each car will be produced, the first twelve of each being presented as a double set (MM024LE) and the remaining 13 of each as individual pieces (MM024LE198 - 1st & MM024LE98 - 2nd)...... Vernouillet are to release a limited edition of the Mig-21-powered Khadi 9, complete with parachute..... the future production list for This Way Up keeps growing, this month they’ve added the Fittipaldi F7...... more gap fillers for F1 collectors, Silverline are to release a kit of the McLaren M28C from Monaco 1979...... Racing 43 are adding a few more Super 1600 subjects to their range including an Opel Corsa...... ex-GPM staffer Matthew Marsh took a break from competing in the Asia Porsche Cup to share a Maserati Challenge car with TV presenter Vicky Butler-Henderson in the British GP support race. It was worth a trip back home, they won!...... Ebbro are to release race versions of the Nissan 350Z....... Tamiya are to release a 1:24th kit of the Porsche Carrera GT....... and Acu.Stion are the first to offer detailing parts for it!....... if proof were needed that some of the staff at GPM are a few sandwiches short a picnic, in November André Marot is due to jump out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft. He will be doing this without a parachute but has been assured the person he will be strapped to will have one and know how to use it. The lengths people will go to to raise money for their local schools....... we have moved our annual stock-take this year. Instead of the beginning of September, we will now be closed for paper clip counting from September 28-30...... as we don’t want to count everything, look out for an online sale at the start of September.......