| 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 |
| Piranha
Models |
| Piranha
Models – New 1:43rd metal kit |
| RUP008 |
Ferrari
312PB 1st Monza 1000kms 1972
|
£45.75
|
|
| A
reasonably well cast metal kit with a good level of detail, this will
build to make a fine miniature of the short-tailed prototype Ickx
and Regazzoni drove to victory at Monza. The shape looks accurate
but is slightly larger than other 312PB models currently available.
The metal castings will need a little cleaning up – nothing major
– and include finely detailed rear suspension, gearbox and as
much of the engine that is visible on a kerbside model, which is most
of it in this case. |
|
The
decals are well printed and a modest amount of p/e is included for
grilles, fuel fillers, etc. The instructions are well drawn and include
colour shots of the interior and black and white photos for engine
detailing. Only 360 of these kits will be made and each has its issue
number engraved on the base-plate.
 |
| SMTS |
| New 1:43rd
resin and metal kit and metal hand-built models |
| CL078B
|
TVR Cerbera Speed 12 street
- kit
|
£40.55
|
| CL060M
|
Aston Martin DB2/4 Monte Carlo
1955 #389 - built
|
£79.30
|
| CL080AM7
|
Ferrari 250GT SWB 1st TT 1961
- built
|
£79.30
|
| CL080BM
|
Ferrari 250GT SWB Le Mans 1961
#18 - Built
|
£79.30
|
|
|
Using a slightly modified version
of the parts reviewed in FSW 6/2001, the same comments apply. The
resin body is well cast though slightly asymmetric and the body
shape looks much like the Cerbera currently racing in the British
GT series. The interior is basically as the race car but with an
extra seat which we're not sure about. We can't find any
reference to a road car and don't recall seeing one with the
Speed 12 engine so we are assuming this is a 'what if'
model, if not we are surprised at the interior because these are
usually as heavily sculpted as the exteriors on TVR's.
The three built models show the improvements that have been made
recently by SMTS. They appear accurate, the paint finishes are very
good and the detailing well applied. The Ferrari is the famous Rob
Walker car driven by Moss to victory at Goodwood.
|
 |
| The same car was also
entered for Moss and Graham Hill at Le Mans. Still in Rob Walker colours
but entered by NART, the car was retired after about 10 hours. Again
this model is very well finished and checks out well against race
photos. The Aston Martin was driven by Maurice Gatsonides to 7th place
on the Monte, and we see from the results that he collected 180 penalty
points during the event. We hope these were all for speeding on the
regularity sections! For overseas readers - Gatsonides was the man
who invented the car 'speed camera' now used so widely (and
not always wisely) by police. Photographs of these hand-built models
will appear in our colour pages if we can get the camera to work for
more than ten minutes without breaking. Our Aston photo above is not
of the Gatsonides car but of a similar Aston on the same event. |
|
|
Click on a link
to order a model |
| BBR/Arena |
| BBR/Arena
– New 1:43rd hand-built models |
| BBA033M
|
Giannini 700 Gr2 Tolmezzo-Verzegnis
1977 #151
|
£119.45
|
| BBA034M
|
Fiat 500 Gr2 Tolmezzo-Verzegnis
1977 #155
|
£119.45
|
| BBA035M
|
Fiat 500 Gr2 Tolmezzo-Verzegnis
1977 #163
|
£119.45
|
|
| Typical of the heavily
modified baby Fiats still competing in hillclimb events in Italy,
these are all very colourful. The body shapes look good and there
are well detailed engines visible beneath the stand-off engine covers.
Unfortunately these engines are mounted so low they are touching the
ground and if these dimensions were repeated in a full-size car would
be destroyed as soon as the cars moved. The paint finishes on all
of the cars are slightly on the heavy side and the masking between
the two colours is a little uneven. The details are all available
in the kit and with a little more care these builts could have looked
brilliant. Photos of the three models above will - camera willing
- be in our colour pages. |
| Milestone |
Milestone
Miniatures – New 1:43rd metal hand-built models
|
| MIG042ALP
|
Jaguar SS100 Alpine Rally 1936
#24
|
£61.95
|
| MIM026
|
Barnato Hassan Bentley Special
|
£70.50
|
|
Two fairly well
finished models that capture the shapes of their subjects very well,
if not the finer details. In 1936 Tommy Wisdom and his wife 'Bill'
persuaded William Lyons to provide them with a car for the Alpine
Rally. They did rather better than they expected themselves, winning
a 'Glacier Cup'. At first the model looks pretty good but
when compared to photos the front rally plate should only be half
the height it is on the model, the front side lights should be chrome
not black and the numbers on the sides of the car should be much larger.
|
 |
All of these errors could be easily rectified by the manufacturer
and this would then be a very good model. Also the model is fitted
with aero-screens but no main wind-screen and photos we have show
both fitted, though the main screen may have been broken or removed
during the event.
The Bentley is very well finished and we think represents the restored
car. We say this because all reference we can find suggests that when
the later central seat body – which this appears to have –
was fitted the front brakes were removed and the car was variously
raced in pearl grey or silver blue. The model has front brakes and
is finished in dark green and the certificate enclosed with the model
gives a very brief history and also mentions that the car was on display
at the Brooklands Society re-union in the year 2000. Our photo - above
right - is of the original car. |
| MR
Collection |
| MR Collection
– New 1:43rd resin and metal kit |
| MRC105 |
Lamborghini
Diablo SV Roadster 1996
|
£28.50
|
|
| A
very well cast and accurate looking kit, mostly in resin, that has
clearly been well thought out. White metal parts are supplied for
the chassis and some of the small ancillary parts including the wheel
centres. The comprehensive p/e detailing includes window frames for
the flat acetate screens, brake discs and a wealth of grilles, badges
etc. When built we know this will look superb. |
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