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Click on a link
to order a model or the logo to see the complete range from that manufacturer |
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| The Le Mans subjects keep coming thick and fast from PM, so fast in fact that even Ron Peggs is struggling to keep up! He has built the two Ferraris and we'll bring you his thoughts on these after we've taken a quick look at the others. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning with the
very pretty little Pilbeam, the basic body shape looks good and there's
a fair level of etched detail. One feature we immediately noticed
was that the rear corners of the bodywork are solid with a small triangular
black decal.  |
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| This should actually be an opening as from the side you can see the exhausts through it, though in practice it was solid. One or two of the smallest decals are slightly off register but nothing to worry about and a two tone finish is needed for the yellow and blue with a white decal stripe covering the masking line. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Now we've seen plenty of Porsche GT3s from PM and will no doubt see
plenty more. The basic kit parts are the familiar well cast resin
body, vac-formed front and rear screens and flat side windows, metal
roll-cage and reasonably comprehensive p/e which includes those BBS
wheels. The decals are all clearly printed but like last year's car
the decoration of the Taisan car might be a little tricky. There is
a decal panel to cover the joint between the red and black paint colours
which includes both red and black stripes so be very careful when
choosing your red paint. The Pagani Zonda has been one the most eagerly awaited subjects, even if the car itself was a fairly spectacular failure in the race. |
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| The shape, as we expect from PM, is very good and the decoration has been well thought out. The metallic blue is painted and then all of the silver panels are supplied as decals. There are three full sheets of decals for this one and these also include a fair amount of PM's rather clumsy carbon fibre. Looking at shots of the car the composite material used was actually quite pale coloured and had a heavy weave so in most areas the decal will look fine. Check out the pictures in Automodelisme (AUTO2003) and see whether you want to use them as they are or as templates. This model will ideally need the decals lacquering over as there will be virtually no panel left un-decalled! It'll look great when finished. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The LMP675 class
winning Reynard was, we think, one of the most attractive entrants
in this year's race and the kit is another for those of us who really
enjoy decalling. A simple white finish is required and then all of
the metallic blue and red sections are supplied as decals. The Graham Nash Motorsport Saleen is another big decalling job and should look very good when finished. White metal OZ wheel inserts are included for this one but strangely not for the Konrad car which at various stages of the race used either these rims or the familiar BBS items. |
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| PM have made an effort to improve the BBS inserts but you may still wish to use aftermarket items (RENA058). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Click on a link to order a model
or the logo to see the complete range from that manufacturer |
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| The 2003 running
of the Le Mans 24 hours will probably be remembered by Bentley's win
but from a modellers point of view there were so many great liveries.
We've already looked at a few and the Scorp Viper was another. |
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| This car had a satin dark grey finish with bright orange swirls and, while PM suggest a Volvo colour, we have had a few queries about this reference. To add to the fun most of the orange decals (printed by DMC) have a black background. Once we've seen one built, either by our Studio or Ron, we will know how it turns out. Of course, if you beat us to it, let us know! No obvious problems with the Larbre Viper with its more conventional livery. | ||||
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The built Renault Floride has an excellent paint finish in a pretty
powder blue. The fit of the vac-fromed windscreen could be better
but otherwise the detailing is well applied. The overall result
is a very attractive model of a pretty car. |
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When we looked at the Aston kit a couple of issues back we were
concerned about the orange colour of the stripe and Union Jack.
Since then we have stumbled across other good photographs while
looking for something else and it certainly does look orange in
these. |
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| PM2845
Ferrari 550 Le Mans 2003 #72 Alphand Aventure £37.80 PM2846 Ferrari 550 Le mans 2003 #99 XL Racing £37.80 |
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| When the 550s turn up you would expect them to be very similar. Not the case, PM have done a superb job in producing these two very different models, right down to the correct wrap around Recaro seat in car #72. |  |
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| Both
models require dual colour schemes which is a bit of a surprise on
the Alphand car. Even the printed window panels are different and
this has been accurately printed by PM for car #99, although I have
enhanced my model using RMC026A/026B nut and bolt sets. Car#99 has a new shell with the correct wavy louvres, straight rear wing & correct front spoiler. A standard seat is provided, not as shown on the build diagram. Note part 'E' should be black, which brings me to the wheels. Standard PM BBS type wheels are provided and these are just plain wrong. I made up the very different wheels using parts of PM and Renaissance wheels, not an easy one for modellers as all the side view photographs in Automodelisme (AUTO2003) show the car moving. |
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| Not much to add
to Car #72. A separate p/e sheet gives us the complex venturi used
for this car and the very good cast Maranello wheels are provided.
All in all two very good models which, with care, build to look perhaps even better than the real cars. |
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| One final word of warning. Do be careful with the DMC printed decals. They are very fragile and one of my sets was ruined when I applied a lacquer coat. More than a small amount of decal softener will have a similar effect. | ||||
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| This yellow Zagato coupe which won it's class on the Rally Sestriere is a great looking subject but sadly the kit parts aren't quite so hot. |  |
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| The basic shape is excellent, there are decent BBR standard wire wheels and a reasonable level of p/e but the castings are not good. The panel engraving is very heavy and the moulded in side vents have holes in several of the ribs. It will be possible to make a good model from these parts but you'll have to work at it! | ||||
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