Jump to content

Scale model racing kit questions


whiskey

Recommended Posts

Hey all,

 

I'm a major airplane modeller, however recently I have been dipping my fingers into cars, more specifically race cars. I'm an avid SCCA, IMSA, Le Man's, Trans-Am series racing fan and grew up all around that environment. Anyway with that in mind I've already managed to snag a Hasegawa 1988 24 Hour of Daytona winner Jaguar XJR-9 and a Revell 1994 Jack Baldwin Camaro from the Trans Am series, and the new Revell Ford GT Racing Le Man's kit.

 

I have plans on getting more of the Hasegawa/Tamiya 80's, 90's, 2000's era kits of the classic IMSA and Le Mans series plus I'm trying to bag the Revell collection of Mustang GTO's and Corvette C7R.

 

Here's my questions though: Has racing kits pretty much been limited to whatever car is popular at the time? Or perhaps a better way of asking is, can I find a 1/24-25 scale model kit of ANY race car I am looking for? Maybe an example being the 2000s era Dodge Viper GTS-R? 

 

I'm asking because I don't know a lot about scale auto modelling and I already get the feeling that it's somewhat limited in scope of subjects to choose from. Thanks fellas.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You are more likely to find a subject that you are looking for in 1/43 scale from that era (if they are still available). In 1/25 - 1/20 the trends seems to be for current popular/prominent cars, almost any Ferrari and anything with a Japanese connection.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Vicarage Vee said:

In 1/25 - 1/20 the trends seems to be for current popular/prominent cars, almost any Ferrari and anything with a Japanese connection.

That is the sad truth at the moment. I can understand the Japanese manufacturers covering mostly Japanese stuff, as they have to serve their home market primarily.

However, Revell, and Airfix could do 1/24th (1/25th) scale racers with a UK/US/Europe flavour from the 60's, 70's and onwards I'm sure. I bet there is a market out there. Unfortunately, they do seem to be a bit risk-averse, hence all the Spitfires/Me-109 et al re-pops.

 

There are only so many 2nd world war fighters that I want to put on my shelf.

 

Come on guys, give us some more cars/buses/trucks to make.

 

Rant over,

Alan.

Edited by Alan R
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was in the same boat as you when I started building race cars about a year ago. I knew where to find all of the airplane stuff, but nothing about cars.

 

A Japanese company called Nunu has started releasing fairly current GT3 cars. They have several 1/24 versions of the BMW M6 GT3 and have announced a 1/24 Porsche 911 GT3R and RSR, Audi A8 GT3, and BMW M8 GT3, all from the 2016-2018 seasons. I'm still hoping they'll release GT3 versions of the Lamborghini Gallardo and Huracan and NSX, too. Fujimi has a few good subjects, too. Most of the aftermarket decals will be for Japanese or European series cars, but Racing Decals 43 has some IMSA decals for the M6 and Ford GTs. Indycals also has a lot of IMSA decals for various cars. Just like with tanks and airplanes, Scalemates is a good source to see if there has ever been a kit of a particular car type. Spot Models (from Spain), BNA Model World (Australia), and Hiroboy (UK) are good sources to see what's available right now or coming soon. All three are good companies to trade with. There are transkits ("conversions" to us airplane guys 😁) for various cars, too. Sadly, they're not cheap.

 

Another possibility that I've been a little too intimidated to try yet is to convert a slot car body to a static model. They seem to have an endless variety of slot car bodies. For instance, take a look at Slotfabrik's selection.

 

Ben

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Profil24 have a habit of releasing interesting subjects of recent cars in larger scales: they were first off the blocks with the Ford GT kit and also do last year's Le Mans 'heritage' 911s in 1/24. They did a 1/24 XJR-5 a while back and IIRC did the god-awfully ugly Nissan GTR-LM too. Both come up on eBay now and then. Well worth a look.

 

I recall there was a (US-based?) manufacturer doing IMSA stuff too: R&S Mk.III being one, though I can't recall the company name. Classic Racing also do/did IMSA stuff.

 

Oh and MFH have done a recent series of 1/24 Ferrari 488 GTEs too. Their XJR-9 and XJR-12 series in 1/12 are also sublime. I have the Mazda 787B in 1/12 and it is incredible.

 

What I am really hoping for is a Cadillac DPi-VR kit in ANY scale!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for all the replies fellas. So useful. I really like how there's a build of smaller companies that are into filling the void of missing cars. But good Lord, the price tags I'm seeing in some these! 😲That's like a 1/48 Eduard all inclusive special edition kit or something! I can't get over that so far 😪

 

1/43? Really? Of all the scales to choose from, THAT'S the number that manufacturers picked? Just seems like such an odd one to me. I mean it's great that there's a larger selection but I'm more comfortable with the 1/24-25th scales and not really looking to venture out it. Kinda like 1/48 is my thing and won't budge lol.

 

Well I guess I'll make do with whatever is available and hope that more will be produced in the future. Not trying to build a showstopper with any of these, just enough to look good on my shelf and pretend I'm the one behind the wheel!

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1/43 resin or white metal kits come up a lot on eBay, and for reasonable prices too: I've recently filled a few gaps in my Starter and Provence Moulage collections with kits around £20 apiece and have begun collecting more esoteric stuff from the likes of BBR, Arena and Tron for similar money. Starter and PM don't generally do single-seaters but the former did make a lovely Teo Fabi/Mid-Ohio March-Porsche Indycar back circa 1986 and it was a lovely little kit. Meri and/or Tameo I think did a range of Indycars too.

 

MFH kits are expensive but you get countless hours of enjoyment and in terms of enjoyment-per-pound (or dollar) and detail they have no equal.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm going through some of this stuff, still processing it all, and good good the prices!!! Why in the heck is one car model running at $140???!!!! Then things like a decal set runs upward of $30-40 for just one car! And all of that's in the 24-25th scale too. I don't get it and I am sad to admit that there's no way I can afford stuff like that. 

 

The more unfortunate part of everything is it comes across as only 1/4 of the cars that have been raced throughout history are produced by model manufacturers in the common 1/24 and 1/25 scale.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1/43 is a strange scale because it was originally used for trains (O gauge) which in the UK is 1/43.5. Dinky made model cars to suit the railways, starting in the 1930s, and lots of other die cast manufacturers followed suit. Marklin determined the size for O gauge trains in the early 1900s, making it “smaller than 1 gauge”. Go figure! More useless info, HO is “half O” or 1/87.....

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you look around, take your time, and spend some time on eBay, you can build up a pretty good selection without paying huge prices, especially if you’re prepared to do a bit of work to detail some “classic” kits. Look for Heller, Union/Wave, IMC Monogram and Protar kits as well as Hasegawa and Fujimi. You can get a pretty broad selection of 60s/70s sports prototypes and Le Mans contenders, and Hasegawa/Tamiya do a fair range of 80s/90s cars, admittedly Japan biased. Accurate Miniatures did a Corvette Grand Sport and McLaren M8, and Simil’R a (previous generation) Ford GT. 

 

I’ll have a rummage through the stash and post up a list of what I’ve tracked down so far...

best,

M.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can sympathise with the OP about the prices in the world of automobile modelling, coming from aircraft modelling myself it has been a shock. I can only assume that sales volumes of kits and accessories for cars are considerably lower than model aircraft, also wanting what's current makes a subject hot sales wise for a much shorter time limiting profitability.

 A bit like the real thing value plummets as a model goes out of currency only to increase when it becomes a classic!

on the other hand I'm taking much longer to complete a model to my satisfaction so it's value ratio of cost to time is much better than aircraft, it's ratio of frustration to cost is bigger too as I master new techniques!

Good luck with your quest for suitable subjects, it's a whole new world out there.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK... this is the racing/rally section of the built cupboards or stash...

 

AC/Shelby

Cobra S/C (Hasegawa/Fine Molds)

Cobra Daytona  Coupe (R&MM)

 

Austin/Morris

Mini Cooper (Revell)

 

BMW

328 Racing (Heller)

M1 Procar (Revell, Esci)

M6 GT3 (Platz/NuNu)

 

Bentley

Blower (Heller)

 

Brabham

BT33 (Heller)

 

Bugatti

35B (Monogram)

 

Chevrolet

Corvette Grand Sport (Accurate Miniatures)

Corvette C.7R

 

Ferrari

250 Testa Rossa (Hasegawa)

250 SWB (Gunze, Protar, avoid Esci/Testors)

250 GTO (Gunze, Fujimi, Italeri, Revell, Protar)

250LM (Academy)

330P4 (Fujimi)

512S 1970 (Protar)

 

Ford

GT40 (Fujimi)

Mk IV (IMC/Union)

Escort Mk1 RS1600 (Belkits)

GTLM  (2005) (Simil’R)

GT (2017)

 

Jaguar

XK120 (Revell)

C-Type (K&R Replicas)

D-Type (Lindberg, use bodywork to convert XKSS)

XKSS (Revell)

E-type (Racing) (Gunze/Airfix, Heller)

XJ-13 (K&R Replicas)

XJ-S HE TWR (Hasegawa)

 

Lancia

Delta Integrale (Hasegawa)

Delta S4 (Beemax)

037 (Hasegawa, Esci)

Stratos (Hasegawa)

 

Lola 

T70 (Union/IMC)

 

Lotus

49B (Heller)

 

McLaren

M8B (Accurate Miniatures)

M7A (F1) (Heller)

 

Mercedes

300 SLR (Revell)

Mercedes-Sauber C9

Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Tamiya)

 

Porsche

904 (Monogram)

908 (heller)

911 Carrera RS Rally (Fujimi)

917K (Heller, Fujimi)

956 (Tamiya)

962 (Hasegawa)

GT-1 Evo (Revell)

 

Renault

R8 Gordini

 

Toyota

GT-One

 

best,

M.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had a serious case of sticker shock over decal prices, too. I assumed the prices were due to the time required to design them to fit properly, lots of colors, and low volume.

 

I’ve been able to keep my expenses down by watching eBay and buying from the forums. There are a lot of vendors from Japan and Hong Kong that sell on eBay and Amazon who have free shipping and surprisingly good prices.

 

Ben

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry for dragging this on but still have questions.

 

Can 1/24 scale slot car bodies be fitted onto a regular model chassis for display? I'm really interested in this bad boy:

sc-7063_01.jpg

 

It's by ScaleAuto which apparently produces it as a body kit and it runs under $50. And it's the only racing Viper in any large scale that's reasonably affordable.

 

Edited by whiskey
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I asked this question on another forum and got several positive responses. I’d still like to see a how to before I spring for that Gallardo GT3 slot car body I have my eye on. It’s a little intimidating, probably only because I don’t have the confidence in my car building abilities that I have in my airplane abilities.

 

Ben

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

just come across this thread. some of the kits in 1/24th are now quite collectable and expensive for a toe in the water excercise. A much admired present day kit seems to be the beemax bmw m3 touring car. sells for around 34 quid. apparently goes together great and looks great too. tamiya mini is a nice kit too.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, griffsrw said:

A much admired present day kit seems to be the beemax bmw m3 touring car. sells for around 34 quid. apparently goes together great and looks great too. 

Certainly better than the old Fujimi one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...