FrankJ Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 I'm new to modelling currently building my first model ship but thinking of what to get next. I started thinking it would be nice to get some of the cars I used to drive way way back. Been looking for the likes of MK1 & MK3 Cortina's, Hillman Hunters Volvo hatchbacks , I can find the metal ones, but self build plastic models I can't find. Does anyone know if those plastic models are around anywhere? or perhaps they've never been around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coors54 Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 (edited) Hi Frank, I think you have a shallow pond to fish from I'm afraid, the Airfix 1/32 range from that period is about all that's available (?) and they can be silly money to buy as they are highly regarded by collectors and haven't been re issued in the near past. Have a look at the completed section for some crackers built by @davecov to get an idea of what can be done. I seem to remember Frog did some British cars of the period but again they will be regarded as collectors pieces and command high prices. I'm sure others more versed in the pleasures of car modelling will be along to add their wisdom. Good luck. Dave Edited July 10, 2020 by Coors54 Spelin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onethritysecond Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 As Dave said, Airfix 'modern' (60s/early 70s) car kits in 1/32nd are the biggest source of British everyday cars of that era and included a mk1 Cortina, albeit a Lotus. Many have been reissued in recent years including most of the sports cars, mk1 escort, Triumph Herald 1200 and HA Vauxhall Viva so they should be cheap enough in reisuue packaging but original releases and ones never re released can get pretty expensive. Lots of resin bodyshells were done for slot cars, either based on old kits or created from scratch and many are still available but are not complete kits, just bodies. A mk3 Cortina was available, although it wasn't a great representation and I used to make a Hillman Hunter body but not for 10 years now I should think. Frog did make 4 cars in the massive scale of 1/16th - Mk1 Cortina, Morris 1100 mk1, Vauxhall Victor FB estate and the obligatory E type plus a Dennis ambulanvce of all things. Quite well modelled but very basic kits and designed to be motorised. Bonnet and/or boot usually opened. Many were issued by Russian company NOVO after the demise of Frog and these versions are easier to get but all versions are pretty pricey. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roymattblack Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 (edited) Anything British and classic is a bit of a daydream I'm afraid. Come to think of it, anything British - PERIOD - is all but a daydream. E Type Jaguar, Aston Martin DB9. A few old Lotus cars, 2 of which have been re-released. Lotus 7 and Lotus Europa. As yet, no Elan re-release but Sangyo did a nice kit if you can find it. Airfix even did the Lotus Elite but it's total hens teeth now. Not really much else in plastic. NOBODY does a decent small-scale E Type that is a good shape, although the Airfix 1/32 is about the best - just a dreadful old kit to build unless you're extremely patient. Tamiya's DB9 is very good but very basic engine detail, but then again it isn't an 'old' car. Edited July 27, 2020 by roymattblack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnlambert Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 Has the Airfix 1:32 Triumph Herald been mentioned? I had a notification email the other day that it was back in stock somewhere. The Airfix Aston Martin DB5 in 1:35 is out there and not expensive on eBay (just as well, given that the two I bought recently are a mess of flash and sink marks. I think AIrfix is also planning another run of the DB5 at RRP of about £20 but eBay ones should be no more than half that. I think the Airfix MGB roadster is reasonably available and isn't there a Triumph TR4A? Talking of MGBs, there's the Aoshima (SP?) roadster in chrome and rubber-bumper variants in 1:24. I guess on a worldwide scale there aren't enough people interested in building kits of British classic cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 There's always this one, which is really a spoof I found on scalemates. Welcome to the forum, Frank. Sorry if I got your hopes up. As said above, keep an eye out on ebay. Buy up the wrecks/part started to practice on. The prices shouldn't be too bad and you may get good results. Revell did some British cars way back when but they're rare now. Failing that, I have a package of cars for sale in the Sales section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnlambert Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 1 hour ago, Pete in Lincs said: There's always this one, which is really a spoof I found on scalemates. Welcome to the forum, Frank. Sorry if I got your hopes up. As said above, keep an eye out on ebay. Buy up the wrecks/part started to practice on. The prices shouldn't be too bad and you may get good results. Revell did some British cars way back when but they're rare now. Failing that, I have a package of cars for sale in the Sales section. I got far more excited by the prospect of the Hillman Hunter kit than I really should. I was watching an auction for a Revell Austin Healey 3000 kit in 1:32, which sold for £23. I was tempted as I'm fond of the big Healey but I wasn't sure if it was complete and didn't fancy taking a chance. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElectricLightAndy Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 If you are willing to do a bit of extra work, this website sells resin body/chassis/window kits of many classic cars intended for slot car racing. https://www.pendleslotracing.co.uk/slot-cars/resin-body-kits.html?p=2 Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six97s Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 Revell did a Healey in 1/25 around the same time as their E type - I think both were tooled by the shortlived UK Revell operation? Both have been reissued countless times and the Healey was also reissued by Matchbox. Revell also had the Cadet series in the early '60s, but in a weird scale (1/42?). There was a PA Cresta, Rover P5, Jag Mk2, TR3, Morris Traveller and a Ford Consul. These are a bit crude by modern standards, but neat period pieces. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 Google fantasy kit world. It's full of spoof box lids for kits that never existed. Fancy a Matchbox 1600E? an Airfix Anglia estate or Austin 1800? They're all there and much more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anteater Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 Surprised no-one has mentioned AirTrax. I assume they're still going? Most of their bodies need a specific donor kit so require deep pockets, and I've never built one of their kits as I don't have deep pockets. On paper though, an interesting range in 1/24. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 SMTS does a Lotus Cortina; Range Rover; Jaguar XJS; Jaguar XJ6; various E-Types and so on. They are very nice kits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Roberts Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Doyusha did a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 in 1/24 - available stock and as the James Bond car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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