Mike Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Targa (G-Model) (07689) 1:24 Carrera Revell The original Porsche 911 reached the market in 1963, and if you have one of those, you’re probably quite wealthy if it’s in good condition. The Carrera name had been used in the 70s for a special edition, and was re-used for the 1983 variant that saw the engine size increased to a healthy 3.2 litres with a choice of body styles including Coupé, Targa and Cabriolet, the Targa having a removable roof panel to give the occupants a wind-in-the-hair/scalp feel without the bodyshell flexibility inherent in removal of the whole roof. The flat-six engine was mated to a new 5-speed gearbox that gave it an impressive 5.4secs 0-60 time that was the downfall of many a Yuppie in the corners and on roundabouts. The American variant was slightly lower in terms of power, and was subject to their safety constraints that resulted in some pretty chunky over-riders being added to the bumpers, and IIRC (which I seldom do), a slightly higher ride height. The overall design remained stable for the most part until it was entirely replaced, with various minor adjustments to the package such as a revised dash and an increase to the size of the disc brakes to improve stopping-power. By the end of the 80s the type had sold well, but as sales began to drop off the next generation was already in-hand, with the 964 straddling the 80s and 90s with a subtly different look and technical specification. The Kit This is an update of Revell’s 2021 911 Coupé kit, and it has new parts for the bodyshell to depict the removable roof panels amongst other things. It arrives in a thick end-opening box with a painting of a big red 911 on the front, being driven by Christian Bale, and a blonde Emma Peel from the original Avengers (pre-Marvel). What’s going on with their artists and the occupants of their cars these days? Inside are five sprues in grey styrene, two more in a muted silver, an L-shaped sprue and bodyshell in red, two clear sprues and four black flexible tyres in differently sized front and rear pairs. The instructions are printed in colour with profiles on the back page, and the decals with a protective wax paper cover hidden within, along with the box-ticking health and safety sheet that you should definitely read so you don’t spear yourself during the build. Detail is excellent throughout, with a reasonable replica of the flat-6 engine and Getrag transmission, plus left- and right-handed dash parts that will be seen through some nice clear glazing parts. Construction begins with the motor, which is well-detailed and made up from a good number of parts with a painting guide to assist you in making a good job, which continues throughout the booklet. The basic block and transmission are set inside a frame, which is slipped into the floorpan from below along with a wide U-shaped mount that is painted black. The drive-shafts and suspension are arranged around the transmission with the convoluted exhaust system attached to the underside of the engine. The front brake disks and hub assemblies are made up with an unglued cuff in the centre of each one, joined together by the steering linkage and dropped into the front underside along with the rest of the suspension parts and a protective cover over the centre. Back in the engine bay, the ancillaries, turbo inlet and airbox are painted up and installed, then the running gear is set to one side while the interior is made up. The interior is made up from front and back sections with moulded-in rear seats and slots for the front seats in the forward section. A pair of holes need to be drilled out for the pedals of the left- or right-hand drive positions, then the central console, gear-shifter and handbrake are fixed to the centre along with a pair of pre-tensioning seatbelt receivers. With the front seats, you have a choice of some elegant, slender seats with decals for the pin-striped material on the centre cushions, or more 80s squared-off Recaro-type sports seats, both of which have separate back covers. In addition, there are a pair of contoured seat-cushions for the rear seats that fit over the moulded-in bench-type backs. The front seats secure in their twin slots in the front well, then the left door card is glued in place after a comprehensive painting and decaling, with the new rear squabs attaching in front of the simpler rears. The left- or right-handed dash is painted up and decaled with some very realistic dials, knobs and controls, to be joined by the short steering column with moulded-in stalks and a separate steering wheel, which also have decals for the logos and control instructions. The dash is glued into position with the opposite door card, then you’ll need to get some paint on the bodyshell. The bodyshell is moulded in red, as are the other outer panels, which you will probably want to paint after the next step, which is drilling out some holes in the front wings. The bodyshell is filled up with the interior and floorpan whilst inverted, locating on pegs within. The front of the body is detailed with a pair of recessed headlamp reflectors that need painting with a suitable chrome paint beforehand, then have their textured lenses installed and the indicators placed in the bumper below, painting the clear part orange beforehand. The front bumper has an underside section added from below, with a choice of European or American fitments, only one of which has fog-lights and their surrounds with a number plate in the centre. At the rear, a full-width clear part fits into a groove in the back of the body, which will also need painting chrome within, and the clear part should be painted orange and red as per the diagram before insertion. The rear bumper iron shows a set of over-riders fixed either side of the number plate, but check your references to see if these are appropriately sized to the variant you plan to build. A reversing light attaches under the bumper, and this too has a clear lens that you should paint clear red. The wheels are different widths Front and Rear, so take note of the F or R on the small central sprue, although it’s fairly obvious when viewed from above. The sprue should be cut off with the sharpest blade you can find, then the hub is slipped inside to ledge on a rim at the rear after painting the outer rim chrome and aluminium, and the centres black for all four. The rims have hollow cylindrical pegs on the rear to fit onto the disk-brake hubs, and scrap diagrams show where to apply the glue sparingly. Unless you forgot to cut off the sprue from the bodyshell, you currently have a cabriolet 911, with just the windscreen frame moulded into the shell that accepts the glazing and rear-view mirror, which first have the rubbers painted black around the edges. The rear window is moulded from a single part that has a styrene insert glued within the roll-over hoop, which also has a decal on the inside. The assembly then clips into the rear of the cabin, with the hoop painted black outside, hiding the insert within. The Targa panel is a single part that clips into the rear glazing and it also latches vertically onto the screen frame at the front, which also has the sun visors moulded into it. The doors are moulded closed, but there are two window options. One depicts the windows down and involves fitting the small triangular quarter-light at the front, while the windows-up option has the quarter-light and window moulded into a single clear part. To finish off the build, there are two options for the rear wiper, depending on whether you have the boot open to show off the engine, then the door two handles, indicator repeaters and wing mirrors with separate mirror glass and a silver decal are fitted into their requisite sockets, then last of all there is a radio antenna in the down position added to the front-left wing. Markings The majority of decals will have been used before you get to the end, forming part of the interior or instrument panel, but also included are a set of number plates from various countries, their overseas boot stickers, plus a pair of Targa or Carrera branded showroom plates, and an engine data booklet for the firewall. Decals are by printed for Revell by Zanetti, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Conclusion Once you get over the shock of the anachronistic actor-people staring at you from the box-art (and the box style too if those infuriate you), this is a well-detailed kit of a very famous and much-beloved German sports car that’s a classic in the figurative and literal sense by now. Highly recommended. Currently, Revell are unable to ship to the UK from their online shop due to recent changes in import regulations, but there are many shops stocking their products where you can pick up the kits either in the flesh or online. Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For further information visit or 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthewbacon Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 33 minutes ago, Mike said: a painting of a big red 911 on the front, being driven by Christian Bale, and a blonde Emma Peel from the original Avengers (pre-Marvel). What’s going on with their artists and the occupants of their cars these days? I'm going to go for Ewan MacGregor and Lucy Liu in the coupe version... best, M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted November 25, 2021 Author Share Posted November 25, 2021 4 minutes ago, cmatthewbacon said: I'm going to go for Ewan MacGregor and Lucy Liu in the coupe version... best, M. Not sure. Could it be Nathan Filon? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthewbacon Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 Fair... it certainly could... best, M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 I haven't yet managed to get a proper look at the instructions for either, however are the second set of headlamp bezels / buckets (the ones below the bumpers) the ugly Federal USA spec ones? It looks like there is a second set of lenses too. Also, is there any mention of that smaller curved screen on the clear sprue? It appears to have no place on the Targa, so wondering if there were any mention in the instructions, or is it just blanked out on the sprue map? I ask since it could be a clue that the next veriant from the tool is a cabriolet, since it is about the right shape for the back window in the hood. So far, everything I've seen on this and the coupe suggests that Revell has done a great job! I'm leaning more towards the coupe though as I want to build it as a certain snot green 911, for which the alternative option bumper looks ideal ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnlambert Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 On 25/11/2021 at 21:49, Paul H said: I haven't yet managed to get a proper look at the instructions for either, however are the second set of headlamp bezels / buckets (the ones below the bumpers) the ugly Federal USA spec ones? It looks like there is a second set of lenses too. Also, is there any mention of that smaller curved screen on the clear sprue? It appears to have no place on the Targa, so wondering if there were any mention in the instructions, or is it just blanked out on the sprue map? I ask since it could be a clue that the next veriant from the tool is a cabriolet, since it is about the right shape for the back window in the hood. So far, everything I've seen on this and the coupe suggests that Revell has done a great job! I'm leaning more towards the coupe though as I want to build it as a certain snot green 911, for which the alternative option bumper looks ideal ... Well spotted on the other window piece, it looks just right for the hood on a full convertible and it makes sense (to me at least) to offer coupe, targa and convertible. I think I could end up building one of each... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan R Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 (edited) Just looked at this and the coupe review. Soooo tempting, but .... I already have too many Porsches to build and the missus would probably strangle me, thus putting any more builds on hold for eternity... I love a good Porsche, me.... Cheers, Alan. Edited January 13, 2022 by Alan R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 Just now, Alan R said: I already have too many Porsches to build and the missus would probably strangle me Just blame me, and hope that Bristol is too far for her to come to throttle me instead 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan R Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 My wife has family in Stockport. Not too far from Chester... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 On 27/11/2021 at 09:29, johnlambert said: Well spotted on the other window piece, it looks just right for the hood on a full convertible and it makes sense (to me at least) to offer coupe, targa and convertible. I think I could end up building one of each... It does make a lot of sense. The fact that it's a German car manufacturer and a total legend makes it even more likely, but since when have we ever been 100% right about what model companies do? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunderklumpen Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 On 11/25/2021 at 10:49 PM, Paul H said: I haven't yet managed to get a proper look at the instructions for either, however are the second set of headlamp bezels / buckets (the ones below the bumpers) the ugly Federal USA spec ones? It looks like there is a second set of lenses too. Also, is there any mention of that smaller curved screen on the clear sprue? It appears to have no place on the Targa, so wondering if there were any mention in the instructions, or is it just blanked out on the sprue map? I ask since it could be a clue that the next veriant from the tool is a cabriolet, since it is about the right shape for the back window in the hood. So far, everything I've seen on this and the coupe suggests that Revell has done a great job! I'm leaning more towards the coupe though as I want to build it as a certain snot green 911, for which the alternative option bumper looks ideal ... There is definitely something blanked out on the clear sprues (several items, actually). Instructions for the Targa is available here: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell-07689-porsche-911-carrera-32-targa-g-model--1324090 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan996 Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 I have already built both models. They indeed include parts for an American spec car. Such as different rear bumper rubbers (much wider than the European ones), different headlights and glass (the US have the glass inside the bezel, the EU have the glass sticking out), different indicators at the front. Furthermore, the Targa has extra seats, a different steering wheel, the dashboard has a different ignition lock. Furthermore, it lacks the drive for the AC, the AC is included but the belt is not, but why would you want an airco in a Targa.😉 The Targa also has a rear window wiper for the opened rear bonnet as well as for a closed one including the wiper motor. The extra oval window is indeed the rear window for the convertible top, so that convertible will probably come some day. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Ah - I was wondering what that engine component was, as I'd noticed that the drive belt wasn't in the Targa kit. That all makes sense now. However, until you mentioned it, I hadn't spotted that the dashboard sprues were different though, and looking more closely, the front seats on that sprue are slightly different to the coupe ones, meaning that there are now three different front seat options across both kits. The US Federal spec bits are presumably for Revell USA's own release - of no interest to me personally, but I think it's a nice feature to have the option. However, I'm now torn as to whether to get this one, the coupe, or wait for the convertible... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted June 7, 2022 Share Posted June 7, 2022 Nice review which leads me to the question Coupe or Targa 🤔 Looks like a good build even for an aircraft modeller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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