Best of the GT40 Kits?

[Force]

I think they are the same as the old IMC and Testors kits.

[Rob Hall]

I have an empty box for a '60s era AMT GT-40..was that a slot car kit rebox or a rebox of the IMC kit? Maybe Heller (did they do a GT-40--I know AMT did rebox some Heller race car kits--I have an AMT Porsche/Ferrari set).

Though they are curbsides, I do like the Fujimi ones..have a couple of them. Also have the Revell-Monogram (Aurora) one and a couple of the MPC Mk IVs. I also have one of the IMC kits that was built then dissasembled, needs restored.

Edited March 26, 2014 by Rob Hall

[Casey]

I think they are the same as the old IMC and Testors kits.

The 1/25 Mark IV Ford GTs, Lola T70, Lotus 49B, '48 Ford convertible, Chaparral 2E, and VW Beetle kits-- all originally designed and made by IMC-- were all released under Union's "Memorial Collection" series after IMC went belly up.

[Don Sikora II]

I have an empty box for a '60s era AMT GT-40..was that a slot car kit rebox or a rebox of the IMC kit? Maybe Heller (did they do a GT-40--I know AMT did rebox some Heller race car kits--I have an AMT Porsche/Ferrari set).

Though they are curbsides, I do like the Fujimi ones..have a couple of them. Also have the Revell-Monogram (Aurora) one and a couple of the MPC Mk IVs. I also have one of the IMC kits that was built then dissasembled, needs restored.

AMT's GT40 is a reboxed IMC Mark II kit. AMT also made a 1/43-scale Mark II.

[vamach1]

Here is an almost complete Thunder Valley kit with the Fujumi donor kit plus a lot of HRM parts. It's ends up being pretty comparable to the Lemans Miniatures ones except it has an engine. It's pictured with the IMC GT40 and the Mirage by Mini Exotics.

[1959scudetto]

Has anyone built the Mark IV from Union Model Company? It's in my stash and looks very detailed but I've never seen one built. Boththe rear deck and the hood are hinged. Full engine.

Danger

Here is mine, built in the mid 80's - I still can remember several issues: most of all ill-fitting body panels (it would be better not to close the rear deck, the front hood does not fit, either), the red paint shines through the white number circles and stripes and the tires have not stood the test of time - they tear apart radially from the inside.

Impossible to take pictures and hide those issues - have a look yourself!

All in all, it looks similar to the real thing but I certainly would not recommend it unless you want it because of some significance in model kit history.

Has anyone built the Mark IV from Union Model Company? It's in my stash and looks very detailed but I've never seen one built. Boththe rear deck and the hood are hinged. Full engine.

Danger

Here is mine, built in the mid 80's - I still can remember several issues: most of all ill-fitting body panels (it would be better not to close the rear deck, the front hood does not fit, either), the red paint shines through the white number circles and stripes and the tires have not stood the test of time - they tear apart radially from the inside.

Impossible to take pictures and hide those issues - have a look!

All in all, it looks similar to the real thing but I certainly would not recommend it unless you want it because of some significance in model kit history.

[1959scudetto]

Big mistake in the kit: the rear deck should be hinged to the roof section - only the yellow MkIV of McLaren/Donohue hat it hinged that way, lost the rear on the track and some time in the pits where the mechanics re-fixed it using lots of tape and Carroll Shelby's expensive leather belt (they took 4th place)

here is another IMC-kit: the infamous J-Car which cost Ken Miles' life in 1966: I bought this as a glue bomb in 1986 and tried some kind of "restoration" (decals missing, wrong color - no Internet back then) - anyway: this is the predecessor of the victorious Mk IV - it shows also big gaps with doors and rear deck but had less issues than the MkIV above.

[Bill J]

As far as the MK IV goes, the best plastic kit was the MPC kit. It was far nicer than the IMC and the engine was more accurate. Best 427 high type valve covers ever in plastic also. I have first hand experience with the high style valve covers in 1:1. When Ford upped the cam lift to gain HP about late 64 or early 65, the adjustable, solid lifter rocker arms needed the extra high valve covers. The previous, rounder 427 valve cover would no longer fit the engine once the new cam was added. Trivia, sorry

LeMans Miniatures made 2 different GT-40 Mk I kits, one that was curbside and one with full detail, including and engine and all under the hood details. Photoetched disc brakes, machined and resin wheels and an accurate wide tire and rear body work. I have one of the full detail (Goldline) kits and have yet to start on it. Lots of parts and little instruction.

I am still waiting for a full detail plastic (affordable) kit of the Cobra Daytona Coupe, there are a few great road race cars that really need new kits, even though they are 50 year old race cars! Cars like the Daytona Coupe and Chaparrals were world class sports car racers and never done well in plastic kit form.

[vamach1]

I have built both the IMC and MPC ones and they both are not perfect but they beat the alternative cost wise.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/371029387490?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

As far as the Daytona Coupe goes the HRM one is a bargain compared to the Japanese ones and is far more detailed and accurate than the Gunze Sanyo one.
However, at almost $200 it is not cheap but is a model at a whole other level.

The Daytona coupe pictured was NOT build by me but I built the GT's and slept at a Holiday Inn once.

Edited March 28, 2014 by vamach1

[afx]

Here is the LS/Arii kit. Lets see, the box calls it the '64 Daytona Winner (it actually won in '65). It includes the decals for #72 car (#73 actually won). And the body looks nothing like the Ford GT. But other than those minor foibles they really nailed this kit.

The LS version includes these really nice turned aluminum/white metal Halibrands that my friend 65slotcar snatched from the kit before he dumped it on me.

Edited April 9, 2014 by afx

[Bill J]

vamach1, that's great collection of GT's you have there, very nicely done. I do have a Gunze Cobra Daytona and the HRM upgrade which replaces the rubber and build your own frame with some nice resin pieces. The HRM Daytona kit is very nice, as with all HRM products. However, it is lacking several parts that you have to figure out and construct on your own. The duct work for the webers and the ductwork for the radiator area are not in the HRM or Gunze kits. I'm pretty sure that the coupe in the picture you posted is a Model Factory Hiro Daytona Coupe. That one comes with everything, all the ducting is in photo etch. It is 33% more expensive than the HRM kit but to get everything it's likely what I would do, if I had that much to spend right now

afx. I don't think that the Arii kit is all that off on the body. The Ford GT's went through some evolution from their first version to their first win version and then on to their later versions. The nose mods look right for the 65 Daytona car, when Shelby first took over the project. Shelby changed the air outlets and the nose shape. Later the nose became longer and it was noticeable. Rear deck scoops changed some and the rear was widened as wider tires became available too. The Arii looks about right for the Daytona car, that was the way Shelby changed the outlets that surrounded the spare tire, at first and also added the little spoiler lip at the front of that outlet opening to eliminate a dead air spot that kept air from flowing through the radiator. The Shelby team also added some small front air dams that helped keep the nose down at speed. The Arii kit is the closest to that particular timeframe in the evolution of the Ford GT project that has been modeled so far. It is pretty rare to find any pics of the first Shelby run cars, so it's sort of a lost time period.

[jbwelda]

for some reason, that LS body's nose looks like a Saab Sonnet to me. the whole front of the body from the rear of the side window forward looks like a Sonnet in fact. maybe its just the camera angle!

jb

[afx]

Bill, The Daytona Coupe vamach1 posted is the HRM kit built by a MAMA member.

I disagree that the Arii kit is a good representation of the '65 Daytona car. The nose on the kit is too flat and extended.

However I don't think the Arii kit is a total loss. I am going to give it a go and see what I can do with it. Keep any eye out for it soon "On the Workbench"

[vamach1]

Bill J - thanks for the tip about the HRM Cobra which is pictured unbuilt. As for the Revell/Aurora MKI - it is really a decent kit and goes together better than the IMC ones.

Speaking of the IMC kit - I could not resist buying this never opened one.

Edited March 28, 2014 by vamach1

[vamach1]

This looks like a great source for decals for 1:1 GT40's and Cobras and a nice reference for model builders.

http://www.racelinedigital.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6_54

Edited March 29, 2014 by vamach1

[Bill J]

Vamach1, looking at the pic of the HRM kit that you posted, I do see the radiator ducting and the airbox for the webers. It may be the front inner fenders that are not there? Hmmm. I might be able to afford an HRM kit and I have never, ever been disappointed with anything HRM has made. Everything has been just beautifully executed. Your Aurora looks good, where did you get the Daytona decals? Thanks for the Cobra link.

Afx, I see what you mean about the nose, I do remember the 65 Daytona car was different and not as long as later versions. That pic makes it look quite short and the Arii is pretty long looking. Maybe I need to mod my Aurora/Revell into a Daytona car, it has a fairly short nose, it just needs a little bodywork here and there. Thanks for the pic, it is a good one, you seldom see pics of the GT's during that period.

Edited March 29, 2014 by Bill J

[afx]

Nope inner fender panels are there and attached to the front clip just like the 1:1 car.

Edited December 29, 2014 by afx

[Bill J]

Ok, I am convinced, I need the HRM Daytona Coupe kit I sent off a email to check current availability. I also need to crank out my Gunze kit with HRM parts that I have been ignoring, as a motivator to do the full HRM kit!

Thank you for clearing that up for me AFX, do you have $190 I can borrow? Oh wait, I have a Visa

EDIT: HRM Cobra Daytona Coupe on order! That's a commitment

Edited March 31, 2014 by Bill J

[Mike Kucaba]

Okay, this thread has had a wealth of info, but are all the Fujimi kis from the same molding, or have there been upgrades to the mold?

[afx]

Here is a summary of the Fujimi GT40 kits;

GT40 MkII: Fujimi/Revel. The kit comes molded in either white or black. Some versions of the kit includes a Gurney bump others do not. Some of the differences for the Daytona version include, duel carburetors, rear fender flairs, alternate air splitter for the hood, alternate rear spoiler and a bulge in the back window above the carbs. All are curbside but build into a very nice replica of the GT40 MkII.

GT40 MkI: Fujimi There are (2) body styles and (3) wheel styles. For the body you have the narrow rear flares like the two on the left and the wide rear flares like the body on the far right. Wheel choices are shown. The rear clip on all the kits is separate but the kit does not include and engine. Again the kit build into a fine replica of a GT40 MkI with the exception of the too narrow rear wheels/tires for the wide body car noted earlier in the thread.

Edited April 9, 2014 by afx

[Don Sikora II]

At least one of Fujimi's original three '66 LeMans kits (not sure, but I think it was the light blue car #1 that finished second) has a "smooth" roof that doesn't have the Gurney "bubble" on the driver's side door....not sure if that variant of the body has been used in any of the other versions.

I have one of the 1967 Daytona kits, a red car #3. It is Fujimi kit #12147. It has quite a few body color and clear parts that weren't in the original releases or the Revell versions. These do include add-on flares for the rear fenders. My kit has a red body and black chassis parts. Interestingly, the box says it is chassis 1047, same as the red #3 '66 LeMans kit in your photo above.

[Force]

They did re-use the chassis several times under their life so it can for sure have been the same, one example is the 68 and 69 LeMans winner cars, they were in fact the same chassis but with different competition numbers,

The history of the GT40 P 1047 chassis according to gt40.net is:

06/66 : Le Mans, 3,Gurney/Grant, DNF

02/67 : Daytona, 3, Foyt/Gurney, DNF

06/67 : Le Mans, 57, Hawkins/Bucknum, DNF

Reims, 1,Schlesser/Ligier, 1st

07/67 : Mugello, 4, Schlesser/Ligier, 4th

10/67 : Montlhery, 1, Schlesser, DNF

Montlhery, 1,Schlesser/Ligier 4th

1991 : auction Paris

Edited April 1, 2014 by Force

[afx]

Here is Le Mans Miniatures Easy Line resin kit.

[Bill J]

I can't post pictures or paste anything on this editor. No idea why that is! Otherwise I was going to post a pic of the LMM Goldline kit.

[Force]

Le Mans Miniatures has nice products, I just ordered two of their wheel sets for my Mk I and Mk IV kits, they look a lot better than the kit wheels.