Jaguar XK-E Coupe, Airfix, 1/43

[Matt Bacon]

 

 

(L-R Airfix, Heller kit, Ixo Diecast, Jaguar dealer die-cast)

Above all, I think Airfix captured the XK-E shape bang on. The kit is quite simple, and the plastic weirdly soapy. The fit is almost too good -- in common with many Airfix kits these days you can't afford to have any paint on joining surfaces if you want them to go together neatly. The windows are super-clear, and the wipers moulded very neatly to the lower edge of the windscreen (which fits from the outside). READ THE INSTRUCTIONS about how to fit the rear glass -- it doesn't just pop into place, but it does fit very well if you do it how they tell you (one quarter-window THROUGH the cut out and then back and into place so one pane is going in from the outside and the other from inside...) The wheels in the box aren't bad, but these 3D printed wires from Motobitz are in another league entirely, and for £6 a very affordable way of improving the breed. In the box it's LHD, but that's just feels WRONG for a Brit to build, so I reworked the kit dash, switching over the steering wheel, instruments and pedals. Would it have killed them to do two dash parts? (I know the wipers would have been wrong, but still...). All in all, a fun kit that makes up into a good looking replica of a petite original -- it's small next to the XJ-S, never mind the later growly big cats...

 

best,

M.

[Phildaupho]

Very impressive 1/43 build. I agree that the shape looks very accurate. Enjoy seeing the evolution of Jaguar Coupes with your four models.

[PappyD340]

Very nice!

[Spottedlaurel]

Another great build Matt, those wheels are amazing and really enhance the good basic proportions Heller managed here.

I'm doing a quick 1/43 build myself at the moment, the Alpine A310 which I think you've done previously.

[rrb124@sbcglobal.net]

Over the top build. Thank you for the evolution shot. I forget that the cars are becoming too large!

[drodg]

Great job.  I love 1/43s 

[ChrisR]

Cool!

[Matt Bacon]

Thanks, guys!

Just to re-emphasise the point about the shape… take a good look at the profile side view. The line of the top of the glass peaks just in front of the door handle and curves down to the top of the windscreen. It’s not just Revell that gets that wrong… I’m not aware of any kit, including the big Monogram one, that correctly captures that subtlety of the shape. It completely makes sense that the roof should be highest where your head is, not at the top of the windscreen, but until Airfix came along, no one else had noticed. It’s also surprising how much influence such a small detail has on how “right” a model looks…

best,

M.

[Jim B]

Very nice in such a small scale.