Shelby Cobra question...

[Brizio]

I have the Revell kit in the picture, and I'm planning to convert the care like a Cobra in the early 60's, any suggestion without buy another kit?

Thanks

[cobraman]

Tons of reference photos on line. Cobra, my favorite auto. I will be watching your build when you begin. Good luck !

[Cato]

You have the wrong kit. That's Sam Fienstein's 427 Comp car. The 'early '60's' cars you mention are small block,221, 260 and 289 small nose cars with slabside fenders. No outside exhaust, roll bar, Comp gas filler cap and different wheels.

Among other differences...

[ScaleDale]

Wiki is your friend...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_Cobra

1961 AC Ace-Bristol (upon which the Cobra was based)

Dale

[Cato]

Wiki is your friend...

Dale

No it's not.

Two of the first three images are clown car kits, not AC 427's or MK III's. The AC Ace is genuine as is the Drag car and last big block.

CSXinfo.net is the source to follow but none of the available model kits allow any of the accuracy presented there without major improvement.

[ScaleDale]

^^ Thanks for the link, but the site is a bit slow. I posted the Ace because it was what the OP was trying to build.

Dale

Edited August 7, 2013 by ScaleDale

[Cato]

^^ Thanks for the link, but the site is a bit slow. I posted the Ace because it was what the OP was trying to build.

Dale

How do you know? "I'm planning to convert the care like a Cobra in the early 60's"--- An Ace is not a Cobra. He doesn't say anything about building an AC Ace. And there are other Ace-only sites for reference.

[blunc]

here is a plain 289 AC Cobra: http://mycarquest.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/36.jpg

[blunc]

note the lack of bulging rear fenders and flared front fenters

true "knock-off" style wheels and no side exhaust, no hood scoop.

[Jeremy Jon]

Always one of my favorites, that particular variation in fact!

Does no one make a decent kit of that car?

here is a plain 289 AC Cobra: http://mycarquest.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/36.jpg

[Cato]

true "knock-off" style wheels and no side exhaust, no hood scoop.

All Cobras had either spline drive or pin drive 'knock-offs', except a few drag-only or owner-converted cars. No big block cars came with wires.

[Cato]

Does no one make a decent kit of that car?

No. A few diecasts are the best of the bunch.

[Brizio]

Thank you for all the info guys!

Now I narrow down what I would like to build, is the Cobra on the picture. What kit would be the best then? If there is a kit...

Thank you always.

[Cato]

Thank you for all the info guys!

Now I narrow down what I would like to build, is the Cobra on the picture. What kit would be the best then? If there is a kit...

Here is the information you need:

http://www.csxinfo.net/289cobra/fia.htm

You will have to start with a 289 small block kit and heavily modify it. Particularly the fender flairs, wheels, windshield and many small details.

Study the reference before you buy and good luck.

[Brizio]

Here is the information you need:

http://www.csxinfo.net/289cobra/fia.htm

You will have to start with a 289 small block kit and heavily modify it. Particularly the fender flairs, wheels, windshield and many small details.

Study the reference before you buy and good luck.

Great! Thank you for the link.

[cobraman]

I think any of these kits "could" be a good starting point but as been said above you will need to do a bunch of modifing to pull it off.

[MrObsessive]

Wouldn't the "Sunny" kit from the '80's be a better starting point? It's not perfect body wise, but IMO you have some of your work done for you in the fender area at least. Here's a pic of that kit...............

Don't be misled by the box art and the kit's title. To me the body is a LOT more representative of a FIA car than the 1965 era 427.

BTW, here is a link to the auction on eBay where that pic was cribbed.........

Edited August 8, 2013 by MrObsessive

[cobraman]

I forgot about the Sunny kit. Here are photos of that body.

[Cato]

To me the body is a LOT more representative of a FIA car than the 1965 era 427.

It's not and neither are Ray's examples.

The front flairs on FIA's were done by sawing off the Slabside eyebrow and gassing-in a thin strip to make an extension for wider wheels and tires..

The rears were also sawn off and the panel 'bulged' to what the 427's became. Then a flare strip also added.

Then there's the 'cut-back' doors-which you'd have to figure out.

Remember a 427 body (CSX 3000 series) is 4" wider at the chassis than the CSX 2000 small block cars. The fenders are naturally further apart.

Any of these kits yield toy-like models that only suggest a Cobra.

[cobraman]

As was said, a lot of modifications would be needed if any of these kits are used. Would be a jumping off point at the very best.

[ScaleDale]

If we had to be historically accurate in our builds, this place would be far more barren than the bottom of a vacuum tube at absolute zero.

Dale

Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Cato]

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Should we assume the OP wants to build another Cobra toy? Or give him accurate information in case he wants not to be part of 'absolute zero'?

[Brizio]

The idea, or what usually I try to achieve on a build is to be more accurate as possible.

To narrow down little bit, so I can have a better idea on what kit chose.

If I use any of the kit that Cobraman posted (post #16), the big work will be to re do the fenders?

The Sunny kit has good fenders, but I think the air scoop under the grille need to be modified.

@ScaleDale, if you know a better kit to use please let me know.

Thanks again guys!

[Cato]

The idea, or what usually I try to achieve on a build is to be more accurate as possible.

To narrow down little bit, so I can have a better idea on what kit chose.

If I use any of the kit that Cobraman posted (post #16), the big work will be to re do the fenders?

I already outlined some of the problem areas for accuracy Brizio.

But starting with any of those kits is the same-they all are off in many ways. To have a chance, you must study accurate research and be aware that many cars shown are replicas and not correct. That's why you should stick to CSXinfo.net and Supercars.net to see original '60's cars.

You must start with a small block car model and not big block. If you started with a big block car, you'd have to section .160" out of the length (in 1/25) in the body and chassis, just for openers.

The doors, hood scoop, flairs, hips, windshield and all thicknesses would need serious work. And virtually all of the engines provided are junk. Although other types of models may have superior 289 engines with accurate Weber carbs.

If you're up to it, ask questions as you go.

[Brizio]

Ok thank you Cato! This week end if I can I will go to the hobby shop and look what they have.