Click on a link to order a model |
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New 1:43rd metal kit
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| RL06
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Hurst Floor Shifter Special Indy 500
1964. Also available built RL061M |
£40.55
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Every now and then in motorsport there will
be a visionary engineer that comes up with something radically different
to the competition. Indycar racing in the 1960's was a hotbed of such
innovation. They may have been late adopting the mid-engined concept
but when they did the car designers came up with some pretty radical
designs, none more so than Smokey Yunick's Hurst Floor Shifter Special.
This bizarre machine had the engine, fuel and water systems neatly
packaged in a slim streamlined main body which didn't leave room for
the driver. No problem, bolt a sidecar on and away you go. It was
a little more sophisticated than that but that's the principle! SMTS
are to be commended for being brave enough to model this outrageous
contraption. The kit is very well cast and features a good level of
detail including accurate looking suspension and a full Offy 4-cylinder
engine. The overall shape of the main structure looks slightly squashed
when compared to a low angle head on shot that we have been sent but
it will still look great when finished. A two tone paint finish is
required with decals supplied to cover the masking line. The decal
sheet also includes tyre sidewall decals for the outsides of the tyres,
though you may wish to add some to the insides too (MM332). Interestingly
some period photos show the car with Firestone tyres as in the kit,
while others show Goodyear.
By the way, in case you were wondering why all race cars don't look
like this now. It didn't work! The first driver, the experienced Duane
Carter tried it and declined to race it and then his replacement,
rookie Bobby Johns, crashed in practice. |
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New 1:43rd resin hand built |
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| BBR133A
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Ferrari 166 Inter 1949
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£149.00
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It's models like this one that justify BBR's reputation as market
leaders for hand built, resin and metal models. The first thing that
you will notice is the superb two-tone paint finish with razor sharp
masking between the blue and silver. The panel engraving is very crisp
and hasn't lost any definition during painting and the external trim
has been very carefully applied. Look closer and you'll see that the
finish extends to the interior with a blue painted dashboard with
plenty of clearly visible detail, p/e pedals, door pulls and window
winders and a turned gear lever.
The subject itself is beautifully proportioned and the model captures
the profile of this elegant Farina design very well. We often say
there is no such thing as a perfect model. It is possible to get extremely
close though! |
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New 1:24th resin & metal kit
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| HIR24041
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Ferrari 250GT SWB LM 1960 #16/19 1:24 |
£184.75
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| HIR24042
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Ferrari 250GT SWB LM 1960 #18/21 1:24
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£184.75
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| HIR24043
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Ferrari 250GT SWB LM/TDF 60 #14/157 1:24
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£184.75
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The 250SWB is one of the most beautifully proportioned, front-engined
road/race cars built and is also one of the hardest to get right for
model makers. Model Factory Hiro have done an excellent job with the
overall lines, the angle of the vents on the side looks very slightly
off, but otherwise it's pretty much spot on. The main body and chassis
are in resin with the bulk of the remaining parts in well cast white
metal. The dry fit of the bonnet is superb and to go under this panel
is a fully detailed engine bay. The interior is also well appointed
and the chassis appears to be complete, right down to the individual
spring leaves. The p/e sheets include a slot together 'eggbox' grille,
all the usual badges and fine details you would expect in a kit of
this quality and the spokes for the kit form wire wheels. It's all
carefully thought out and the few pieces we dry assembled on our review
sample fitted nearly perfectly. Once the tiny amounts of casting flash
are removed there should be no problems at all. To help put it all
together the instructions are computer drawn and very simple to follow.
The colours suggested in this range are all Gunze Sangyo, so you will
need to cross reference to your usual paint supplier. The decals are
clearly printed with two options in each kit and whichever you choose
will look stunning when completed. |
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| ISBN0593050584
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Donald Campbell, The Man Behind The Mask,
weight 1.1kg by David Tremayne |
£20.00
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| The subtitle 'the man
behind the mask' that David Tremayne has chosen for this quite brilliantly
researched and written book is apt. To those of us whose passion is
the Land Speed Record, the personality of multi-record breaker Donald
Campbell has always been an enigma and that enigma has irritatingly
stood in the way of understanding the man's often tortuous but passionately
driven attempts on the land and water speed records with the various
Bluebirds. |
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But in approaching the
subject Tremayne appreciated this problem and realised that only by
detailed research into the relationship between Donald and his father
Sir Malcolm – also of course a multi record breaker – could
Donald be understood. He had to travel the world to record essential
interviews with those with intimate knowledge of both men and these
travels also enabled him to further research their record breaking
efforts in such widely diverse places as Australia, South Africa and
America. What emerges is an intimate insight into the complex relationship
between father and son and also between Donald, members of his close
family and those involved with his record attempt teams.
If all that sounds complex let me allay your fears because Tremayne's
now deep understanding of the two men makes this book a fascinating,
uncomplicated read that follows the lives of father and son through
the greatest ever era of record breaking – from the 1920s through
to Donald's sad death at Coniston in 1967. It's a monumental work
of speed record history and a motor sporting library essential. And
– as I said – it's a cracking good read too. - BH |
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