Categories

Kit (resin/metal)

The simplest description of a kit is a set of parts which need assembling. The majority of the kits which you will find at Grand Prix Models are manufactured by small artisan makers using either white metal (pewter) or resin (similar to car body filler or the plastic component in glass reinforced plastic) for the major components and larger ancillaries. The artisan nature of many of our traditional kit makers means that very low volumes are possible (often fewer than 50 examples) so that we see a huge variety of subjects.

Kits vary in complexity with the simplest kerbside releases often being a body, chassis, wheels and windows with a few interior parts and fine details. There are plenty of high detail projects for the more adventurous and experienced modeller and in a handful of cases these even extend to moving internal engine parts.

The kit parts are usually cast rather than injection moulded and this means that you will typically have to do a little surface preparation, this usually being restricted to removing excess 'flash' or feed tags and then lightly rubbing down the surface for paint. For the smaller detail parts we see ever more use of photo-etched stainless steel or brass, which provide very precise and fine components. In most cases all of the components must be painted* at some stage in the assembly process and the final decoration, be it badges on a road car or sponsorship on a racer, is supplied as water-slide decals.

*A few of our artisan ranges also provide painted kits, which we list as a separate category. These normally still need the smaller details painted but will have the main sprayed finish done for you. This is particularly useful if you live in an area where spray painting isn’t viable, be that because of local bylaws or because you’re in an apartment.

For a guide how to build a typical resin or white metal kits, please click here.

Plastic kit

Also known as polystyrene kits, these are probably the best known form of self-assembly model kit and the way that most of us started modelling. The components are injection moulded and this usually means a very precise fit with relative simplicity to build. However, many of these kits still include a very high level of detail and for those who are feeling more adventurous there are plenty of extra detailing parts available for most new releases. We also see 'transkits' for many of these kits which allow either accuracy issues to be corrected or alternative race versions to be built, the transkit components usually being in resin or white metal.

Die-cast & resincast

For a long time dismissed by many (us included) as toy cars, the quality of the mass produced die-cast models has come on significantly in recent years. Usually made in the far east (China being the most common source) and produced in high quantities, these models give collectors the opportunity to build a collection at relatively low cost. The arrival of Spark to the market place brought a new style of industrial production using resin for the bodies instead of traditional die-casting. Struggling to describe these initially we came up with the term resincast and it’s stuck, not just with us but also in the industry! The advantage of resin production is that the pattern making process allows for far smaller production runs (often as low as 250 pieces ) compared with the thousands needed previously. This means more choice, but also that you need to order more swiftly and pre-orders are advised.    

Also within the die-cast categories we see what we call Premium Die-cast ranges, such as CMC and AutoArt. These high value pieces are packed with detail and make fantastic collectables.  

Hand built

As the title suggests, artisan produced, fully finished hand built models. Many of the manufacturers of resin & metal kits also offer their models in fully finished forms, while other makers exclusively create hand built models. 500 examples would be considered a large production run by most hand built model makers and in many cases the models are produced in editions of 50 examples or less.

Most hand builts are priced in the £100 - £200 range, but prices for some series start quite a bit below this and for very rare super-detailed made to order pieces such as those by LP Creation or Stephen Barnett, are very much more.  

Accessories

This is where you'll find all those little bits and pieces to add the finishing touches and extra details to your models. Driver and pit crew figures, alternative wheels, additional lights, seat belts, alternative livery decals, photo-etched upgrade parts for your plastic kits, the list goes on and on.