Kit: No. 5000
Scale: 1/24
Manufacturer: Accurate Miniatures, 100 Centre St., Charlotte, NC 28216, 704-391-1176
Price: $25
Comments: Injection molded, 178 parts (34 photoetched, 4 vinyl tires), decals.
A.J. FOYT PASSED 50 CARS in the first lap at Sebring in the 12-hour endurance race in 1964. His mount was car No. 2, the subject of this model of the mighty Corvette Grand Sport. Before worn splines caused the car to lose a wheel, Foyt was in eighth position. Even with the delay, the car finished 23rd.
This highly detailed kit features photoetched-brass and steel parts, four vinyl tires, and separately bagged sprues of gray, plated, clear, and clear red parts. The 17 1/2" by 22" instructions include exploded-view assembly drawings and written directions. The assembly information and the paint guide are presented separately, and I recommend you read them before beginning construction. You'll be in trouble if you follow the "real men don't need instructions" school of thought.
All of the parts are named and numbered, but the taillights (parts No. 101) are mislabeled 105 on the plans. The model-paint cross-reference chart is particularly worthwhile.
The plastic parts are molded cleanly, with just a few mold-parting seams to knock down with a light sanding. The back sides of the plated knock-off hubs in my samples were molded out of alignment, so I had to sand them to shape. I replaced the finish with Testor Metalizer non-buffing aluminum.
The flanges of the right-side racing-number lights (Nos. 90) were too thick and required sanding to paper thickness.
Building the model is tricky in a few spots, but overall fit is excellent. I had trouble finding a secure way to mount the upper A arms (20 and 21) to the top inside edge of the front coil spring towers and still keep the front wheels steerable. I glued the A arms and uprights solid so the front suspension would hold the weight of the model.
One of the Weber carburetor stacks collided with the master cylinder when I fitted the finished body with interior to the chassis. I removed the master cylinder and attached the body to the chassis, then inserted the master cylinder up from the bottom with tweezers.
Using the great photos in Lowell C. Paddock and Dave Friedman's Corvette Grand Sport (Motorbooks International) for exact part placement, building the rest of the kit was a breeze, including the photoetched parts that make a fine representation of the hood louvers.
I painted the body with the recommended Realistic Racing Colors Tru-Match Nassau blue metallic spray can -- beautiful paint. The well-printed decals responded to repeated coats of Micro Sol on compound curves. After studying the photos in the book, it appears that the white race number discs on the sides and hood should have fine red outer rings rather than the heavy black ones on the decals.
If you love race cars, you should have this excellent model or its companion, the No. 4 Sebring car driven by Jim Hall and Roger Penske (kit No. 5001), in your collection. Go slowly and study the instructions and parts before beginning. I spent 35 hours on my Corvette, a few devoted to backing up and correcting mistakes I made by building ahead of the instructions. If you have built a few model cars, you should be able to work with the photoetched parts and fine details of this beauty.
Al Jones