43rd and More - Kit reviews by Wayne Moyer Archive Edition

Oh boy!! For some reason the Kurtis KK500 cars that dominated the Indy 500 in the first part of the 1950's have always appealed more to me than the Watson Roadsters that replaced them, so I've really been eager to see the second series of 1/18 scale diecast vintage Indy car models from Carousel 1. The first one available is, naturally enough, the "Pink Bathtub", the bright pink and white John Zink Special that Bob Sweikert drove to win the 1955 race, and it fulfills all me expectations. It's every bit as good as the Watsons and has better (more realistic) "upholstery" and seat belts.

Zink had a new KK500D for 1955; it differed in only small details from the 1954 500C but was quite a bit different from the 500A that Vuky drove to win in '53 and '54. It will pretty much take a new model to do that one!

I think I'm most impressed with the research that Carousel 1 put into this model, with attention to detail and outstanding workmanship close behind. In addition to having photos in several books, I've shot the restored car in the Indy 500 Museum and if you can see something in photos, you can see it, to scale, on the model!

The multi-part diecast body has no mold lines anyplace, of course, and all the parts fit together very well; no unsightly gaps here, even around the butterfly-hinged hood. The "Zink Pink" (which was, I believe, Ford "Tropical Rose) and white paint is smooth, has a realistic gloss without a clear coat, and the color separation lines are perfect. All the graphics (including dozens of tiny Dzus fasteners) are hot-printed onto the body so there's no decal film and registration on multi-color decals is perfect. As far as I can see, the size, shape, and location of all the markings match race-day photos. The same is true for all the small air scoops and vents. These, of course, changed from race to race (sometimes day to day) even back then, but as best I can tell, Carousel 1's model looks just like it did when Sweikert rolled it into Victory Circle (OK, it's cleaner!).

You can look through the correct convex photo-etched grille to see the radiator (which isn't full width) and starter shaft, while opening the hood lets you examine the fully wired and plumbed Offy 4-cylinder. All the visible parts of the simple tube-frame chassis are there (and they continue back into the cockpit. just like the Watson) along with suspension and steering components. Even details like the small bracket with 4 holes to allow adjusting the location of the shock absorber are reproduced, along with flexible rubber "hoses" running out to the brakes.

The Kurtis' cockpit is better looking than that in the Watson models, with much more realistic two-tone brown "upholstery" on the seat and cockpit sides. It fits over the chassis tubes just fine, too, and there's no need to glue the simple lap belt down this time. The offset, exposed transmission with its big shifter is still there, with the clutch on the left side of the steering column. Instruments have detailed bezels, very legible faces, and clear glossy covers. Suspension details match what I see in my photos and Bob Clidinst's excellent drawings. The Halibrand wheels "look right" to me, and yes, the tires should have tread only on the right half!

The most amazing thing about this beauty is the price: $99.95 from (Apollo, 101 Neal Place, Suite 104, High Point, North Carolina 27262 (PH: 336/841-1441). Vukovitch's 1954 car (yes, the one in which he was killed, but hey, it was there and was leading the race) should be out soon and I'd expect Carousel 1 to model several of the other KK500D's built (there were 12) although the "Pink Bathtub" was the only one to win Indy. I hope they sell a million of 'em (well actually, all they make since these are limited-run models) so they can afford to model the 500A Vuky drove in 1952 (so nearly winning), '53, and '54! Grab one and let me know what you think of it.

Contact Wayne at mailto:wmoyer@infinet.com

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