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

Kyosho isn't exactly a household name among 1/43 scale model collectors, but I think that will change as these little gems become more widely available. Their excellent 1/43 scale diecast model of the Cobra Daytona Coupe has been available for more than a year, but this unique (and very bright) color scheme is brand new.

Shelby-American had its hands full (quite literally) with no less than five Ford GT-40's and two Cobra Daytona Coupes for the 1965 Le Mans 24-Hours. Ford's English racing associate, Alan Mann Racing, had two more entry slots available for Cobras, but Ford wanted to push the Ferraris as far down in the finishing order as possible, so they purchased the entry position held by Georges Filipinetti as well. Part of the agreement with Filipinetti was that even though the car was crewed by Alan Mann and driven by his drivers, Peter Harper and Peter Sutcliff, it would carry his "Scuderia Filipinetti" name and colors. So one Daytona Coupe appeared at Le Mans painted in a most un-Cobra-like bright red with a single white central stripe. As it turned out, the car retired with a blown head gasket.

Kyosho's model has a very clean and highly detailed diecast body with no mold lines visible anyplace. Its bright red paint is smooth and glossy and the stripe, race numbers, "Scuderia Filipinetti" badges, and "black tape" covering the headlights are all neatly hot-printed. All the "black rubber" window moldings are hot-printed too, with silver rivets for the rear and side glass. The radiator exit air duct is "unpainted aluminum" as it should be, there's photo-etched mesh in the side and cowl vents, and the photo-etched hood latches are realistically recessed into the body rather than just glued on.

All the features that distinguish the Cobras as raced in 1965-- the central air vent in the ducktail spoiler and closed-off tail vents, the arrangement of the small hood and cowl scoops, and even the attachment points for the A-pillar air deflectors-- are 100% correct. Although, as you'd expect with a diecast model, Kyosho hasn't picked up on all the nuances of roof line and cowl depth variations that give each of the six Daytonas its unique character, as far as I can see both these details are correct for the Filipinetti Cobra, serial number 2602, as well.

Although the glass in my sample is slightly "fogged", the stark interior looks to be just as accurate. The big, wood-rimmed steering wheel, red and silver fire extinguisher, and chrome shift handle are all there and everything matches photos very well. I think that by 1965, Cobra drivers were wearing seat belts, though. The white "mag' wheels with big chrome knock-offs are authentic and the Goodyear logo has been hot-printed onto the rubber tires.

Overall, Kyosho's Cobra Daytona matches photos and drawings of the real car in every respect and its color scheme and graphics match photos shot at the 1965 24-Hours just as well. Every dimension is within 0.04 inches (and most are closer) of perfect 1/43 scale, too. This one is as accurate as they come. And at a price of less than $30.00, it's a whole lot cheaper than any of the 1/43 scale kits, too. Kyosho models aren't sold through mass merchandisers; you can only find these beauties at better hobby shops or shops specializing in top-quality diecast models. Check with the distributor, Great Planes Model Distributors, P.O. Box 9021, 1608 Interstate Drive, Champaign IL 61821 for the shop nearest to you.

Contact Wayne at mailto:wmoyer@infinet.com

GoTo 43rd and More Main Page - GoTo Archive Main Page

Books For Model Car Building & Collecting
We've selected the best model books, as well as the best photo-reference books for you.
Take  a look at our selection!

All content on this site, including the site design, is copyright Scale Sports 1998. May not be copied or reproduced or redistributed in any form without written permission of the copyright owner.

Back to Model Car Hub Home Page