Photo-etch

The photo-etch sheets are nicely executed with the cut-off points for each piece clearly marked. There are five sheets: 1) Brass wheels inserts 2) Nickel-plated brake drums and calipers 3) Brass body and interior parts 4) Nickel-plated body and interior parts and 5) chassis plate. The steering wheel is a photo-etch affair and leaves me wondering what approach I am going to use to get the steering rim up to scale thickness. Any ideas?

Some of the chassis parts require bending to shape and Renaissance has made this easy by engraving groves on the photo-etch piece where the bends are to occur.

Resin Parts

The seats, dashpanel, doors, and tub are well molded and a minimal amount of clean up will be required on these parts. The gear shift is a nicely done resin piece; however, I will probably replace this with a suitable metal part from the spares box or try the various after-market suppliers (any recommendations?).

Body

The body casting is excellent. The panel line detail is crisp and well molded, even the screw recesses holding down the various panels have been molded into the body which leaves me wondering how I am going to retain them after painting. The areas around the windows, doors, vents, and wheel arches will need attention. There are moulding pegs under the body that will also need sanding off. Due to the heavy paint build-up properties of enamel paints, the panel lines will probably need re-scribing if this type paint is used.

Though I did not take measurements, the shape of the body looks right when compared to the pictures I have seen of the real car.

Clear Parts

There are three sheets of clear vacuform parts. The first sheet contains the clear covers for the rear view mirrors; the second sheet has the headlight covers, windshield, and incorrect side windows. Use the correct side windows on the third clear sheet instead.

Wheels

Each wheel is a seven piece affair: rubber tire and decal; turned wheel; brake disk and caliper; spokes insert, and knock-off nut. I imagine them to look lovely when completed. There are excellent pictures on Amazing 43 you can use as reference to detail these gems.

Decal Sheets

The Renaissance decal sheet is well registered and includes markings for the Number 7 or 8 car. I have used them before and encountered minimal problems.

Two sets of carbon fiber decals are included with the kit. Except for the front spoiler, the instruction sheet does not show where to place the carbon fiber in the cockpit. Instead, you have to refer to the color photos included in the kit and on the Amazing 43 web site. I estimate that one carbon fiber decal sheet is enough for this kit.

Miscellaneous Parts Bag

Three turned parts used to represent interior canisters; wire for interior pluming; a white metal rear wing (little clean-up required); laser printed rear light covers, aluminum tube for the exhaust which must be cut to length; axels and mounting hardware.

Cockpit

A lot of multi-media parts are provided for cockpit detailing: turned, photo-etch, resin, carbon fiber, decals and wire. A complete photo-etch seatbelt hardware set is provided; the instruction sheet recommends using the aluminum taken off wine corks for the belts.