Testors 1/43 Corvette Grand Sport Kit First Look
By Stephen Sutton
| Date of Review | January 2006 | Manufacturer | Testors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Corvette Grand Sport | Scale | 1/43 |
| Kit Number | 430018 | Primary Media | Metal & Styrene |
| Pros | Detailed interior | Cons | No Engine |
| Skill Level | Basic | MSRP (USD) | Out of Production |
First Look
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In 1963, Zora Arkus-Duntov, the Chevrolet engineer and guiding light of the Corvette program, established a project to build a lightweight, high-performance Corvette that would qualify to race both GT-class production cars and racing-only prototypes in the international circuit. The result was the Grand Sport, a reworked version of the production coupe, with a 377ci aluminum-block V8 (drawn from the Chevrolet small block) that produced around 550hp. Five such cars were built, but GM policy prevented them from racing, and the cars were sold to private owners who did not have to adhere to GM’s prohibitive policies. While an original Grand Sport is likely worth millions of dollars, this model will be a welcome addition to your display case.
This is another in a series of pre-painted metal body model kit. The kit includes a 3 5/16” long metal convertible body, pre-painted with tampo graphics. Black, chrome a clear styrene trees hold the very small parts to assemble this beauty. Two small metal axles and 3 screws are provided to hold the chassis to the metal body.
Rubber Firestone tires and a foldout instruction sheet is provided with color suggestions and modeling tips highlighted through out.
No photo etch is included with this kit as most cottage1/43 kits include for extra detail. The pre-painted body isn’t that shinny so a shot of future will improve the finish.
It would have been nice if Testor included a set of alternate decals so the builder could have the option to strip and repaint the body to a more authentic color.
No engine is included with the kit. I was amazed to see an exquisitely detailed interior with instrument decals and detailed undercarriage.
The chrome wheels even have very small knock-offs; extra care will need to be taken when removing these from the trees.
Overall, this is an excellent kit that represents a 1963 corvette grand sport very well; I would highly recommend this kit to add to your corvette collection. I purchased this kit at my local hobby shop.