Shelby Cobra 427

This is the 1982-issue Monogram Shelby Cobra kit, to be found in the Revell-Germany and the Fujimi boxes as well.
The model is an old kit however very detailed. I have added wiring to the engine, replaced the plastic coil springs with hand-made wire spring, replaced the tonneu cover with one made from lead foil and the windshield is also made from acetate sheet with frame made of lead foil. Also added an ignition transformer to the engine. Fit was not very good so I left out 1-2 parts which did not go to their place in the assembly sequence (cooler hose for example).

All chrome parts were redone with Alclad-II. Body has been painted with Tamiya spray white decanted to the airbrush. No basecoat was used. A 2K automotive varnish (DynaCoat) was used for the gloss, polished with the 3-grade polishing kit of a small company named SteamGuitar. Decals were very rigid and hard to apply, broke at many spots.

Detail painting was made with Vallejo Air and some Citadel paints, mostly airbrushed. The tyres are from the box, I have however sanded off the lettering (the sponsor logo on the car is Firestone, the tyres were Goodyears) and painted the yellow circle by hand with a calligraphy brush (there is a shallow groove to lead the brush on the outside of the tyre).

This is my first car that I have actually finished, since I normally build figures and aircraft.

I made the photos with my phone, I must admit I am not very good at it. Still, I hope you like it!