Revell no. 2828
Model Type: Injection-molded styrene kit
Molded Colors: White, Clear, Chrome-plated, Vinyl Tires
Scale: 1/24
Pros: Nice engine, wheels, tires, and decals
Cons: Complicated suspension assemblies, side pipes need a lot of work

I built the Revell Shelby Cobra 427 as a change-of-pace from drag models. I wanted to do a kit with nice detail out of the box so I didn’t have to do too much work on it. This kit generally fits that description. The kit is from 2005 and is readily available. I’m not a kit history expert, but I think it’s a reissue from the ‘80s. It has options for either race or stock versions (is any Cobra really stock?). However, instructions for the stock version are not too clear. The main difference is the windscreen. The kit includes a tonneau cover as well. Decals are included for two race versions, Sam Feinstein and Hal Keck. I chose to build the Feinstein version because I like green.

The molding seemed accurate; however there was a lot of flash on many parts and prominent mold lines on the body. Fit was generally good, but some mounting locations were vague. The suspensions, especially the rear, are fairly complicated. Once assembled the rear tires seem to rub on the body because they are too far to the rear, you might try more test fitting than I did. But all four tires hit the ground; that’s not always a sure thing. The chassis was not a plate as usual, but a type of tube-frame. The tires and wheels were good-looking. The tires contain a depressed line on one side that would make painting red-, white-, or blue-lines easy. I used the other side of the tires with Shabo Goodyear dry transfers. That seemed to correspond to the Feinstein references I found.

The 427 motor looks good and fits properly. It includes a nice carburetor. I added only plug wires and an alternator bracket to the engine. The only other detail I added was seat belts. The side pipes are each in two pieces that take a lot of work to look accurate. But it is possible to fix them. Replacing them with tubing and solder might be even better. I recommend changing one assembly sequence. You should install the oil radiator into the inside front nose of the body, after installing the hood hinge assembly. It goes in nicely. If you install the radiator onto the chassis as the instructions show, the mounting angle is vague.



I painted the Feinstein car with the Model Master Lacquer system, emerald green metallic. This may be a little too dark for the 1:1 Feinstein car, but it looks good anyway. The chrome parts had a nice finish, but I re-chromed them with Alclad due to extensive flash and mold lines.

Decals are by Cartograph, they are good quality and the white areas are completely opaque. However, they were hard to get to sit flat on the compound curves, especially the rear fenders. It may be better to cut them into pieces first, or paint those rear parts of the white stripes. The Keck decals would probably be a lot easier because they go only over the flatter areas. The decals responded moderately well to setting solution; not as well as Scale Motorsport decals but better then regular Revell decals. The nose decal was very hard to get in the correct location so I left it off. Gauge decals are included.

Shelby Cobras are incredible machines, and this is a nice kit with only minor problems. Beginning modelers might have some trouble, but experienced modelers will have no trouble making this kit look good.

- Erik Zabel
March, 2007