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Le Mans Miniatures 1:24 1991 Mazda 787B #55 Winner 1991 Le Mans

Reviewed by: Rich Sufficool

The French company Le Mans Miniatures has been making historic Le Mans cars in scales 1/24, 1/32 slot, 1/43 and 1/87(HO)in kit form in either curbside or high detail format. These are mixed media, resin bodied models with full interior and with every component visible precisely replicated.

Available now are a line of factory built models of their 1/24 Soft Line (curbside) lineup that so far includes two prewar Bugattis and fairly modern entrants including Audi, Porsche, Matra-Simca, Peugeot, Pescarolo and this '91 Mazda 787B Le Mans Winner.

For the eclectic 1/24 collector who desires to have some significant representation of this genre which is traditionally in the domain of 1/18 and 1/43 scales, pickings have been slim, unless you build your own or are prepared to shell out major bucks for custom builds. These resin models, like the recent Red Line series may just be a godsend.

If you like your Le Mans cars in eye-popping liveries, This Mazda will not disappoint with its base coat of fluorescent red, you needn't turn the lights on to pick this out of your display. This striking model comes in its own high quality display case with a crystal clear dust cover that fits seamlessly in a heavy, decorated resin base. The livery is brilliant and opaque with even the smallest details in perfect register including legible gauges and readouts visible through the distortion free thermoformed glazing.

Detail parts mostly consist of photoetched, cast and diecut metal from the radiators, fuel fillers, spoiler supports, heat exchangers and restraint system hardware. Other components like the cat's whisker antennae, glazing clips and the two piece windscreen wiper demonstrate a commitment similar to Red Line that no part should be made over scale to facilitate assembly or decrease fragility. The light groups are very realistic and the wheels shod in correct Dunlops are precisely modeled with the stamped Brembo brakes visible between the spokes of the massive rear wheels.

These resin models are great for both the manufacturer and the consumer. As stated, there's not a significant collector base for LM models in this scale, so these resin buildups (with assembly in done in China) offer a cost effective alternative to expensive handbuilts and do not expose the manufacturer to the risk of tooling for diecasts in what could best described as a niche market.

(03/22/2009)