Monogram 1/24 Shelby 427 Cobra S/C
By Tommy VanNess
Intro
This is probably one of the few cars that needs no introduction. Every car lover knows the Cobra when they see it and its name is a household one. This is the Shelby 427, and it is part of Monogram's Dream Rides collection. Now, the S/C version refers to 'Semi-Competition'. The story goes that Carroll Shelby needed more power in the Cobra for racing, so the 427 cubic inch engine was squeezed into the AC chassis to compete in the GT class. However the FIA, the governing body of motorsports. denied him the ability to race the cars because there weren't enough in production. Shelby evidently had some cars on order but cancelled the order, leaving a mere 29 Shelby 427 S/C cars. So it is an extremely rare car in real life, but one that can be recreated in 1/24 scale.
The Kit
The box art looks great. It is fairly simple, but the car looks so good no matter what background or light you have it in. The kit contains 101 pieces and is molded in white, clear, red and chrome plated plastic. The decal sheet is simple with only 13 decals, 8 of which are the twin Shelby racing stripes. The instructions are laid out in 6 main steps, but each of those has sub-steps equating to a section of the build. They are straightforward and easy to understand in addition to providing good detail in the illustrations.
There are a few things that stand out when examining the kit. First is the size of the 427 engine. You kind of get the feeling how out of the ordinary it was to fit an engine this large into a car this small back in the early 1960's. It will be fun assembling the legendary 427 motor, and I am looking forward to having it assembled alongside my other completed kits. The second thing I noticed was the wheels. As you can see on the box art, the wheels have spokes. I am not sure if this is how the original S/Cs were constructed, but every Shelby Cobra I have ever seen has the big beefy tires in front and back. So I was disappointed to see spoked wheels and thinner tires. Again, this may be how they were originally constructed but for personal preference I will search for aftermarket wheels and tires to get the look I want. Also not all the plastic has been removed from between the wheel's spokes. So if you use these wheels allow time to clean these up a bit. For those who like chrome, there is plenty to be had with this kit. As mentioned, the wheels are chrome, but you also get the front grille surround, engine pieces that are plated, and who could forget the exhaust pieces that run alongside the bottom of the car.
Conclusion
I am really looking forward to building this kit. The body of the car is iconic, and I can't wait to have it on display with the collection. Another aspect of model building that can be a lot of fun is the homework involved in the build. Even in researching what the S/C meant, it is fun to learn about the car and its history. The Shelby Cobra has a unique history and when reading about it, you begin to realize why these cars go for so much at auction. More tribute cars (and kit cars) have been designed and built based on the Shelby Cobra than any other car in the world. Good luck building this one and as always, happy modeling.