Ford GT40 1/12 (Magnifier? Trumpeter?) kit build

During the depths of Melbourne’s 2022 COVID lockdown I tackled this big old 1/12 scale Ford GT40. Hope it assists with your build as some of the videos and images I found helped me.

[@donwest5387]

I have one of each. The Meng was a blast to build.

[@xray111xxx]

There is something special about a GT-40. I get the Mk.4 gets the love, but I just love this car. Job well done. Best looking car Ford ever made. So good it came back as the Ford GT. So cool.

[@garrytanner7890]

Thanks mate. She certainly holds a special place in most motorsport enthusiasts hearts.

[@GeorgeSundancermusic]

I was about to buy a 1/12 GT40 kit and after watching yours I am definitely going to get one :-)

[@garrytanner7890]

All the best with it mate!

[@warrenbennett1355]

Man, I'm so glad you did this. Really helped me decide if I should purchase such a kit. Now I am going too.

[@garrytanner7890]

Glad it helped. All the best with your build. 👍🏽

[@MichaelKing-fv9ns]

That was a stunning build,well done. Mike.

[@garrytanner7890]

Thanks mate.

[@louieflash7190]

Very nice work. I love these cars.😍

[@garrytanner7890]

Thanks mate.

[@seka1087]

I am Building the same kit actually , its such a wonderful and detailed kit.
Your Video is very helpfull for me 🙏🏻 you did a great job 🤙🏻

[@garrytanner7890]

Thanks mate and great to hear it might be of help. All the best with your build!

[@julianmroc3648]

BEAUTIFULL WORK!!!!! and very helpfull video. Thanks and congrats! 👍👍👍

[@garrytanner7890]

Thanks mate, I’m glad it helped. All the best with your build!

[@corlissmedia2.0]

you do beautiful work. very inspiring.

[@garrytanner7890]

Thanks mate, very kind.

[@bigeddie1231]

awesome build great detail work sir very cool

[@garrytanner7890]

Thanks mate!

[@modelcars2978]

Beautiful job.🤠👍

[@garrytanner7890]

Thanks!

[@russfischer4381]

The 66 LeMans GT's did not have the kit included 'A' pillar roll cage. The restored car did because it was added for the 67 season.

[@LarrysModelShop]

Great build!!

[@garrytanner7890]

Thanks mate.

[@Dolphin_3991]

That was so cool

[@garrytanner7890]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@marcgoulty3958]

Great build, quick question, did you use many after market parts on the model? Cheers Marc

[@garrytanner7890]

Hey mate, no not really.. I made the little yellow lever for the dash that didn’t exist on this model and the springs that hold down the exhausts just wouldn’t stay in place so replaced them with wire, but I think that was about it.

[@cratecruncher4974]

Nice video. A detailed comparison between Meng and Trumpeter would be very popular if you decide to do the Meng. The Meng kit lists for 3x the price of the Trumpeter. Is it worth it?

[@nytia117]

No

[@hcteuben]

Hi, really nice build. Can you tell me where you can get does amazing show cases? There really beautiful.

[@garrytanner7890]

Hey mate, the guy who sells them is based locally here in Melbourne Australia. Found him on ebay www.ebay.com.au/usr/m_model2014

[@ferrariotferrari]

Здравствуйте сер очень круто сам хочу собрать купил данную модель не давно незнал с чего начать увидел ваше видео и вдохновился собирать

[@garrytanner7890]

Great to hear it might be able to help. All the very best with your build!

[@donstevenson2660]

Many variants, different details, see the book SHELBY GT40 by David Friedman from Motorbooks International for all the stories.

[@garrytanner7890]

Thanks, I’ll take a look.

[@morganemassa9497]

joli travail mais trop de chrome a mon gout

[@axlejohnson9156]

I don't know if you have considered this. What would really finish off this model. Would be to distress the car.
I used to use charcoal and water. The charcoal would gather around the body detail and give everything a very real
appearance. I also used a brush on product that dulled the decals to a matt finish. Good job though.

[@garrytanner7890]

That’s a great idea. I might just follow your suggestion one day. As much as I like a spotless finish I’m not as happy with the finish of this car as I’d like to be.

[@ritchardwilliams3874]

This Trumpeter model has over thick plastic and the quality places it firmly in the real of toy and not scale model. It is riddled with errors, many of which demonstrate a lack of attention by Trumpeter. No spare wheel, wrong tyre tread, there are no anti-roll bars on the Le Mans cars, only the 2 Ford cars have gold wheel rims not KM's which is aluminium, no roof bump on KM's car, front and rear suspension geometry is wrong!, cockpit front is too narrow so the joke pedal box is offset to the left, the streering rack is bin fodder, engine moulding is crude, no distributor or ignition harness, rear framework after the engine is wrong, no attempt at any rear monocoque chassis so the engine mount is all wrong, pipes missing and there's a lot, lot more...but you should have the picture by now. Out of the box you can put together a 'look-e-likey' but not a scale model which takes a lot of scratch building and time usng this model as a base. If you like scale cars, suggest you look elsewhere.

[@garrytanner7890]

I agree.. the whole thing is a bit of a disaster, but it scratched an itch at the time. No doubt the Meng kit will be a joy.

[@spiderburridge]

Richard have you had built the Meng version? If so, would you say it's worth double the price? I want to try the Magnifier first before I opt for the Meng as it's a bit of an investment