Cobra Daytona Coupé 1965 version (1/24 Gunze Sangyo)

[1959scudetto]

Another old (curbside) build which cries for restoration - some small photo-etch parts have fallen off. Built in 1988 or 89 out of the box, spraypainted with dark metallic blue similar to the original Ford guardsman blue - the white stripes are the kit decals as are the numbers - the sponsor decals have been added by myself to represent the Sebring class winner, but this had # 15 and not 13!

The kit gave me hard times and is definitely not for beginners: lots of tiny photo-etched parts which can easily get lost, white metal parts which have to be cleaned with files and sanding paper and then carefully bent - you need 5 min. epoxy and/or cyanacrylate super glue for the metal parts etc. etc. In recent years I have learned that the missing wipers and too flat nose are due to the fact that the Gunze modelmakers inspected and measured a restored car with these inaccuracies. Despite the kit's shortcomings, the model is a fine representation of this racing icon and was the only game in town back then - at least for me ( I discovered it in a Viennese hobby-shop that has ceased to exist for decades now).

I will reglue the fallen off pieces, change the number to 15 (Bondurant/Schlesser car), remove the Arizona license plate, tint the rear glass with Tamiya smoke clear and install wipers. the tire lettering also did not work as I wanted, and the metal parts in the front opening must be replaced - when building the model, I broke them, got angry and threw them in the basket (will replace them from thin aluminium sheet)

Pictures here are from 2005 and show the car in the same condition as it was built 16 years earlier:

 

 

[vamach1]

Very nice and it looks like it has held up well over the years.  I also built mine in the early 1990’s.  I recently acquired another kit if I get the urge to tackle building another one.

[Rich Chernosky]

Helmut....this has always been one of my all time favorite kits. You did a grand job on this one and it is well worth restoring. When I did mine the cast front suspension  ( some very soft white metal) was broken in several places. I wound up scratch-building the entire front out of brass. It was a lot of work but in the end the wheels steered and it made the rest of the kit. I did mine about 6-7yrs ago as part of a challenge.  Take a very rare kit and build it.  I don't see them very often nowadays. 

[Gramps46]

Ah your Daytona looks real good after all these years Helmut.  I have built 3 of them and know they can be a challenge.  Looking forward to seeing the results of your efforts to update this classic.

[afx]

Very nice.

[snaponbob]

Hey folks. I am starting into building one of these Gunze Sangyo kits. Right out of the gate I need some drill bits !!!! 

1) I did not see any color call outs for any of the chassis/suspension bits and pieces. Any guidance?
2) Anyone want one of these kits in unopened condition? I bought too many !!!! ?

 

[Dave B]

Great build Helmut, at the most it just needs a subtle cosmetic restoration.  Tks for sharing.

Dave B

[Venom]

Awesome car, very nice job??

[PappyD340]

Very nice!

[Len Woodruff]

Love the Cobra Daytona's.

[snaponbob]

A question to those who built the Gunze Sangyo Daytona. When you assembled the chassis, how did you attach the different components? Epoxy, solder, super glue?

[Mike C]

It still looks fresh, a great build and a great classic racer.

[1959scudetto]

On 12/7/2021 at 10:45 PM, vamach1 said:

Very nice and it looks like it has held up well over the years.  I also built mine in the early 1990’s.  I recently acquired another kit if I get the urge to tackle building another one.

Thank you, Rex - nice build !

[1959scudetto]

On 12/7/2021 at 10:54 PM, Rich Chernosky said:

Helmut....this has always been one of my all time favorite kits. You did a grand job on this one and it is well worth restoring. When I did mine the cast front suspension  ( some very soft white metal) was broken in several places. I wound up scratch-building the entire front out of brass. It was a lot of work but in the end the wheels steered and it made the rest of the kit. I did mine about 6-7yrs ago as part of a challenge.  Take a very rare kit and build it.  I don't see them very often nowadays. 

 

On 12/8/2021 at 12:41 AM, Gramps46 said:

Ah your Daytona looks real good after all these years Helmut.  I have built 3 of them and know they can be a challenge.  Looking forward to seeing the results of your efforts to update this classic.

 

On 12/8/2021 at 1:40 AM, afx said:

Very nice.

Thanks Rich, Gary and JC - I only plan to do some cosmetic improvements, especially with the rear window and the back.

Biggest issue which has to be adressed to: the fuel filler cap assembly fell aout of the body, now there is a big hole in the rear fender!

[1959scudetto]

On 12/9/2021 at 4:25 AM, Dave B said:

Great build Helmut, at the most it just needs a subtle cosmetic restoration.  Tks for sharing.

Dave B

 

On 12/9/2021 at 6:33 PM, Venom said:

Awesome car, very nice job??

 

On 12/12/2021 at 1:53 PM, PappyD340 said:

Very nice!

 

On 12/12/2021 at 1:56 PM, Len Woodruff said:

Love the Cobra Daytona's.

Thank you Dave, Josh, Larry and Len - it definitely will be a subtle cosmetic restoration.

[1959scudetto]

On 12/12/2021 at 8:32 PM, snaponbob said:

A question to those who built the Gunze Sangyo Daytona. When you assembled the chassis, how did you attach the different components? Epoxy, solder, super glue?

Hi Bob, I used superglue on my build (and styrene glue for the plastic parts) - I'm not sure if this was the right choice because when taking the model out of the storage box after more than 30 years, the whole tank filler unit (white metal) fell out of the plastic body... I will probably have to seperate the body from the chassis for regluing this (maybe this time with a gel-type of superglue or with 5.-minute-epoxy.)

Edited December 14, 2021 by 1959scudetto

[vamach1]

On 12/12/2021 at 2:32 PM, snaponbob said:

A question to those who built the Gunze Sangyo Daytona. When you assembled the chassis, how did you attach the different components? Epoxy, solder, super glue?

It was 30 years ago but I’m pretty sure I used epoxy for any non-plastic parts except photo-etch where I would usually use non fogging super glue.

[Brudda]

Very nice

[Dave B]

On 12/13/2021 at 6:32 AM, snaponbob said:

A question to those who built the Gunze Sangyo Daytona. When you assembled the chassis, how did you attach the different components? Epoxy, solder, super glue?

Permanent epoxy on the chassis, methyl ethyl ketone on the body and opaque craft glue for all the glass and small plastic parts on the body.  MEK will strip paint if you are too liberal with it.

Dave B