Le Mans models.
The Talbot is a nice addition - very well done with excellent photo etched parts, for example the windscreen wipers and the logos on the body. My only "nit" to pick is that the chrome flashing on the lower edge of the body is a little rough on the edges. It appears to be a heavy metal foil tape and the bottom edges can flare out a bit and/or not be perfectly smooth. On the driver's side I was able to smooth the edge with the side of pencil; it's now perfect. On the passenger side the tape was a little rough on the flat side just below the front edge of the door, where the body shape goes inward. I may attempt to smooth it at a later time, but it's hardly noticeable so I don't know if I want to attempt it and risk making it worse/noticeable. Overall, I'm happy with it.
However, I'm not so happy with the Delahaye. It is a study in contrasts; examples: The extremely fine photo-etched grille is offset by the use of a sold front axle with little plastic pieces to attempt to cover it to look like a separate suspension (see photos below, maybe Minichamps thought the fenders would hide it well enough). The fine detailing of the struts holding the fenders and the very fine rendition (and to scale) hood straps and buckles are offset by the cheesy-looking chromed radiator cap and gas cap. The fine detail of the folded down screen in front of the windscreen is offset by the cheap-looking interior and the very cheap looking black plastic exhaust pipes. I might have expected this from an Otto, but not at the price that Minichamps is charging. Last, but not least, my model arrived with the three Styrofoam supports out of place/not supporting anything and two pieces broken - one of the struts was broken off at the fender and right below it the plastic suspension cover had fallen off the solid axle. I'm not sure whether I'm going to return it or ask for a partial refund and try to repair the damage myself......
An alternate idea that I've been considering is to modify the model from the Le Mans version to the GP car that beat Mercedes at the 1938 De Pau race. While taking off the fenders and adding numbers would be no problem, the engine intake on the GP car is much smaller so that would have to be modified, the headlights would have to be removed and the holes filled in and painted, and the gap between the radiator frame and the bodywork would have to be filled in and painted to make it look like it was part of the bodywork like the GP car (but it still wouldn't be the exact/correct shape). Last, but not least, removing the fenders would expose even more the lack of a good front suspension. But potentially interesting, yes? Here are some photos of the De Pau winner:
