[vulpex]

I think I'll avoid the race livery and prefer the plain red M-256. It's more likely to match one of the chassis whatever it is.

However don’t forget this shape issue which is very visible on a plain coloured version.
From my personal experience I can say it completely spoiled my joy in the model.
In case shape is an important aspect wait for Kyosho‘s re-release might be the better option…

 

[John Drake]

Indeed, this is the big question. New mould or not...

 

[Arnage]

Indeed, this is the big question. New mould or not...

Knowing CMC they sure would be bragging about a new mould if there was one !
My money is on the existing modified mould allowing additional openings.

 

[pdc]

Btw, in your picture, the third one from the right is a 330 LMB... doesn't really belong with the GTOs, even if it has a nose like one. A lot more rare though, only four ever built.
And the first one from the left (with the chrome trim around the ellipsoidal side light) is a 330 GTO. It is often included because it looks so much like the 250's.

Good catch, I was expecting someone to point it out and was not disappointed But I missed 330 GTO, you have a really good eye for detail.

No, they have never been uniform, and even among collectors of the real 36 cars, there isn't a definitive one GTO out there.

That's what I suspected. So in this way the original release isn't plain wrong, i.e. it's not entirely fair to conclude it was badly repaired as there doesn't seem to be a 'gold standard' one in existence

Indeed, the correction on the Le Mans car is perhaps "too perfect" compared to the real car, but it's less shocking in 1/18 scale, I think. That being said, I may have come across one of the very first models produced, as the one I had was also like the prototype, i.e. particularly ungainly, on this point. I'll soon know, as I've ordered another one and am waiting for it to be delivered. We'll see how it turns out.

I've googled the final LM pics and I see what you mean now. Indeed looks too flush now It's nice to see such a short feedback loop. I'd rather have them defend their design choices than go by vox populi, vox dei, butwith the amount of liberties they take, it's not entirely impossible they had no idea what it was supposed to look like in the first place and went with the suggestions

This is the difficulty, if we want to be relatively realistic. It is, if not impossible, unlikely that CMC would adapt the muzzle of their mould to match the chassis number presented. That's why, for my part, I think I'll avoid the race livery and prefer the plain red M-256. It's more likely to match one of the chassis whatever it is.

Weeeeell, it's also supposed to match a specific chasis (#3869), no way out here

 

[Quant]

Update on CMC release calendar

April / May: Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut M-243 (blue interior), M-244 (GP Sweden) and M-245 (Tourist Trophy 1955)

June-Sept: Alfa P3 models M-219, M-220, M-221, M-224, M-226, M-227, M-228

Not before Dec: Ferrari 250 GTO models, starting with the LHD models (M-252, M-253, M-254, M-255) and thereafter the RHD models (M-247, M-248, M-249, M-250, M-251, M-256)

 

[vulpex]

Found this on CMC‘s homepage - will they make a new mold for the 250 GTO re-release?

 

[slartibartfast229]

The top image looks to have two slats, the middle has three.
All seem to have roll hoops, which were not usually fitted in the early 60's.

 

[preisman]

The top image looks to have two slats, the middle has three.
All seem to have roll hoops, which were not usually fitted in the early 60's.

I wonder if they got their hands on a GTO with the roll bar. It is something they can remove when building the model. I would rather have a period correct model instead of how the car is today.