The Car

The Aston Martin DB5 is a British luxury grand tourer (GT) that was made by Aston Martin and designed by the Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera. Released in 1963, it was an evolution of the final series of DB4. The DB series was named honouring Sir David Brown (the owner of Aston Martin from 1947 to 1972).
Although not the first in the DB series, the DB5 is the best-known cinematic James Bond car, first appearing in the James Bond film Goldfinger (1964).
The principal differences between the DB4 Series V and the DB5 are the all-aluminium engine, enlarged from 3.7 L to 4.0 L, a new robust ZF five-speed transmission (except for some of the very first DB5s) and three SU carburettors. This engine, producing 282 bhp (210 kW), which propelled the car to 145 mph (233 km/h), available on the Vantage (high powered) version of the DB4 since March 1962, became the standard Aston Martin power unit with the launch in September 1963 of the DB5.
Standard equipment on the DB5 included reclining seats, wool pile carpets, electric windows, twin fuel tanks, chrome wire wheels, oil cooler, magnesium-alloy body built to Superleggera patent technique, full leather trim in the cabin and even a fire extinguisher. All models have two doors and are of a 2 2 configuration. The boot (trunk) lids differed slightly between the DB-4 mark 5 and the DB-5.
Like the DB4, the DB5 used a live rear axle. At the beginning, the original four-speed manual (with optional overdrive) was standard fitment, but it was soon dropped in favour of the ZF five-speed. A three-speed Borg-Warner DG automatic transmission was available as well. The automatic option was then changed to the Borg-Warner Model 8 shortly before the DB6 replaced the DB5.
Source: Wikipedia

The Kit

Contents are contained in a solid top opening box. Parts are bagged separately for each sprue, and the body part is protected by a cardboard inner divider.
25 Black parts on 1 sprue, plus floor pan
1 White part (body)
29 Chrome parts on 1 sprue
7 Clear parts on 1 sprue
1 brass rod axle plus 2 aluminium retaining pins
4 rubber tyres and 6 poly caps on one sprue
1 decal sheet
The moulding is very good on all sprues with a small amount of flash, but no sign of mould lines or sink marks to deal with that I can see. The detail is nice and crisp, the plastic is quite hard and resists bending.
The main body part has very nice detailing and no deformity, but there is some flash to clean up. The floor pan detail is very basic.
The chrome sprue is quite good. There are no visible blemishes on the major parts, and the finish is even and glossy. The spoked wheel detail is very good for such a complex design. Some of the smaller parts have some flash and ejector pin marks and a “brushed” looking finish.
The decals look very nice, solid colours, in register, and with virtually no excess carrier film.
The 4 soft rubber tyres have no flash to clean up. The mould detail in the tread is nice, but no manufacturer detail is present.

The Instructions

The instruction sheet is in booklet style. There are 15 stages with each stage being very brief and in logical sequence. Colour call-outs for the parts are scattered through the instructions, and are very vague or non-existent. My top pick is the call-out for the main body “*Paint favorite body color.” Those that are present call for Mr Hobby paint numbers.

The Build

I haven’t done any test fitting as yet, this will be covered in a full build log to follow.
The kit is curbside style so no engine parts are included and the bonnet and boot are moulded with the main body.
Major parts such as differential, gearbox, seats, doors and dashboard are all supplied as separate parts to make detail painting easier.
Front and rear wheels can spin, and front wheels are turnable.

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