Reviews: MFH Ferrari 312PB and 512BBLM

I have gotten about four Model Factory Hiro kits in the last few months and I'm finally getting some time to take some pics of them. I will start with the 312PB. I will let the pics do most of the talking.

Ferrari 312PB LeMans (longtail)

The first pic is from MFH's website. As you can clearly see they have made two versions. All of the versions are from 1973. I have been hoping they will do either the Sebring or Daytona versions from 1972. There are minor differences between the short tail from 72 and 73. I chose to get the 73 longtail from LeMans.

http://images27.fotki.com/v996/photos/1/11926/5381999/312PB1-vi.jpg

http://images31.fotki.com/v1052/photos/1/11926/5381999/IMG_1333-vi.jpg

There are three frets of PE. It is mainly brakes, radiator screens, minor engine details, supports, and a couple of body parts like the underside of the fuel tanks and the top of the side inlets. There of course is the nice touch of the tire stencils.

http://images31.fotki.com/v1057/photos/1/11926/5381999/IMG_1334-vi.jpg

All three kits share the same tub, seat, and rear tub. There was a minor piece of flash on the rear piece otherwise I would have had a mockup. There is rivet detail but they are holes instead of small bumps.

http://images31.fotki.com/v1056/photos/1/11926/5381999/IMG_1335-vi.jpg

http://images31.fotki.com/v1041/photos/1/11926/5381999/IMG_1336-vi.jpg

The body is a nice resin piece. The resin is very similar to what HRM uses. It is very thin, light, and very detail. These are the only resin pieces in the entire kit. I believe MFH started using this resin with the Alfa's.

http://images31.fotki.com/v1050/photos/1/11926/5381999/IMG_1337-vi.jpg

http://images32.fotki.com/v1048/photos/1/11926/5381999/IMG_1338-vi.jpg

As usual there is a small bag with wires, tubes, seatbelts, etc. There are of couse a few vacuum formed parts like the headlight covers. There is only a small windshield in this version. There of course are a few clear resin parts for the fluid bottles and rear taillights. Also included is a set of clear resin intake shrouds. I believe these were fiberglass on the original car. That should help in creating the fiberglass affect.

http://images31.fotki.com/v1043/photos/1/11926/5381999/IMG_1339-vi.jpg

http://images31.fotki.com/v1040/photos/1/11926/5381999/IMG_1340-vi.jpg

The usual turned parts are included (parts for shocks, intake trumpets, headlight bezels, etc). There are also several small rivets for the body work and attaching a few parts. The nuts are for the wheels. There is a machined center that screws into the nut which is sandwiched between the brakes and the wheel posts.

http://images31.fotki.com/v1040/photos/1/11926/5381999/IMG_1341-vi.jpg

The tires are great and could have several other uses. The wheels are just absolutely incredible. They come from brass which means they will not need to be painted.

http://images32.fotki.com/v1047/photos/1/11926/5381999/IMG_1342-vi.jpg

http://images32.fotki.com/v1048/photos/1/11926/5381999/IMG_1343-vi.jpg

There are three bags in the kit full of white metal. The first is kit specific.

http://images32.fotki.com/v1066/photos/1/11926/5381999/IMG_1344-vi.jpg

The second bag contains the long fragile pieces. It seems they are learning not to put everything in one bag. Some pieces are slightly bent but not like some of my other kits.

http://images31.fotki.com/v1053/photos/1/11926/5381999/IMG_1345-vi.jpg

The last bag is the engine, tub bits, and other misc parts. The engine looks very nice. It is a same that it will be well hid.

http://images31.fotki.com/v1043/photos/1/11926/5381999/IMG_1346-vi.jpg

http://images32.fotki.com/v1048/photos/1/11926/5381999/IMG_1347-vi.jpg

I didn't take a pic of the decals as they are on four sheets stuck inside a small package with wax paper over them. I didn't want to damage them. It does look like they include all of the color swatches so all you'll have to do is paint her red and just pick your favorite set of drivers.

That's just my :2cents: ... As always I welcome comments or question. Next post will be the 512.

Here's the 512BBLM. There have been several different kits made of the 512 over the year. This by far seems to be the most involved. I would even venture to say that this kit has the most parts of any MFH kit. I have heard some complaints about some of the height of the rear supports, but since I have not built mine yet, I cannot comment. I would say though that it is a welcome addition as I have been a Bob Wollek fan for quite a while. As you have probably guessed, I got the Daytone 24 Hour Budweiser version of Wolleks.

http://images31.fotki.com/v1052/photos/1/11926/4961870/IMG_1313-vi.jpg

There are three frets of PE. Most items are interior panels, window trim, screens, and brakes. There are several stencils. The first two frets are in all of the 512 kits. The last one is only in the later kits as they changed some things and also these have items for the American spec racer.

http://images31.fotki.com/v1054/photos/1/11926/4961870/IMG_1314-vi.jpg

http://images31.fotki.com/v1052/photos/1/11926/4961870/IMG_1315-vi.jpg

The usual turned items... shocks, exhaust ends, headlight bezels, rivets, etc.

http://images32.fotki.com/v1061/photos/1/11926/4961870/IMG_1316-vi.jpg

The body is made up of several resin and white metal pieces. The center section and bottom front are resin. This is the latter type of resin found in their kits, but it is very crisp. It seems they have mastered this skill. The parts are very rigid and have crisp detail. The front and rear "hoods" are white metal. This does raise some concern for the rear as it is heavy. The interior base is also white metal.

http://images32.fotki.com/v1064/photos/1/11926/4961870/IMG_1317-vi.jpg

http://images32.fotki.com/v1063/photos/1/11926/4961870/IMG_1318-vi.jpg

http://images31.fotki.com/v1039/photos/1/11926/4961870/IMG_1321-vi.jpg

http://images32.fotki.com/v1060/photos/1/11926/4961870/IMG_1322-vi.jpg

http://images31.fotki.com/v1039/photos/1/11926/4961870/IMG_1323-vi.jpg

The dash is a nicely detailed separate resin piece. My dash had a small bubble in one of the guages but since it is depicted by a decal, it can be easily filled and fixed. The kit also includes clear resin items for the usual taillights and fluid bottles.

http://images32.fotki.com/v1061/photos/1/11926/4961870/IMG_1320-vi.jpg

http://images32.fotki.com/v1060/photos/1/11926/4961870/IMG_1319-vi.jpg

There is a large bag of white metal items that range from the engine to interior bits. I cannot comment as to whether the engine is a copy of Tamiya's Testarossa engine. Can anyone out there verify this? It does appear though that everything has great locating pins/holes or locators.

http://images32.fotki.com/v1060/photos/1/11926/4961870/IMG_1324-vi.jpg

http://images28.fotki.com/v997/photos/1/11926/4961870/IMG_1325-vi.jpg

http://images31.fotki.com/v1057/photos/1/11926/4961870/IMG_1326-vi.jpg

http://images32.fotki.com/v1058/photos/1/11926/4961870/IMG_1327-vi.jpg

Wheels are kit specific as some are five pointed stars, while others are BBS, while others have outside cooling fans. Mine has the stars. As you can see the outer rims are machined and the inside includes the star and wheel spacers for the front and rear. The tires are nice, but they seem a bit undersized. This may be just me as I don't have the actual dimensions.

http://images31.fotki.com/v1041/photos/1/11926/4961870/IMG_1328-vi.jpg

I didn't get a pic of the vacuum formed pieces as I have them stored separate as I couldn't fit everything back in the box. The decals are exactly the same as Studio27's budwesier decals. There is a Pioneer set included too. There are a handful of versions including the very nice 3M cloud version. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Bubble car come next year as it wouldn't take too much of a conversion.

Again, just my :2cents: and any comments or questions are welcome.
Nic

Thanks for sharing, only wish i had more money. The brass wheels are a +++

Hi Nic, just for complete the job following are the warmformed 512 parts, I done a review last year for a ITA board

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c159/gionc/rew%20512bb/traspgoodies.jpg


My 312 is not arrived yet, should be here day by day. They're both awesome models . I'll check for the testarossa's engine issue but isn't so important to me: the fact is that both models are great.

thanks for sharing!!! I think I should buy myself a present for x-mas :iceslolan

Great reviews. I have 2 512 BB LM kits (early and late versions) and I just ordered my 312P kit as well. These are must haves for Ferrari enthusiasts.

If it is a copy of the Tamiya engine, it isn't a problem. I was just curious as just about every other 512 is based on that kit in some sort. I'm just curious as to how far MFH went on creating the kit.
Nic

Thanks for the review the 312PB looks awesome I got to get that kit for sure.

Kits look incredible. I can't wait to see them being built!

If it is a copy of the Tamiya engine, it isn't a problem. I was just curious as just about every other 512 is based on that kit in some sort. I'm just curious as to how far MFH went on creating the kit.
Nic

As far as I can tell, MFH engine is NOT based on Tamiya TR kit.

wow... thanks for the peek inside the box. i've got the watkins glen 312PB coming from mac's modeling, and it doesn't look like i'll be disappointed.

getting the skills to do it justice is another story. :lol:

getting the skills to do it justice is another story. :lol:
and learning to FINISH a build also helps ;) :evillol: j/k