UNOBTAINIUM. Part Three.

There are cars that modelers only wish somebody would make into a scale model, but chances are very slim. On the other hand, there are scale models that make you think – who in the world thought about making THIS in to a model? Then there are models that you don’t really mind, but wish they really made a different variation of the same model…. This is exactly the case with Ferrari 250 GT TdF Scaglietti 14-Louver Berlinetta by Japanese company Model Cars. While I absolutely love the car, I wish they’d make a 1 or 3-louver closed-headlight TdF version instead!
1957 TdF Berlinetta was a beautiful car. Purposeful design, race-bred 250 chassis and engine, stunning bodywork… the car was designed in 55-56 and Scaglietti made very few of these during 57-58. The car finally evolved into open-headlight TdF, then into ultimate (IMO) closed-Headlight 1-louver version.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/003.jpg
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I don’t really know much about (now defunct) Model Cars. I suspect they were one of the many garage manufacturers in the early/mid-90’s in Japan, where garage industry was developing very fast at the time. I also know they released at least one more Ferrari kit – 166MM Barchetta – but it is not as desirable because plenty of other manufacturers made various 166MM kits.
The kit was rather nicely done for its time, with various resin, white metal, turned and even photoetched parts. It is packed in a very discrete cardboard box, but its contents of that box what matters the most:
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Body is very thick, but has crisp details and very nicely cast. No flash, no imperfections, no bubbles. Resin is soft and insides of the body are very clean – typical for Japanese garage kits of that era. While the body is not 100% accurate, it has good details, and is a perfect base for a superdetailed project!
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/DSC_2238.jpg
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Chassis is very plain, with no suspension details to speak of – completely flat. Interior details are very sparse, with only central tunnel and shifter. But not to worry – any decent 250 GT kit could be used as a donor, you just need to increase the wheelbase – this was an LWB!
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/DSC_2243.jpg
Rimes are made from turned aluminum with photoetched spoke inserts and no-name “rubber” tires. “Rubber” because tires dried out and shrinked over time, and are just useless hard pieces of whatever material they were made of. They were too skinny and had no thread detail anyway, so no big loss there. I will most likely replace the wheels with Model Factory Hiro wheels anyway.
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There is a bag with nicely cast white metal parts that contains bumpers, exhausts, grille inserts, and various interior and exterior bits and pieces. Most of these will have to be replaced though – there a lot of much nicer replacement pieces (such as Sakatsu headlight bezels, or RMMD steering wheel) available from aftermarket companies nowadays.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/DSC_2251.jpg
Interior is rather sparse, and consists of two resin seats, luggage rack, and a dashboard. No door panels, no pedals, and no trim – that’s it.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/DSC_2252.jpg
Then there are two bags with headlight covers (yellowed over time) and various wheel-related pieces. There is also a bag with vacuformed windows, headlight covers, and clear acetate sheets for side windows.
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The last but not least, there is a small but nicely done photoetched fret with badges and emblems. It is made from very hard material, but engraving and etching is first rate.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/DSC_2258.jpg
Instructions are completely in Japanese, but if you look at them, there is really not much to them – they are very simple and don’t need any translation.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/DSC_2236.jpg
I bought this kit from a fellow collector in Italy about 6 years ago for a good chunk of change as it was the ONLY 250 TdF kit available in 1/24. Since this kit is next to impossible to find right now, I would think it is even more expensive right now. But not to worry – chances you won’t find one for sale anyway – that is one of the reasons it is in this “unobtainium” review. Hopefully Model Factory Hiro will keep their promise and release various versions of TdF that they showed us some masters of about 3 years ago. Until that day, this one is waiting its turn in my stash.
Thanks,
Alex

Alex,
This is outstanding!
I'm at a loss for words.

Trevor

Nice kit Alex. You might find that somethings on this kit are better than the Hiro will be(seats, photoetch logos, body). MG also made a fifferent 1/24 250 TDF, but its got a few problems.


Tom Tanner/Scale Designs/Ferrari Expo 2010 model/photo contest-Chicago April 2010

Beautiful car!

Nice model kit, though far from perfect.
Didn't know about it.

Thank you for letting us appreciate this rare beauty. :)

Thanks for another great review Alex! I'm looking forward to part four.

Awesome Review of another Rare kit, Stunning photos, esp like the ones outside the gate to your house & garden!!!!! Would you consider ever building this kit, or is it better to hold on to it & sell it on later?

You making us drool over these kits and you know it. Thanks for that!

Robert

I'm completely unfamiliar with these cars, but I continue to learn from your posts. The pictures help someone like me appreciate the beauty of the 1:1. Please continue posting.

Alex, you have inspired me to post some more. I've got a bunch of kits, some rare, some just old, to post. Most are Porsches though, lol!
Nic

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it, and I'm glad you liking them.
I've got few more kits that I will be reviewing soon.

brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!
show us more!!

MG also made a fifferent 1/24 250 TDF, but its got a few problems.

Tom Tanner/Scale Designs/Ferrari Expo 2010 model/photo contest-Chicago April 2010

Hi

There is no such thing as 'a few problems' in MG kits... I'd say usually 'a lot'... :-(

Flemming

Just found this on eBay - here is your chance if anybody wants to obtain the Unobtainium:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1-24-FERRARI-250GT-BERLINETTA-RESIN-STUDIO-27-MODELERS_W0QQitemZ220488379124QQcmdZViewItemQQptZL H_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item335621aaf4

Its a nice kit and all, but i just don't see someone forking over $350 on it. I guess someone will buy it, but usually the person that does buy it will never build as their looking into an investment.


BTW, thanks for sharing!! Keep the reviews coming, that kinda gives me an idea of us posting a thread with rare kits with lots of pics. Just out of the blue.

you realize he is basically giving us the equivalent of a REALLY good magazine article for FREE, alex your dedication to the hobby is just awesome man. every time i see an unobtainium posted i click it most deftly.

While we're sitting around wondering if Hiro will ever release a TdF someone else has taken the initiative to do another curbside.

I just heard that Historic Racing Miniatures (HRM) is about to release their own version of the 14 louver car with, get this, an actual interior!

It will have more accurate wheel openings and rear profile but its all resin (and vac-form for windows) so 16" Hiro wheels and an SWB kit from R&MM would be needed to make it a show queen.

Due out for Christmas. WooHoo!

While we're sitting around wondering if Hiro will ever release a TdF someone else has taken the initiative to do another curbside.

I just heard that Historic Racing Miniatures (HRM) is about to release their own version of the 14 louver car with, get this, an actual interior!

It will have more accurate wheel openings and rear profile but its all resin (and vac-form for windows) so 16" Hiro wheels and an SWB kit from R&MM would be needed to make it a show queen.

Due out for Christmas. WooHoo!

That's great news! Thanks for posting !

Nice! Did anyone notice another unobtanium kit on eBay recently? A ScaleKraft BMW 3.0 CS transkit. I was tempted. It sold for $303.