Kit Review: Lancia Delta S4 - Profil 24

Hello,

I couldn't resist, I bought the new Profil 24 Delta S4 for my birthday. :p

Here is its review, hope you'll enjoy.

A few words of introduction:

I paid 135 euros at dominomodel for this kit.
On one hand I know that for some of us this price would give several kits, but on the other hand some other of us also use to add many aftermarket stuff on some kits, and push some kit's price up close to such a resin model...
So the only question is does the kit deserve such a price ?

Here follow my answer :wink:


The box:
really promissing :naughty:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_1.jpg

the body:
Seems right, no bubbles problems, fit seems well

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_2.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_3.jpg


The inside:
the only part having some minor bubbles

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_5.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_4.jpg

Metal parts:
roll cage and rear tubular chassis, a very positive point by comparison to the 43° parallele kit I own:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_6.jpg

vacuformed parts...
and light lens, as italian standard, nice

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_7.jpg

...including rear wheel arches:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_8.jpg
tyres:
very nice

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_9.jpg

And here starts the small parts festival !

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_10.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_11.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_12.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_16.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_17.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_18.jpg

one thing I find very strange, the seat position... look like more as a track car seat than as a rally car seat...?! :screwy:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_14.jpg

Photoeteched parts:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_19.jpg

Decals:
one can build either 86 Monte Carlo or Tour de Corse rallies:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_21.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_22.jpg

the building instructions:
many pages, with colors, show serious work done by Profil 24.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_23.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_24.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/phil67c/Lancia%20Delta%20S4%20-%20Profil%2024/S4_25.jpg
that shown, it's to share my conclusions:

the first thing I'd like to say simply is... WOW !! :yikes:

the positive points:
- not much cleaning work will be needed, high resin cast quality.
- high level of details, in fact there are so many parts that I couldn't say how much :screwy: :evillol:
some unexpected parts are details, for example the fluid links outing the top radiator.
- shape is fine, maybe not perfect but which one is ?
- it's an opening kit, the only thing we could ask for such a detailed model.
- 2 rallies are possible
- some nice details like the light lens, italian kit standard, very appreciated even if translucide plastic lens would have satisfied me, too.

negative points (well, less positive would be better): :wink:
- rims seem to be gravel ones... nevertheless when building a Monte Carlo car that woukdn't be a too big problem as they used many different types of wheels.
- air intakes of front hood are closed; but some parts will detail what would be seen through the griille.


The next step would be the comparison with the 43° parallele kit, especially for the parts on which I have a doubt, wheels and seats, but I already know some conclusions (I would probably take some pics of the kit and post them here).

My conlusions:

this Profil 24 kit may be the best S4 kit I've seen, admitting I never saw a Modellers one (but this is not an opening and detailed kit) and that I don't consider the Ken TK as a kit.

If the question was does the kit deserve its price, my answer is yes !
Profil 24 did a really good work on it.

that calls much work but this kit is surely the best base to builf a incredible Delta S4.


thanks for reading
if you have any question feel free to ask them.

Phil

I got mine to, few things are bothering me, maybe I didn't check enough but....here we go.

Lights: there is no way to make lens covers from clear part (no vacuformed lights inclouded, don't get me wrong those light lenses look fine but no real depth in them, so I would rather go with plain vacform, same thing go for light pods, you can not make them open because there is no glass.
Wheels: even thou they are wrong type, mine seem a bit warped (not perfectly round), if I find any afftermarket solutions this would be first thing to change.
Instructions: are incredible but also a bit confusing because there are lot of parts involved, some kind of parts list could be handy. same goes for decal placing, all of the decals have numbers but on guide....nothing.
Tail lights need lot of corrections and from the way they are made this will be a bit difficult to do.
This is just at first glance.

But don't get me wrong, this is one of the best full resin kits I have ever seen.

I got mine to, few things are bothering me, maybe I didn't check enough but....here we go.

Lights: there is no way to make lens covers from clear part (no vacuformed lights inclouded, don't get me wrong those light lenses look fine but no real depth in them, so I would rather go with plain vacform, same thing go for light pods, you can not make them open because there is no glass.
Wheels: even thou they are wrong type, mine seem a bit warped (not perfectly round), if I find any afftermarket solutions this would be first thing to change.
Instructions: are incredible but also a bit confusing because there are lot of parts involved, some kind of parts list could be handy. same goes for decal placing, all of the decals have numbers but on guide....nothing.
Tail lights need lot of corrections and from the way they are made this will be a bit difficult to do.
This is just at first glance.

But don't get me wrong, this is one of the best full resin kits I have ever seen.

Hi Sasa,

I completely agree with you about lights and extra lights, I was thinking the same as I'm now exploring the kit and its parts more deeper :wink:

Light lens are usually nice with this standard, but these ones are not perfect.
I prefer the Gass model ones.
And finally I'm wondering if I wouldn't have prefered clear plastic lens...

I also found that extra lights lenses were missing in the kit whereas listed on building instructions ? :screwy: :dunno:

I didn't get some particular troubles reading and following them but right, there are many informations and codes...

I didn't look at the rims too long (I probably should) but it seems that mine arent perfectly round, too, but I firstly thought it was an optic effect due to molding lines and rests to be cleaned...
I also quickly thought to replace them so maybe I wasn't enough efficient in my review and didn't spend enough time examinating them, sorry.

I still have a doubt about the seats geometry; I will put my hands back on my other S4 kit this afternoon and make a few comparisons this evening if I can find time to.

solution for me is probably to mix what coudl be between these 2 kits, but it's accepting to sacrifying one for the other... :frown:
not a real solution I suppose.

thanks for your contribution, Sasa


Phil

late for wish you happy birthday Phil:) i have ordered this kit from MAFMA.

late for wish you happy birthday Phil:) i have ordered this kit from MAFMA.

Many thanks ! :p :lol:

Happy birthday Phil~ ;)

Happy birthday Phil~ ;)

Thanks :wink:

Happy birthday! I have 4 profil24 kits and to be honest ive been disappointed by all of them. To be honest, hes a good sculptor but hes a horrible engineer. His kits always look promising out of the box but once i start working on them there are always major issues with fit and function. Especially my 2001 MG LM, the body will never fit on the chassis plate and i will probably have to eventually build a chassis oplate from scratch. The worst is that im really tempted to get this Delta kit but i dont think i can bring myself to buy it. Be very cautious and test fit every thing 3 times before committing to glue!!! Just a warning, but please let us know how it goes and maybe you will convince me to get one. Honestly the price is really good for a full detail resin kit but i just fear the headaches and rage. Maybe im just unlucky, so good luck to you and enjoy! Keep us posted!

PS, those vac form fender flares are going to be a real pain in the butt, i can tell. Be light with the paint if using laquer or they will melt and the dont flex them to much or the paint is going to crack up. Try reinforcing the inside with sheet plastic. Sorry to be so negetive, i just wish it wasnt Profil24 that did this kit cus i want to build one really bad. Cheers

Happy birthday! I have 4 profil24 kits and to be honest ive been disappointed by all of them. To be honest, hes a good sculptor but hes a horrible engineer. His kits always look promising out of the box but once i start working on them there are always major issues with fit and function. Especially my 2001 MG LM, the body will never fit on the chassis plate and i will probably have to eventually build a chassis oplate from scratch. The worst is that im really tempted to get this Delta kit but i dont think i can bring myself to buy it. Be very cautious and test fit every thing 3 times before committing to glue!!! Just a warning, but please let us know how it goes and maybe you will convince me to get one. Honestly the price is really good for a full detail resin kit but i just fear the headaches and rage. Maybe im just unlucky, so good luck to you and enjoy! Keep us posted!

PS, those vac form fender flares are going to be a real pain in the butt, i can tell. Be light with the paint if using laquer or they will melt and the dont flex them to much or the paint is going to crack up. Try reinforcing the inside with sheet plastic. Sorry to be so negetive, i just wish it wasnt Profil24 that did this kit cus i want to build one really bad. Cheers


Thanks for your contribution.
I'm a bit sad to read all that bad things happening to you about Profil 24 but I couldn't say contrary, I only own 2 Profil 24 kits, the metro and the S4...
I don't know their LM kits.
I always thought Profil 24 kits were very nice and accurate, I'm starting understanding anything else... :frown:
I thought to buy the Peugeot 905 one time, but I will surely thing about it twice !!
The kits are always nice and good looking on their pictures (uhh am I naive ? would they not be nice ? :grinno: ), if they really are worse while building I still couldn't notice that as I only have test some fitting and examinate parts, but still haven't build or paint anything.

For vacuformed parts to build the wheel arches, you're right, thanks for the advice.
I think I will completely rebuild them with thicker and stronger materails.



I still haven't found time to make the comparison with the 43° parallele kit, but I will asap.


Phil

Hi

I found some great reference pics of S4. I believe you might found these interesting...

http://www.mat.fi/project1986lanciadeltas4.htm

How is your Lancia nowadays Phil? Have you started to build it?

BR
Eejii

Hi all:

Normally I don´t writte in the forum, I only enjoy with your amazing projects and learning a lot and taking very good ideas. At the beginning, S4 Profil 24 kit is no compared with Ken trans kit. Anyone knows where Ken TK`s are available?

P.D. Happy birthday, Phil.

Many thanks

BorjaCho

Hi all:

Normally I don´t writte in the forum, I only enjoy with your amazing projects and learning a lot and taking very good ideas. At the beginning, S4 Profil 24 kit is no compared with Ken trans kit. Anyone knows where Ken TK`s are available?

P.D. Happy birthday, Phil.

Many thanks

BorjaCho

ken's TK isn't still avaiable, but just ask him...

Hi

I found some great reference pics of S4. I believe you might found these interesting...

http://www.mat.fi/project1986lanciadeltas4.htm

How is your Lancia nowadays Phil? Have you started to build it?

BR
Eejii

great link, thanks a lot: would be useful.

Hi

I found some great reference pics of S4. I believe you might found these interesting...

http://www.mat.fi/project1986lanciadeltas4.htm

How is your Lancia nowadays Phil? Have you started to build it?

BR
Eejii

Hello

As I am not very clever, does somebody know how to copy in my hard disk the pictures of this very good website.

Jean-Francois

Hello

As I am not very clever, does somebody know how to copy in my hard disk the pictures of this very good website.

Jean-Francois

There (uploading.com) a friend shared the whole S4 picts:

http://www.uploading.com/it/files/G6R9FM23/lancia_delta_s4.zip.html

just type the optic code and press download, don't watch too much those cool girls LOL!

Hi

I found some great reference pics of S4. I believe you might found these interesting...

http://www.mat.fi/project1986lanciadeltas4.htm

How is your Lancia nowadays Phil? Have you started to build it?

BR
Eejii

Hi Eejii,

thanks for this link, that's nice to share such things. :wink:

Where am i with the kit...?
Well, Nowhere must I confess.
new job, new timetable, not much time for modelling and hobbies any more, especially that rally season has restarted and we've just entered a french rally championship event the last week-end.
and still only two more weeks before a next french championship event, in hillclimb racing this time.
I don't intend to have much time for modelling before next autumn...
But I'm still there and still sometimes take part to the forum.

Hi all:

Normally I don´t writte in the forum, I only enjoy with your amazing projects and learning a lot and taking very good ideas. At the beginning, S4 Profil 24 kit is no compared with Ken trans kit. Anyone knows where Ken TK`s are available?

P.D. Happy birthday, Phil.

Many thanks

BorjaCho

Mmm about Ken's TK that's your opinion, but not inevitably mine...
You have to know that Ken's TK has nothing to deal with the pictures you can see in his web pages, because he gave his personal touch to his kits, but TK he releases only contents basic parts to use with a 037 kit. All the details he added in his own model aren't supplied (hises, extra roll cage parts etc etc) !
So I won't inevitably say that Ken's TK is better than Profil 24.
What is better is the treatment he gave to the creation and the molding (smaller serie I guess) of the parts, especially the wheels, but the number of details is probably the same or even higher in the Profil 24 kit.


A comparison between the kit and the TK would be great, but who would buy a Profil24 kit having a Ken's TK ??:screwy:


Phil


PS: for Jean François
je suis Français aussi, si je peux t'être utile sur ce site ou que tu cherches quelque chose n'hésite pas à faire signe. :wink:

For Gionc and rallymaster.
Thank you

Jean-Francois

For Gionc and rallymaster.
Thank you

Jean-Francois

JF: I answer here since may be useful for others: you will try this product to decompile flash files, or at least the "stamp" tab in the keyboard ;)

http://www.hyperionics.com/

choose hypersnap

Dear Phil:

My question about Ken TK is more for rest of products he is offering now and probably in future, no exactly for S4. After your review it is clear that Profil is probably best option at the moment.

I ask you for any web where Ken products appear and be bought, or it is only possible get Ken items contact him directly.

Thank for your comments.

BorjaCho

Hi Eejii,

thanks for this link, that's nice to share such things. :wink:

Where am i with the kit...?
Well, Nowhere must I confess.
new job, new timetable, not much time for modelling and hobbies any more, especially that rally season has restarted and we've just entered a french rally championship event the last week-end.
and still only two more weeks before a next french championship event, in hillclimb racing this time.
I don't intend to have much time for modelling before next autumn...
But I'm still there and still sometimes take part to the forum.



Mmm about Ken's TK that's your opinion, but not inevitably mine...
You have to know that Ken's TK has nothing to deal with the pictures you can see in his web pages, because he gave his personal touch to his kits, but TK he releases only contents basic parts to use with a 037 kit. All the details he added in his own model aren't supplied (hises, extra roll cage parts etc etc) !
So I won't inevitably say that Ken's TK is better than Profil 24.
What is better is the treatment he gave to the creation and the molding (smaller serie I guess) of the parts, especially the wheels, but the number of details is probably the same or even higher in the Profil 24 kit.


A comparison between the kit and the TK would be great, but who would buy a Profil24 kit having a Ken's TK ??:screwy:


Phil


PS: for Jean François
je suis Français aussi, si je peux t'être utile sur ce site ou que tu cherches quelque chose n'hésite pas à faire signe. :wink:

Damnit! Each time I see this thread updated, I think "cooool, someone's building a Delta S4!". Each time I'm dissapointed! :banghead:

Next time, can we please have the review in the common area, where it belongs?

Damnit! Each time I see this thread updated, I think "cooool, someone's building a Delta S4!". Each time I'm dissapointed! :banghead:

Next time, can we please have the review in the common area, where it belongs?

LOL think that actually we do post just to let you feel " coooool, someone..."

Damnit! Each time I see this thread updated, I think "cooool, someone's building a Delta S4!". Each time I'm dissapointed! :banghead:

Next time, can we please have the review in the common area, where it belongs?

Humm, I'm confused but sorry I've always posted racing models kit review in the motorsport section (where it does belong to my opinion), as other members do... :rolleyes:
Some members never read the common area but love to read racing kits review (I did that till I understand how usefull and interesting could be the common area)

And moreover I'm more confused to say that thread title is "review" not "WIP". :naughty:
You expect wrong things about updates of this thread :evillol: :grinyes:

:wink:

It's an argument in semantics, but....

The title of this section is "Work In Progress", and that's really what should be posted here- progress threads of motorsports cars. Not any and all topics about motorsports kits and cars, just in progress builds of them.

Product reviews belong in the everything else common area. There's even a stickie for product reviews (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=215864), so that some attentive moderator can collect any such reviews and add them to the review list. (OK, that hasn't been enforced as it should be, but wouldn't it be nice if it was?) If you're going to do us the favor of writing up such a review, why not post it where it will be seen by all? And it would be especially useful if it gets put on the stickie, collected where it can be easily found.

It may be lazy, but I've long since gotten into the habit here of filtering out the My First Build! and 56k Warning! and other stuff that people put into their thread titles (there's almost never anything else important in an In Progress thread, other than the kit). As a Group B fan, I see Lancia Delta S4, think SWEET!, and click the thread before I've read the rest of the title.


In the grand scheme of things, it's probably not a big deal- but posting other stuff in the motorsports progress area just encourages cliquiness here.

It's an argument in semantics, but........

In the grand scheme of things, it's probably not a big deal- but posting other stuff in the motorsports progress area just encourages cliquiness here.

Don't be such a Mr. M-Picky :wink:

j/k

Actually I think there are pros and cons for both sides of the arguments but as you yourself say, I'd rather have a review wherever it is posted rather than no review at all :)

BTW I hope this (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=512371) didn't get caught in you 56k warning filter! Top stuff!!

Hi there,
I just received my S4 from Profil 24 and now,having this one and Ken's transkit I can compare the two.
For those who don't know, Ken spent ages to perfect his S4,cutting it up in pieces, adjusting the proportions etc...When I got his transkit, I was really satisfied with the accuracy of the car.Ok, that is not a complete kit, but with a bit of a scratchbuilding by reference photos you can improve it.
Although it is a pefect transkit, still has a few imperfections;not a lot and easy to correct.I say this because I discovered the exact same imperfections on the Profil 24 kit!!!I dont want to pull down that kit, which is one of the best resin kit out there, but surely there are lots of similarities between the two kits.So I think, either choice is a good one to build a nice model of the Delta!!!:smile:

Everybody is talking about the Ken'S TK, but where can I buy it?

Thanks

Luis

It's an argument in semantics, but....

The title of this section is "Work In Progress", and that's really what should be posted here- progress threads of motorsports cars. Not any and all topics about motorsports kits and cars, just in progress builds of them.

well, that's right, I can say contrary, but I posted reviews here after having seen some other ones here...
But if it has to belong to something else on AF I will respect that rule.


why not post it where it will be seen by all? And it would be especially useful if it gets put on the stickie, collected where it can be easily found.

Precisely !! :biggrin:
I think motorsport pages allow reviews to be more seen than the "stickie for product reviews (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=215864)" I simply never saw or even heard about before... :dunno: :rolleyes:

I also think that if moderators never moved such thread it's precisely because they are more seen in the motorsport section than in the review "ghost" thread... :naughty:

But if someone judge it more usefull or simply conform to the rules, I will follow that point.


Thanks MPWR for having pointed that. :wink: