quite possibly my all time favourite Ferrari above even the mighty testarossa engined 250GTO.

I have to start by saying that this kit isn't all that great and it took quite a bit of work (un-recorded) to get this far.

Start off with Interior.
Classic black leather with body coloured dash-panel.
Should have drilled out the dials for the decals but it escaped my mind when I got frustrated one day and shot the colour onto it.
Seats were modded from the original to have better looking side bolsters as the bucket seat should have. It's not perfect but like so many of my builds, this one is also a practice run....
http://x8e.xanga.com/091d633444733128631625/w93493063.jpg
http://x93.xanga.com/a5bd6b2ac1533128631627/w93493065.jpg

just wanted to show this bit.
For all of the errors and horrible molding on this kit, there are some nice bits like this nicely detailed fuel tank.
http://xf6.xanga.com/1f8d752a21530128631631/w93493069.jpg

My chassis was slightly warped but fits together without any problems.
http://x5a.xanga.com/603d743444730128631640/w93493078.jpg

Wired the distributers which I replaced from another italeri daytona kit.
http://x85.xanga.com/2bed613644733128631644/w93493082.jpg

And I had to get rid of the kit's front spring/shock
http://xc8.xanga.com/bd2d9b3341532128631648/w93493086.jpg

Fan belt was also removed and replaced with masking tape version.
http://x1a.xanga.com/c30d633144633128631653/w93493090.jpg

There's a couple of other things here and there that you can see and there are still a few things like a new fan that I have to make.

Body is where it all went wrong.
I got to this stage:
http://x36.xanga.com/7c6d972a31232128631665/w93493096.jpg
http://x8b.xanga.com/e04d9b2ad1232128631666/w93493097.jpg
http://x1e.xanga.com/0ced623645530128631673/w93493103.jpg

If you look at the last photo, you'll see that the passenger area is warped. IT all skews to one side.
I thought I had remedied this by the hot bath method but I guess I didn't set it properly because lo and behold, it's all gone lambo again, to the point that the glasswork doesn't fit.
Of course, the glasswork is absolutely terrible in this kit so that makes not a lot of differenr anymore.
Might have to paint up another swb body.
The window frames are also wrong and well... you can see the black outline didn't turn out how I expected so any suggestions on that bit?

More to come later and a couple more cars to document in the mean time.



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http://xeb.xanga.com/824d557bd8632106845375/w75643872.gif

Very, very nice build!

I have always liked the SWB GTO, but the problem is that the kit is quite hard to get by. Also, on hindsight the kit doesn't look too detailed, so it might be something worth getting just to improve the hell out of it, the way you're doing it. It's clear the mold is pretty aged, but I d love to see it re-released.

Otherwise, bummer about the warping there. I don't really know what to say, except that I ve corrected few bodies by bending in quite hot water, but you need to be very firm there, resulting in maybe cracks in the paint and stuff...

Eitherway I m looking very forward to seeing it. And as far as those window rubbers go, I have had enough of the crackety look of BMF foil, I am only using silver permanent markers, easier to use and much better looking. should you use those, I think making clearer demarcationlines would be easier.

Oli

I recently sold this kit on eBay. I wanted to paint it either Gunmetal or French blue. But this kit requires too much work to make it look right, and for so much work required, the detail is still lacking.

I'd take a Gunze 250SWB with Replicates & Minatures of Maryland engine, but that's $150 or more.

I feel your pain! This is a real dog of a kit and you're doing a good job getting as far as you have. Even if the body wasn't warped the glass doesn't fit and you will probably do better by using the rear window and remaking the rest from clear acryllic.

Good luck with it and let us know how you go on.

Martin

p.s. If 250 SWBs are your passion the Italeri kit builds up nicely (if you can find one)
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=673827&highlight=ferrari+250+swb

I do have an italeri kit but only the one whic I won't start until I know I can get it right.
These Esci kits however, I've got maybe 4 of them. I started this one originally as a test to see how much work it needed to do to make it look right and if I could get away with not fixing the window trim.

What you might not see without a direct comparison are the changes done to the body:
vents re-shaped and trim corrected.
Door opening corrected.
Top of door (door shape) corrected.
Rear light's recess corrected.
Boot lid curves corrected.
Front wings corrected.

All in all, the molding is a bit crude and heavy and it's a shame that there aren't more kits of this car about that don't cost $50+
Let's hope that we get the italeri re-issued soon.

What you might not see without a direct comparison are the changes done to the body:
vents re-shaped and trim corrected.
Door opening corrected.
Top of door (door shape) corrected.
Rear light's recess corrected.
Boot lid curves corrected.
Front wings corrected.


I thought you have might have corrected that stuff, because it didn't look like the Esci kit I had. Good eye and good job.