Ferrari F12 Berlinetta - Fujimi 1:24

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-D7HRcPn/0/XL/body1-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-5MnkMM8/0/XL/body2-XL.jpg

...got this one started now, as usual doing the body first so that it's got time to set hard before I polish it, though it doesn't look like this one will need much polishing. Zero Paints Blu Abu Dhabi with 2K Clear. As you can see, the Blu Abu Dhabi is a pretty dark and rather greeny blue, so I'm glad I invested in some -- it's not like any colour i have, and DOES in fact (vaguely) resemble the colour that the online Ferrari configurator shows you. I suspect quite a few of the pictures on the web of "Blu Abu Dhabi" cars aren't -- or Ferrari have reformulated the colour. I got the original paint code from the Lechler site for Hiroboy to mix, so I'm confident that it's the correct colour. Though I say it myself it looks even better in the flesh -- a real Peacock blue. Beautiful -- even my wife loves it!

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-Pq8Rtsc/0/XL/with-chrysler-XL.jpg

Oddly, I do also have a red car on the bench at the moment as well, but it ain't a Ferrari -- or even Italian. This is the Moebius Chrysler 300, in Guards Red, which will get it's own build thread soon.

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-vtskwCN/0/XL/bench1-XL.jpg

...bit of a traffic jam on the bench at the moment! It's that desire to get the bodies done so they can cure fully. The two Californias will be another "two-fer" build in a month or so.

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-6mbWwRM/0/XL/3-blue-XL.jpg

Guide to Ferrari Blues, Part One: L to R Blu Abu Dhabi, Blu Mirabeau (not yet clear-coated, so the colour will be richer when it is), and Blu Dino.

bestest,
M.

very nice

They look stunning.
Great paintjob

Fantastic Colour Choice!!! Saw this colour on a 599 & fell in love!! but your F12... DAMN!!!!
Cant wait to see more!!

Great color! Can't wait to see more.

Beautiful color! Wow

That looks great!
Can't wait to see more!

The color on that California looks awesome too.

Is that front bumper cover on the F12 on there permanently at this point?

Looking good!
Andy

Looking good so far! I've finished mine, but have to fix the side mirror mount and get photos. I consider it a "practice build" for a better one next time.

Beware of the front bumper installation; if you glue it permanently before the headlight buckets are installed, they won't fit, the tab on the bucket fits into a pin on the bumper. Instructions show the bucket going in after the bumper...I had to remove the mounting tab completely, and just glue in place.

Side mirror attachment point is very weak, the tab is nearly non-existent and it's where you trim the part from the tree. The mounting pin on the taillights...totally unnecessary and spoils the appearance, and isn't terribly easy to eradicate. Hood fit at cowl isn't great.

Overall the kit is good, but I can see areas where they seem to have rushed it to production. Not quite as bad as the 458, but still...

Thanks, gents!

Bob... thanks for the tip about the light buckets! I'll go and annotate my instructions now. [EDIT] Just did a trial fit-up, and you can snap the light bucket onto the pin on the bumper loosely and then snick it through into the well in the body from the front as the bumper goes on. Good call, Bob!

Andy.... no, nothing is fixed in place yet... I taped the doors on, but I'm actually pretty impressed with the front section, bonnet and A-pillar "blades"... they are just clicked into place, and they seem to fit very well. I dare say there will be some fettling of the bonnet pins needed, but it seems OK at the moment.

bestest,
M.

You nailed that color, those F Cars look good in something other than red.

that's a cool color on the F12, matt.
great work on the Ferraris as usual. definitely following this build..keep us posted!

Thanks, guys... I finally got back to the bench. Slow progress, but at least it's SOME progress!

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-87KdqNJ/0/XL/underbonnet-overview-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-fzP7VQ6/0/XL/underbonnet-close-up-XL.jpg

This is more of my fake carbon fibre effect, done by spraying Zero Paints Graphite Grey through a fine mesh mask onto a black base. Getting the mesh to lay down over the curves of the heat shield was pretty easy (I use 3M "photo mount" spray-on tacky glue when the shapes are complex). I think I'd have found using decal much harder... even if it would look more prototypical.

bestest,
M.

Excellent carbon look.
I'm going to have to try that again. The last time I did it I was going for a mesh look and shot flat black on a charcoal base.

Slow but steady progress:

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-PCHCDwH/0/XL/overview-body-XL.jpg

The front end is on! Thanks to Bob Downie for the tip about the lights -- I fixed them to the pins inside the bumper with some strong but flexible glue before fitting the bumper. I also fitted the grille and support inside the bumper before attaching it, so the whole lot went on as a unit. A little bit of "wiggling" is needed with the lights, hence the flexible glue, but when they go in, they just pop into position. The air intake boxes are done with Scale Motorsports carbon, just for variety. I actually prefer my "sprayed" look, but that's just me...

The "carbon" sills are also attached, which was a pain -- the location and angle is not a very positive fit. Wheels are painted Zero's Graphite Grey.

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-FvbSp2W/0/XL/front-end-XL.jpg

A closer look at the headlights. I used fine wire for the LED tubes along the top, rather than tryin to paint silver. Actually, both are wrong -- but my attempt to use fine transparent fishing line didn't work out. It looks like there's something there, which is the point... at a distance. The problem is that the lights are pretty monotone unless they are lit up -- the silver surround to the main lens is the only brightwork, unless you look closely enough to see the pale yellow squares of the LEDs in the smaller "ladder" up the outside. The grille is mainly black, with a "chrome" front edge applied using "rub n buff". It'll need a bit of a tidy, now I've handled it to fit it in...

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-Zp96dXT/0/XL/brakes-n-engine-bits-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-4RWs8Pm/0/XL/brakes-XL.jpg

Some bits and pieces. The brakes have "Grigio Silverstone" callipers, and are just painted in Humbrol Flat Aluminium from a can and washed with Citadel "Devlan Mud" for contrast. The engine parts are Tamiya Italian red with a matt coat.

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-f8mFWrf/0/XL/interior-red-XL.jpg

The interior is under way. Black, grey and red for contrast...

bestest,
M.

Looks great Matt!
Excellent idea on the headlights to add the headlight detail in that fashion.
Keep up the great work!!!!
Andy

...I know there are people who will HATE these, but the etch metal seemed too good an opportunity to miss for an experiment:

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-H7rTx8K/0/XL/carbon-shields-XL.jpg

I'm not sure whether I'll use them on the final model, but I have ordinary yellow ones as decals as well...

bestest,
M.

I like the look!!!!!!!!!!

I just did a set of those for my Evil458, not CF, but black.

Depending on the wheels for yours, I think this will look good!!!!

I am loving that CF you do.
Andy

Okay, I believe you must use them as they will look different than the ordinary ones. I have used them in my latest built, unfortunately I haven't had the time to post any of my work.
Truly inspiring. thanks

Bacon! I love the progress. The badges look cool. You are giving me some good ideas, as well as inspiration for when it's my turn ;)

Keep it up

Very nice!
Great macro shot. I really should get a modern camera.

Thanks, gentlemen... A little bit more progress:

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-2NCcJvs/0/XL/mocked-up-1-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-kQq2VBF/0/XL/mocked-up-3-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-5TKNjkW/0/XL/mocked-up-2-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-bTb8tjJ/0/XL/mocked-up-4-XL.jpg

This is just mocked up to see how the ride height looks.I haven't changed anything at all -- all the parts are used just as they come. And, to be honest, I really can't see an issue with either the ride height or the wheel/tyre combo. The wheel dimensions are within a couple of % of what they should be for 20" (22.5mm versus 22.8mm for 20" wheels with +2cm flanges), the tyre width is spot on, and sidewall profile is if anything slightly too "low-profile", not too deep. The clearance above the front wheels is pretty small, and the back looks OK too... there has to be room for some suspension flex, after all!

bestest,
M.

Man, that color looks great and the paint looks SMOOTH.
Seeing it in the sun gives it a whole new life.

I read that the F12 does the Ferrari test track 2 seconds faster than the Enzo!
That is hard to believe.

Nice work Matt!
Andy

Absolutely gorgeous. Love the color!!!
Good luck until the end...

Love the color - looking forward to seeing the interior!

...I know there are people who will HATE these, but the etch metal seemed too good an opportunity to miss for an experiment:

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-H7rTx8K/0/XL/carbon-shields-XL.jpg

I'm not sure whether I'll use them on the final model, but I have ordinary yellow ones as decals as well...

bestest,
M.

I love the idea of this. I hope you don't mind if I copy it for my version of the 599 GTO I'm currently working on.

Lots of work on the interior this weekend:

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-jhtWXJX/0/XL/cockpit-high-left-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-B5SBMfb/0/XL/cockpit-from-top-longshot-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-xMkrFTS/0/XL/cockpit-front-left-XL.jpg

The red is Zero's Rosso Scuderia, and the various shades of "black" are Vallejo German Grey and Black, and Citadel "Charandon Granite". If you look hard there is a "carbon driver zone", and the "bridge" is carbon effect, but it's not really showing up in these pictures. Natural daylight needed, I think.

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-M6gmg35/0/XL/dash-head-on-XL.jpg

The dash is detail painted with various Citadel colours, and finished with the kit decals -- very nice. The seat backs are carbon effect, but the combination of out-of focus and overexposed in this shot is killing it!

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-zzMDKNt/0/XL/pedals-closeup-XL.jpg

I wanted to put this one in, because I'm sure there are/will be lots of complaints about Fujimi moulding the pedals as part of the tub, unlike Revell's typical separate parts. It's dark down there, and this is a pretty close-up shot, and I really don't think it will be too obvious. I painted the whole thing carpet colour, and then outlined the pedal in black, which I blended by drybrushing into the carpet colour. Then, I painted the pedal in bright silver. I bet even with the door open it'll be hard to spot, and with them closed....

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-VFXw8mR/0/XL/engine-under-way-XL.jpg

The engine is nicely under way, with some detail painting left to do.

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-9N5CZ5f/0/XL/bench-10-feb-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-qcG64hz/0/XL/bench-10-feb-2-XL.jpg

...and this is where we are at tonight. The Cavalleria is now on the grille along with a few other details, and the glasshouse is painted, of which more tomorrow...

bestest,
M.

Looking fantastic!!!

A bit more progress today:

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-tDmm5t9/0/XL/bench-11-feb-2-XL.jpg

I realised that I hadn't painted the Blu Abu Dhabi on the bits of the doors that are not trimmed, so it was out with the masking tape!

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-LdtvJ2k/0/XL/privacy-glass-XL.jpg

The "Privacy Glass" option, in this case applied with Tamiya Smoke, not the payment of several thousand more quids...

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-hqgH5Nr/0/XL/door-open-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-PnzjNsC/0/XL/hinge-XL.jpg

I cut away and sanded the door hinge part, so that it clips into place and slots into the body. One didn't work so well, one did better, so it'll be the drivers door that's open in photos! The one above is using the "sloppy" hinge, because I don't want to risk the other one until I use it for real. I'm not sure how long they'll last being clipped and unclipped...

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-Sf4gFrt/0/XL/front-end-11-feb-XL.jpg

Not a great photo, but it does show the very distinctive "face" of this beastie...

bestest,
M.

i love the colour. such a pity about fujimi tyres. the profile is always off. but this is going to be one awesome model

Looks great!

Dadaman... thanks for the positive feedback, but at the risk of annoying you, read what I said above... there's not much wrong withe the Fujimi wheels and tyres, IMHO. The specs are: 255/35 ZR 20 front and 315/35 ZR 20 rear. Allowing for 2cm flanges on the rims, the wheels should be 22.8mm in diameter in 1/24, and in fact they are 22.5mm, which is good enough for me (1.3% adrift). The front tyres should be 10.6 mm wide and 3.8mm in profile -- in fact (as best as I can measure) they are 11mm and 3.5mm. The rears should be 13.1mm and 4.6mm --- in fact they are 13.5mm and 4mm. Allowing for a) slight stretch to get the measured tyres onto the slightly larger diameter rims (22.5mm vs 21.5mm moulded inner diameter of tyres), and b) subtracting the flange depth from the sidewall height, the rears are pretty much bang on the button, and the fronts are less than 0.5mm too deep at worst.

I always find that when I see real cars, they look much lower and sleeker that my models. For example, I've seen a California, an R8, an SLS and a DBS tonight. All looked "faster" than the models I have on my shelf. Yet I've compared the dimensions of the Revell and Tamiya kits to 1/24th of the real thing and they are all very accurate. It's an optical illusion that makes an accurate scale model look too narrow and tall. I don't know why it works like that, but you can do some things when photographing models to eliminate it.

I think the same goes for tyres. Somehow, our expectations are set for big wheels and super low profile tyres, so when a company produces some pretty accurate scale replicas of the real thing, we think they look wrong...

Apologies for the controversy!

bestest,
M.

Hi, all... I wouldn't normally take pictures in the bright sunlight like this, but since it's "Blu Abu Dhabi", I assume that eye-watering daylight is what it's designed for, and I wanted to see what that might look like in real life. It probably gives the best impression of what the colour is REALLY like -- it seems to change from green to blue in different pictures, depending on the lighting conditions!

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-TnTrVFT/0/XL/sunbathing-1-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-s8ZxPt3/0/XL/sunbathing-2-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-bxgfMsr/0/XL/sunbathing4-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-Dh7MNSH/0/XL/sunbathing-3-XL.jpg

...still very much a WIP, but we are getting there, slowly. This marks the point when the chassis and body finally came together, which is always a good milestone!

Fingers-crossed, I should have this done this weekend!

bestest,
M.

Looks good in the sunlight! Still wish Zero paints' flakes were smaller, but hey, now that I can't get their paint in the states anymore, I guess it doesn't matter!

Sometimes camera shots exaggerate the flake reflection.

F12 looks great!

Ye Gods! Is it just me, or are the exhaust manifolds on this kit nearly as bad as building an Enthusiast Model 288 GTO engine? Only four parts each -- three double pipes and a baseplate, but blimey o'reilly they are a swine. Convoluted, intertwined, and not even the same on both sides!

bestest,
M.

Ye Gods! Is it just me, or are the exhaust manifolds on this kit nearly as bad as building an Enthusiast Model 288 GTO engine? Only four parts each -- three double pipes and a baseplate, but blimey o'reilly they are a swine. Convoluted, intertwined, and not even the same on both sides!

bestest,
M.

I agree. I think they modeled after the EM Dino 246 engine exhausts. That was a "pistol' to put together and align in the engine bay.

Last few pictures in the WiP. On the home straight now!

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-qsvHgvb/0/XL/engine2-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-LGQPcL9/0/XL/engine1-XL.jpg

Thanks goodness those exhausts are buried...I do wonder why they made them so accurate, and complex, when this is all you can see...

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-4GCgPzP/0/XL/engine-in-place-XL.jpg

You need to put the black shield under the windscreen in place AFTER the engine goes in. There's no problem... it's a click to fit, press in place part... no need for adhesive.

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-zVqSmCD/0/XL/engine-in-sideways-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-Lfj3KNV/0/XL/nearly-done-from-left-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-K2s6j5d/0/XL/nearly-done-from-right-XL.jpg

...and I think that's about it for this thread.

More in the completed gallery... thank you for watching!

bestest,
M.

OK, I lied.... finishing touches done this evening. Now I just need to clean the fingerprints and dust off it, and get some proper light for beauty shots...

http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-wdnqhMq/0/XL/done-on-bench-1-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-nwqS8xb/0/XL/done-on-bench-2-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-C5sksKP/0/XL/done-on-bench-4-XL.jpg
http://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-9/i-PZTm7ss/0/XL/done-on-bench-3-XL.jpg

bestest,
M.

Turned out great - nice work!