Fujimi enthusiast series opinion

I just went to a HS to buy putty, but one more time i could't resist to 2 new fujimi kits, a CRX Si and a Porsche 356A 1500GS carrera coupé :naughty: .

The porsche kit looks amazing with no less than 200 parts :sly:

I wonder how is the building of that kit because it seems very complex.... So if someone has already built the same or an other enthusiast kit, :1zhelp:

If only those 200+ parts were molded with the precision of Tamiya... :rolleyes:

They're nice kits if you want something to occupy a large amount of your time cleaning/fitting/painting/detailing all the parts. Lots of mold lines, sink marks, ejector pin marks...not the same precision part-for-part as Tamiya or even many newer Revell kits. They look quite stunning when properly finished. Pick the right subject, build it with care, you can win any out-of-box category you want. I haven't built one in years-I built three of the Porsche 911's in the series. I prefer simpler kits or curbsides most of the time. After looking over an Enthusiast M6, comparing it to the much simpler Tamiya kit, I just didn't feel like building a kit like that that can be found elsewhere that is simpler and will look just as good finished. I traded it to a friend...I have tons of models I'd rather spend 30+ hours on. As a one-of-a-kind model, like the old Porsches that are not offered by other companies as curbsides, they're perfect. If Fujimi made an enthusiast series Maranello, they'd be off my shit list forever! Of course that'll never happen... :evillol:

Having built a few of these myself, and having most of the collection as well, I think I can comment a bit on this. :naughty:

For OOTB detail these kits almost have no rival in the scale.
And they are a great platform to superdetail as well. I've built a 356B/C with added detail here....

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=100976&page=1&pp=15&highlight=lumpulus

And the Dino 246 GTS here

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=100763&highlight=lumpulus

The various derivatives of the Porsche 911and 356, Ferrari Dino and Daytona(No BMWs in my collection) are accurate except for the earliest 911S version which should be carburated, not fuel injected. Also, all the 356 series save one have the Twin Cam, Dual Ignition Carrera engine, which in reality was VERY rare. The 1500GS Roadster is the only one I know of that has the much more common Volkswagen 4 Cyl. , but it would be easy to switch the engines out as the tranny is the same.

If you're getting them for ~$20 you'll be happy. I've seen some go b4 they were re-released for ~$50 on Ebay last year.

If you're a decent skilled modeler you'll be fine with these.

... and I would add to what Lumpulus said that you would find great pleasure building these kits, and taking time to build them! I must admit I'm in love with Fujimi Enthusiast series!
And don't worry: 356 is not complex to do, it just needs carefull sanding of the body and more than care sometimes to cut small and thin pieces from the sprue.
I'm now working on the same kit that you've purchased: it's really worth the time given!

i have the lamborghini 5000 QV on my bench and just ordered a '69 porsche 911 s!
these enthusiast kits are great, i agree, but so expensive :(