LEAN MEAN - 360 Challenge Stradale Conversion

Ok, this one is for the fans of modern Ferraris! Another one of my recent superdetailed projects. I will attempt to convert Tamiya's 360 Modena into 360 Challenge Stradale street-legal racer using a mix or after market and scratchbuilt additions - MSM Creation transkit, Renaissance transkit, Speed Line BBS wheels, SMS decals, Acu-STion 360 photoetch detail set, and few modifications of my own. I'm sure you are all seen the real car, but here is goes:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/01.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/02.jpg

As usual, I started with the body - front bumper is completely different on Stradale - so I carefully removed the original one. Rear bumper is slightly different too, so I glued some sheet plastic to modify it a bit.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/03.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/04.jpg

Rear grille is made from very thin mesh on Stradale, so it was cut out and will be replaced with scratchbuilt grille. I also modified licence plate receptacle in the rear bumper - it is shaped differently on Stradale.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/05.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/06.jpg

Plastic was shaped as needed, and everything carefully sanded and cleaned. I also glued Stradale's side skirts from MSM transkit.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/07.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/08.jpg

Finally, I added front bumper from MSM kit, and removed all mold lines and other little flaws from the body - now its ready for the paint.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/09.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/10.jpg

Finally, I primed the body with gray and then white primers and sprayed few paint mist coats:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/11.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/12.jpg

Then I finished the paint, polished it out, and filled in the panel lines:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/13.jpg

Then I painted window trim, decalled the body, and waxed the whole thing.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/14.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/15.jpg

<b>Now to the Challenge grille - I decided that the best way to was to scratchbuild it! Here is how I did it:</b>

I bought finest K&S photoetched mesh with round holes I could find. Then I cut a rough shape of the grille:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/16.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/17.jpg

Using masking tape, I made a template with the location of the taillight housings, and stuck it to the grille. Then carefully working my way through, I cut the openings (lots of filing with round needle files!) and sanded the grille to correct shape.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/18.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/19.jpg

Then grille was chemically blackened with Blacken-It, and lightly clearcoated to give it this semi-shine. Before continuing, I test fitted it to the body to ensure good fit.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/20.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/21.jpg

Taillight housings were cut off the plastic part, painted black, and glued to the photoetched mesh. Then I installed the taillights, Cavallino, and Challenge Stradale decal.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/22.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/23.jpg

Grille was glued to the body, and I started working on the engine lid. As you know, engine lid of Stradale is a bit differen, and features bigger and more pronouced bulge, as well as different vents o nthe sides. MSM transkit supplies this part as a resin piece, but even before assembly I thought that bulge looks way too small. Turned out, the whole part was too small! Look at this gap! It was short too, and kit window didn't fit either. Absolutely useless part! So, I had to make my own...

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/24.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/25.jpg

I built-up the bulge with pieces of sheet styrene, and reinforced the enge with styrene piece.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/26.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/27.jpg

Then using my pin vise I drilled out the vents and did final shaping with hobby knife and needle files. Turned out pretty nice, and the glass was fitting just fine!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/28.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/29.jpg

Finally, the bulge was shaped with Squadron putty over the styrene, and refined with sanding sticks. Its in white primer now, ready for final coats of paint.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/30.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/31.jpg

Sorry for the information overload, I'll try not to update for a while! I hope you like it thus far.
Alex

I hate to be a nit-picker, but it looks like some of the holes in the mesh were filled with the Blacken-It. Will you consider poking them with a needle or something?

The build is great, though. I love it!

Wow!
What can one say but, Wow! This looks absolutly fabulous.
I will keep an eye on this one.

Niclas

Like it.. I love it. You are a total master when it comes to a super detailed build. I just love the way you give some much detail about what you are doing. It really helps, as I can then use some of the information to help me get better.

Yet again, I'm floored by your superb paint jobs. - BTW, it was your guides I followed to spray my models, and it helped so much..!! Great builds, and great information.

Another highly detailed stunner of the master. Don't worry about the info overload. I absolutely love that as it explaines so much on how you do things. I'm also planning a Stradale version in red, but it might take a few years before I actually will start it. This thread will really interest me and motivate me to start mine. Keep us posted!

that paint is perfect!!

Awesome!!!! I'll follow this thread no doubt!!!!
(hmm... it seems I said something incorrectly... nevermind! I'm so impressed with Alex's bulding, that can't say it in English) :)
Zdorovo!!!! Na nashih glazah rojdaetsya ocherednoy shedevr! Eto klassno! Uspehov i jdu prodoljeniya!

Gorgeous to the MaX!

Fantastic! I love how modelers paint and clearcoat all their plastic models to make them look like they're metal.

MMmm Looking good.
One thing, are you still going to have the two cross bar's?

http://cool-autos.net/Pictures/Ferrari/360_Challenge_Stradale03-8.jpg

Wow, Perfect model in progress;)

Just beautiful! Amazing thread again!

your skills are just amazing, absolutely fabulous, is there anywhere you can buy that mesh on-line ? i have a feeling it woulbe be useful. anyway your car is just outstanding the shine is brilliant and the work you've put in just amazes me, you have made a challenge more real than the real one ! (ok, so it sounded good in my head.....)

Very nice detailing, Alex. Will this one get any leather in the interior? I'm not sure if the real ones have it.

Alex,

Did you do anything to prep the resin front bumper and side skirts? I applied Tamiya gray primer to mine and my fingernails were able to scratch the paint off!

Excellent progress, keep us posted!!!

Sorry for the information overload, I'll try not to update for a while! I hope you like it thus far.
Alex

Are you crazy?!
I love this lot of info and pics. One can only learn from your superb skills. So take the time and keep us posted. The more updates the better!

The car looks stunning so far - great job!!

He is stealing my project, oh noooo! Sadly enough, yours looks way better than mine. Thanks a lot, buddy!
Regardless of that, great work. I know of all the complications on that conversion and yours is a true masterpiece! But I didn´t expect anything less!
Regarding the rear hood, I have the same transkit hood and mine fits perfectly! Can´t imagine, what went wrong with your hood!

That looks sweet!! Keep it up!

Stunning Alex. The grill turned out better than I expected.

really cool with the rear lights~!!
but i wonder if i can get sth like that in HK~~

i will stick to this thread~!!

No information overload at all - this is how I'm inspired!

Great info, great pics - thanks!

John

Wow! Thanks for the replies guys!
Vitalik - spasibo za podderzhku!
Fantastic! I love how modelers paint and clearcoat all their plastic models to make them look like they're metal. That's the point!

MMmm Looking good.
One thing, are you still going to have the two cross bar's?
Of course. Will make then from sheet metal.

2.2 Straight six - not sure about where you can get the mesh online - I bought it from my LHS.

Very nice detailing, Alex. Will this one get any leather in the interior? I'm not sure if the real ones have it. Some real ones come with leather seats, but since I'm building a racer, with racing harnesses, etc, I'll skip the leather! :-)

Alex,

Did you do anything to prep the resin front bumper and side skirts? I applied Tamiya gray primer to mine and my fingernails were able to scratch the paint off!

Yes, I soaked resin parts in bleach overnight to remove mold release agents, then sanded the surface with fine paper, then carefully washed using old toothbrush. Coat of etching primer will also help.

godfather23 - not stealing, we are just think alike! Not sure why my engine lid had such a terrible fit - maybe it shrunk, or something - I have no idea.

Thanks again, I really appreciate all the replies. Will update soon.
Alex

Looks great! :sunglasse

Are you planning to clearcoat over the decals? After I learned the 1:1 graphics were painted on the car vs. decals, I looked at a couple 1:1's at a car show and the graphics are not only painted on, but they're embedded under clearcoat (I guess it's possible that they're vinyl decals clearcoated over, but I doubt that), so the surface finish is just as smooth as all the paint around it. Kind of like most NASCAR models in a model show, where the vinyl graphics are all buried under clear...while that's incorrect for a NASCAR, it's very much correct for a Stradale.

The Challenge grille...incredible, and you made it look easy. I was lazy and just used thick acrylic paint sprayed at a low pressure to give it a little bit of texture.

Looking forward to seeing this one through!

holy mother of !#$^@&^@&@.

great job and can't wait to see some more progress on this bad boy.

holy F**^*^ crap, that is such a cool ferrari, my jaw has been on the floor for five minutes now and i dont know if i should bother picking it up

Hey, that looks pretty good!! :)

[/understatement]

Your paint job's are the best that i've ever seen! Look's amazing :sunglasse

Looking to be another masterpiece from you!

Nice clean work :smokin: Paint job looks awesome!

No updates for a while? You're kidding, are you??

One other thing that came to me yesterday. If you paint panels of the glasses that are installed over the front lights like you´re suppossed to with black, it looks kinda weird. I´m still to decide whether I remove that black lines form the glasses again. So beware.
Another question: Are going to stick with the ride height or do expect to lower it?

Yum Yum!!!

Bloody hell...How come you're still able to make me drop my jaw for every new build? Some way you take it a bit further every time. My BEST complements for this one!!
best regards
Joel

Ammazing skills

Just saw a Challenge Stradale outside work today. Too bad no camera!

Awesome machine, though! :eek:

Are you planning to clearcoat over the decals?

Well, if I knew this before I polished the body... I guess not - its too late now. I have not see a stradale with stripes in person, and for some reason I didn't even think about them being painted... It doesn't really matter, the decals are very thin and look like they are painted on anyway, maybe just a little too flat compared to the rest.

No updates for a while? You're kidding, are you??

Not really! The progress is really slow at this level of detail. It'll be some time until I have enough completed for the new update.

One other thing that came to me yesterday. If you paint panels of the glasses that are installed over the front lights like you´re suppossed to with black, it looks kinda weird. I´m still to decide whether I remove that black lines form the glasses again. So beware.
Another question: Are going to stick with the ride height or do expect to lower it?

I think these gaskets look kinda neat, though Tamiya clear parts are thick and they look heavy. I'll think of something. I will try to lower the ride height. It'll depend on the wheel/tire height too.

Thanks again guys,
ALex

Incredible looking body! The Challenge mesh rear grille is terrific looking. I'll be watching this one closely, as I too have a Modena to convert to a Stradale (or maybe just a track Challenge).

The headlight cover gasket is far too thick when painted black, because the glass itself is much thicker than scale thickness. I think the way I would do this would be to paint the edges of the glass cover body color, and then add a thinned grey wash around the covers after they're installed. I gave alot of thought to the headlight cover edges on my F50. Having think white lines (if the edges are left clear) or thick black lines (painted black) seems to have a huge effect on the appearence of the model. Of course, I took the easy way out (black edges with black headlight areas), but I'll be looking forward to seeing how you go about it- as well as everything else on this build!

beauty! as always great build ups!

Not really! The progress is really slow at this level of detail. It'll be some time until I have enough completed for the new update.

Take your time Alex. Although I would like to see updates of your build everyday :lol: but to have a perfect finish I know you will need some time. I really envy your skills :bigthumb: and with every completed models of your Ferrari makes me more afraid to build mine :lol: I don't think I'll be building mine until I've reached your level of skills (then again, I might build the ones that's still available in the market :lol: ).

OK Folks, time for another (rather lengthy) update. Done a bit more on the CS:

Well, interior tub had to be modified to fit new seats and central tunnel console, so I removed seat guides and the consoole with my motor tool. That left a nasty scratches.... I decided that rather than trying to sand them off I'd cover them with thin sheet styrene!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket01.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket02.jpg

Then the tub was painted with semi-gloss black, and I continued with the buildup. Before I return back the interior, I would like to tell you folks that I'm really disappointed with MSM Transkit - it is turned to be absolutely inaccurate, and basically, unusuable - despite looking so good in the beginning. I measured the wheels and they were too small for the Stradale - probably 2" smaller than needed. Chris from Scale Auto Style came to resque, and sent me a set of recently released SAS 19" BBS rims - they were the perfect fit. On this picture you can see how much bigger SAS set compared to MSM.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket03.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket04.jpg


SAS and MSM wheels, dressed with identical Tamiya tires - see the difference? Anyway, the wheels were cleaned, primed, painted with Aluminum metalizer, clearcoated, fitted with center decals and tire valves, and tures from Tamiya kit were put on. Looks GOOD! and the size is just right.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket05.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket06.jpg

Then I looked at hte door panels... they were nothing like Stradale panels. They resembled more of a Challenge modena panels, than CS's - one more time proved how useless MSM set is. Rather than building new panels I decided it would be faster to modify existing ones, so I started with marking them according to the pictures of hte real thing. Upper part was reshaped, then I cut larger/different shape opening, and built up the lower part to create door pocket and place to install the door handle.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket07.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket08.jpg

To make the panel look to scale, I thinned it down with the motor tool to scale thickness from the inside. Then everythign was assembled, carefully sanded and cleaned, and primed with a coat of Tamiya gray primer.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket09.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket10.jpg

After panels were painted black, I realized that I forgto to drill holes for the mounting bolts. Finally, door panels were decalled with C/F and fitted with door handles made from steel rod. Now they look more like CS!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket11.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket12.jpg

Seats were as much of a disappointment as everything else proved to be in MSM set so far (well, except decals and a front bumper, hehe..) - they were totally wrong! First of all, they are exact copies of Tamiya Subaru WRC seats (there are even pin marks at the back) - this is not only unethical piracy, but also illegal, if used without permission from Tamiya (which I doubt they obtained...). But anyway, they are one piece buckets, while CS has seat/back type buckets, they are also too thin and narrow. I had to modify the seats! First, I marked the aread that had to be removed, and cut them off using my motor tool.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket13.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket14.jpg

Then I puttied all the wrong seams, and scribed new, correct seams on the cusion and seat back. Finally, I boiled the resin in water, and widened the back and the cusion while it was hot to make the seats wider!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket15.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket16.jpg

After complete cleanup and lots of sanding, seats started to look like CS seats, They were primed and painted with mix of gloss/flat tamiya red. Then, the seats were masked off, painted flat black and C/F decalled. Finally, I clearcoated the C/F and the seats were almost (need racing harness still) completed.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket17.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket18.jpg

Final modification for today: dashboard. Stradale's dashboard is different from ordinary Modena - it has different central panel, different air vents, and instrument cluster/steering column. To modify the central panel, I cut off the part with regulators (its identical on the CS) and bent/reshaped the console. Gap was filled with sheet styrene and puttied/sanded smooth.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket19.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket20.jpg

Then I bored out the socket for hte rtegulators, which were C/F'ed and cut to shape. Finally, I drilled out hte vents, and painted the dash board. Then regulators were installed. Still lots of work to do on the dash, but its all for now folks! Hope you like!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket21.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/bucket22.jpg

Enjoy!
Alex

Fantastic work. Those seats are very nice

You're having all these updated parts cast so the rest of us can have an accurate CS, right? :)

Amazing work! I LOVE what you did with the seats :sunglasse

Excellent update :bigthumb: I have an extra Modena body and parts (got from a friend but missing the sprue for side skirts) and I'll definitely building it into a Challenge Stradale and follow your thread as a guidance... Good job and thanks for pointing out the inaccuracies.

Is the engine for the Stradale similar to the standard Modena (physical look wise)? Are there any conversion/modifications need to be done? I think there are some differences.

I love the details! Congratulations

Nicely done. Good update, and great looking work!

Sorry to hear the MSM set is such a disappointment- I know what it's like to deal with a crummy detail set (by the way, the S27 set just arrived for the F40- but we'll cover that elsewhere). I was thinking to use the SAS set (cuz it's availible) when I get to my Stradale- but it's seeming like the better option all around. I'm thrilled to hear of the 19" BBS's, thanks for the pics!

I wouldn't have thought to reshape resin in hot water. Again, nicely done.

I'm learning and enjoying, please keep it up. Looking forward to seeing the finished results!

Wow. thats some awesome work! Love the detail.

Wow Looking good...

Superb work, Alex!

Great project again Alex, Modifications on interior look great!

-Niko

holy crap this thing is slick Alex. But then again I shouldn't act so surprised cause you always do some of the most amazing work that I have ever seen. Can't wait to see some more on this one....................*Ryan*

Wow!!! Outstanding detailwork and really paying attention to the details! Awesome work Alex, keep it up!

Thanks guys!
Imran - Stradale's engine is similar to the standard Modena, but htere are differences. I'll get to this in its time.

Great eye for detail, awseome work so far. It'll be another masterpiece for sure!

Just amazing.
especially that seat modify and paint.

Amazing work, as usual but I am surprized every time ;)

Knowing the problems of this project as I work on the same conversion, I can only say that I´m deeply impressed and inspired by your attention to detail and the craftmanship realizing your ideas.

And I can make a promise: My CS won´t be that realistic compared to yours. Do you just use google for reference or did you go to a Ferrari Dealer and take pictures? Are you going to detail the engine as well (Actually a stupid question knowing your interior detailing on the CS!)

Wow......Beautiful work!!!

that is awesome work man, when I got my msm kit, i noticed the things wrong with it too, but I was gonna build it anyway, now seeing your build and how much better a properly done one looks I know I won't be able to do the msm kit justice, so i'll go for the CS "look" with the sas kit and wheels, been looking for a good reason to ebay the msm kit.

Gray

Do you just use google for reference or did you go to a Ferrari Dealer and take pictures? Are you going to detail the engine as well (Actually a stupid question knowing your interior detailing on the CS!)

Well, I have a friend who works at the dealership and he took some pictures for me, plus I always collect pictures of Ferraris, all the time, and by the time I started building this, I had a pretty good collection. The engine will receive its share of detail too, of course.

that is awesome work man, when I got my msm kit, i noticed the things wrong with it too, but I was gonna build it anyway, now seeing your build and how much better a properly done one looks I know I won't be able to do the msm kit justice, so i'll go for the CS "look" with the sas kit and wheels, been looking for a good reason to ebay the msm kit.

Gray

Yeah, I think you'll be better off selling the transkit, while the word its out.... :lol:

Thanks guys, appreciate your compliments.
Alex