Revell USA Ferrari Superamerica: better than Revell Germany!

Just got the kit, and was delighted when opening the box (normal Revell USA box, not the infernal Revell AG box) to see the kit is molded in white.

As many of you already know, Revell AG issued their full-detail Ferrari Superamerica last year in their hideous end-panel-access-only flat box and molded in a strange combo of red and gray. Most of the body in red, but some parts like the hood were on the gray tree. Retail on 'em in the US is $22.00. A very good kit effort ignoring the box and the plastic colors.

The US version is about $16 retail and it's available from the usual discount online sources and will be on store shelves soon if not already.

Ignore the awful boxart model photo that's taken at a very unflattering angle (I've given up hope of mainstream boxart from the US ever being able to properly sell a kit), the kit builds pretty well from what I've seen here.

If you are careful in your assembly (make sure the top frame isn't warped before you start-a common problem fixed by careful bending), the rotating roof works on the kit like the real car. The wheel assembly is a bit weird, the design is rendered well once you tone down the chrome (they're painted silver w/a polished lip on the 1:1) but Revell again sandwiches the brake discs between inner and outer wheel halves which is...strange.

It's molded in Poland; so I imagine there's a chance the plastic formula is better than what's being spit out in China and causing US builders a lot of trouble when the paint they use etches the plastic. I haven't had a chance to test that aspect out.

For those in the US who waited on this model it's a true bargain, being priced reasonably and molded in white and packaged inside a box that won't make you lose half your parts when you try to re-insert them in the box. The detailed engine, underhood area, chassis, and interior (especially seats/door panels) is superior to Fujimi's curbside Maranellos. I hope that Revell AG doesn't make the US customers wait too long for a similarly packaged-for-USA 599 GTB.

Thanks for the info Bob, I used to think there're no differences between the AG and Monogram issues except the boxes, have you got any pics of the kit? I have the AG issue but never seen the Monogram one. Thanks a lot! BTW the AG box really sucks, as well as the sandwish wheels, don't know what's the reason to design like this...:shakehead

Is the RoG version molded in China? I can't imagine that they'd have separate molding facilities for essentially the same kit. Even just doing it in different colors seems like it would complicate production. :dunno: I've never understood RoG's enthusiasm for the end opening box, or their strange wheel designs. Seriously, these things aren't patented- why continue with inferior designs just to be different?

Oh well. Thanks for the review.

Just bought the Fujimi version last week for $43:disappoin . Had I known Revell was producing the same thing but with engine detail for less than half the price I would've definately bought it, oh well guess i'll still buy one and use the Fujimi for a 550 Barchetta conversion.

I'll post pics of my mock-up later. It took me 2 days to post this in the first place (written before my mock-up); this forum (the general model car forum) was broken and wouldn't accept new posts :screwy: :shakehead

The ACME Tifosi :icon16: seemed to be impressed w/the kit @ our meeting on Sunday.

Is the RoG version molded in China? I can't imagine that they'd have separate molding facilities for essentially the same kit. Even just doing it in different colors seems like it would complicate production. :dunno: I've never understood RoG's enthusiasm for the end opening box, or their strange wheel designs. Seriously, these things aren't patented- why continue with inferior designs just to be different?

Oh well. Thanks for the review.

The kits are all molded in Poland, the US version is just a different production run from the same factory, there are slips of paper in the bags signifying the factory and color run.

I have no idea why the boxes are so stupid (probably Revell being cheap), I end up using a lower section from a Japanese kit box so I can slide the contents in/out of a Revell AG box.

Really?

I thought it had some obvious flaws, like the rear bumper being wayyy too low and the rims being too small and not wide enough (the real one has a bit more of a lip)

Agreed, it's a good kit for the money you pay for it, a typical revell kit, with it's flaws.

I 'm not overhyping it, neither am I crapping on it!

Also, I think the chassis sits quite weirdly at the sides of the car, compared to the fuj maranello's. Not sure what the dealio's with this, but it might be the paintfumes in my eyes and brain.

Oli

All right, at the risk of embarassing myself, what did I miss?

I read this-


It's molded in Poland, so I imagine there's a chance the plastic formula is better than what's being spit out in China and causing US builders a lot of trouble when the paint they use etches the plastic. I haven't had a chance to test that aspect out.

And took it to mean that the R/M version you're looking at was molded in Poland. I'm not sure what you're refering to about Chinese plastic causing US builders problems, and thought you might be implying that the RoG version of the kit was molded in China with this problematic plastic. So I asked. :dunno:

When I spoke of patents, I was refering (perhaps unclearly) to superior polycap design wheels and top opening boxes. I don't believe these ideas are patented.

I reread your post, and didn't find anything I didn't see before. Sure, it could be staring me right in the face- but there's more than one reason I don't make my living as a proofreader. So what am I not seeing?

All right, at the risk of embarassing myself, what did I miss?

I read this-



And took it to mean that the R/M version you're looking at was molded in Poland. I'm not sure what you're refering to about Chinese plastic causing US builders problems, and thought you might be implying that the RoG version of the kit was molded in China with this problematic plastic. So I asked. :dunno:

When I spoke of patents, I was refering (perhaps unclearly) to superior polycap design wheels and top opening boxes. I don't believe these ideas are patented.

I reread your post, and didn't find anything I didn't see before. Sure, it could be staring me right in the face- but there's more than one reason I don't make my living as a proofreader. So what am I not seeing?

You probably read a reply to you I deleted after I posted it, as I didn't read your question properly and had an incorrect and smartass answer :shakehead :nono: and then I saw what I did (basically the pot calling the kettle black for not reading my post) and deleted it. Sorry for the confusion. Getting old is fun. Not :icon16:

I'm pretty sure the Enzo was done in China, but I think since then Revell AG has sourced all their Ferrari production in Poland, but that production runs for USA vs. Revell AG are done at different times to different specs.

Ah, got it. Cool, no worries. :wink:

Just found the model on ebay, the boxart made me:puke: :puke: :puke:

I'll go to HobbyLobby this weekend and see if anything is good (Superamerica/F430) to buy.

Here are some pics of the body-in-white:

http://images22.fotki.com/v724/photos/1/10258/17860/575SA1-vi.jpg
http://images21.fotki.com/v515/photos/1/10258/17860/575SAD-vi.jpg
http://images21.fotki.com/v516/photos/1/10258/17860/575SAB-vi.jpg
http://images22.fotki.com/v723/photos/1/10258/17860/575SAC-vi.jpg

Better than Revell Germany? Not for me. I hate white plastic, it is so hard to see the mold lines and clean up is just the same. When I scrape the mold line off of colored plastic I can see what I've done, with white I can't see anything. I know several modelers that feel the same way that I do. The only thing white is good for is painting, but I find, and also find in most forums, that everything gets primed with grey primer first and then white primer as neccesary. So the way I see it the Revell Germany kit is better hands down. I bought mine for $20.00 Cdn, the new Revell USA kits here in Canada are usually $16-$18.00 Cdn so I see no advantage that way. Of course this is only my 2 cents and my opinion.

Mike.

That kit looks pretty nice. I've the Fujimi 575 and I dread painting that kit as the headlights have silver trim on them whereas the R/M kit appears to have a separate piece for the silver trim. Nice.

As for the white plastic, I would choose a consistent color plastic over two colors for the simple reason of color consistency- no color variations. Plus I sand everthing down so the primer has something to bite onto so it really doesn't matter to me what the color is.

Would every company PLEASE just mold every part in a medium gray from this day forward???? is that to much to ask?????? Im mean how many modellers out there build kits with out painting them? I would save alot of money not having to do a base primer coat to see what is and is not wrong. NO really, im very serious, im constantly buying Tamiya gray primer cus i waste a coat on every build. Worst off, the LHS is constently out of Tamiya grey primer and my modelling comes to a screaming halt. RAGE RAGE RAGE

Better than Revell Germany? Not for me. I hate white plastic, it is so hard to see the mold lines and clean up is just the same. When I scrape the mold line off of colored plastic I can see what I've done, with white I can't see anything. I know several modelers that feel the same way that I do. The only thing white is good for is painting, but I find, and also find in most forums, that everything gets primed with grey primer first and then white primer as neccesary. So the way I see it the Revell Germany kit is better hands down. I bought mine for $20.00 Cdn, the new Revell USA kits here in Canada are usually $16-$18.00 Cdn so I see no advantage that way. Of course this is only my 2 cents and my opinion.

Mike.

I second that.

To me, its just the price thats different. Everything else is the same. I wouldnt care if it was molded in pink, black or w/e, you still have to primer it anyways. U cant see the molded color in the end.

Revell USA Superamerica = Revell Germany Superamerica.

I'm with Bob on this. The white plastic is a step up. I've never had a problem with finding mold lines on white plastic kits by Revell, but I've near always had a problem with grey plastic in numerous Japanese kits that was soft and tended to flake when put under the knife.

AMT's grey plastic has long been a thorn in my side compared to the nice white plastic that Revell continues to use.

Mold lines? Easy to find. Float your fingers over the typical trouble spots (back of the C-pillar, valances, tops of the fenders) and knock down anything that feels sharp enough to draw blood. The sanding will take care of the sheen of the plastic that masks the mold lines to less-focused eyes, and a good washing with regular dish soap (which you're supposed to do anyway before a primer coat) will take care of any oils your hands might have rubbed onto the body in your search.

This is how I've always done it, and the pesky lil' bastards never escape me (though occasionally my index finger looks like I went at it with the exacto).

Better than Revell Germany? Not for me. I hate white plastic, it is so hard to see the mold lines and clean up is just the same. When I scrape the mold line off of colored plastic I can see what I've done, with white I can't see anything.
Mike.

A soft "lead" artist's drawing pencil can cure the issue. Draw a line on either side of the mold line and sand until the line and the pencil mark is gone.

hth,
Bill

I'll go to HobbyLobby this weekend and see if anything is good (Superamerica/F430) to buy.
With a 40% off internet coupon, right?:grinyes:
Well, the one at I-10 & Sam Houston hasn't got Superamerica yet, but it has Tamiya's Yellow Enzo, Revell USA's F430 and 612, among other non-Ferrari kits like Carerra GT.:)

As for the Superamerica kit, I don't really care what color the body is molded because I'll eventually use gray primer, but thanks to its low price, the kit definitely serves as a great engine donor for Fujimi Maranello kits.

I love the white plastic; I won't prime white plastic gray if it's going to be painted white, and I've never had a problem finding or seeing mold lines. If this were molded in light gray I'd be perfectly happy too; it's the stupid red/gray combo that has me :screwy: ; why mold part of the body in red if you aren't molding the entire body in red? Dumb. It forces anyone to paint everything, and likely use more primer to cover both colors if their color value is different. Also don't forget that often red plastics bleed pigment through primer and paint, skewing the final color, if you don't use a sealer. Not sure if this happens w/Revell AG red plastic, but it sure happens w/Revell/Monogram red and yellow plastic.

I like that pencil line trick; I'll try that.

For the record, my SA kits were $9.15 each w/discount. Had the price skewed the other way and the Revell AG kit was $9.15, I'd be perfectly happy too. I still prefer the single-color plastic, I have a personal preference for white, and I detest Revell AG's boxes :icon16: so for me personally, and US customers in general, the US version is a bargain. In other parts of the world, whatever kit you get is pretty good.