1/12 Revell F40

I bought a built up F40 from ebay for $5.00. It was listed as 1/16 but due to a language barrier I couldn't seem to get any decent pictures or measurements. Anyhow I'd like to restore it and do a nicely detailed build-up. Has anyone ever used the photoetch from scaledetails? Just curious how their stuff is. Can the Revell kit be super-detailed, has anybody here tried done it? The kit I recieved has molded in side slider windows, I don't remember the kit having slider windows? Thanks for any and all input.

Mike.

This is gonna be useless, but I can't wait if you are gonna superdetail this kit... that'll be a wicked WIP

Well let's see some pics!

The Revell is the only 1/12 F40 I know of, but I've never seen it built so I couldn't identify one. I have the 1/16 Fujimi and it seems just huge- I can barely imagine 1/12.

Of course it can be superdetailed- it only depends on your references and ambitions.

I haven't seen the Scale Details sets in person, and I'm not terribly impressed with the pics they have on their site. It looks to me that the 1/12 set is the same as the 1/16 set, just scaled up. While this may seem logical, I doubt the metal thicknes also is increased- and it seems this would be a serious limitation. In 1/24 (in my opinion) PE parts often are too thin, and look like nothing more than they are- etched metal. In 1/16, this is of course that much worse, and in 1/12 I have a hard time imagining that much of anything would look right in PE. But then, I seem to be inherently suspicious of PE sets. If you need an emblem for the engine lid, get one of the Crazy Modeler self adhesive sets. The large size should fit fine, and the F40 doesn't need any other scripts.

I say strip it, take it apart, and superdetail it! Even if the base kit isn't great, it should be a fine base for a detail project.

Sounds interesting. I have a set of scaledetails 1/12 PE set for the F40 and its a very nice set. I am not sure if it was worth 30 bucks but it seems to have a ton of details. There are tons of detail pixs on the web for the F40, shouldn't be too hard to find them. Good luck with the project!

Daki, do you have any pictures of the photoetch? Looking for some close up shots of what you get. Thanks.

Andy, heres the pictures. I think its a nice kit but it does have a few downfalls. No F40 symbol molded into the wing for one. Engine is lacking in a few places, but I think it's salvagable, my only real concern is the back glass was glued in with what looks like liquid cement. Maybe if somebody here has a back glass they would like to share that would be great.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e318/mikemechanic/2007_04190002.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e318/mikemechanic/2007_04190003.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e318/mikemechanic/2007_04190004.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e318/mikemechanic/2007_04190005.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e318/mikemechanic/2007_04190006.jpg

And a comparison shot with a 1/24 Tamiya Modena, this will give you an idea what a monster this is.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e318/mikemechanic/2007_04190001.jpg

Mike.

It'd be wicked for the entire thing to be covered in like, high-def CF decals, and then sprayed clear red, so you could see the weave through the paint, just like on the real thing. But that'd be wicked expensive...

I have this kit and all ways wondered how it would build ( looked pretty horrible on the trees ) i opened it up the other day only to find the roof squashed in abit ( the cat thought she would sleep on the box, thanks alot cat!! )

It is a monster of a car! thats for sure!

Here ya go! I have a whole bunch of other pictures of the kit for future reference when or IF I get to building this monster.
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o285/C0rgiSc0tt/F40Model006.jpg

check your PMs, Mike. :)

Nice looking f40.

Uuuuuuggghh! First time I've seen decent photos of this kit - it seems strangely proportioned and slabby in places? Not sure if there's too much bodywork above the rear wheels or are the wheels too small? Not seen a 1:1 example for a while - maybe with the advent of massive diameter rims the F40 has aged somewhat and I've not noticed?:eek:

I have this kit and the P/E shown above. I checked the wheel size and it appears the rear wheels in the kit are about right for the front, and the rear wheels need to be significantly larger to be scaled right. Looking at the photos, the wheels fill the fender cutouts pretty well, so the fender wheel openings may need to be larger. This would make the body look a little less 'clunky'. Otherwise, I thought the body looked pretty good, but the rear mesh area still looks a little too large. The other thing about this kit are the horrible seats. I'll certainly be 'overcoming' these issues on my build.

I have this kit and the P/E shown above. I checked the wheel size and it appears the rear wheels in the kit are about right for the front, and the rear wheels need to be significantly larger to be scaled right.

You don't need to justify some more exotic lathework here, you know!
:grinyes:

I have this kit and the P/E shown above. I checked the wheel size and it appears the rear wheels in the kit are about right for the front, and the rear wheels need to be significantly larger to be scaled right. Looking at the photos, the wheels fill the fender cutouts pretty well, so the fender wheel openings may need to be larger. This would make the body look a little less 'clunky'. Otherwise, I thought the body looked pretty good, but the rear mesh area still looks a little too large. The other thing about this kit are the horrible seats. I'll certainly be 'overcoming' these issues on my build.
What are your thoughts on the P/E? I have a lathe and am prepared to use it. Me personally I'd love to see a set of OZ wheels for this car. Now that I have the kit I would absolutely love to super-detail it, there are so many references on the net for this car, just don't know if I could pull it off. I think the major downfall of this kit is the wheel/tire size as mentioned here.

Mike.

convert it to a 288 GTO :)

OK, it's decided, it needs to be superdetailed. Ya can't taunt us like htis and not carry through!

You have calipers, right? So what do the tyres and wheels measure out to? The rear tyres and wheels should have the same diameter as the front- only the width should be larger. I think I can dig up the OEM sizes for the F40- if not, we can at least compare them tot he Tamiya wheels/tyres. I agree that the rear arches could probably stand some adjustment.

The lack of an F40 emblem on the wing is kind of annoying. I'm not sure what the best way to address that is. I might be tempted to cut out a mask from self adhesive vinyl or contact paper, and then try 'sandblasting' it in with a mild media blaster. I think Badger sells media blasting supplies.

No wing mirrors?

As for the clear parts, don't worry too much. The 1/12 Revel kit seems to be pretty easily availible, and that means spare parts shouldn't be hard to come by. I've had a good warm fuzzy experince with Revell replacement lately- I simply inqured to RoG if some parts could be purchased, and a month later (honestly after I'd forgotten about it) Revellogram USA had the parts in my mailbox.

So do you have just a lathe, or mill/rotary table too?

What are your thoughts on the P/E? I have a lathe and am prepared to use it. Me personally I'd love to see a set of OZ wheels for this car. Now that I have the kit I would absolutely love to super-detail it, there are so many references on the net for this car, just don't know if I could pull it off. I think the major downfall of this kit is the wheel/tire size as mentioned here.

Mike.
I am soooo with you on a set of OZ wheels :iceslolan The ONLY set I know of are off another 1/12 scale Fujimi racing version of the F40 and those are super hard to find. I would buy a set of OZ rims for mine in a heartbeat if they were made (hint hint) :naughty:

The PE sprue has parts for several different cars on it. It has a chrome-like finish and is double etched for extra detail. It looks very good, but I dont know how well the parts fit, which is very important.

I cant find my calculations, but the wheel rims were the correct size, the tires were off, based on scaling down the OEM size tires. I found an owners manual somewhere on line, which helps with detailing.

I planned to build mine as a track car, so I was going to make slicks, a round headlight conversion, different exhaust system, and who knows what else. I have all the machining tools - lathe, mill, rotary table, bench grinder for making custom cutting tools, drill press, so the sky's the limit, as they say.

OK, it's decided, it needs to be superdetailed. Ya can't taunt us like htis and not carry through!
Yes Andy I will go through with it, it'll just take me a bit of time to gather everything together.

You have calipers, right? So what do the tyres and wheels measure out to? The rear tyres and wheels should have the same diameter as the front- only the width should be larger. I think I can dig up the OEM sizes for the F40- if not, we can at least compare them tot he Tamiya wheels/tyres. I agree that the rear arches could probably stand some adjustment.
There are calipers in the kit but they look pretty small to me, have to get the wheels off and have a look. Does anybody make 1/12 resin calipers? I am looking up some specs to see how the wheels and tires measure out, I thought the width should be larger but after looking at a few pictures of F40's they really aren't that wide to begin with. Not sure what needs to be done with the wheel arches, maybe some of you guys can shed some light on that for me.

The lack of an F40 emblem on the wing is kind of annoying. I'm not sure what the best way to address that is. I might be tempted to cut out a mask from self adhesive vinyl or contact paper, and then try 'sandblasting' it in with a mild media blaster. I think Badger sells media blasting supplies.

No wing mirrors?
I have a few ideas on the F40 emblem for sure, but that is a great idea. No the mirrors were missing but the Revell kit has them attached to the bottom of the window and not on the doors so some scratchbuilding is in order there.

As for the clear parts, don't worry too much. The 1/12 Revel kit seems to be pretty easily availible, and that means spare parts shouldn't be hard to come by. I've had a good warm fuzzy experince with Revell replacement lately- I simply inqured to RoG if some parts could be purchased, and a month later (honestly after I'd forgotten about it) Revellogram USA had the parts in my mailbox.

So do you have just a lathe, or mill/rotary table too?
Yeah I thought that I would contact Revell about some replacement glass. I only have a lathe, there is an option to mount a milling vice on it but I think that I would still be limited as I am not sure I can add a rotary table to it. Looks like I have a bit of work cut out for me finding enough specs and pictures to figure out what really needs to be done.

Thanks all.

Mike.

There are calipers in the kit but they look pretty small to me.

Andy was talking about measuring calipers, like dial calipers, to measure the wheel or tire.

I was just about to say that.

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/501/11313947rs.jpg

I was just about to say that.



Yeah, but you one-upped me with the picture! :icon16: Oh, I have the same cutting mat, but instead of paint marks I have liquid cement smudges.

Duh sorry, thats the mechanic in me. I spend more time with brake calipers than with measuring calipers. Yes I have calipers and can make some measurements with them. I see you got the fancy digital ones, mine are the old fashioned kind like I learned on during my apprenticeship days.

Mike.

Hi,

Can't wait to see this one builtup! I am doing the same thing.

A word on th Scaledetails kit, probably 50% of it is usable, the rest is just too out of proportion to work (eg: the front mesh is too small).

However, the parts are very nicely done, and depending on how much you get the set for (check out Ebay), could be worth it just for the bits you can use.

The pics of the model look like the rear wheels are a little too far forward, maybe need to address this. Also, see if you can get your hands on a set of the Protar F40 wheels and tires, much much better (the rear ones at least look like they come off an F40) - I wouldn't buy a whole Protar kit to get them though, it is terrible! I looks like Revell have used the same tires from their Testarossa in the F40 kit. Look at the branding on the sideswall of the tires, to the best of my knowledge Pirelli P-Zeros were standard original equipment.

How are you going to address the seat issue? I was almost going to mould off the ones I have from my 1/12 Skyline GTR to see how they went, even though they are a slightly different shape, with the right colours and some carbon decal I reckon thay would look ok.

Keep us posted.

Hi,

Can't wait to see this one builtup! I am doing the same thing.

A word on th Scaledetails kit, probably 50% of it is usable, the rest is just too out of proportion to work (eg: the front mesh is too small).

However, the parts are very nicely done, and depending on how much you get the set for (check out Ebay), could be worth it just for the bits you can use.

The pics of the model look like the rear wheels are a little too far forward, maybe need to address this. Also, see if you can get your hands on a set of the Protar F40 wheels and tires, much much better (the rear ones at least look like they come off an F40) - I wouldn't buy a whole Protar kit to get them though, it is terrible! I looks like Revell have used the same tires from their Testarossa in the F40 kit. Look at the branding on the sideswall of the tires, to the best of my knowledge Pirelli P-Zeros were standard original equipment.

How are you going to address the seat issue? I was almost going to mould off the ones I have from my 1/12 Skyline GTR to see how they went, even though they are a slightly different shape, with the right colours and some carbon decal I reckon thay would look ok.

Keep us posted.
I am in the early stages of planning out the build. Talked to the fellow that runs scaledetails and he said I could buy the sheet and if I was not happy with it I could return it. But having said that, have you read Gio photoetching tutorial?? Might put that to good use here.

Yeah the rear wheels are too far forward, they are Goodyear Eagle GT's typical Revellogram fare. They must not have a license with Pirelli. I'm not sure I'm going to find the Protar ones anywhere. Looking into some R/C stuff to see if anything resembles OZ Racing wheels.

The seats, well I haven't got that far yet. The kit ones are awful. I'm sure they could be scratchbuilt, just need to look at some pictures of the real ones.

Mike.

Hi Mike,

I also looked into the RC wheels for an OZ style, found some that may be suitable (mostly on Ebay), but the spokes always appeared a little too thin.

How are you going for reference material? I actually have a few on the LM style cars showing engine out, framework etc, send me a PM if you are interested and we can work out a way to get them to you (would have over a 100 ref pics of the F40 all up), as well as the service manual on disk.
Have you though about opening the doors and bonnet (hood to you guys)! If you are building a LM style, would be great to incorporate the ducting and radiator parts in this area.

I did see the tut on the photoetching, I think I will definately have a crack at that as well, came out pretty good.

You got PM...