UNOBTAINIUM. Part Two.

Aftermarket companies come and go, and this is fact of our hobby. Some products from their catalogs get picked up by others, some re-released under different labels, some old ones are replaced by new, re-engineered ones. But sometimes a company goes under, and this creates a void - because its offerings were so unique, nobody else makes them. When this happens, the products of this company become, you guessed it - unobtainium.

This is exactly what happened when South African company Scale Kraft stopped making kits. Their extensive catalog of rare, unique, and sometimes bizarre subjects disappeared, and their kits are next to impossible to find today.

Over several years, Scale Kraft released over a hundred different kits. There were Ferraris, Alfas, Maseratis, Aston Martins, Jaguars, Fiats, Lolas, VWs, BMWs, and even Cords, Duesenbergs, and land speed record vehicles! Most were transkits, some were curbside kits, and there were few full detail kits too. Their quality was ok at the time, and most of the time their kits were the only game in town for these subjects.

Being completely handmade by one man - talented owner Guido Fieuw, most kits were slightly inaccurate, produced in VERY small quantities (some were made in qty of 5-10 kits), and rather simple, but did they had character! They were also rather expensive (curbside kits were about $150 US in early 2000's), and thus very few ended up in US.

In June of 2005 (I believe) Guido was visiting Europe and suffered a nearly terminal fall off the side of a mountain while hiking - he nearly bled to death before he was helicoptered out. Because of the accident and injuries that he suffered he couldn't do the master work he used to. The Scale Kraft was no more.

He has been trying to sell the molds/masters to someone else, but the deal has fallen through a couple of times. Somebody was trying to get the unfinished masters but that likely won't ever happen. Guido decided to fall back on his architecture career to make a living.

And as such, existing Scale Kraft kits are it - unobtainuim. If you see the one you want for sale - get it, there is a good chance you'll never see it again. Prepare to pay good $$ for them though - they are commanding rather premium prices!

Today we going to look at one of the early Ferrari kits that SK released (SK23) - Ferrari 166 Allemano Coupe.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/sk02.jpg

This kit is THE only 1/24 scale kit of this car ever made. And simply because the real car was also a one-off, chances are, another kit of this vehicle won't be produced again.

The box is simple cardboard white box with model name and number just handwritten using black Sharpie marker. There is also a stamp of probably the only US distributor at the time - Island Collectibles. Let's look inside:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/sk01.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/sk03.jpg

The body is nicely cast and has a lot of surface detail. I have never seen resin this brittle from any other manufacturer tough - it is very heavy too! But details are crisp, and have minimal bubbles/imperfections, though lots of sandmarks inside and out (handmade stuff!).

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/sk04.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/sk05.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/sk06.jpg

Chassis is very simple, and kinda chunky, but has some underside detail, and enough of interior detail to provide a base for more detailing if desired.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/sk07.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/sk10.jpg

Interesting fact is that Guido numbered cast copies (which also proves that very few of these kits were made), and I have chassis #2, and body #3! Notice how clean the insides of that bodyshell! That shows a lot of pride in your workmanship.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/sk08.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/sk09.jpg

The rest of the kit is completely opposite to what you'll see in modern multimedia kits, like MFH - almost everything is made out of resin, instead of white metal. Not a lot of detail, but what's there done nicely. Lenses and lights made out of clear epoxy, and turned yellow over time, but these are easy to replace with current offerings from aftermarket companies.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/sk11.jpg

Most interesting fact is that wheels are also resin, including tires. Wire wheels are modified copies of Academy 250LM wheels, but there are also steel wheels that were fitted to the car at some point, so you could choose. There are alos bumpers, exhausts, and brake drums, plus few other little bits.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/sk12.jpg

There is no photoetch, no decals, or any other fancy stuff. That is it. But you can always turn this into a fully detailed kit based on MFH 166MM chassis?

Another thing that worth mentioning is kits' instruction sheet. Handwritten (and photocopied) and includes history of the car, pictures, books and articles used in research. Very nice addition in my opinion.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/sk13.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/sk14.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/sk15.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/jter/Reviews/sk16.jpg

Too bad SK is no more, but I'm glad I was able to get some of their stuff when I had a chance. I hope you enjoyed this second UNobtainium installment.

Alex

Alex,
Outstanding review.

Thanks for taking the time to share this.

Trevor

So cool. Thanks Alex, can't wait to see what other unobtaniums you will have for us.

That one wonderfully crafted kit. You are right Alex, that kit shows how much dedication Guido put into his work.

Thank you for this excellent review!

Guido did nice work. It was a great loss to exotic car model collectors when he stopped making kits. I wish he had sold some of the FIAT Dino spider kits before he went under.
He did get a little crazy on the websites(GPMA), but I found him entertaining.


Tom Tanner/Scale Designs/Ferrari Expo 2010 model/photo contest-Chicago April 2010

Thanks guys.

Guido did nice work. It was a great loss to exotic car model collectors when he stopped making kits. I wish he had sold some of the FIAT Dino spider kits before he went under.


Tom, you of all people here could finish his masters! I wonder if they are still for sale and how much Guido wants for them.

Thanks for sharing.

Once again - there are so many great kits out there I CAN ONLY DREAM ABOUT in my little world of Tamya and Fujimi.


Robert

Tom, you of all people here could finish his masters! I wonder if they are still for sale and how much Guido wants for them.

Now that's a great idea. :thumbsup:

Thanks guys.



Tom, you of all people here could finish his masters! I wonder if they are still for sale and how much Guido wants for them.



Guido sold them to a guy down in South Africa who has plans to do something with them, but it has been over 5 years now. I have a couple
of projects of my own to keep me busy already, plus the person in South Africa who owns the masters thinks they are worth a small fortune.

Tom Tanner/Scale Designs/Ferrari Expo 2010 model/photo contest-Chicago April 2010

Thanks for another review Alex. I really like your idea about these "unobtainium" kits and look forward to see more!

Guido sold them to a guy down in South Africa who has plans to do something with them, but it has been over 5 years now. I have a couple
of projects of my own to keep me busy already, plus the person in South Africa who owns the masters thinks they are worth a small fortune.

Tom Tanner/Scale Designs/Ferrari Expo 2010 model/photo contest-Chicago April 2010

Yeah, that's what I figured. Too bad he is not doing anything with them.

...plus the person in South Africa who owns the masters thinks they are worth a small fortune.

Not if he only stares at them.
I wish he would make use of those masters.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind a Scale Kraft Lusso to be produced again!

These review are very cool. Please continue to post them.

Thanks guys.
I really appreciate your interest and positive response.
I'm in the process of writing 3rd installment and will post it as soon as it is finished.