60 Red Years Tribute - Ferrari 550 Maranello - WIP

[agamo]

Ok, I finally had the time to set up the pics, so, here is my contribution to this Awesome tribute, this model was started 2 years ago, but it come to a halt because of plastic pigments bleeding through the paint, I want this car white! (and it is red plastic) and after removing the paint 3 times, I put it in the box for a better time, but now, this tribute gave me the motivation to take this project back to the table, so here it goes...

The model, an old friend, the famous 550 Maranello, with all the corrections the kit requires, which I’ll describe later on…


This process starts with the chassis, the first step is filling those huge gaps between the chassis and the body, making extensions to the wheel wells, so, I use cardboard to make the patterns, cutting as required until they fit properly inside the body and then this patterns are transferred to plastic sheet and glued to the chassis.


Most of the detail is molded into the chassis, something has to be done…


So, the central tunnel is removed and a new one is created with plastic sheet, but the original catalytic converters and central muffler will be used just adding new pipes and the propeller shaft.


Extensions to the visible part of the clutch housing are added.


An small extension to cover the gap in the rear.


In the front suspension arms the anti-roll bar is added


The rear suspension requires a little more work since the kit doesn’t include the upper suspension arms, which are made with small strips of plastic, the brackets for the shock absorbers are added.


The main modifications to the chassis are finished, now the components have to be done and detailed.

To be continued...
Thanks for looking!

[BVC500]

Can't wait to see this finished. Your work is awesome! Hmmm, white though? What interior color?

[godfather23]

You´re not taking the mold apart to make the model more realistic, are you?? yep, you are. Fantastic and admirable effort. I can´t wait to see what else you have up your sleeves.

[Jamme]

Hello,
Really nice job you did on detailling the chassis.
One question...:
Removing the tunnel and making a new one, deeper, OK. But are you shure the interior will fit? I guess you tried it already, so.....
Cheers,

Jamme

[Moparbuilder]

Nice work Ramon. I was wondering when I was going to get to see what you have done to that kit.

James Tester

[bigfrit]

looking cool.
Too bad you're not doing a full-engine conversion.

I haven't seen that done yet...

Either way, good luck on your endeavor, that's already well underway.

Olivier

[klutz_100]

I'm tuned in and ready to be amazed opcorn:

[agamo]

Thank you BVC500, Robert, Jamme, James, Olivier and Stevenski, for looking and for your comments! they're really appreciated.

Originally Posted by BVC500

Hmmm, white though? What interior color?

Yes, this one of the few Ferraris that I think looks good in white, and I was inspired by Kunta's Maranello, the interiors? they will be dark red, something like red wine color with black accents.

Originally Posted by godfather23

I can´t wait to see what else you have up your sleeves.

Well, other than correct the kit inaccuracies, I'm opening the doors and using the Acustion PE.

Originally Posted by Jamme

Hello,
One question...:
Removing the tunnel and making a new one, deeper, OK. But are you shure the interior will fit? I guess you tried it already, so.....
Cheers,

Jamme

Good point, and yes, I checked that and there is no problem, the interior tub fits perfectly, I normally do this when I do modifications like this to avoid suprises later.

Originally Posted by bigfrit

looking cool.
Too bad you're not doing a full-engine conversion.
I haven't seen that done yet...
Olivier

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL no please, do not provoque me!, well fortunately I'm in the middle of painting the body now, so no more modifications to it, LOL and if I do that I wont finish it this year. But it is a cool idea.

More updates to come tonight...
Thanks!

[ales]

Ramon, this is an awesome project you've got going here. Let me, however, warn you that even though the interior tub may fit well on the chassis, it does not fit onto the body when the windows are installed. Basically it needs to sit lower on the chassis than box stock. Of course there are other ways to correct that (trim lower part of the windows or top part of the interior), but you may want to make sure now. Good luck with it!

[BVC500]

Are you changing the seats and door panels to the correct 550 ones?

[bigfrit]

Originally Posted by agamo

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL no please, do not provoque me!, well fortunately I'm in the middle of painting the body now, so no more modifications to it, LOL and if I do that I wont finish it this year. But it is a cool idea.

Oh, sorry, didn't mean to be nasty, but it's going to be such a well-built modelcar, so eitherway I 'm going to look forward to it you know!

Show us more!
oli

[agamo]

Originally Posted by ales

Ramon, this is an awesome project you've got going here. Let me, however, warn you that even though the interior tub may fit well on the chassis, it does not fit onto the body when the windows are installed. Basically it needs to sit lower on the chassis than box stock. Of course there are other ways to correct that (trim lower part of the windows or top part of the interior), but you may want to make sure now. Good luck with it!

Thanks Alex, good point!, and yes I'm already aware of that, in fact it is already solved, I did the same thing I did on the Murcielago, I cut the windshield and all the windows as separated parts and adjusted them to fit exactly in their respective openings, the objective is that the windows be at the same level than the body, eliminating the inaccurate step between the window trim and the glass.

Originally Posted by BVC500

Are you changing the seats and door panels to the correct 550 ones?

The door panels yes, I don't like the 575's but I'll leave the seats, I like them, they're a little flat, but they're fine.

Originally Posted by bigfrit

Oh, sorry, didn't mean to be nasty, but it's going to be such a well-built modelcar, so eitherway I 'm going to look forward to it you know!
Show us more!
oli

Please don't be sorry Oli!!! I was just kidding, it just happens that sometimes those kind of comments touch the crazy modeling nerve on me and I end doing extra things that sometimes result in very good things. Thank you for your comments!

And well, here I go with another update, still working on the chassis...


The exhaust system is made with the original catalytic converters and the central muffler, some sanding is needed to give the right shape to these parts, and then, end covers were added to the muffler with plastic sheet, the pipes are made with Evergreen plastic rod and aluminum tubing is used for the joints.

Here the complete assembly, special care was needed to ensure that the original shape of the system is preserved, also, several test fits in the chassis to ensure a correct assembly.

Finally the assembly is painted with some shades to simulate burnt and oxidation proper of these parts, I’m not planning a weathered finish on this car, but the exhaust system get this coloration from the first start in the factory.

The driveshaft cover is made with plastic and aluminum tubing and for the visible section of the transmission, part of the original kit is used, completed with plastic sheet and thin plastic stripes.

The complete assembly is painted flat aluminum.

The kit doesn’t include the coil over shocks, so these have to be made with plastic rod and wire coiled and cut to size.

The painted coil over shocks.

To the water radiator is added the photoetched screen from the AcuStion detail set and the refrigerating coil for the steering box.

The brake rotors with the PE perforated discs, the calipers will be black with white lettering, you’ll notice that the rear brake rotors (up) are missing the handbrake calipers, I though this was a mistake in the kit, but no, this car uses a system with brake drums with pads inside the rotors for the hand brake.

Thanks for looking, for the next update I'll start working in the body...

[white_R34]

Awsome your detailing is just Awsome!

[klutz_100]

You were born to model, Ramon. I hope you don't have to waste time in life doing stupid things like working?!

Fantastic plastic work

[mikemechanic]

Ramon, your scratchbuilding work amazes me. Everything is so clean and detailed. As a mechanic by day I must say your exhaust is the best I have ever seen the colors are perfect. Looking forward to more of your work.

Mike