Ferrari 512BBLM "Bubble Car"

[nniemi]

Since my 250LM is almost completed i had to start a new one. This time it is something less known, the Scuderia Bellancauto 512BBLM from 1984 Le Mans. I bought this kit from ebay thinking that it is the LMP kit, but i'm quite sure that it is something else. I have no idea who is the manufacturer, but it seems to me that it must be the famous italian company called Carlo Copieri . All the parts in the kit look exactly like LMP parts, but most white metal parts are substituted with resin ones. Decal sheet is different from the LMP one (luckily it seems to be printed by some good quality manufacturer) and also the PE sheet is different.

Those who are interested to see what the 1:1 looks like, take a look here.

http://www.racingsportscars.com/phot...-06-17-027.jpg

Enough with words; ive already painted and mostly polished the body:





-Niko

[ScaleCentral]

I'm suprised that MFH didn't do one of these since the front and rear are about the only main differences.
Nic

[klutz_100]

Super subject, Niko
Really looking forward to following this

[Veyron]

That's one kit I wish I had gotten before they were gone.

Looking forward to the build!

[sportracer02]

Originally Posted by Veyron

That's one kit I wish I had gotten before they were gone.

... just like me ...



looks good so far, may you should close the hole in the upper window frame

[nniemi]

Holes in window trim are filled, black trim masked and painted. I also polished the front again. It looks a little better now.





I also started decaling of the body. Decals supplied with the kit look a lot like Profil24 and Renaissance Decals.



Bubble decals come in several big decals, this is the roof decal



I didn't want to cover half of the car with clear decal film, so i decided to cut each bubble out of the decal and attach them separately. Here is the roof after first half an hour.



-Niko

[klutz_100]

Great work Niko

This is just for you

[CeeElle]

that body looks great!

[nniemi]

Thanks klutz

It didn't take forever though, only around seven hours. But i've sure had enough of bubbles for a while now.









-Niko

[deltableh]

Nice Mac

Oh, and the model rocks too :-D

[360spider]

Terrific start Niko. Looks like a lot of work cutting and applying every bubble! Decals look great though.
Do you have a picture of the kit before you started with it? I wonder if it is a copy or not - I have an original LMP kit and wanted to see if it is indeed a copy. If it is, I probably should include that in my DB. Let me know.

[nniemi]

Wheels and tires are done. They are very nice four piece assemblies that include turned aluminium rim, rubber tire, white metal centerpiece and PE "bolt ring". My poor references didn't show clearly what colour the wheels should be so i just believed most of the 1/43 modelmakers that have painted those in yellow.





Thanks for your nice comments,
Niko

[gionc]

SUPERJOB!!

[desmo16]

Very nice work of a unique 512BB variant. Interestingly, it was designed by a man named Armando Pallanca who was 79 at the time! this car has a special meaning for me as 'Ferrarelle' is an Italian mineral water bottler that is about 8km's from where I was born before my family, including a 'mini-me' ,moved to Canada. My uncle, actually, worked at the plant (quality analyst) for many years before he retired.
And yes, I am fortunate to have the 1/24 LMP kit in my stash!
Thx for the tip about separating the bubbles. I think that is very intelligent and though rather painstaking, it will reduce the carrier film.
Please continue on as many of us will be paying very close attention to your build of this unique car.
Off to work on my 512BB: MFH 3M 'cloud' car!
Michael

[nniemi]

I was in abit of a hurry to finish this for local contest, so not much of in progress pics to show, actually these are the last ones. I used some earlier model BBLM pictures as a reference, so i'm not sure if the interior is correct.





Top of the engine is clearly visible trough rear window so i added some detailing to engine also:



Finished model can be seen here:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=771680

-Niko