WIP: Fujimi 1/24 Ferrari 550 Maranello

[Veyron]

Originally Posted by HotRodDreamer

Why did it take so long for someone to put out this kit? I don't have it, but it looks like a really nice kit, but still, between Tamiya, Revell, and Fujimi, you'd think someone coulda put it out sooner, the 550/575 replacement is a year away. Keep up the good work though, sorry bout my rambling, what color is it gonna be?

Like Zoom I think the delay was due to the interuption of Ferrari pulling it's license in the mid 90's. If you think about it very few Ferrari road cars have not been kitted since 1990....a few I can think of were not popular Ferrari's anyway like, 308 GT4, Mondial 8 and 456. We can include the 550 Barchetta but now it's even a possibility as well as the 575 Superamerica.

So when all is well in the industry Ferrari's get their deserved attention...we just have to be patient.

Edit: Now I can add that Revell has announced the F430 to be released in October '05!

[360spider]

Excellent progress, can't wait to see some color on hte body!

[hirofkd]

I usually skip each step of painting, but I decided to go one by one. The paint I used was Tamiya spray TS-51 Racing Blue. Besides the Maica blue, TS-51 is another favorite blue that I've been thinking of using.
Here's the first coat of paint. I aimed at the lower half of the body. The green stuff shows the path I took.


The second step is to paint the upper half of the body except for the hood, roof and trunk.


The third step is the hood, roof and trunk. The paint was applied extremely lightly, so that the solution wouldn't attack the primer.


These photos were taken after the second coat was applied.



If blue is too light, a Ferrari would look cheap. I didn't want that, so I added two more coats to darken the color. I also applied the same amount of paint to the door mirrors and the base parts for the headlight.


This blue is tricky to photograph, but it looks very pretty in person. I'll use better lighting when I take photos of the finished model.

[D_LaMz]

Looks very nice.

[klutz_100]

looks really nice
Great "tutorial" thread for newbies like me - thanks for sharing your experence

[blackf40]

Hey, nice work on the body--we'll hafta see some better pics of the results later.

[hirofkd]

While waiting for the clear coat to dry, I did some work on the interior. As I mentioned before, besides the inaccurate door panels and unrealisically shaped seats, the center console needs some minor styrene work.

First, I cut out a sheet of styrene with the bottom side slightly curved.


I held the piece against the red part (top) and drew a line along the console part to determin how much to remove from the added piece (bottom)


I curled the front and back ends with a round file, then glued the piece to the console part with styrene glue (between blue arrows) and super glue (green arrows).


I rounded the back end so that it would conform to the center tunnel of the interior tub.


I blended the front and back areas of the added styrene sheet by using files and sand papers.


The purpose of adding this styrene sheet is to extend the center console downward, so that the bottom part covers a bit of the carpeted area. It didn't mean to increase the width of the center console, so the top part was sanded as much as possible. Also, top and bottom edges were filletted.


The photo tuned out poor, but the the side of the center console is slightly larger and much more rounded than the kit part.


Another minor and almost unimportant upgrade is the front grill. I didn't have to do it, but I couldn't stop. Here, I removed the horizontal blades, but left the vertical blades on the kit part. The vertical blades were thinned, as well.


I used the top side of the grill part as a template, and drew a curve on a styrene sheet. Then I cut out three horizontal blades using the reference curve. Then, I drilled holes and removed the back portion of them to create U-shaped slits where the vertical blades would fit.


I glued the top, bottom, then center blades, carefully measuring each of the alignments and spaces in-between.


Here's the finished part. The blades are much thinner than the kit part, and look almost as good as what a photo-etched upgrade would offer.


Next will be either a continuation of the interior upgrade or the polishing of the body.

[klutz_100]

[360spider]

Sweet!

[Lambophilia]

I'm enjoying the progress man! Keep up the awesome work!

[mickbench]

Sweet.. I learnt the hardway how to apply TS-51. I did just what you did in the end, and worked a treat.. This is looking very good..!!

[agamo]

Awesome job you are doing on this car!!

I liked the work on the interiors, I'm about to start this car, and this thread is truly inspiring.

I'm waiting to see more!

[Merkava]

Really great work there. Actually nice to see plastic look better than PE for once...

[MidMazar]

your the man, shame on you fujimi!!!
Seems like there are way too many flaws, but your making it look great. Keep us posted

[Wheelin75r]

Simply amazing!!