LEAN MEAN - 360 Challenge Stradale Conversion

[360spider]

Ok, this one is for the fans of modern Ferraris! Another one of my recent superdetailed projects. I will attempt to convert Tamiya's 360 Modena into 360 Challenge Stradale street-legal racer using a mix or after market and scratchbuilt additions - MSM Creation transkit, Renaissance transkit, Speed Line BBS wheels, SMS decals, Acu-STion 360 photoetch detail set, and few modifications of my own. I'm sure you are all seen the real car, but here is goes:




As usual, I started with the body - front bumper is completely different on Stradale - so I carefully removed the original one. Rear bumper is slightly different too, so I glued some sheet plastic to modify it a bit.




Rear grille is made from very thin mesh on Stradale, so it was cut out and will be replaced with scratchbuilt grille. I also modified licence plate receptacle in the rear bumper - it is shaped differently on Stradale.




Plastic was shaped as needed, and everything carefully sanded and cleaned. I also glued Stradale's side skirts from MSM transkit.




Finally, I added front bumper from MSM kit, and removed all mold lines and other little flaws from the body - now its ready for the paint.




Finally, I primed the body with gray and then white primers and sprayed few paint mist coats:




Then I finished the paint, polished it out, and filled in the panel lines:



Then I painted window trim, decalled the body, and waxed the whole thing.




<b>Now to the Challenge grille - I decided that the best way to was to scratchbuild it! Here is how I did it:</b>

I bought finest K&S photoetched mesh with round holes I could find. Then I cut a rough shape of the grille:




Using masking tape, I made a template with the location of the taillight housings, and stuck it to the grille. Then carefully working my way through, I cut the openings (lots of filing with round needle files!) and sanded the grille to correct shape.




Then grille was chemically blackened with Blacken-It, and lightly clearcoated to give it this semi-shine. Before continuing, I test fitted it to the body to ensure good fit.




Taillight housings were cut off the plastic part, painted black, and glued to the photoetched mesh. Then I installed the taillights, Cavallino, and Challenge Stradale decal.




Grille was glued to the body, and I started working on the engine lid. As you know, engine lid of Stradale is a bit differen, and features bigger and more pronouced bulge, as well as different vents o nthe sides. MSM transkit supplies this part as a resin piece, but even before assembly I thought that bulge looks way too small. Turned out, the whole part was too small! Look at this gap! It was short too, and kit window didn't fit either. Absolutely useless part! So, I had to make my own...




I built-up the bulge with pieces of sheet styrene, and reinforced the enge with styrene piece.




Then using my pin vise I drilled out the vents and did final shaping with hobby knife and needle files. Turned out pretty nice, and the glass was fitting just fine!




Finally, the bulge was shaped with Squadron putty over the styrene, and refined with sanding sticks. Its in white primer now, ready for final coats of paint.




Sorry for the information overload, I'll try not to update for a while! I hope you like it thus far.
Alex

[SchuberT]

I hate to be a nit-picker, but it looks like some of the holes in the mesh were filled with the Blacken-It. Will you consider poking them with a needle or something?

The build is great, though. I love it!

[proosen]

Wow!
What can one say but, Wow! This looks absolutly fabulous.
I will keep an eye on this one.

Niclas

[mickbench]

Like it.. I love it. You are a total master when it comes to a super detailed build. I just love the way you give some much detail about what you are doing. It really helps, as I can then use some of the information to help me get better.

Yet again, I'm floored by your superb paint jobs. - BTW, it was your guides I followed to spray my models, and it helped so much..!! Great builds, and great information.

[Bas Carwash]

Another highly detailed stunner of the master. Don't worry about the info overload. I absolutely love that as it explaines so much on how you do things. I'm also planning a Stradale version in red, but it might take a few years before I actually will start it. This thread will really interest me and motivate me to start mine. Keep us posted!

[AstroRide44]

that paint is perfect!!

[Vitalik]

Awesome!!!! I'll follow this thread no doubt!!!!
(hmm... it seems I said something incorrectly... nevermind! I'm so impressed with Alex's bulding, that can't say it in English)
Zdorovo!!!! Na nashih glazah rojdaetsya ocherednoy shedevr! Eto klassno! Uspehov i jdu prodoljeniya!

[willimo]

Gorgeous to the MaX!

[ThatRoundHeadedKid]

Fantastic! I love how modelers paint and clearcoat all their plastic models to make them look like they're metal.

[Samurai75007]

MMmm Looking good.
One thing, are you still going to have the two cross bar's?

[ImolaEK]

Wow, Perfect model in progress

[robrex]

Just beautiful! Amazing thread again!

[2.2 Straight six]

your skills are just amazing, absolutely fabulous, is there anywhere you can buy that mesh on-line ? i have a feeling it woulbe be useful. anyway your car is just outstanding the shine is brilliant and the work you've put in just amazes me, you have made a challenge more real than the real one ! (ok, so it sounded good in my head.....)

[p9o1r1sche]

Very nice detailing, Alex. Will this one get any leather in the interior? I'm not sure if the real ones have it.

[BVC500]

Alex,

Did you do anything to prep the resin front bumper and side skirts? I applied Tamiya gray primer to mine and my fingernails were able to scratch the paint off!