WIP: Fujimi 1/24 Ferrari 575M

[ales]

Another year, another Maranello WIP ...

I've been working on this for quite some time now, but never started a progress thread because they seem to jinx my builds. Since, however, I'm planning to finish it by the MOTY deadline, I thought that the thead would give me a needed boost.

First the body. I've reshaped most of the vents/holes, scripbed the necessary panel lines, the rest is as usual. Here is a shot of the body in primer on the chassis with a mockup of the wheels.



These are Revell Enzo wheels that I've converted to 5-lug and have been trying to add a styrene lip to the rear ones for days now - I don't seem to be able to get the joit line smooth enough.

This is the painted and polished body. I used Spies-Hecker black and clear for this build.





On to the interior now. I've decided to convert this baby to F1 transmission, which necessitated a scratchbuild shifter panel.

Fist I laminated a very thin piece of styrene on a thicker one and made a slant in the thin one and a hole under it in the thick one.





Then drilled the holes for buttons (used streched sprue)



Then drilled the holes in the corners for the bolt heads (just used plain wire of the necessary diameter), made the lever (vertical part - metal wire, horisontal part - stretched sprue with a tiiiiiiiny recess drilled into it for the wire), painted it all Model Master Aluminium metalizer and detailed. It looks somewhat better in reallife than in pictures.





Rear parcel shelf: I modified the seatbelt housings (pictured) and also drilled a hole for the speaker.



Here is the speaker - I made a ring out of a strip of thin styrene (anyone see a pattern here?), painted it semiglossblack and then inserted a spongy/rubbery insert of unknown origins, but which looks very realistic if you look at it in real life.



A shot of most of the interior - some bits and pieces still missing and I'm working on them. Please also note I compltetely scratchbuilt the radio face (you can't really see it in the pic, unfortunately, but I'll get a better one with the next updates).



Paints used are Tamiya Neutral Grey, Flat Black and Humbrol Satin Black.

Seats:



Thos who have seen the kit seats will know just how much I modified/detailed them up. They are still to be finished, and they will be completely black.

I also used Fujimi F430 brakes on this model as bigger rims require bigger brakes. Here is a picture. I've decided to paint the calipers black to match the body.



I'm currently working feverishly on odd bits and pieces in the hope of being able to enter this model in the upcoming AF MOTY.

As always, I'd be happy to hear your comments, questions and suggestions.

Alex

[bigfrit]

dude, better get cracking, there's still stuff to do on it!

Oli

PS, nice curtains!

[auw12]

wow greeeeeat to see you back buddy~~it looks damn hot in black,and nice touches on the F1 gear and other interior details,but take your time sir~~a master told me that "our enemy is RUSH"

[kunta]

Detailing work on looks amazing! very clean paint job on body, it's so sexy.
keep it up!

[Gamerxz]

I think ur able to finish it...

[klutz_100]

Go ALes, Go!!!!!

[ales]

Thank you for the words of encouragement, everyone!

I've been working most of the day on it, and did a lot (in my own opinion at least ), but not much to take pictures of, really. Let me just give you a small update of the more visible stuff.

First of all, the steering column. I had to fill a silly hole that Fujimi engineered into it to make it more accurate - not totally accurate, but more accurate. I also drilled a hole in the side for the lock barrel that I made out of sprue.



Wing mirrors completed. I used Crazy Modeler mirror faces, and they're fantastic. Also note the temp. sensor on the left mirror



Rear shelf again - painted the 3rd light housing and the seatbelt housings semigloss black ...



And added the third brake light itself - strip of BMF painted over with clear red.



May I also say that this simple yet effective addition is a perfect way to end a day of modelling on a high Still hoping that it will be completed in the 12 and a half hours left till deadline.

[bigfrit]

Rush, rush rush!


I like it a lot, especially the little third brakelight, and I m gonna blatantly steal that idea if you like it or not, it's too good!

Oli

[deltableh]

Yeah, that third brake idea is stellar.

But ales, that high you're feeling isn't because of all the work you've done... that's the paint and glue fumes getting to you

[klutz_100]

It's safe to say that "AWSOME" would be approprite here!

Excellent work Alex. I LOVE the temp sensor and lock cylinder I will be stealing those ideas too

You did a good job on painting that fiddly parcel shelf!

[gionc]

I agree with guys: this red girl is sexy with lather pants LOL: yes great in black and very clean paintjob.

[ales]

Time isn't on my side, is it?

I still have a couple of hours left before I need to leave for the NY party, and I've been at it for hours.

Some progress:

Grille with a cavallino from the CM set.



Completed dashboard. If you think you see "550" on the glovebox, you're not wrong. The truth is that neither Fujimi nor CM provide a proper "575M Maranello" logo for this, and you really can't tell what it says once the dash is installed and the body is on the chassis.



Just completed the front wheels. I'm not entirely happy with them, but they're good enough, even if I say so myself.



Next: many many meshes, waxing, assembly, and probably something I'll forget anyway.

[ales]

Was ready to install the seatbelt lock (the thing with the red seatbelt release button) on the passenger seat when I heard the dreaded "tweezer zing!" and the tiny part was gone. Can't find it, so I think I'm done with this one for this year. Sorry fellows I'll finish it in a more relaxed manner soon, and in the meantime I'll enter the only other model I've completed this year. Here are my last progress pics of 2006 - the driver's seat ready to be installed.





Happy new year to everyone, and see you in 2007! opcorn:

[fwdfreak]

Tough luck buddy, love your attention to detail! I was so eager to see it complete by this year, oh well...

Happy new year to you too and everyone else here

[NissanSkylineGTR98]

Looks great!