New Fujimi 512 BBi - Tires question

[agamo]

Hello all
I just received my new 512 BBi, a quick view shows great detail on more than 100 parts, even when the transmission is kind of simplified (the drive shafts are molded to a lower engine cover), the model seems like it is worth every part.

But…
I found what seems to be a problem, the tires in my kit are very small Something like 2 mm smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the rim, I had a really hard time trying to assemble one of this tires to the rim (to its correspondent of course), it was very difficult specially because it should be done extremely carefully to avoid damage to the rim.

So, I'm wondering If I just received a kit with a wrong set of tires?, in which case I'll write to have the correct tires sent, or just is the way the kit is and I should not bother claiming them?

So, if somebody already have this kit, I'll appreciate if you please take a look to your tire-rim assembly and advise.

Thank you!


(And yes, I'm already in the 60th aniv Ferrari build but haven't had time to add my banner)

[freakray]

This is classic Fujimi, just about every kit they make they undersize the tires in the kit - conspiracy theorists claim they do it to force people to buy their aftermarker wheel sets.

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by freakray

This is classic Fujimi, just about every kit they make they undersize the tires in the kit - conspiracy theorists claim they do it to force people to buy their aftermarker wheel sets.

Not quite; they usually undersize the wheels. In this case I can back him up, the kit tires are extremely hard to stretch over the wheels (which are not undersized). They look fine when done so, but I fear over time they may crack. The tires seem like they're 1/32 scale vs. 1/24 scale wheels. Strange...

It seems like the tires may be made for a 365 BB which used smaller wheels than a 512, the kit tires are old Pirelli Cinturatos and IIRC the 512's may have been running Michelin TRX's at the time. I'm not sure if they tooled two different rims for the BB's, smaller for 365 and larger for the 512, but I was going to ask this very question here about the small tires. Maybe someone will know what's up.

[freakray]

Guess I misunderstood what was meant, my apologies.

[nniemi]

The tires are same Pirellis that are found in, for example, '73 Carrera RS. They are wrong for every single one of these kits. But what is even worse is that the wheels seem to be at least 17 inch in diameter, and all of these cars used 15 inch or 16inch (for BBi) diameter wheels. There is also another problem with the wheels: their shape is wrong for every one of these kits.

For the 365GT4BB the problem is easily solved (if it occurs when they release the kit): just replace the wheels and tires with EM Daytonas wheels and tires. But for BB and BBi there are no correct wheels available.

365GT4BB


512BB


512BBi


-Niko

[gionc]

Guys, there's a mayor problem: they done rims in the 18+1/2 size!!!! so wheel seem quetly right to me, are the rims to be giant. I done a comparation with the marui kit tires and rims. Just to be hilarius, the diameter of huge technomodel rims from the 575GTC is 22mm, something like 19+ inch, the new 512bb rims diam is 20.5mm....

[gionc]

Just to be 100% bastard I measured turned alu rims from the MFH 512BB LM: they're 16mm diam, something like 15" (oki may be Hiro done a bit small than necessary LOL), Last one: Fisher's 512S rims (should be the same as teh 512BB) 17mm>16 inch in 1/1.

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by gionc

I measured turned alu rims from the MFH 512BB LM:

OMG! You have an MFH 512BB kit?!?!?

[Veyron]

If the tires in the Fujimi kit's only problem is that they don't fit the rims well...I will roll a sheet of 80 grit paper and hone the inside of the tire to open the hole a bit.

This way they won't be stressed to a point where they might begin to tear later.

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by Veyron

If the tires in the Fujimi kit's only problem is that they don't fit the rims well...I will roll a sheet of 80 grit paper and hone the inside of the tire to open the hole a bit.

This way they won't be stressed to a point where they might begin to tear later.

You just wanted a reason to say "hone", "hole", and "tear" in your post

Somebosy on Hobby Heaven (why someone who almost exclusively builds imports and Ferraris only posts there is beyond me) is building one and showed pics of the wheels/tires/engine and the wheels look too big on the model. I can't believe Fujimi went in the completely opposite direction on this one and made a set of wheels that are too big! Oh the horror

However, it could open up interesting alternatives to modern Ferraris that could possibly wear these bastard child rims...

[agamo]

Thank you guys!!!

I could not expect less from this great group!
Niko, what a good lesson on 365-512 tires!
And Gio, great addition too with those measurements
Thanks ZoomZoom for the hint, I’ll check the HH forum.

I started only checking on the tire Vs rim adjustment to see if I have to claim the kit, but didn’t noticed the lack of accuracy of the parts, Ok, now I know that it is just the way the kit was done and that something has to be done to those wheels.

Thank you again guys you are great!

[hirofkd]

This has been discussed in some of the Japanese sites. To summarize the arguments...
In the Fujimi BB kits, the tires are 14 in, but the wheels are 17 in (measured 19.5mm dia.), and as far as the first lot of the 512BB, 512BBi, and the forthcoming 365BB kits are concerned, they will all have the same tire/wheel combination (judging from the stamp on the wheel tree).

So, you'll have to either go with the more hip look by using a different set of wheels and tires, or find similar ones that match the real cars.

The correct 512BB tires are Michelin XWX 215/70VR15 (front) and 225/70VR15 (rear), and I haven't looked carefully enough to find a good solution yet. I can tell you that neither the tires nor the wheels in the Arii and ESCI 512BB kits work.

The 512BBi uses Michelin TRX 240/55VR415 (front and rear), and the closest match is Michelin TRX 240/45ZR415 in the Tamiya Testarossa kit. (you'll have to have two sets of Testarossa front tires.)

The 365GT4/BB uses Michelin XWX 215/70VR15 (front and rear), which is the same as the 365 Daytona, so the tires/wheels in the Fujimi's Enthu Daytona kit are the exact match, and both tire and wheel look great.

The Japanese car modeling community is outraged by this issue, so Fujimi might correct their tires and wheels later (like they made correct wipers for the 575M), but for the time being, we're pretty much stuck with the sucky tires/wheels.

In order to fit the 14in tire on the 17in wheel, you can warm the tire in hot water. I've already seen some finished BB kits, so it's doable.

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by hirofkd

This has been discussed in some of the Japanese sites. To summarize the arguments...
In the Fujimi BB kits, the tires are 14 in, but the wheels are 17 in (measured 19.5mm dia.), and as far as the first lot of the 512BB, 512BBi, and the forthcoming 365BB kits are concerned, they will all have the same tire/wheel combination (judging from the stamp on the wheel tree).

So, you'll have to either go with the more hip look by using a different set of wheels and tires, or find similar ones that match the real cars.

The correct 512BB tires are Michelin XWX 210/70VR15 (front) and 225/70VR15 (rear), and I haven't looked carefully enough to find a good solution yet. I can tell you that neither the tires nor the wheels in the Arii and ESCI 512BB kits work.

The 512BBi uses Michelin TRX 240/55VR415 (front and rear), and the closest match is Michelin TRX 240/45VR415 in the Tamiya Testarossa kit. (you'll have to have two sets of Testarossa front tires.)

The 365GT4/BB uses Michelin XWX 215/70VR15 (front and rear), which is the same as the 365 Daytona, so the tires/wheels in the Fujimi's Enthu Daytona kit are the exact match, and both tire and wheel look great.

The Japanese car modeling community is outraged by this issue, so Fujimi might correct their tires and wheels later (like they made correct wipers for the 575M), but for the time being, we're pretty much stuck with the sucky tires/wheels.

In order to fit the 14in tire on the 17in wheel, you can warm the tire in hot water. I've already seen some finished BB kits, so it's doable.

Maybe I am just naive but it seems pretty incredible to me that they made this kind of boo boo?! What were they thinking, I wonder...?

[gionc]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

OMG! You have an MFH 512BB kit?!?!?

prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I KNOW you have something better covered up LOL!!!

[drunken monkey]

hang on, are you saying that for once, the wheels on a fujimi kit are BIGGER than they should be?
maybe next time they'll get the tyres to match...