Jean Todt's BFC FXX

[bvia]

Along with SLK/Paul, I'll also be building the bare carbon fiber FXX test mule that was given to Jean Todt for the AFF 60th Ferrari anniversary build.

The first images are the method I use to create realistic looking cloth covered modern race seats. I begin modifying Tamiya's offering by first opening up the various seat belt slots (the ones for the lap belt and anti-submarine "crotch" belts) using a pin vise and Xacto knife. Once that is completed I mask off the back and outside shell of the seat and apply a coating of Krylon Make-It-Suede.



As you can see the texture of the paint is perfect for the look we're after with a nice, scale appearing grain. Best of all is that the paint is acid-free (being developed for use on paper products) and is easily scraped off of areas where the grain is not needed (like around the plastic guides for the shoulder belts).



Here's a close-up of the grain.



And here's the same seat after being painted. I used a combination of Tamiya semi-gloss black and gunmetal acrylics, around 90-10, to give it a slight sheen that is shown in the actual seats.



That was overcoated with Testor's Acryl flat coat to flatten out the semi-gloss' sheen and then the shell was covered in SMS's pweter carbon fiber decal using 3 pieces.



The shell will soon get a coating of Tamiya acrylic smoke to tone the brightness and contrast down and then brush-coated in Future to bring it to a high gloss sheen.



Then all that's left is to add the Tamiya PE seatbelts utilizing red ribbon instead of the platic sheet inc. in the set.

More updates when I get them and thanks for looking!
Bill

[Veyron]

Good seat, good start!

[deedlit]

The seat, itself, is a piece of art

[ales]

Best of luck on the build, this is going to take a lot of work and I can already see from the seat that it has every potential to be a masterpiece.

[slk320]

Very cool. I used Make-it-suede (FauxSuede) from SMS - with similar results. The CF is very clean - very nice seat work.

[deltableh]

I think I'm gonna have to get that stuff for some of my cars! The Make-It-Suede, that is. Great start! I can't wait to see the carbon work on this car.

[mikemechanic]

Great start Bill. I will be watching as I have the MS FXX to build.

Do you have any pictures of the 1:1, I frequent over on ferrarichat and was told by an FXX owner (the TDF one) that Jean Todt doesn't have one. I have yet to find a pic or anything written about it?

Mike.

[slk320]

I do not have any photos of the 1:1 car. So far as I know - none are available on the internet so far. I do have a partial-carbon fiber/black FXX though... its not a very good photo.

[bvia]

Originally Posted by mikemechanic

Do you have any pictures of the 1:1, I frequent over on ferrarichat and was told by an FXX owner (the TDF one) that Jean Todt doesn't have one. I have yet to find a pic or anything written about it?

Mike.

No pics but this is from the FXX Registry...


Assembly # Unknown
VIN # 142163
Exterior Carbon Fiber
Interior Black
Owner Jean Todt
Location Italy

Both this one and MS's have no known assembly # and matching VINs (142163). The list shows the TDF one to belong to Rik Byron in Enlgand.

Speaking of strange I also have some pics of the Enzo GT1...maybe I should build that one also...hmm..

Bill

[bilinvic]

Hey Bill....Didn't you already build a carbon fibre Enzo? I see you like pain eh?
By the way, the seat looks great.

[bvia]

Bil,
yes and SMS's got it on the gallery on their website, but while that one was built as a customer car (for a Saudi prince) this one will be built along the lines of the Porsche GT1 test mule, i.e. no perfect, matching CF lines, overlapping CF panel areas and a general lack of detailed finish (i.e. not high gloss). It'll be built to depict a shopworn and car beaten on by Ferrari and it's test drivers to massage the FXX into the "production" race/trackday car it finally became.

I mean the little sweatered frenchman DID get it for free, so how much finishing time did Maranello spend on it anyways?...;-)>

Thanks to everyone for all the kind comments!

Bill

[mikemechanic]

Originally Posted by bvia

No pics but this is from the FXX Registry...


Assembly # Unknown
VIN # 142163
Exterior Carbon Fiber
Interior Black
Owner Jean Todt
Location Italy

Both this one and MS's have no known assembly # and matching VINs (142163). The list shows the TDF one to belong to Rik Byron in Enlgand.

Speaking of strange I also have some pics of the Enzo GT1...maybe I should build that one also...hmm..

Bill

Yeah RTB is a member on ferrarichat (Rik Byron) I never thought to check the FXX registry. I hope you were not offended by my post though Bill, I was not saying it doesn't exist I just really want to see some pics of the 1:1, I think it would be bitchin to see a bare cf one. I think the person that runs the FXX and Enzo registry is on ferrarichat, I think I might have to see if somebody is able to get a pic for me.

Mike.

[89audiQT]

Cool, another naked FXX.

I picked up 4 of them from my LHS (totally wiped them out) with the intention of building a naked one and trying some other color schemes.

Have fun with this build. Seat looks great.

[klutz_100]

Well it's not everyday that a WIP starting with just a seat grabs you by the "short and curlies" but this one did!

Looking forward to seeing what comes next....

[tonioseven]

I'll have to "take a seat" and watch this great build unfold!!