R5 Maxi Turbo Gr. B by Scuderia Italia.Lab - Kit Review

[sportracer02]

Hi,

last week I got my issue of the R5 Maxi, the Chatriot-Perin TDC 1986 version .



Having an extended look over the kit, here is a review on it.


Resin parts

Main parts are the body and chassis. The body is done in correct dimentions, all panel lines are correct and deep enough. The resin is of great quality, no holes or bubbles that need filling on both parts. Around the window there is some thin resin excess, that needs to be sanded down, the same at the opening around the rear and front bonnet, but this shouldn´t be a bigger problem.








The same for the chassis, good quality resin on the visible parts, a little bit of sanding, and both parts should be ready for primer.







The two bonnets have hinges of resin, already fixed to them. They are durable, when these hoods are often moved, but the modeller has the option, to replace them with etched parts, what is more to scale and accurate. With minimum cleaning of the bonnets they should fit in their openings, while on the rear one there are some holes to be filled. The two openings on the rear bonnet´s roof should be drilled out.






Engine and dashboard are done in crisp resin, on the engine the holes for the spark plugs are already opened !!










Here all the other Resin parts





Wheels come in 2 different sizes (front and rear) and need a little time to be cleaned from thin resin excess between the fine spokes.





Engine parts like turbo etc. look great and will look the engine outstanding with colour and some wiring.




White metal parts

Well, no problems to see. The cage, brakes for front and rear (2 seizes) fire extinguisher, steering wheel, shifter, parts of the steering, reservoirs for diverse liquids, etc. etc. Lots of parts !!








Other materials

I must admit, that when I opened the box and looked over the parts, my first thought was: “Damned , they forgot to put the windows into the box” – of course they didn´t , all windows are rather plain, so they just added a sheet of acetate, from which the windows must cut out. Templates are printed in the instructions.
This should work well, as there is an etched frame for the windscreen, to hold the acetate down, which isn´t totally plain here. Making the sliding windows in the doors will need some careful work.

6 slick-tires are in the kit, 4 for the car, 2 spare tires. They are made of black resin , vinyl might be better IMO, but maybe we´ll see those in a further kit .





Clear parts come for the lights and a bottle in the engine compartment, seat belts are made of fabric and a vacu-formed part is used as a radiator tray. One of the 6 round glasses was broken , but substitute in on it´s way to me







Decals are printed sharp, nearly no clear surrounding to cut away. Together with the added base-colours (!!) from Zero, they should make a good looking body.









So, last but not least, the etched parts. Very much parts !!! There are bigger parts like the floor panels, complex parts (seat belt hardware for one seat consist of 16 parts !!), the grill in the front hood must be build from 7 pieces, there is a etched belt for the alternator, straps, mesh for the openings, wipers, etc. etc.
You can chose between white metal brake and clutch padal, or you use several etched parts, to build them ...





The straps





Pedals, hooks, …





Radiator, grill, …







Seatbelt hardware





Instructions come in a little booklet, giving tips for colouring etc.






So, what conclusion at the end ?

A first kit from a new company, what makes a little suspicious .

But: very good quality resin and white metal parts, lots of etched parts, main body colours makes the kit outstanding (while I wonder, if multi piece etch brake and clutch pedals make much sense, when the doors are closed and these parts are hard to be seen, but, hey, that´s my opinion, and I am the one, who doesn´t put carbon decals to the bottom of the car, because nobody will see them ).

So I´m looking forward to see

a. some WIPs of this kit and
b. the next kit of Scuderia Italia.Lab

[Jenner]

Hi,

very nice kit review, the kit seems to be really worth his price.

Originally Posted by sportracer02

..., and I am the one, who doesn´t put carbon decals to the bottom of the car, because nobody will see them

There you are not the only one. I hold something like that also for waste. In my Porsche 917 I have not even inserted the pedals and stabilizer from the kit, maybe I can use them sometimes somewhere else...

Greetings, Jens

[klutz_100]

I may be biased but I think the kit looks outstanding

Subject is awesome, the detail in the resin parts looks excellent, the Cartograph decal speak for themselves, the addition of paint to the set is groundbreaking (question of shelf life?) and that p/e fret is kit in itself!! (BTW 16 pieces for racing harness is about par for the course in my limited experience)

I agree with you that an alternative to resin for the tires would be better in future.

The headlight lenses are the only real question mark in my mind after looking at the photos.

So Micha, when do you start your WIP?

[Enzoenvy1]

Wheel lug patterns are way off on all wheels. That really caught my eye. But not anything that couldn't be fixed. I really am not at all interested in this timeframe of rally car but I am interested in the kit. This thing looks absolutely superb! I can tell that Gio and his accomplices spent many an hour on all of this. I mean what other kit can you get awesome resin casts, white metal casts, Cartograph decals, great instructions, tons of PE, and even top quality paints in one shot?! This is gonna be in my hands soon I am thinking.

Great job to Gio and his friends!!!

[hrmodeler]

Indeed kit looks great!

[sjelic]

I must admit I am truly amazed with quality of this kit. Gio did you try any known tires that could fit instead of those resin ones?

[gionc]

Originally Posted by sjelic

I must admit I am truly amazed with quality of this kit. Gio did you try any known tires that could fit instead of those resin ones?

(Thanks guys, I appreciated a lot, and thanks a lot Micha for the review, we need "neutral" judges to improove our quality: I must admit, all my efforts are pointed to overtake Hiro: way is long and hard, not impossible )

@ Steve: you'll see when you have in hand: TBH they're the best resing transparents I seen in a MM kit: we had to try several manufacturer until we found that.

@ Sasa: no matter, the're good: for sure for the Clio we have vinil tyres since there're already in the market tools done, we have just to ask casted copies. For the R5 the final cost per kit would be approx 15-18 eur more or so since we need to pay the metal molds ( two, and I'm talking of hi-quality rubber, think at Hiro level or some slot stuff). But my opinion is that is just a marketing problem: black resin tyres are really great, with a couple of touch awesome, and you'll simulate the car's weight sanding a bit... you'll see at naked eye.

[Sumak]

I have my 1985 TdC version at home.... This kit is the best, what I have in my hands (sorry friends from REJI model).... Looking to Audi :-)

[Big Kahuna]

Gezus G
This kit of yours looks awesome.

One of the best Multimedia kits I have ever seen. And the car is a little beast too. It's a shame the wife beat me up today over the size of my kit collection...


Nens

[gionc]

Originally Posted by Big Kahuna

Gezus G
This kit of yours looks awesome.

One of the best Multimedia kits I have ever seen. And the car is a little beast too. It's a shame the wife beat me up today over the size of my kit collection...


Nens

Thanks a lot Nens and Sumak, this mean a lot for me: i have huge respect for my old SRC friends

ciao!
gio

[sportracer02]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

So Micha, when do you start your WIP?

Oh Steve,

lots of this to do besides modelling, this week I wasn´t working more than an hour on my Hayabusa, and there is another Rallye Car on the bench ....

[gionc]

Originally Posted by sportracer02

Oh Steve,

lots of this to do besides modelling, this week I wasn´t working more than an hour on my Hayabusa, and there is another Rallye Car on the bench ....

You're warned Micha: those paint drunk more thinner than your current car fuel: you'll spend a fortune in thinner if you don't start it immediatly ROFL

[rod_k2]

Great review Micha!
And great model Gio! ^^

Agreed with Big Kahuna: One of the best multimedia kits i've ever seen!!
The quality is outstanding!!

[But i'm really interested in that Clio...Hmmm ]

[MPWR]

Added to the Review section (along with a bunch of other misplaced reviews!).

I'll add my own opinions, just as soon as I get one! (Mine got turned around and sent back to Italy by customs!!)

[Big Pat]

Did I see correctly, a 1/24 Clio Maxi is on the way?

...


Sorry there, I think I fainted for a while. That car is in my top 5 of all time favorites. Were will I be able to order one, when it comes out?