WIP: #31 PWL Ferrari F430 GT2

[JTninja]

Thats right, Im am crazy enough to go for it!

As most of us know, while theres tons of Ferrari F430 kits on the market, no ones been able to produce a 1/24 Ferrari F430 GT car? Its dominated the ALMS and LMS all in 2007. 7 F430s ran at this years Le Mans, and only 3 Porsches. Porsches first version of the 997 RSR couldnt touch this car! (With the exception being Le Mans). Porsche had to come out with an updated RSR, which debuted this year, and has found the pace of the F430. And with luck, Risi won the 24 hours of Le Mans this year with the Ferrari. Im sure someone will come out with a resin kit, but I and many like me dont have the money for something like that.

What I have managed to afford so far has been a 1/24 Fujimi Ferrari F430 Challenge kit, along with the Crazy Modeler P/E set for the Challenge, and some very nice decals (more on that later). Im planing on taking the Challenge kit and converting it to the GT2 race version. Bodywork is slightly different, a differend nose and rear will be needed. Cockpits a little different, as is the engine bay. This just might be in my ballpark

The car im going after is by far the best looking of the GT2 F430s. Yes, Risi's Red car is sexy and dominant, Krohn's green Ferrari is interesting, but nothing can compare to that of the Peterson White Lightning Ferrari.



The team didnt have much luck in the 2007 ALMS season, got in a bad crash at St. Petersburg, Driver Tomas Enge got in some trouble (which was unfair to say the least...), and some pace issues. But they did win at Miller in Utah

Ive taken the Challenge wheels and made a little adjustment. I took some plastic stryenge to make them a little wider. Since no ones made decent 14 spoke BBS (except SMS C6R, too much!), these are the closest availible and will do.



Ive started with the rear bumper by widening the openings. They're correct for the challenge car, but not the GT2...





And the front Bumpers another issue. Ive decided to take a thin strip of plastic to the front to extend it down and to redo the intake...





And finally, the decals!



Colin King created these for the F430 kit, and I'll be adapting them to the GT2 car.

Only thing I need to figure out is what kind of color should I use for the bright, highlighter like yellow?

Hope you guys like this project! And ideas or tips, please share!

[sjelic]

I think that you will test your skills with this one a lot

be careful with wheels, front ones are negative one (much more dent in them), while rear ones are almost flat (except the center).

Now I see I really am wheel nazi

Keep it up, I am very interested how will it come out.

[robrex]

This will be interesting to follow.
Here's the yellow paint you need from ZERO Paints
http://www.hiroboy.com/catalog/produ...oducts_id=1477

[Robi J]

Wow! Interesting and challenging project.

JT, not not be picky, but the Challenge shown in your photos is the F430 in the GT3 specification, running in the Fia GT, while the Fujimi model is based on Challenge Press presentation.

Anyway, good luck! I'll follow your progress.

Robi

[Robi J]

JT, sorry for polluting your thread.

Looking in my parts box I discovered this rim, I guess it comes from a 908 diecast (especially done for the Autodromo di Monza). The design is close to the BBS of the GT2, despite the diameter has to be increased. I've only one and I cannot make resin copy, let me know if you would be interested.





Robi

[godfather23]

Woho, I love to open up AF in the evening and see one of these very ambitious projects including massive scratch bulding and modifying as well as a hell of a paint job. I´m honestly hooked, good luck with this one and ... give yourself a break on every detail - it will hell nevertheless.

Robert

[JTninja]

Thanks for the comments and interest guys!

Sjelic - I need to file sand them down even anyways I added some putty to the parts that needed it.

Robrex - Its a close match, but that flouresent yellow isnt dark enough...might have to make the color myself (Perhaps Tamiya Yellow/Green or Lemon Yellow?).

Robi - Im guessing that the car in the pic is a pre-form to the GT3 car (which has a different bonnet and front bumper). It showed the difference between it and the GT2s side front vents, so I grabed it

The wheels look nearly spot on, the spokes just need to be thinned out. Shame you dont have more

Heres what Ive done today

Ive taken both front side vents and cut them the correct length. I measured with a ruler to make sure their close to even as possible, and will sand them more. Im trying to create plastic planes to put inside of them...


Ive opened the other side of the rear lower vents, though its a little too jagged in some parts, so I added putty. I also did a rather poor putty job on the rear bumper, closing up the rear holes.




Question to those who know the answer. Is it a good idea to prime most, if not all of the plastic pieces that will be painted another color? Havent done it before, didnt know if anyone else does...

[JTninja]

Robi, how the Challenge coming along? I want an update!

Well, since no one replied to my question about priming the parts, I went ahead and did it anyways . Any ideas on how long I should let the parts dry before painting them?

Ive worked on the rear bumper a bit, cut out the "netting" fujimi put in on the rear window deck. Most of the work as of late has been on the front bumper. The plastic peice I had to wrap around the front to extend it looked like it was perfect during the test fit, but glueing it was a whole 'nother stroy. It ended up being too small height wise, and wouldnt glue when bent properly. So after 2 hours of attemps, I finally cut up the side parts, and then divided one side into 4 parts, and then glued them one seperately. I then got another peice of thin plastic and tried again for the wrap around. I found it could work if I had a strong glue. Since Im still an amauter at modeling, IVe been using Testors glue. I tried using the "non" toxic liquid glue, but it wouldnt hold. I then tried Tamiyas super glue, and that didnt work either. So I then tried using my old Testors liquid glue (Didnt have a non-toxic logo, so might have been unsafe ). It worked!
This was the pic from last night.


Now Ive more defined the bumper, and have started applying putty on the inside. I will soon apply a light amount on the outside to get a proper shape...



One last question....how can I achieve this color for my headlight?


Do I need something like clear yellow and apply on the inside???

[Spike2933]

wow, your taking a big jump on making the car, so far its lookin good. I'm too lazy and most likely getting S27's version of the car

clear Yellow would work to achieve that look

[JTninja]

Sweet, thanks!

Tonight Im letting some putty dry, as well as starting to open some of the front hood inlets....

[Robi J]

Originally Posted by JTninja

Robi, how the Challenge coming along? I want an update!

Well, since no one replied to my question about priming the parts, I went ahead and did it anyways. Any ideas on how long I should let the parts dry before painting them?

Do I need something like clear yellow and apply on the inside???

So JT, my Challenge is sleeping, honestly I lost a bit of motivation with it and I'm slowly working on other subjects.

Then, concerning me, I do not prime all the parts in a kit. I normally prime bodywork and accessories, wings and cockpit floor. On the rest I spray on directly the color. Priming ALL the parts could make easier the molding seams removal, and for sure a better base for the color.

Primer Drying Time: with average climate condition, I usually wait for a couple of days, since I'm using cans and not airbrush.

Clear yellow: you could apply it from inside, slowly and carefully if done with a brush to avoid bubbles. Tamiya's clear are the best for me.

You're doing a fine job on this 430, take your time and carefully refine the openings on the hood and front bumper.

Ciao: Robi

[Happy Martian]

JT,

I've just been reading an article on coloring aircraft canopies and it's possible it'll work for the headlight covers

http://www.swannysmodels.com/Tinting.html


HTH,

Andy

[sjelic]

I have tried to tint windshield on F430 I will show you the result tomorrow. I used Gunze clear.
The thing is, it would probably be good for lights but for windshield no, because it distort the seeing through (hope you understand this)
But pictures will follow.

[jaykay640]

That's an interesting project you got yourself into! I'm following!

[Enzoenvy1]

Nice, good luck on this one. Love the ambitious ones. =)