Fujimi 1/24 Ferrari F430 Challenge

Carsenault

New Member
Joined
May 7, 2009
Messages
845
I actually stated this kit last year, but had trouble with the Italian red paint I was using so I set it aside to concentrate on other builds. Not much was done really, the interior parts were painted but not detailed or decaled yet, seat was primed, roll cage built, chassis parts and window frames painted semi gloss black, some minor painting on the engine components, thats it.

The kit is a Fujimi 1/24 Ferrari F430 Challenge to which I am adding KA Decals and spares seat belt decals from a Tamiya Porsche GT1 kit (shh, dont tell). Its a curbside kit but a lot of the upper engine will be visible under the clear engine cover. The car will be the "Rosso Corsa" sponsored #3 F430 from the Ferrari Challenge. For those not familiar with the Ferrari Challenge, its a spec series run in conjuntion with FIA and SCCA events. The cars used are spec tuned, factory prepped "Competitione" variants of Ferrari's "entry level" V-8s. The series started in the early 90's using the 348Ts and 348Tb. They have also used the 355, 360 Modena and are currently runnign the 458 Italia. They strip down the road cars, add roll cages, racing seats and other safety equipment to meet F1A safety regs. The brakes are beefed up, suspension lowered, racing wheels/tires installed and the engines are tuned up identically and use some competion specific components.

Here is what this kit looked like 4 weeks ago when these pictures were taken...

003.jpg

005.jpg

004.jpg

I had issues with another kit I am building for an online contest so I stripped both of these down to the primer and shot a coat of Mr Surfacer on both at the same time.

002.jpg

006.jpg.

I gave up on the acrylic paints I was trying to use so I brought out the big gun... Zero Paints Ferrari F1 red.

009.jpg
 
Well, I got back to buisiness on this build these past few weeks... Here's what's been done...

I painted and assembled the engine bay. this is a curbside kit so I didnt go crazy adding detail to the engine, as long as it looked the part, I was happy.

003-1.jpg

Next, I gloss-coated the body, and buffed it out a few times. I still have a bit to learn when it comes to getting those glass smooth car finishes. Gloss is Model Master gloss lacquer.

001.jpg

002-1.jpg

The interior was next, again, I didnt go overboard with extra details. I simply painted as much as I could, picked out a few details on the dash and added some left over harness decals to the seat.

001-1.jpg

003-2.jpg

004-1.jpg

Yesterday I decided it was time for some decals... This is one colorful car. Decals are from KA Models. The flag graphic on the roof was supplied as one decal, but I was afraid of trying to place it that way so I carefully cut it up in 3 colored sections. This was still slightly oversized so Ill have to touch up the satin black door trim after. the KA decals are quite nice and worked well with Microset and Microsol which I used as needed. Thats all for now.

005-1.jpg

007.jpg

008.jpg
 
Thanks Q.

Wasnt really planning to accent the seams all that much. They are much more visible to the naked eye. Im afraid if I try to accent them somehow to look better in pictures, it wont look natural in real life anymore. Once I get the decals snuggled down better, Ill have a look and see if I want to do that.
 
I find accenting the door seams, trunk seams, etc, etc, makes them end up looking way out of scale.

And realistically, the door on a Ferrari would fit so well, that at 1/24 the actual door seam would likely be almost non-existant, so any more than the natural shadow and it always seems too much. That really isn't just for Ferraris, but for any car really.

If you have a 1/4" gap on a 1:1 car (which would be a big gap), that is about 6.35mm at 1:1, at 1/24, that ends up being 0.26mm, or about one quarter of a mm.......not very big.
 
Wrapped this one up last night, some glue and touch-up paint sill curing as I took these pictures. Once everything has cured properly Ill give it a good going over with some polish.

019.jpg

014.jpg

013.jpg

011.jpg



009-1.jpg
 

Latest posts

Back
Top