Global Scale Modeller

cor wrote: Fri Aug 06, 2021 10:33 am First decals applied. I stuck these onto some aluminuim foil sticker that came with the kit, and painted a clear gloss over them, then cut and stuck onto the cockpit. Was easy to do and makes it look a bit metalllic.

Kevthemodeller wrote: Thu Aug 26, 2021 9:54 am The rubber on the tyre appears to have gone brittle, something a lot of plastic and rubber from the 90's -00's appears to do. Think it was the age where they were trying to go greener but it just doesn't last, see this a lot on cars/bikes.

I'm sure you can get replacements, if you haven't already

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Thu Aug 26, 2021 4:11 pm Wow gorgeous car despite the issues. You made the best of her
The Fiat and Prost decal recovery is superb...and has a bit of used but not abused look
Unusual for Tamiya kits to have such troubles...now you are making me thing I better look at my 1/20 and 1/12 stash collection tires

digger303 wrote: Fri Aug 27, 2021 12:28 am

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Thu Aug 26, 2021 4:11 pm Wow gorgeous car despite the issues. You made the best of her
The Fiat and Prost decal recovery is superb...and has a bit of used but not abused look
Unusual for Tamiya kits to have such troubles...now you are making me thing I better look at my 1/20 and 1/12 stash collection tires

As much as I hate too I've gone to buying resin tyres and replacement tracks. I had one set of AFV club tracks out of a M3 that when slightly stretched I could see pinpricks of light through the vinyl. A fraction more stretching and they fell apart. Dragons ds tracks when packed in that preserving oil crumbled. Italeri Opel blitz truck tyres had multiple cracks like yours and Tamiya tracks that shrank in over all length. Not what you want on your kit it they are a firm fit to start with, all the wheels start curling inwards.
Having said all that I've a friend ( yes I have one ) that says he's never had any issues so maybe it's just me.
One advantage of resin is there is no centre line to clean up in a product that is hard to sand. Disadvantage is it's trying to kill ya.

cor wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 9:30 am Thanks guys. Dont know about a masterclass DW, Im just trying to match the quality I'm seeing here. Im getting better at modelling from looking at all the outstanding builds everyone on this site is doing. This car would not be half as good if it weren't for me looking at all the great work thats posted here. My next build will be better because of this community.



The car itself is basically finished except for some general touchup.
The cowl is the last piece, and will be quite a job as it's large and needs to be 100%. It fits onto the body perfectly. Everything in this kit has fit together really well.

Im using Mr Super Clear UV cut rattle spray can for the gloss finish, being careful to put a dry coat over the decals first as the clear attacks them severely if it's applied wet. Ask me how I discovered that. . .

The tires were hard and deformed when I bought the kit, I knew that when I got it for a bargain. So, after much thought when looking at the near finished model, I've decided to not make a diorama and just have the car as is should be - with wheels on. So i bit the bullet and have a delivery on the way form Model Factory Hiro - new tires , which brings the kit out of bargain price to reasonable price, but these tires are more detailed than the kit ones, so that takes some of the sting out of it. I have to say though, I have found the kit great value for money, as it's a long enjoyable build and the car will be a great display piece for decades to come.

The photo below shows what a 30 year old Tamiya "rubber like slick tire' looks like when you try to remove it from the wheel.

Heres some photos of wheels and the valve stems, which I'll glue into the hole I made after the tire goes on, made from wire, woodwork glue and resin hose joints - cutting off the nut for the stem base - and a pic of the head rest, covered in leather as per the seat, with the ferrari decal applied. It was never going to be easy to get the decal to sit realistically on the leather. The backing film was too smooth and shiny during tests. So after much testing I found that by padding it dry, then wet coating it with Tamiya Clear matt spray, which doesn't discolour the leather, it melted the decal enough to get it to sink into to the raised fibres of the leather.

Strangely enough, the Tamiya display model on the instructions doesn't have this sticker applied . . . or the speedline decals on the wheels.




After another coat of matt clear then carefully scratching the backing film off with a knife.














Re-did the valve stems out of solder and heat shrink with a dab of brass paint.

Geeze oh... your almost there !!! You've smashed this out the park cor. I've been away for a bit but looks like i've missed a fair bit.
It really comes alive when the front and rear wing are added
Thats a pity about the tyres, but your right, they have to be stored correctly. I've just checked my own kits and they appear to still be soft luckily. Both kits are still packaged as they left the factory 30 ish years ago.
What kit are you thinking of building next ?

Kevthemodeller wrote: Fri Sep 10, 2021 8:36 am Love them tyres, they're just superb

Is that an XJR400 is see in the background