Ferrari F12 Berlinetta - Fujimi 1:24

[mattbacon]

Paint is Zero Paints "Blu Abu Dhabi". Built using the Ferrai configurator to check options -- carbon sills and "driver zone", privacy glass, Daytona seats and some Alcantara in the cabin (OK, just various shades of grey and black). There are things that Fujimi could have done differently (and they are things that I'm sure Revell will do differently if/when they get an F12 into production), but overall, I really enjoyed this build. I don't think the simplifications are really visible now it's finished, and personally, I don't find the stance, ride-height or wheels/tyres at all offensive. And I have one on my shelf now, not sometime next year!

bestest,
M.

[Veyron]

Beautiful!

[Kjenjak]

Your paint job lokks very tidy and shiny!
I really doubt that things like ride height and wheels/tires will be better on a Revell kit.
Did you paint the front grill silver? If so, why? It looks quite ok in my kit...

[mattbacon]

Thanks, guys...

Yes, I did paint the grille -- I forgot that I needed to touch it up before I took the pix! As far as I can see, you can't get a "full-chrome" grille on the F12. It seems to be either all-black, or black with a chrome front face, which is what this one is. I painted it all black, and then used rub n-buff to give just the front edge a silver coat.

bestest,
M.

[andybmw7272]

That looks great Matt!

I have been tooling around with mine and hope to give it the justice you have here.

Awesome work and great mods to make this really complete.
I like it!!!!!!
Andy

[LimitedSlip72]

Nice! That colour is perfect for the lines of that car!

[da_ashman]

Beautiful!!!! Love that colour! & those badges look great too!

[Eric Cole]

Great color scheme. I like the blue with the red interior and dark wheels. The PE badges are a nice touch.

[Harry7]

Very nice built. Thanks for sharing. One Question: How do you manage to have the driver's door open and closed also? I was left with the impression that Fujimi gave only one option...
I also bought two Berlinettas with HD's new PE parts and some new BBS 20" wheels for these beasts.. Lets hope I will get the time to start posting my works...

[mattbacon]

Thank you all, gentlemen.

This seems to be a "Marmite" car (those of you with a UK connection will know what I mean... for everyone else it's a "love it or hate it"). It's either the worst excesses of modern Ferrari, or a supercool supercar. Me, I think it's sculpture. Cars don't do "if it looks right, it'll fly right" these days, and for modern supercar markets (the Gulf, Russia, Singapore and China) a bit of excess seem to be the way to go. The F12 is not my favorite Fezza on the shelf, but I do think it's the front-engined Ferrari turned up to 11.

As for the kit, personally, I think Fujimi have done a great job. There are some detail compromises, and some strange choices, but overall, I found it fitted well, looks the part, and was a straightforward build.

The upsides:
The main body elements (front bumper, body, bonnet "blades", doors, chassis, fitted superbly. There is NO trimming, sanding etc in what you see above.
The dash etc. details were great for painting
Excellent decals
Despite criticism, the wheels and tyres are bang on scale sizes
Those PE Scud shields are great if you want to do carbon effect versions!

The "just OK"
The pedals and seats are moulded with the tub. Not "state of the art", but, honestly, can you tell by looking at the photos here or in the WIP?
The grilles in the body fit _perfectly_. So well, in fact, that if you prime, paint and clear the body shell, they don't any more. I'd mask the holes next time.
The suspension is very simplified. Again, can you tell?
The opening doors can be made multiposition, if not hinged and operating like the Aoshima Gallardo, by adapting the two tiny hinge parts as in the WIP (just cut the slots out so they can be clicked into place but not glued). Why not engineer them that way in the first place?
Engine looks great in situ

The "not so good"
Those blinking exhaust manifolds. Why bother making something so complex and hard to assemble that you just can't see?
Too much chrome. The grill ain't chrome on the real thing. The exhausts only have chrome tips.
Give us some mesh in case we don't want to use the moulded parts
The PE is mostly useless (the brake disks don't add much and are hard to use, and a lot of the rest is invisible)
Why not offer a few more colour schemes in the instructions (Tamiya does, see the LFA)? And have the alternative decals needed (eg brake callipers, wheel centre cavallinos, dash instruments and markings, seat embellishments) in the box, a la Revell.

Overall, though: buy with confidence my friends.... and seek out some "Rosso Maranello" or "Blu Abu Dhabi" from your local paint experts!

Thanks, again...

bestest,
M.

[Kjenjak]

Thanks for all those tips!
I will paint mine Rosso Berlinetta, I hope it will look good as well...

[lovegt40]

Bellissima matt ! I like everything..color, wheels..all.
really nice one !

[bombervince]

Nice build, like the color very much

[Maranello1977]

Go most beautiful beast, great job.

[MidMazar]

I agree with others, simply beautiful model!!!