Airtrax 1/24 Ferrari 330 GTC - The Beauty and the Beast

[Italianhorses]

After building a few nearly box-stock Tamiya kits to remember how its done, hone some techniques, and feel the airbrush again, I decided it was time to do another serious, all-out, old-school, superdetail project. Long time ago I have purchased an Airtrax transkit to build a car that I consider one of the most beautiful Ferraris of the late 60’s – the gorgeous 330 GTC.

The Beauty

Traditional 2-seater coupe 330 GTC (Gran Turismo Coupe) was unveiled at 1966 Geneva autoshow as an additional model to the Ferrari lineup and sloted between 275 GTB (on which chassis it is built) and more upscale 330 GT 2+2. The body was designed and built by Pininfarina.

Over the 2-year period through the end of 1968, Ferrari made a total of 598 cars (both RHD and LHD). 330 GTC was considered by many to be the most elegant model in the Ferrari lineup. Beautiful body lines were complimented well by the powerful 12-cylinder engine and nicely appointed luxury cabin with spacious trunk. The car was no slouch and handled great too.

The Beast

Transkit is very simple, and contains a body, few interior pieces, some external bits, and a fret of photoetched parts. Disclaimer: I’m in no way trying to bash people who made the trasnkit in my following descriptions of the parts and the quality overall – I’m thankful it exists and somebody made it. But I want to be objective so others know what they are getting into.

The resin castings are pretty horrible, but overall correct as far as proportions go.

Quality of resin casting is pretty bad. Lots of bubbles, uneven and partially lost panel lines, parts that are not completely (fully) cast, and body shell thicker than my finger. Poop.

But, nobody did anything better since this was released, so we have what we have. There will be a lot of work to make this look worthy of calling a replica, like fixing bent parts like this:

The glass vacuuforms are very vague, the front does not fit.

Other parts are not much better, some are just wrong. Just look at the seats….

Luckily, photoetch is of great quality, and will be very useful:

That’s all for now. As a base for the model, I will use Italeri 275 GTS kit.

There will be obviously any other things and sets used, like wheels, etc. Not decided 100% on the color as of right now. Wish me luck.

 

Edited May 11, 2020 by Italianhorses

[89AKurt]

You dawg, that's one of my Holy Grail models! ?  That's a super rare transkit, the rest of us will have to enjoy seeing you put this together.
I knew someone who owned one, he also owned an Aston Martin, MB 300SC, and BMW Bavaria at the time.  I was a teen, every time we visited his gun store, I would bug him to take me for a drive.  Finally he did, it ran like a beater because it needed a tuneup, but sounded awesome anyway.  It was a rose red metalic.  You dawg. ?

[BVC500]

Oy. Quite crude but I can't wait to see what you do with this kit, Alex, like what you did with your Lusso. Important that the proportions are right, at least.

As for color combos, that black/black looks great, but I've seen these cars in dark navy and Pino Verde that look great as well.

Edited May 11, 2020 by BVC500

[Funkychiken]

I'm following along, looks like it's going to be a beauty...

[absmiami]

Dare you drop an engine in it ??

[beeRS]

Wow! I am so pleased to see you tackle this one Alex. This proves you are still in top form. 

I have this transkit, and the Airtrax 250 GT Lusso in my stash, both of which I have been planning to build for some time. I hear what you say about the quality. It can be hit and miss, as I have other Airtrax castings that are better, and some that are even worse. We just have to be grateful that they exist at all.

Are you planning on having an opening hood? If so, may I make a suggestion. The V12 available from Replicas & Minitures Co of Maryland is a beauty (although the one in the Italery kit is good too).

I was planning on using the chassis from Fujimi's 250GTO, but maybe the Italery 275 is more accurate?

Good luck with this project. I will be watching avidly.

[Italianhorses]

17 hours ago, 89AKurt said:

You dawg, that's one of my Holy Grail models! ?  That's a super rare transkit, the rest of us will have to enjoy seeing you put this together.
I knew someone who owned one, he also owned an Aston Martin, MB 300SC, and BMW Bavaria at the time.  I was a teen, every time we visited his gun store, I would bug him to take me for a drive.  Finally he did, it ran like a beater because it needed a tuneup, but sounded awesome anyway.  It was a rose red metalic.  You dawg. ?

Haha, this is awesome! I bet this was an unforgettable experience. 

Hopefully I can do this car justice. Thank you!

16 hours ago, BVC500 said:

Oy. Quite crude but I can't wait to see what you do with this kit, Alex, like what you did with your Lusso. Important that the proportions are right, at least.

As for color combos, that black/black looks great, but I've seen these cars in dark navy and Pino Verde that look great as well.

Yup, we'll see what can be done here. I'm still flipping through the pictures for the colors, and to be honest I'm leaning towards just plaint Rosso Corsa at this point. I feel like every time somebody starts building a Ferrari they want to avoid the stereotype and painting it red, that we don't see red Ferrari models anymore. We'll see.

15 hours ago, Funkychiken said:

I'm following along, looks like it's going to be a beauty...

Thank you!

9 hours ago, absmiami said:

Dare you drop an engine in it ??

Hehe, you bet I do! One screaming hot V12 coming in!

7 hours ago, beeRS said:

Wow! I am so pleased to see you tackle this one Alex. This proves you are still in top form. 

I have this transkit, and the Airtrax 250 GT Lusso in my stash, both of which I have been planning to build for some time. I hear what you say about the quality. It can be hit and miss, as I have other Airtrax castings that are better, and some that are even worse. We just have to be grateful that they exist at all.

Are you planning on having an opening hood? If so, may I make a suggestion. The V12 available from Replicas & Minitures Co of Maryland is a beauty (although the one in the Italery kit is good too).

I was planning on using the chassis from Fujimi's 250GTO, but maybe the Italery 275 is more accurate?

Good luck with this project. I will be watching avidly.

Ha, not trying to prove anything really, just want to build this pile of... kit.

I'm definitely planning on opening the hood! What's a Ferrari without an engine!?

RMMD V12 is a different engine (similar Colombo-based block though), so I will be using Italeri powerplant which is correct for this car. They shared the powerplants with 275 and Daytona (for 365 GTC). 250 GTO chassis is also completely wrong for this car, as it was built on 275 chassis, with all the complicated suspension bits, etc. so I don't suggest 250 GTO chassis for this.

Thanks all!

[beeRS]

2 hours ago, Italianhorses said:

Ha, not trying to prove anything really, just want to build this pile of... kit.

I'm definitely planning on opening the hood! What's a Ferrari without an engine!?

RMMD V12 is a different engine (similar Colombo-based block though), so I will be using Italeri powerplant which is correct for this car. They shared the powerplants with 275 and Daytona (for 365 GTC). 250 GTO chassis is also completely wrong for this car, as it was built on 275 chassis, with all the complicated suspension bits, etc. so I don't suggest 250 GTO chassis for this.

Thanks all!

I learned something new today. Your Ferrari research is better than mine! I just took a look at the Italeri 275 kit. It has the independent rear and the quad cam engine. Its a nice kit to base your GTC on. Interesting that Ferrari was building cars with solid rear axles and independent rears at the same time.

[89AKurt]

19 hours ago, BVC500 said:

[...] Alex, like what you did with your Lusso. [...]

I missed that, will have to search......

[jaymcminn]

Alex Kustov taking on a crude transkit of one of the most beautiful cars ever built? Yeah, I'm following this one! I'm not sure about the Rosso Corsa, however... I'd love to see this car in Prugna!

[Italianhorses]

2 hours ago, beeRS said:

I learned something new today. Your Ferrari research is better than mine! I just took a look at the Italeri 275 kit. It has the independent rear and the quad cam engine. Its a nice kit to base your GTC on. Interesting that Ferrari was building cars with solid rear axles and independent rears at the same time.

Yup. Ferraris of that period apparently drove like trucks till they get to about 80 miles an hour. Then it was surgical precise and crisp. Again, relatively.

2 hours ago, 89AKurt said:

I missed that, will have to search......

No need to search:

http://italianhorses.net/Gallery/Resin/SKLusso/lusso.htm

2 hours ago, jaymcminn said:

Alex Kustov taking on a crude transkit of one of the most beautiful cars ever built? Yeah, I'm following this one! I'm not sure about the Rosso Corsa, however... I'd love to see this car in Prugna!

Haha, thank you.

I admit, I had to Google Prunga, and yes, it is a very cool color! But I'm trying to stick with something that was actually available on this car back in the 60s to make it period correct replica. We'll see.

[Phildaupho]

One of my favourite Ferraris although I have always lusted for Italeri 275 kits.

[89AKurt]

8 hours ago, Italianhorses said:

[...] No need to search:

http://italianhorses.net/Gallery/Resin/SKLusso/lusso.htm

[...]

Awesome, thank you.  Fabulous job on that.  After reading your first paragraph, glad I lucked out on getting the MFH Lusso.

I have to ask, what are your plans on the Spyder body?

[Dann Tier]

I have to agree that this is one of my favorite Ferraris too!!...without your hand in the photos, i thought this was a 1/43....it is pretty rough, but if anyone can make it look great, its you!!

[Italianhorses]

19 hours ago, Phildaupho said:

One of my favourite Ferraris although I have always lusted for Italeri 275 kits.

Thank you. These Italeri kits are pretty hard to find nowadays. And looks like pretty penny too.

10 hours ago, 89AKurt said:

Awesome, thank you.  Fabulous job on that.  After reading your first paragraph, glad I lucked out on getting the MFH Lusso.

I have to ask, what are your plans on the Spyder body?

The body is gone. The kit was purchased off eBay long time ago, and did not have the body, glass, or wheels, but all I needed was chassis and the motor, so I snagged it for a steal.

5 hours ago, Dann Tier said:

I have to agree that this is one of my favorite Ferraris too!!...without your hand in the photos, i thought this was a 1/43....it is pretty rough, but if anyone can make it look great, its you!!

Thank you Dann, I hope I can to the car justice!

As it happens, I’m very enthusiastic about the project for a few days, so this is the time to accomplish a lot if you want to advance in the build beyond “I’m burned out on this” stage ? The body was cleaned up, all bubbles filled, panel lines corrected and re-scribed, body block-sanded, smoothed, corrected in spots, and overall made ready for test fitting the rest of the components:

IMG_1479 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1480 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1481 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1482 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1483 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1484 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

There is still a lot of work on the body, but at least I can start working with other bits knowing general proportions and shapes.

IMG_1486 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1485 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1487 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1488 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

A 12-cylinder Ferrari should have a motor! And what is the point in putting a motor in a model, if you can’t see it, right?

IMG_1464 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

The new hood will be made out of .010 brass. The overall shape was done by beating the brass into shape (like Pininfarina in the 60-s!)

IMG_1466 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1467 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

Got the overall shape right:

IMG_1465 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

In this process it is imperative not to rush and check your work often:

IMG_1468 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1470 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1469 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

Then I spent some time re-shaping and perfecting the curve:

IMG_1474 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

After the general shape was right, I cut the resin hood out:

IMG_1490 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

The thickness of the casting is crazy!

IMG_1492 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1493 by Italian Horses, on Flick

Test fit to make sure the curve is right:

IMG_1494 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

Then I ground the resin from the back side to make the opening appear like sheet metal – more or less. It will be thinned some more later on.

IMG_1502 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1503 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

Then I cut the brass piece to fit the newly reshaped opening:

IMG_1506 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1507 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

Then spent some time making sure all the gaps are right and tight, and the shape of the hood is correct. Preliminary coat of metal etch and gray primer to see the result:

IMG_1527 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1529 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1530 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1532 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1533 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

Texas chainsaw massacre! More soon!

[89AKurt]

"I love the smell of resin in the morning."  That is not quite a brick, but wow.  I've used my Dremel to thin resin bodies before, at the end of the session the cleanup is ridiculous.  Love seeing how you fabricated the hood.  Good to know on the donor kit body.....

[Italianhorses]

5 hours ago, 89AKurt said:

"I love the smell of resin in the morning."  That is not quite a brick, but wow.  I've used my Dremel to thin resin bodies before, at the end of the session the cleanup is ridiculous.  Love seeing how you fabricated the hood.  Good to know on the donor kit body.....

Yep, the stuff gets everywhere! I wear a dust mask, goggles, and a hood to avoid having resin bits in my hair!

[beeRS]

For sure, I thought you would be vac forming a bonnet from plastic, but the brass panel is way better. Great work. Getting that compound curve right is no easy trick. Its hard enough on a 1:1 car, let alone in 1:24 scale. This is most impessive.

[Italianhorses]

8 hours ago, beeRS said:

For sure, I thought you would be vac forming a bonnet from plastic, but the brass panel is way better. Great work. Getting that compound curve right is no easy trick. Its hard enough on a 1:1 car, let alone in 1:24 scale. This is most impessive.

Thank you. For vac forming you need to have a part that is correct in dimensions and shape, and I didn't have that. Plus brass is correct thickness for scale sheet metal. I have done panels from brass before, this is really only possible with simpler parts like this hood For example, you can't re-create the crease on the doors with this material - too fine.

[Italianhorses]

One of the reasons I made the hood out of brass is the fact that you can solder stuff to it! That comes handy when you need to solder a hinge to the hood

IMG_1576 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

Cleaned up the solder a bit, will still do more before painting:

IMG_1577 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1578 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1579 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

Refined the hinge saddle inside:

IMG_1580 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1581 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

Checked the clearance - all looks good!

IMG_1583 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

Next is the chassis mod to fit the body!

[beeRS]

Great work on that hinge. Getting that to work properly must have been a challenge. Good thing about working with brass is that you'll never get any plastic 'creep'. That panel will open/close just as well in 10 years as it does now.

 

[Italianhorses]

7 hours ago, beeRS said:

Great work on that hinge. Getting that to work properly must have been a challenge. Good thing about working with brass is that you'll never get any plastic 'creep'. That panel will open/close just as well in 10 years as it does now.

 

Yup, that is a beauty of working with brass - it is much stronger than plastic or resin, so once something is done, it stays there. Critical for moving bits like hinges. Thanks!

[keyser]

Just looked in, nice so far. Will follow. 

2 minor notes. The 330-365 GTC/GTS used a Columbo based 4.0 not the 4 cam of the 275/Daytona. The RMCM Colombo 2 cam is correct save for the carbs and intake. They did share the torque tube, rear gearbox and IRS that the 4/cam and Daytona used. 10173 dwelt with us for some time. 

Hood looks great. 330's have no hood vents that the original casting had. 365's did have the hood vents. Fortunately you haven't put them in the new hood. 

Here's a very late 330 GTC with 2 cam Colombo in it. Airbox from Nart can prob be repurposed. https://barchetta.mediacenter.plus/?menu=small&banner=no&op=ds&SLClose=stay&dir=1964569&slsbackgrnd=0x131313&ft=search.11545&style=Plain&SlSidx=5&SlSdir=1964569&ref=showflat&mode=fullscreen&v=ad&si=3787139

Easier than link. Please note-FAR from a concours car. 

Edited May 16, 2020 by keyser

[Italianhorses]

On 5/16/2020 at 10:14 AM, keyser said:

Just looked in, nice so far. Will follow. 

2 minor notes. The 330-365 GTC/GTS used a Columbo based 4.0 not the 4 cam of the 275/Daytona. The RMCM Colombo 2 cam is correct save for the carbs and intake. They did share the torque tube, rear gearbox and IRS that the 4/cam and Daytona used....

 

Thanks man, I know about the differences, will make sure I do all the necessary updates when I get to the mechanicals!

Next we are moving to cutting the chassis to fir the body. It wasn’t really bad, but some changes had to be made – this is what it looked like before I started – obviously it does not fit:

IMG_1511 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1512 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1513 by Italian Horses, on Flick

Removed all marked by ovals, and split the chassis where rectangular mark is, then measured the correct wheel base and reattached all together:

IMG_1514 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

Still some work to do with fine adjustments, but the basic shape is there and I can work with fitting engine bay and interior.

IMG_1515 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1516 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

Engine bay still missing the firewall and I still need to move inner fenders, but the axle is sitting straight and dead center in the arches – which is good!

IMG_1517 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1519 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

In the rear I made sure arches fit the fenders and there is enough room for the interior and rear package shelf:

IMG_1520 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

Chassis plate as it is right now:

IMG_1521 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1522 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1523 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

Did a light coat of primer just to see what needs to be cleaned up on the plate – lots of work still to do to make this look presentable

IMG_1524 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

IMG_1525 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

[89AKurt]

You made good progress!  Since you are making the parcel shelf, be sure you have the differential mocked up in the chassis first, I made a mistake when I did the NART trunk floor.