
Matt Bacon
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Everything posted by Matt Bacon
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Thank you very much for all the lovely messages! It was a great kit to build and I'm very proud of it. I know I'm going to make a Spitfire next, but I'm not sure which car after that. Possibly something like an Aston Martin? Kate
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Please indulge a proud father! This is my daughter Kate's Heller Bentley. She's now turned 13, and this is her fourth car kit -- and although this has been on the workbench for a long while, I think she can be very proud of it! As you can see... she's pretty pleased! all the best, Matt
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Revell Germany Ferrari SA Aperta & 599 GTO
Matt Bacon replied to Luc Janssens's topic in Car Kit News & Reviews
I do wish that Hiro guy would stop releasing all the things I'd like to build at prices I can't remotely afford... I'd like Italeri or Revell Germany to step into the breach... bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart -- 458 Italia and 250 SWB **DONE**
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in Model Cars
Thanks some more guys! There's nothing better than to go modelling with your kids, though it's actually my daughter who's the car builder in the family! (She started with the Tamiya Caterham, and is now working her way through a Heller "Blower" Bentley). Just in case they ever do sort the licensing out, Revell were going to re-release the Italeri 250SWB, not this one. It's all plastic, for starters, and has a lot in common with the same company's 250 California Spider and GTO kits. italianhorses.net rates the kit pretty well, and it's certainly light years ahead of the AMT/Esci version... so here's hoping it does finally see the light of day. It ticks me off that Italeri won't release those kits again, though the California Spider is available in an Academy box (billed as a "European Classic Sports Car" to avoid licensing issues) from Korean sellers on eBay at a very reasonable price (less than £20 shipped for me), so if you actually want to build one, don't get fooled into paying collector prices for the original kit! bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart -- 458 Italia and 250 SWB **DONE**
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in Model Cars
Thanks very much, guys! Since it was meant as a double build compare and contrast, here are a few thoughts on the cars, and the kits... The 458 just emphasises how much aerodynamics has come to the fore in super cars over the last few years. Sure, there have been dramatic-looking cars before now (like the Countach), but the aero has been a bit hit and miss, to say the least! The 458 and the Mclaren MP4-12C are both showing the way with aerodynamic packages that are at least as sophisticated as, if less extreme, than you get in F1 today. And the results are pretty curvaceous as well, though not to everyone's taste. One of the things that surprised me about the 458 when I saw a couple in the flesh over the last month is that although the lines are very elegant and complex, it looks a lot more chunky and powerful in real life as well. That back end is an engine room, not just a sculpted wing! In terms of proportions, it actually looks much more like a 430 than you'd expect from the lines. The 250 SWB just looks right. As you can see from the later pictures, there's a real sense of power waiting to spring in the back end, which is emphasised in many of the photos you can find of the real thing, taken as the car accelerates hard out of a corner with the nose lifting on the suspension. In the end, though, for all that Top Gear reckons the 458 is the best sports car of the last five year, the 250 is the more complete car. You really could drive it comfortably from your house in Kent to Spa, win a 1000KM race, and drive it back home again. The 458 would probably be even more fun on the journey, but the fact is that these days, it wouldn't win a top class race, eclipsed by GT3s, GT2s etc. The 250 SWB was a road legal grand tourer which was also a best in class race-winner, as I saw at Donington Historics this year when Jackie Oliver drove his lurid yellow 250 to victory over a field of E-types (lightweight and otherwise), DB4GTs... and several other 250SWBs, which were all up at the head of the pack. So I'd take the 250, myself -- though as my son pointed out, "If you have enough money to buy and race a 250 SWB, then the price of a 458 is pocket change, so you might as well have one of those as well" For the kits: The 250 SWB is a Gunze Sangyo kit from the 1980s. I think it may have come in a "high-tech" version with an engine as well (and there's always the Replicas and Miniatures masterpiece to put under the hood if you didn't get that version). I was lucky -- I got mine for a very reasonable price on US eBay because the box had been cut up slightly, so it was no longer collectable. Which was OK, because I wanted to build it. The chassis is white metal, which is surprisingly brittle, and which needs to be cut to fit the body shell, since the same chassis part is used for both the SWB and GTO. There's not a whole lot of detail parts, but the ones that there are are excellent. The etched wheels go together extremely easily, and really make to final look of the car, and the etched dials are easy to paint to look superb. There are white metal bumpers for a street version, though obviously I didn't use them. The decals for the Stirling Moss Goodwood car (it's dark blue for Rob Walker racing, BTW.... not black) came from a fellow modeller (thanks, Bernard!), though you can see that I didn't modify the car to RH drive, as I should have (It's a lot harder on this curved dash than it is on a GTO!) The fit of the chassis into the body is tricky (you really need to carve away the "parcel shelf", you need to cut it still shorter by 3mm than the instructions tell you to, and it REALLY is a one shot deal, so you need to be sure that you have it right!) The wheelbase is marginally too long -- if you look closely you can see that the front wheels would have a job turning. Ideally, the front wheels would be a couple of mm further back, and perhaps it could "ride higher" by a couple of mm as well. The white metal suspension has no really positive locations, so it's a matter of copy the diagram in the instructions as best you can. The 458 is pretty typical of today's Revell Germany state of the art. Nicely detailed (if crude in a few places -- the brake discs for example) in a relatively "soft" style, and really well engineered to fit. That's the biggest difference with the Gunze 250 kit -- everything in the 458 fits perfectly. Mine had a broken windscreen because of the way the tree is engineered, and I hate to think how much worse that's likely to be in one of your teeny-tiny Revell US boxes. There aren't too many parts, but the ones there are paint up nicely to give the impression of being more complex than they are. Wheels are still an Achilles' heel - Revell will insist on building them with both front and BACK spokes, which just aren't there on the real thing, and the tyres are too thick. These are Pegasus Michelin Pilots. I have the Fujimi kit as well, which is "finer" in terms of moulding, but some of the engine parts look distinctly "thin" compared to the real thing. With a black cockpit like this one I think the one-piece tub approach wouldn't be a problem, though I enjoyed building the more traditional Revell cockpit. There really are NO "gotchas" in this kit, which is what Revell Germany is all about these days. Roll on the 599 GTO! Apologies for the lengthy post -- just wanted to get those comparisons and contrasts down, since that was one reason for embarking on this build in the first place. What next, I wonder? bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart -- 458 Italia and 250 SWB **DONE**
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in Model Cars
And last of all, a few comparison shots: ...and that's it! bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart -- 458 Italia and 250 SWB **DONE**
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in Model Cars
Thanks, Craig! ...and now the 458 Italia: Now a few "people-shaped" ones: ... you can see that it's not as "voluptuous" in these shots, and definitely looks sleeker! bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart (458 and 250SWB)
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in WIP: Model Cars
Thanks, Dan! OK... this is pretty much it for this WIP. Proper photos of the pair of them to come, when the weather lets up! Some more considered thoughts on Ferraris 50 years apart, and kits 25 years apart, to come... bestest, M. -
Revell Germany Ferrari SA Aperta & 599 GTO
Matt Bacon replied to Luc Janssens's topic in Car Kit News & Reviews
They both look very tasty to me. The GTO is a must-buy to complete the "trilogy", and I think I'll do the Aperta in a virulent metallic green like the HY-KERS concept... bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart (458 and 250SWB)
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in WIP: Model Cars
The 458 is now fully assembled and decalled: I'm going to live with the £30 fine for not having a proper front number plate! Now it needs a good clean to get rid of the dust and greasy fingerprints, and then I need to figure out if, and how, I'm going to highlight the panels and shut lines... bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart (458 and 250SWB)
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in WIP: Model Cars
Thanks, Chuck... you're right. There are only three parts in that engine bay, if you include the bay itself! But they are nicely moulded and easy to detail paint. It's a shame there's really nowhere you can see the rather nice full engine that's underneath the induction manifold and air box! Details, details... mirrors on, indicators and lights well under way. Next job, which I'm not looking forward to, is the black tinted surround on the windscreen. After that it's just tidying up... These decals are great. They are really well-printed, with no show-through on the white at all. They take a little while to settle down, but respond well to decal solution. I discovered :blush: that I'd made my flip-up fuel cap out of one of the spotlights on the chromed sprue -- got confused between the SWB and GTO tree. Fortunately, I found another kit to steal a pair from! Lots of lights to do on here as well. Finishing touches for both of them are the wipers.... can't be far away now! bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart (458 and 250SWB)
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in WIP: Model Cars
I think I'm on the home straight now: This was NOT easy. The chassis doesn't fit if cut according to the instructions. I had to shorten it further, and brig the radiator in about 3mm more than instructed. The door windows were a mess. No matte how much I polished them, I couldn't get rid of some "scratches" On closer inspection, I reckon they were actually "tidemarks" where the flowing plastic met, inside the mould. In the end, I cut them off and replace the window with acetate, which is much thinner and clearer. This meant some uncertainty about the door panel fit, but I got them as close as I could to where they would have been with the windows still attached. It still took a bit of fiddling to get them to fit when I closed the body up... The 458 was a lot easier... The various modules fit nicely into the body shell, and there are no real gotchas. I replaced the decal over transparent plastic "mesh" with real black mesh instead. And finally, for tonight: Lots of decals for the 250 tomorrow, and bits n bobs for the 458... bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart (458 and 250SWB)
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in WIP: Model Cars
Thanks, guys! Progress on both the 458 and 250SWB this weekend: Once again, this is just taped up and dropped in place. This one DOES fit together painlessly... This one does not! I've had one got at fitting the interior in to see how it goes, and it's not going back until final assembly! It doesn't fit, trimmed accordion to the instructions -- or at least it goes in, but getting it out again demolished on half of the front suspension and knocked off a back wheel, so some further adjustments (about 3mm off the far end of the nose frame) have been made. The BMF goes on painlessly, though there's some more cleaning up of the paintwork to do to remove adhesive, and the shut lines need emphasising gently... Next, glazing. OK for the 250, but I'm not looking forward to doing the black window surrounds on the 458, without ready made masks (you do get spoiled by Tamiya, don't you?!) bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart (458 and 250SWB)
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in WIP: Model Cars
It seems like an awful long time since the last update. Partly finding it hard to get to the bench with lots of travelling, but partly I seem to have spent a lot of time painting bits in various shades and layers of black and grey, but making very little visible progress! The engine bay is done. Not many parts, just some basic detail painting, but it looks pretty convincing, I reckon, especially under the rear cover.... I've gone for a "carbon driver zone" and charcoal grey leather. Just the OOB parts with some detail painting. I used Citadel Chaos Black, Vallejo German Grey and the carbon fibre technique for details on the dash and console, the flappy-paddle, and the seat backs. The 250 SWB from a similar angle, for compare and contrast purposes. The two chassis for comparison (The 458 parts are only dropped into place, not fixed -- the engine bay goes into the body shell when it's assembled properly...) bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart (458 and 250SWB)
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in WIP: Model Cars
Mostly been working on the 250 SWB today: The white base is a ceramic tile, for making sure the wheels all sit square on the ground. ...bit of a traffic jam building up on the bench! bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart (458 and 250SWB)
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in WIP: Model Cars
Thanks, guys! I've been making progress on the 250SWB this afternoon: The front suspension is also a little tricky, but with the help of gel superglue and "Serious Glue", which give you rather more time to get it finally in position, here we are. These are the exhaust tips. The middle two have been polished in this picture, by chucking them in my Dremel and spinning them using fine wire wool. And here's the exhaust system in place. It'll need some final adjustment when the body is on to make sure the tips float in the right place. The white metal is surprisingly brittle, I discover! ;-( Finally for today, the two chassis moving along nicely in parallel... bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart (458 and 250SWB)
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in WIP: Model Cars
Thanks guys! Gregg -- I have no idea what resistance soldering is, so you'd better do that article! 458 chassis going together: And a test fit with the body, which snaps into place beautifully! More time at the workbench this weekend... and many thanks to a fellow car modeller for the donation of one set of Stirling Moss markings from the out of print VRM sheet! bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart (458 and 250SWB)
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in WIP: Model Cars
Thanks, guys! Slow progress, but now everything is very shiny! The 458 is finished in Zero 2K Clear - no polishing yet. The 250 is Tamiya Dark Blue rattle can acrylic, polished with Novus #2. Back to work on the chassis, now... bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart (458 and 250SWB)
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in WIP: Model Cars
It'll be alright on the night.... is what I'm thinking! 250 SWB chassis making progress. Getting the back end together is not trivial... I took several photos because the instructions aren't entirely clear! Your best bet for locating the axle is the springs, which fit solidly onto pins at each end. Do NOT glue the torsion bars in pace at the end of the chassis. The springs are a push fit, which may come in useful... I fitted one side spring, then slipped the torsion bars in place and located the end of the axle in the spring. The torsion bars need to be more or less in place, or else you can't rotate them into position. But don't glue anything yet! Finally, I pushed the other spring into place, which hold it all nicely. If the torsion bars won't just "fall" into place, the you'll have to pull a spring off and do it again -- don't ask me how I know. The props haft can slide within the differential, so I located last of all. Once everything is snugly press-fitted, and sits nicely, use thin superglue to set it all in place... And here's two chassis at more or less the same stage... bestest, M. -
Thirded... There's plenty of clear decal film in the middle of some of the number plates and frames... I'd apply the engine transfers to the decal film, rub 'em down, and then cut close to them to apply them as a traditional waterside decal. It'll keep the elements together and spaced, and stick them down better. bestest, M.
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A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart (458 and 250SWB)
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in WIP: Model Cars
Thanks, my friend... And here are those wheels: They're painted in Zero paints Graphite Grey, which is a good match for the Grigio Ferro Metallic option. Revell's wheel construction is strictly incorrect -- there's no interior "spider" at the back, but it's virtually invisible, and I've helped the effect along by painting the "spokes" matt black. They should be very hard to see once the wheels are inside the wheel wells. Ferrari badges are aftermarket as are the tyres -- Pegasus Sport pilots, which are a more realistic sidewall height than the thick offerings in the box. The brake disc detail is crude, but close-up photos like this exaggerate the effect. I'm sure it'll look OK as part of the overall "picture"... The first real "compare and contrast" moment. The outside diameter of the wheels is very similar, despite 15" rims on the 250SWB and 20" rims on the 458. The huge difference in width is apparent, too... bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart (458 and 250SWB)
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in WIP: Model Cars
Moving on with the 458 in parallel... Three stages to a "carbon" diffuser. I've moved on from the ribbon, and now have a square metre of toile fabric and some tacky repositionable "Spray Mount" glue. Sprayed one side of the fabric and cut it up to fit the complex diffuser shape; sprayed Zero "Graphite Grey" over the satin black base; then Tamiya TS-13 Clear to finish. Rather that than decal something this shape, I'll tell you! Engine has few parts, but paints up nicely, especially when you near in mind how buried it is! The intake manifold and "carbon" airbox. The intake manifold has received a coat of Plastikote Velvet, then Tamiya Italian red, then finally matt varnish to get the "crackle" textured effect. This carbon is black over graphite grey, just for variety. I'll need to sharpen up the logos on the covers, but I'll do that when I stop handling it (the pipework between the air box and manifolds needs painting yet...) Now on with some modern wheels! bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart (458 and 250SWB)
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in WIP: Model Cars
Hi, Simon... the yellow is Zero paints Giallo Modena... I made some more progress today... The 250 SWB wheels are cracking. The tyres, less so. I've replaced these with some spares from a Heller E-type (which, in turn, will be wearing Tamiya Jag MkII wire wheels and tyres). They are the same (and correct for a 250 SWB) 185/15s all round, unlike the GTO tyres which Gunze would have you use, which are noticeably bigger at the back... Dashboard is finally done. I lost one of the little dials, but I defy you to spot it in this shot, and it's not even inside yet! Making progress on the interior. Chassis is trimmed as needed (the GTO uses the same white metal piece, but is longer in the nose). Blue seats, blue carpets... In the background, I've also made the necessary alterations to the WM rear axle and brakes to get the narrower track vs the GTO (all in the instructions, but a DIY job), and progressed the 458s engine and wheels... bestest, M. -
A Pair of Ferraris 50 years apart (458 and 250SWB)
Matt Bacon replied to Matt Bacon's topic in WIP: Model Cars
Thanks, Niko... It's been a long time... I've been travelling, but with a long weekend and half-term break in prospect, I can actually get back to the bench occasionally... Unfortunately, I've just discovered that my Zero 2K hardener has, well, hardened, so this bodyshell is going no further until urgent supplies arrive from Hiroboy! Time to crack on with the interior, I reckon... bestest, M.