1/24 model factory fia cobra.

[rv1963]

I like it your cobra is looking great.

[Brudda]

1 hour ago, rv1963 said:

I like it your cobra is looking great.

Thank you rv1963

[Brudda]

Here is a pic of a fia cobra that is brand new. This pic is from their sales brochure. Looks at the wheel/ tire fit to the body, if I did that on a model it would look really bad. There are some things you do not copy on a model. 

[Brudda]

More installed, shocks and rotors. Painted the side exhaust. Reamed out the exhaust hole in the sidepipes. Mocked the seats. As usual the rotor holes were too small for the knock off shafts. So had to drill them out. Every part on a mfh kit needs attention. Some people hate these kits. A club member built one and called it a time sucker. Now this guy is a IPMS champion at the nationals and said that is the last time I will build on of those. On the other hand , I really like them. I have learned how to adjust parts on mfh kits. I have had complaints that for the price they should build themselves. Not even the case. Just the opposite. Anyway here is the chassis, still work in progress and fit the body on the chassis again. Always checking fit on mfh kits. 

[rv1963]

The chassis looks great keep at it, I looked into one of these kits just can't afford them.

[Brudda]

This trunk floor for the large gas tank was a challenge to fit. A lot of modifications had to be done. it was too big so it had to be cut down( fitted) to the body. If not , it messed with the wheel base of the body. So the tires and wheels did not fit the body. These are the model factory hiro challenges that one has to put into every piece. Chris Smith that builds mfh 1/12, is a master at mastering the challenges of the build. 

[Brudda]

41 minutes ago, Brudda said:

This trunk floor for the large gas tank was a challenge to fit. A lot of modifications had to be done. it was too big so it had to be cut down( fitted) to the body. If not , it messed with the wheel base of the body. So the tires and wheels did not fit the body. These are the model factory hiro challenges that one has to put into every piece. Chris Smith that builds mfh 1/12, is a master at mastering the challenges of the build. 

 

[Brudda]

I also need to thank Mark Adams for the model and he is the original mfh master. He is the one that turned Chris Smith and I to mfh modelers 

[Brudda]

The foot boxes off the firewall really bother me. They are supposed to have a little angle to them, not flat like a shelf. If I open that rabbit hole and modify them I know I will have to modify at least 5 more things. I need to think about this.,anyway here is a pic of the footwells. And my ferrari mock-up. Yes I’m insane. 

[NOBLNG]

That is looking fabulous Bruce!?

[Brudda]

5 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

That is looking fabulous Bruce!?

Thank you sir

[Brudda]

More mocking up the body. Installed engine, drive shaft and headers and sidepipes. The sidepipes changed my ride height a little. Front sits a little higher because of the sidepipes clearance to the ground, it’s acceptable. Things always change on a mfh build. Have to shim up one side of the interior as it’s off a bit . Makes the car lean to one side. Another mfh surprise. The suprises never stop comming. 

[Brudda]

Ok a mfh problem has reared its ugly head. The side pipes interfered with the body. Those tortured me to near insanity. Have it figured out but I have the inner aprons and they are photoetch. That looks like a headache the side pipes are very close to the ground. No speed bumps for this car. Had to correct the footwells . Opened so many other challenges. Need to get away from this for a few. 

[Brudda]

1 minute ago, Brudda said:

Ok a mfh problem has reared its ugly head. The side pipes interfered with the body. Those tortured me to near insanity. Have it figured out but I have the inner aprons and they are photoetch. That looks like a headache the side pipes are very close to the ground. No speed bumps for this car. Had to correct the footwells . Opened so many other challenges. Need to get away from this for a few. 

 

[Brudda]

Ok of course i could not stay away. Scratch built the fuel lines. After several tries and several failures, I finally have an acceptable fuel lines. Now that my foot well boxes are fixed I can try to install a throttle linkage. I will also try to add some detail to the firewall.  The sidepipes problem is solved but would not want to go over any speed bumps. 

[Bainford]

I'm really enjoying this build. This is shaping up to be one of the nicest 1/24 Cobras I've seen. And the fuel lines look great. Perseverance pays off, but clearly that's a necessary quality when tackling an MFH kit. I would really like to take one on some day, though would take me over three years to get through it. I nearly bought the Lusso a few years ago but never did pull the trigger. In the meantime I enjoy them vicariously through your WIPs. 

[Brudda]

11 hours ago, Bainford said:

I'm really enjoying this build. This is shaping up to be one of the nicest 1/24 Cobras I've seen. And the fuel lines look great. Perseverance pays off, but clearly that's a necessary quality when tackling an MFH kit. I would really like to take one on some day, though would take me over three years to get through it. I nearly bought the Lusso a few years ago but never did pull the trigger. In the meantime I enjoy them vicariously through your WIPs. 

Thank you Bainford. When my friend Mark started me on model factory hiro kits I did not know if he was a friend or foe( just kidding) but meaning these kits can be so insane, you can spend hours on just one part, but this is why they turn out so well. If you spent that much time on a tamiya kit with aftermarket parts, it would turn out the same way. The only thing is tamiya kits fit so well it’s amazing. With a mfh kit you have to do some or most of the engineering. They give you the detail parts and if you open the box most modelers would say what the heck? It’s overwhelming to say the least . My first mfh kit was the Ferrari p4. Boy what a challenge. Just saying these kits are very very challenging. And do not be afraid to modify a part to fit. Because you usually do. My side pipes and body are extremely modified to fit. It drives you crazy. I’m insane so it fits my personality but it would drive a normal person to a psychologist. Chris Smith and I joke about it all the time. Oh and don’t get me started on the extra tools needed. Holy cow that was a whole new thing. I would have to borrow Marks tools when I first started. Now I have all of them but that was a expensive thing also. Anyway I do not want to discourage you but if you buy a kit, just expect it’s going to be a totally different experience. And you need a ALOT Of time. My one 1/12 cobra took a whole year to build. But it was worth it. 

[Brudda]

50 minutes ago, Brudda said:

Thank you Bainford. When my friend Mark started me on model factory hiro kits I did not know if he was a friend or foe( just kidding) but meaning these kits can be so insane, you can spend hours on just one part, but this is why they turn out so well. If you spent that much time on a tamiya kit with aftermarket parts, it would turn out the same way. The only thing is tamiya kits fit so well it’s amazing. With a mfh kit you have to do some or most of the engineering. They give you the detail parts and if you open the box most modelers would say what the heck? It’s overwhelming to say the least . My first mfh kit was the Ferrari p4. Boy what a challenge. Just saying these kits are very very challenging. And do not be afraid to modify a part to fit. Because you usually do. My side pipes and body are extremely modified to fit. It drives you crazy. I’m insane so it fits my personality but it would drive a normal person to a psychologist. Chris Smith and I joke about it all the time. Oh and don’t get me started on the extra tools needed. Holy cow that was a whole new thing. I would have to borrow Marks tools when I first started. Now I have all of them but that was a expensive thing also. Anyway I do not want to discourage you but if you buy a kit, just expect it’s going to be a totally different experience. And you need a ALOT Of time. My one 1/12 cobra took a whole year to build. But it was worth it. 

A pic of the year long cobra

[Bainford]

Thank you Bruce for your wisdom and insights. Very much appreciated. I am not discouraged, I think I have a reasonable idea of what I might be getting into though I make no assumptions. I have been watching whenever MFH kits show up on the forum. Unfortunately MFH seems to have gotten out of the 1/24 scale business, which is the only scale I am interested in building myself. You are right of course about a Tamiya kit and some aftermarket details, although I rarely buy aftermarket as I believe I can scratch most details as well or better than AM. Any model can be as complex as an MFH if you build it that way. A kit, regardless of type or maker, is merely the starting point to a great model. It's all what you do with it. I enjoy seeing what you are doing with them, and one day I will try my hand too. 
 

And man, do I love the big black Cobra. Cheers. 

[Brudda]

Thank you Bainford. If I can be of any assistance on mfh kits or big scale kits please contact me and I’ll try to give you as much heads up as I can. I took a modeling friend out for lunch and I have these old but new to me kits. He has a friend that no longer wants to build , so he just gave them away to me. This would be my friend Mark, the Elon Musk of modeling. He has several of each so he gave them to me. I’ll be busy with 1/12 for awhile . It’s nice to have friends like this. 

[Brudda]

Painted the interior parts. And rollbar. Installing the decals to the dash board. The windshield worries me.because the windshield frame is so delicate. Hopefully no more mfh monsters will attack me. Was a little concerned about the rollbar height. Looks just right. 

[Brudda]

A little more finished. Trying to get this finished for our local show. It might make it on time. I’m trying not to get detail crazy. Would like to add some detail to the firewall and add a throttle linkage. But not crazy. So far it’s comming out fine. Did have a heart attack when I did drop the body on the ground. But the paint held up fantastic. A little rubbing and all was good. I like the headlamps. Not like the amt headlamps that are a little different looking. 

[Brudda]

[Brudda]

I no like the seat belts. 

[Brudda]

I like the seat belts