Ferrari VS Ferrari

[Mike 1017]

I have a Revell Ferrari GT 250 and a Fujimi {still sealed} Is there any major differentness between the two? Anything to be aware of? The Revell has opening doors any chance of getting them to open and close?

Thanks

Mike

[Exotics_Builder]

First, there are likely two possibilities for the Revell 250 GTO.  On is the 1/25 Aurora repackaged many times in Monogram/Revell hands.  This is the version I have sitting down in the stash
 

There is a decent level of engine, chassis and interior detail.  The doors, hood and trunk are plastic hinged and open/close.  The body is the sad point as it is misshaped, starting off as being a 260 GT SWB and then converted to GTO Body. 

The second option, and most likely, is the reboxed Protar 250 GTO in 1/24.  Again, lots of detail, but body has some issues, mainly being the rear section being too flat and squared off.  This was supposedly due to them measuring a poorly repaired car (never been able to fully substantiate that but there is some history on that chassis number).  The window posts are a bit thick as well to allow for the opening (but acceptable).  I don't know if Revell kept them, but eh Protar tires are very poor.  Here is the Protar one down in my stash:

The Fujimi is a more recent plastic kit of the 250 GTO and considered to be pretty accurate.  There has been debate if the Italeri or Fujimi is more accurate, but I have not spent any time on determining my viewpoint.  Being hand built; each GTO was a little different.  If you want to build to build a specific chassis, you'd need to research that.  If doing a generic GTO, then Fujimi is the closest body wise.

The Fujimi has good detail, and there is a lot of aftermarket available for it for even more.  Noting opens but the hood on the Fujimi kit and you would have to expend the effort to open it all up if you want that.  Here is my Fujimi kit in the stash (and the Italeri just for reference).

PM me for any more info if you wish.

 

[Bainford]

Great run-down. Very helpful. I have the Protar and the Fujimi in the stash. I've wondered how they compare. Hopefully one day at least one of them will get built. 

[NOBLNG]

Good info! How does the AMT kit compare?

Edit: Oops, quite a different car I see.😬

Edited February 9 by NOBLNG

[oldcarfan]

Even though they are inaccurate, these kits can be a fun kitbash. Combine one with a Tamiya Datsun 240Z and you have a kit car!

[Exotics_Builder]

32 minutes ago, NOBLNG said:

Good info! How does the AMT kit compare?

Edit: Oops, quite a different car I see.😬

The AMT (which is a 250 GT SWB not a GTO) is a reboxed ESCI kit (ESCI/ERTL).  I had the ESCI some years back but traded it off since I also have the Italeri which I believe to better).  Detail was so/so and some shape issues but can be a decent build.  Apart from the pricey Model Factory Hiro multimedia kit (they also did a 250 GTO) the only other 250 GT SWB kit I am aware is the Italeri:

[Mike 1017]

I opened up the Fujimi kit. The only things that I don't like are the separate engine bay components and no decals.  IMO Revell has better wheels, single piece engine bay, and decals. As far as multiple piece engine bay components go, I am not a big fan of some of the Moebius Kits. 

Thanks Gerry for your input

Mike

[Matt Bacon]

17 minutes ago, Mike 1017 said:

The only things that I don't like are the separate engine bay components and no decals.

The Fujimi certainly _should_ have decals. They look like this:

best,

M.

Edited February 9 by Matt Bacon

[Mike 1017]

3 minutes ago, Matt Bacon said:

The Fujimi certainly _should_ have decals. They look like this:

best,

M.

checked again no decals on parts list or decal placement

[peteski]

Excellent quality 3D printed wire wheels and Dunlop tires can be purchased on eBay from @Jack Modelling in France.  Or PM him here. They were created with the input from several forum members.

 

[Matt Bacon]

13 hours ago, Mike 1017 said:

checked again no decals on parts list or decal placement

Very odd. Maybe in later boxes they decided to stop paying licence fees on the Cavallino Rampante badge. I have two in the stash… the one with etched metal wheels and the blue and yellow car, and they both have decals. Does your box look like the red ones @Exotics_Builder posted above, or is it missing the Ferrari badge top right?

best,

M.

[Chuckyg1]

15 hours ago, Mike 1017 said:

checked again no decals on parts list or decal placement

My kit doesn't have them either.

[Bainford]

Fujimi 250 GTO decals

[Spooker]

Just my 2 cents.  My main gripe with the old Aurora kit and its reissues is the fact that the leading edge of the nose only has TWO nostrils rather than three.  I have never seen a pic of a 250 GTO with two nostrils.  Otherwise a pretty good kit, especially considering its age.  I think I would go with the Fujimi with aftermarket wheels, tires and decals.

[Exotics_Builder]

3 hours ago, Spooker said:

Just my 2 cents.  My main gripe with the old Aurora kit and its reissues is the fact that the leading edge of the nose only has TWO nostrils rather than three.  I have never seen a pic of a 250 GTO with two nostrils.  Otherwise a pretty good kit, especially considering its age.  I think I would go with the Fujimi with aftermarket wheels, tires and decals.

There were (supposedly) very few (2-3) of the 36 cars that were built with only two vents, but I've also never seen images of any.  And checking the Chassis registry is not indicating any either.  

[1959scudetto]

There has been another Ferrari 250 GTO released by Revell Germany in the late 1980's: it is a reboxed Italeri kit (just like Testors did in the U.S.):

Here is a built one with its original box (some modifications and aftermarket wheels from Jack modeling):

 

Gunze Sangyo had also a curbside GTO in 2 versions: multimedia with white metal, rubber and photoetched parts and basic (plastic), the multimedia has also been reboxed by Airfix in England.

Edited February 10 by 1959scudetto

[Chris V]

These days I would definitely go for the Fujimi kit and get the absolutely beautiful aftermaket detail kit and wire wheels made for it by Hobby Design (while they’re still available at an affordable price). If you crave even more detail you can try to find a set of KA Models’ spun aluminum intake stacks and exhaust tips, and for even more detail you can complete the model with Historic Racing Miniatures’ engine kit and Dunlop Racing tires. I still kick myself for not getting a real wooden steering wheel from Replicas an Miniatures of MD, while they were still available…

 

To address some of the other kits mentioned, the old Gunze Sangyo/Airfix 250 GTO kit is probably the best looking of the bunch, even if most versions are curbside models. The kit was actually offered in three different versions:

1) an all plastic curbside kit.

2) a “High Tech” multi media curbside kit with die cast metal chassis and suspension components, chrome metal transfers for the headlight surrounds, and a photo etch sheet with interior/exterior details and wheel spokes.

3) a full detail “High Tech” version which also included engine.

Ironically I recommend using the chassis and suspension from the regular plastic kit, as the clunky die cast metal parts are utterly pointless, particularly because the suspension components are prone to metal fatigue.

Gunze Sangyo also offered a “High Tech” multi media curbside kit of the 250 GTO SWB, which IMO looks far better than the  ESCI/AMT and Italeri kits of the SWB. 

 

[Mike 1017]

Thank you for all of the info that you have provided.

Mike

[Matt Bacon]

20 hours ago, Exotics_Builder said:

There were (supposedly) very few (2-3) of the 36 cars that were built with only two vents, but I've also never seen images of any.

I just noticed on my build of the Airfix (Gunze)  kit, which is replicating Nick Mason's car which I once saw and photographed up close in the metal,  that it has three "gill" slots on each side, and the central one of the three front vents is there but with a closed PE door in place. IIRC the kit came with moulded plastic plugs that meant you could choose whether to have two or three gills, and PE doors for all three nose vents. I suspect the nose vent doors were open or closed depending on the particular race conditions (more or less cooling needed) although the side gills were factory cut. I wonder if Aurora just saw some pictures of cars running with the central "nostril" closed up and thought there were only 2...

best,

M.

[Exotics_Builder]

7 minutes ago, Matt Bacon said:

I just noticed on my build of the Airfix (Gunze)  kit, which is replicating Nick Mason's car which I once saw and photographed up close in the metal,  that it has three "gill" slots on each side, and the central one of the three front vents is there but with a closed PE door in place. IIRC the kit came with moulded plastic plugs that meant you could choose whether to have two or three gills, and PE doors for all three nose vents. I suspect the nose vent doors were open or closed depending on the particular race conditions (more or less cooling needed) although the side gills were factory cut. I wonder if Aurora just saw some pictures of cars running with the central "nostril" closed up and thought there were only 2...

best,

M.

That is correct.  I have seen the center slot closed on some cars.  But never a two slot car.  I've got a book on the 250 GTO that I will pull out later and see if there is anything in it.  My curiosity has been piqued.

[NOBLNG]

20 hours ago, Exotics_Builder said:

There were (supposedly) very few (2-3) of the 36 cars that were built with only two vents, but I've also never seen images of any.  And checking the Chassis registry is not indicating any either.  

From the Ferrari website:  https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/auto/250-gto

REMOVABLE 

'D'-SHAPED 

PANELS

All of the examples produced, apart from the ’64-bodied cars, had three removable ‘D’-shaped panels, retained by quarter turn fasteners, on the upper face of the nose, for increased radiator air throughput, the pattern being repeated with three similar uncovered openings in the underside of the nose panel.
 

[89AKurt]

On 2/9/2025 at 12:05 PM, NOBLNG said:

Good info! How does the AMT kit compare?

Edit: Oops, quite a different car I see.😬

I built that kit last century, made the Out To Pasture diorama with it.  It's an awful kit.

I see Gerry posted an awesome review.  I still have the Protar and Fujimi kit in my stash.  I built the Italeri kit with some customization.  The tires are the worst part, wish Fujimi would sell just their Pirelli tires.  I had the Gunze kit without the engine, which I got a 3D printed engine, correct seats, but sold it at Desert Scale last year.

Edited February 11 by 89AKurt

[NOBLNG]

1 minute ago, 89AKurt said:

I built that kit last century, made the Out To Pasture diorama with it.  It's an awful kit.

I see Gerry posted an awesome review.  I still have the Protar and Fujimi kit in my stash.  I built the Italeri kit with some customization.  The tires are the worst part, wish Fujimi would sell just their Pirelli tires.

Yeah, I realize that now. I picked it up for $5 since it was a glue bomb….boy was it a glue bomb!😳 

[Exotics_Builder]

17 minutes ago, NOBLNG said:

From the Ferrari website:  https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/auto/250-gto

 

REMOVABLE 

'D'-SHAPED 

PANELS

All of the examples produced, apart from the ’64-bodied cars, had three removable ‘D’-shaped panels, retained by quarter turn fasteners, on the upper face of the nose, for increased radiator air throughput, the pattern being repeated with three similar uncovered openings in the underside of the nose panel.
 

Yes.  I even saw a real one several years back that had all 3 capped.  It was the first real 250 GTO I saw in person (not photo or video).  I have wondered whether the 2 vent cars (if they exist) were not ersatz 250 GTO's or elaborate kit cars.  There was a period of time when people were taking wrecked 250 GT's and converting them to a GTO.  But I think the jury will say no two vent exists.