1/12 Ferrari F40 GTE Evo2 kit re-build

[Jeremy Jon]

I call this the "Ugly Duck" build, because of the donor kit we'll be using, the infamous Monogram F40 kit!
This kit, like many others, has been sitting in the back of the closet, due to the horrible body, so never intended to be built as is, so instead I decided to use this opportunity to use as a donor, and with some work of my own, make as basis for an affordable transkit, and have a decent looking large scale F40 GTE Evo2 on my shelf!

To that end, this will be a "best" possible build, not a super detailed build, given some compromise of the donor used & for reproduction, rather than being an all out scratch build, but I also have planned 2 stages:
Stage 1, body/glass/wheels/tires
Stage 2, chassis/interior/engine/brakes

The basic chassis & suspension of the Monogram kit are half decent, the interior shell usable, and measurements are fairly accurate, but when it came to the body, it's as if they just didn't care about being accurate?!
You can see right away how much material has to be removed and altered, and why I call this a "duck", as the nose was 1cm to wide?
I was originally hoping to re-use the glass, but once into the build it became obvious that new ones will have to be vacuformed!

So, first installments, Enjoy!

Edited August 24, 2013 by Jeremy Jon

[Jeremy Jon]

....

[Mike Kucaba]

WOW! You're a one man building machine! Is the Mono F-40 the only kit of this car or what else is available?

That is really disappointing that model companies can't seem to get proportions right. keep up the great work!

[Jeremy Jon]

Thanks Mike! Now I need to be a finished building machine! LOL

For this specific model of the Ferarri F40, there are no others making the GTE Evo in 1/12 scale - that I'm aware of - there is the MFHiro 1/24 scale kit - for a couple hundred $ - but I have a version on the workbench in that scale, along with a 288 Evo also!

There are the 1/12 scale Kyosho diecast street F40 cars - for several hundred dollars - and the Protar street F40 cars also - which go on ebay for around $100-150

Like many I had this monogram kit for years - in the back of closet - because it was cheap, mine was $25! ...but due to it's hideous body, was not up to par for building

This build kit is aimed to be used either as a trans-kit, using the monogram chassis, or as combined both kits for making one whole car from, for less than one Kyosho kit!

Edited August 24, 2013 by Jeremy Jon

[Jeremy Jon]

A few more pics for tonight, then back to doing some more work on the Vector!

Edited August 24, 2013 by Jeremy Jon

[roadkill]

G'day Jeremy, I had the same thought as you as to the body on this kit not being the best, but the rest was reasonable. Also at the back of my cupboard (sorry closet) I had the (body only) busted remains of a 1/12 '57 Chev Belair, so I did the only logical thing and made a "F457 Belari". I think it's turning out ok so far.

Kind regards Michael.

[Jeremy Jon]

That's pretty cool Mike!! Nice!

[Kennyboy]

Jeremy, I will be interested to see how you do the OZ wheels for the transkit. I want to go to them for my Protar 1/12 F40 build (since no one wants to trade for it.) Was thinking of going this route (racecar) with it when I re-open it seeing the body proportions/tire size on it are very close to 1:1 just needs proper details.

I really like the direction you are going with your build! Great work as always my friend!

[Jeremy Jon]

Thanks Ken!

I'll post up some more pics after further work, as for wheels & tires (race spec) are being digitally designed & 3D printed yet, once the final changes have been made ...I'm about 85-90% happy with it, just needs some further work to finalize

Here's what they look like at the moment

IMO you should keep that Protar kit stock, they are pretty decent in body shape, and getting more $ to find, especially compared to a Kyosho kit for example, just my $0.02

[Kennyboy]

Thanks for the feedback.

LOVE the Enkei's! How much do the 3d printed wheels go for? The kit wheels do not fit the kit's Pirelli tires quite right (too narrow, too small in diameter, and two piece.) Also the molding of the F40 wheels is somewhat poor and with all the detail in them you cannot sand and clean them up.

[Jeremy Jon]

You mean these wheels? I haven't actually finished them yet, they need some more changes yet, before being printed for test fitment, but they are also made specifically to fit the donor kits hub system, they would have to be modified for how ever the Protar hub setup is

They will be getting cast as part of this trans-kit, but I'm not that far along with the project yet

[Kennyboy]

Ok Jeremy. I will stop hijacking your thread and wait patiently to see updates.

Wheels would be an easy mod for the Protar hub, (they slide on to the shaft and get screwed on with the knockoff covering the screw.)

[Jeremy Jon]

No problem Ken!

The wheels are proving frustrating, hey have some odd fillets and angles in the spoke design, and causing consternation, as the software is not being cooperative! LOL

[Jeremy Jon]

Edited August 26, 2013 by Jeremy Jon

[surfjunke]

WOW! Awesome work, so far on the F-40. I would love a set of your tires for the F-40.

The Belari is really very cool! Very well done!

[Kennyboy]

[Zeekodadi]

You are doing some big body mods there. LOVE IT

[Jeremy Jon]

Thanks guys!

More progress on this soon!