1962 Ferrari 250 (Fujimi Kit)

[Duntov]

HI:

This is a work bench update on my current build – the Fujimi Ferrari 250.

First the kit…. This is a very well designed and executed kit…. Some parts are delicate however and you do need to pay attention to the build sequence…it really does matter…. One word of caution…. EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING needs to go exactly where it is intended…. If not you will multiply errors and the final fit of the chassis and interior build up will cause problems….

I made the following changes however…

Pinned the radiator in place with .032 brass pins…

Pinned the carb linkage to the base plate with .019 brass pins….. (YES you can drill this out… just keep breathing!!!!... )

Drilled out the chassis pan mounting holes so the pan will sit tight against the frame – this is a critical mod as if you do not do this the shocks will not reach to their intended mounting points on the chassis pan …just open them up enough to make the frame and the chassis pan touch when mounted....

DO NOT mount the shocks until the chassis pan and frame have been mated together permanently… if you mount them per the instructions you will break them off….

I drilled and pinned all four headers with .032 brass pins…this provides a firm mount for these critical parts…. I also did not mount them until I had the engine firmly glued (and dry) in place in the frame…. It takes a bit of messing around but yields a very good result….and the headers matched perfectly to the exhaust system!!!....you mount the forward set first and then the aft set.....

My main problems with this kit are the opening hood and the wheels and tires…. I have been told the wheels and tires are over-sized and Jurgen (Silver 250 in “Under-Glass”) verified this fact….

I am generally OK with that problem but I seriously do not like the stock mounting provision…. It uses the common (to the high end Japanese kits anyway) neoprene mounting system… in theory this looks like it is a great system…and I have been successful many times… but NOT HERE… pressing the wheel tire pair onto the clear mounting boss generates way too much pressure on the VERY DELICATE steering and rear axle assemblies…

I ended up drilling out the inside of the wheel hubs with a 5/32 drill bit and pressing in new brass sleeves…. Those sleeves in turn had 1/8 inch plastic tube pressed inside and drilled to accommodate the axle pins…I also relieved the mounting recess on the hub so I did not have to deal with the small lug on the brake rotor…Near impossible to line those up with the stock system….this results in a slightly loose press fit that benefits from a tiny dot of gap filling ACC to lock it all in place.... This all worked well as you can see from the photos below.

The hood…well lets just say this is a family site and leave my comments out of it…. The hood fits perfectly but the hinge arrangement well…. Maybe I am just too old and grumpy or maybe too many Corvette models… SO the hood is going to be set in place…loose so it can be removed or posed….. “nuff said”…

All the major components are done and here is the progress so far….

Two main components of body and chassis / interior pan with wheels and tires mounted…

Body …just out of the paint shop…more coats and a rub out to come next…. Used Tamiya Italian Red….it looks orange here but really is a nice bright red color..

The interior close up shot… need to touch up and clear coat the steering wheel still…

An overall shot of the engine forward interior set…..the kit has good engine detail and is built stock…. Pay attention to alignment if you do this kit…. It does matter…. There is plenty of plumbing but no wiring and I did not feel the need to add it….

And lastly …the engine itself…. The velocity stacks are tricky at best and I ended up pinning the carb linkage to keep it from falling off…..

That’s it for now….. the paint needs to dry out and get rubbed… mate the body and frame / interior and add the details….

More later….

Regards

Bill (Duntov)

[Chillyb1]

Hurray for me! I love these cars and am always excited to see a build up in progress, or the finished product for that matter. And good to know about the potential fit problems, too, because I have a couple of these in the stash and haven't touched them yet (except to ogle the box contents and drool over them). Can't wait to see more.

[Duntov]

Thanks Curtis....

Just FYI...I recently got my hands on the Hasegawa 250 Testa Rosa.... THAT should be interesting as well....

[drball]

Thank you for explaining on how to fit this kit correctly. I printed this page and put it my 250 box for reference for when I start mine.

[Chillyb1]

Thanks Curtis....

Just FYI...I recently got my hands on the Hasegawa 250 Testa Rosa.... THAT should be interesting as well....

I've built that a couple of times (see my avatar, which took second place at the GSL contest) and have several more in the stash with the appropriate photoetch sets as well. It might be my favorite kit. When you get around to building it be sure to ask around for tips for avoiding major headaches: there are only a couple things to watch out for, but they are important.

[Duntov]

Thanks Curtis I will do that.... that seems to be the key to getting these little beasts together so don't resemble a "glue bomb"!!!!!! )

[peekay]

Bill, looking great so far.

I'm no Ferrari nut but, as you've seen, I'm doing the Fujimi Daytona right now. Most of what you've said about the 250 also applies to that kit. Will keep looking in.