1964 Ferrari 250 LM

[Plastheniker]

Hi,

Though the Ferrari 250 LM was intended to be the successor of the 250 GTO there were only two kits of the Ferrari 250 LM produced by major kit manufacturers. The first was a terrible Esci kit. The second kit was made by Sunny/Academy/Minicraft. It was released more than 30 years ago and has been reissued several times.

Only few modelers seem to be happy with the Sunny/Academy/Minicraft kit. I built my model maybe 15 years ago, and I found it not that bad.

I remember the following major problems:

• The panel lines are not very deep and not clearly defined, i. e. the panel lines do not have sharp (90°) edges. Instead the edges are strikingly round. This makes the panel lines look very wide, and their width seems to vary. This would spoil any model. As a remedy I scribed all panel lines considerably deeper and sanded the body until all edges looked satisfactory.
• All grilles are molded plastic. The front grille is acceptable because it is recessed and because it is black on the 1:1 car. The 3 molded-in rear grilles, however, are flush and painted in body colour on the 1:1 car. Since I found no way to make them look realistic I replaced them by segments of a universal PE fret.
• The plastic “wire” wheels of the kit are really crude. Since the 1:1 car has strikingly different wheel sizes front and rear the model wheels attract the attention even more than usually. Using PE wire wheels will be a bad and expensive compromise if this specific feature of the car is not replicated. The web shows examples where wrong rim/tyre sizes make good models look strange. As always I made my own wires, so I didn‘t have to compromise.

Provided that you tackle its shortcomings the kit makes a unique and at least acceptable model. For me it became one of my favourite Ferrari models.

Similar topics of mine:

1962 Ferrari GTO
http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=78461

Making real wire wheels in all scales
http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=77554

[peekay]

One of my favourite Ferraris and an absolutely stunning model of it.

[MonoPed]

Very nice!

[Rob Hall]

Sharp... I have an MPC 1/32nd model of the 250 LM, never had one in 1/24th. Saw the '65 LeMans winning car at the IMS HOF last year. This is a Ferrari that I think looks better in person than in photos.

Edited November 18, 2013 by Rob Hall

[rv1963]

_{Outstanding work as always, I have always liked this car better than the 250 GTO.}

[Kennyboy]

Jurgen, I so enjoy your models because the detail level is off the scale!!! This one is no different, JUST BEAUTIFUL!!

[Plastheniker]

Thanks for your replies so far!

Robert, I agree, but I just didn't dare to say. I experienced in another forum that some GTO enthusiasts are not to be trifled with.

[o-man]

Darn fine model! Great detail and paint.

[gluebum]

That is a Nice build! The whole build is great but THOSE WHEELS!! Got to love them! Too cool!

[cobraman]

Very sweet !

[slusher]

Very impressive build. Excellent work...

[Jeremy Jon]

Very nice build Jergen, well done!

[PappyD340]

Another exquisite example of your building skills Jurgen!!

[Peter Lombardo]

Yes, this is a well built example of this car. I have the same kit and agree with your assessment of it. Yours looks very clean and precise, nice job and the wire wheels look perfect, just beautiful.

[sjordan2]

Spectacular, again.

[Danno]

Most excellent!

[drodg]

Nice. Great wire wheels and I need to learn how to make my own. So many of the kits have such lousy wire wheels.

[Plastheniker]

Thanks for your comments!

[jrherald420]

Stunning!!!

[IMSANUT]

Nice indeed. I have one awaiting a build.....common theme with me

[João Canas]

Great build! Very, very well done. Those scratchbuild wire wheel are just prefection!

[sjordan2]

A yellow LM sold last night at the RM/Sotheby's auction for $14.3 million. As the article notes, only 32 were built (with a number of non-factory replicas also produced).

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/136/Ferrari-250-LM.html

[Rossa156]

The Academy/Sunny 275LM is another old slot car body turned to static model by a model company. It is pretty good in shape and lends itself well to adaptation to a Drogo long nose version. I have 3 of them in my collection.

Patrick

[Apriliadan]

Beautiful

[kendog261]

Very nice build