November-December 2009

twosaka08
Traveling Modelers
Guide to Osaka, Japan
2009fallcover
Monterey Historics 2009 Photo Gallery
dkinterscope01
1/12 Interscope
Porsche 935
retrointhemetro-lg
Events Calendar
mnf60
1/20 F1 Cars
New Releases
fuj126c2
1/20 Fujimi
Ferrari 126C2
Planning the Build

GPMA Website Update
November-December 2009

A Fresh Focus For 2010

As I write this, we are concluding a challenging year. In an effort to provide a fresh perspective on our hobby, I will shift the focus a bit for the future.

People and Events

What’s our group really about? It’s about great people who share a passion for motor racing and model car building and collecting. So let’s start by talking about people who are doing big things in the coming months.

Henry TrentHenry Trent and Southern Nationals NNL

On November 14, 2009, one of the best model shows on the calendar takes place in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. It’s not too late to plan your trip. You will not regret seeing the best collection of racing car models on the East Coast.

This year’s theme is Retro in the Metro, featuring the popular retro-styled cars: Camaro, Mustang, Charger, Challenger, Beetle, GT40, and more. For us race fans, Speedweeks cars are featured. Any car that raced at Daytona qualifies.

You can’t beat the hospitality of Henry and the rest of ACME-IPMS. For more details, see our Events page on this website. 

bb-tWilliam Bauer and NNL West

While NNL West has been a fixture of the West Coast show scene for almost 25 years, the racing contingent has grown steadily over recent years to challenge the preference for hot rods and customs. We can also thank Bill Bauer for starting the great tradition of a GPMA award, which we will present again next year. So come see us at NNL West and introduce yourself.

Get ready for a big show on Sunday February 21, 2010. Next year’s NNL West is happening on a Sunday, so be sure to mark it on your calendar now. For more details, see the NNL West website.

Chris Hale

Chris Hale and So Cal NNL

Last year we made a day trip to Canoga Park to see the So Cal NNL. Chris Hale put on a great effort, and it showed in the enthusiasm of the builders who entered models. The next So Cal NNL moves to a new location at the Rancho San Antonio Boys Home in Northridge, CA. The show will be held on May 2, 2010.

Please post a comment on the Events page to tell me about your event. Just a few words with your email or a link to more information would be great.

markpMark Palacz of MSHOBBIES.COM

This month I also want to thank Mark Palacz for his support as a website sponsor. If you’re looking for some of the products featured in this month’s update, like Fujimi kits or PE and decals from Studio 27, Tabu Design, or Museum Collection, please visit Mark’s website at www.mshobbies.com. He will be glad to help you find what you need at reasonable prices.

Thanks to our other sponsors as well – click their logos on the GPMA Home page to visit their websites: SNC Hobbies, Scale Motorsport, ICARO Hobbies, Strada Sports, RCS Motorsport Models, and BHP Enterprises. For details on becoming a website sponsor, visit our Sponsor Page.

Product Reviews and Build Reports

I have heard it said that kit reviews are useless without a complete test build that tells you where all the pitfalls are. I have to disagree, because most builders have different things they consider pitfalls. I think a good kit review will tell you the following:

  • A brief history of the car, its drivers, and how they performed.
  • What versions the kit will produce, and whether accurate markings are available.
  • Reference sources (books, magazines, online)
  • Recommended body paint colors
  • Areas where bodywork will be necessary (you don’t have to build a kit to see this).

So our kit reviews will include all these details and more. We will also have features on new and future releases.

Member Models

When I started GPMA, we were one of a very few model car websites. So I would get photos and details from people on a consistent basis. Today, I can only rely on a handful of people to ever send me photos of their models. I understand that today people can use Fotki or other sites to display their models, but I think we all prefer seeing larger images with text that tells us the story of how a model went together. So I am asking all of you to take 4-5 photos of your models, add a few words to describe each photo, and email the photos to me. Large images are best, so I can modify them as needed.

We need your editorial contributions most of all, but for those who would like support the website through donations, check out our Donation Page. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Upcoming Contests

To encourage all of you to participate in our contests for 2010, here are the next two contests planned:

60s and 70s Touring Cars – Deadline Jan. 31, 2010
Winners announced Mar-Apr 2010

1/24 Scale F1 Cars – Deadline Mar. 31, 2010
Winners announced July-Aug 2010

See the Contests page for more details.

KJS

Traveling Modelers Guide to Osaka, Japan

Traveling Modelers Guide to Osaka, Japan
by Tania Woodbury
flickr Photo Gallery

twosaka01I’m just back from my second trip to Japan. Narita first, then a short hop to Osaka the next day.  We had a nice view of Mt Fuji in the dusk, and the lights of Osaka/Kobe on arrival.

Narita was nothing to mention, either model-wise or for anything else. Our hotel was near the airport, in a smallish traditional type village with a featureless mall. Tokyo proper is over an hour by train, and we arrived late and only had limited time the next day.twosaka02

The next night was Osaka. Late arrival followed by a beer and a “curry in a hurry” at a traditional fast food place across the road from the hotel. I find the local food in Japan is excellent and cheap, and always an experience (more on that later).

Next day and it was time to hit the shops. Kaz Shibuya, from here on the list, had suggested that I check out Romu-romu model car garage (www.romu-romu.com) Kaz was also gracious enough to translate the address, and it turned out to be less than a two minute walk from the main JR Osaka rail station, which in turn was just a 10 min free shuttle-bus ride from our hotel.

The underground system is color-coded and quite simple to use, once you have been shown the ropes. The main trap is knowing which exit to use, as being one block out when you get to street level can completely screw up your sense of direction, and many of the street signs are not in English. Aside from that, the trains are incredibly clean, frequent, and efficient, as well as cheap.

Romu and Yodobashi are only about 200m apart, and very close to the main Japan Rail Osaka Station. But I would have struggled to find it without Kaz’s instructions (5th floor above a menswear store). When I arrived at around 10:30, the door was locked. The sign was in Kanji, but I managed to figure out that they opened at either 11 or 12 depending on day. 

twosaka02aFortunately the enormous Yodobashi Umeda electronics and camera (and fashion and food and almost everything else) store was nearby, so it was easy to fill in some time. In the hobbies department, I found the new Tamiya Nissan GTR kit, but resisted the temptation to buy.

My fellow crew members and I also wanted to find some 1/400 scale Dragon Wings, or other brand, models of aircraft we have flown. Between us we ended up with Air New Zealand Boeing 737s, 767s and 777s. Couldn’t find the right 747s though…. I’m sure that somewhere in Osaka there is a shop specialising in them, but unless you know where to look, you will never find it. I also bought an Ixo 1/43 McLaren F1 GTR Long Tail…just because it is a McLaren and it’s orange…and best of all, it was on sale!

By now it was coming up on 11 o’clock, and I could feel my yen burning a hole in my pocket. Time to head up the street to Romu-romu. There is nothing in English at street level, and without knowing it was above a menswear store, I would never have found it. Certainly you have no chance of just “stumbling across it,” as you could walk past 100 times and never know it was there. I’m convinced there must be numerous other treasure troves around Osaka, but they remain hidden to me.

The elevator to the 5th floor opens into a dimly-lit corridor, with Romu-romu being the first door on the right. My photos show the interior of what is no bigger than a small office.twosaka03 This time the door was open, and inside was a car-lover’s paradise. It is a small store, a bit like an office lined with glass cabinets, but with no windows. Walking through the door, on one side was the collection of CMC diecasts, and the other 1/43s from Minichamps, Spark, and others. Down the side of the counter behind a Honda Racing flag hanging from the ceiling, I spied a very small work area with a young man hard at work. Not sure if this is where they do their build-ups. If so, I admire his perserverance!

The range of 1/43 kits is very good. Most of the Tameo and Silverline kits were in stock, as well as a selection of Renaissance, Racing 43, Marsh, and Provence.  The things that I enjoyed looking at though were the resin and metal “garage kits” mainly from MFH and S27, but with lots of odds and sods from other makers too.

The selection was incredible, and grouped approximately by marque. Next came the really interesting bit, a wall of decals and PE from Studio27 and all the other usual suspects. Decals and accessories are also grouped according to scale, with most of the Tameo spares and add-ons, and lots of Marlboros as well as S27 PE for both cars and bikes. 

twosaka08

On the other side were the tools and accessories and a great selection of Tameo parts and spares. Then, the cabinet of Tameo TMK and SLK kits…a comprehensive collection, and around the corner the largest selection of BBR and MR builts that I have ever seen. On the back wall, a number of built-ups of Tameo and other 1/43s produced by their own “Romu Factory”. Next, the “Resin wall”….heaps of S27, Hiro, Iritani etc, plus some 1/12 kits (sorry Dale, but I didn’t take much notice of them!)

There were some very nice looking S27 Lotus F1 cars in 1/20. The JPS 72 really took my eye, until I saw the price: it was just over 30,000yen (about $300US), whereas most of the others are closer to 20,000. I think next time I visit I will get the S27 Super Aguri from the Melbourne GP 2007. That was the year that Takuma Sato drove well, and we were there to see it. With the team now defunct, it would be a nice keepsake. As it was, I settled for a Profil24 kit of the 1938 Le Mans Alfa Romeo 2900B in 1/24. I’ll write my thoughts on it when I have had a chance to look it over properly. Needless to say, it is a beautiful car, and it will be nice to have a larger scale version to add to my 1/43 one.

Overall it was a very cool place, but not a lot of English spoken. I wandered around for a while and took down some prices and details to double check before going back to buy the next day.  Next I had an expedition on the underground rail to the central downtown area, from where I could walk to Nippombashi, or Den-den Town.

nippombashi01My previous visit there had been a little rushed, and this time I was again under pressure of time, having agreed to meet other crew members back at the hotel at 6pm. The more I looked along Nippombashi, the more interesting stuff I found. Shops dedicated to Gundam, those robot model things. Also the “candy toy” collections: sets of characters and small models ranging from Disney and cartoon characters to tanks and planes and sci-fi, all of which are sold in sets with packages that don’t allow you to see what you have until you open them. The idea being that you keep buying them until you have the set, and can swap your duplicates.

This is also where the huge Kids Land super stores are located. Before getting to Kids Land, I ducked into one of the other toy shops I had found on my previous visit. This one specialises in anime (cartoon) and capsule/candy toys. Like most of the shops, it is multi-story, narrow and cluttered with an escalator to go up, and a staircase to come back down. This one though has all the capsules and packets opened, and the toys on display in little plastic bags. This means you can buy the toys you are missing to complete the set, rather than taking pot-luck with buying sealed packages or capsules. Of course you pay a bit extra, but still much less than what you pay on E-Bay for some of the more desirable items.

I was really tempted by the Ferrari F1 collection. They looked about 1/87 scale or possibly 1/64 and from Lauda’s 312T to Schumacher’s last ride. Or the Lancia Rally Car collection, or the Lamborghini collection. Then there is the Star Trek collection, or Thunderbirds or Tanks of the World. If none of that floats your boat, there is always the designer chairs collection, or the miniature food collection. I could have wandered around such a shop for hours. On the 4th floor(!) of one such shop was a selection of old tin toys, many still boxed, and a bunch of old models, all shrink wrapped. I visited Yellow Submarine, a shop I noticed last trip, and internet research seemed to indicate it was a hobby shop, but it was trading cards.

My interest is the sci-fi shows of Gerry Anderson, from Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlett through to UFO and Space 1999. These shows are still very popular at a cult level in Japan, so there are regular issues of candy-toy sets. This shop also had a great collection of car related collections too (just to get back on topic!) There is the Lancia Rally collection, which has Matchbox sized resin replicas of various Stratos, Delta and 037 liveries, or the Nissan Skyline collection, or Lamborghini collection. Most of these have 6 or 7 “regulars” plus one or more special “rare items”, the idea being if you buy enough packets, you will eventually get a “rare” one.

Obviously it is easier to buy the set at this shop complete without the risk of doubling up, or just buying the ones needed to complete your collection. A really interesting set was the Ferrari F1, which was 1/43 scale snap-fit kits of Ferrari Fi cars from 1975 onwards. Except for the wheels, they looked pretty accurate. There are also aircraft (military and civil, historic and modern), space ships, Looney Tunes characters, Gundam Robots, cutesy animals, Star Trek and Star Wars, miniature furnature and strangely, miniature food. I took a photo of the inside of this shop, but it doesn’t really even start to describe what it is like to see 3 full floors of this stuff!

twosaka05So, next was Kids Land. It’s a bit of a mis-nomer as it is more of a model shop than a toy shop and so aimed at slightly older “kids” perhaps. I took pics of one of the shops, and there are two of them within a couple of hundred meters, one on each side of the road. Most of the model stuff was in the first shop I got to. Being a Saturday, the streets were quite busy and they had a display and demo of little RC helicopters on the sidewalk. This store has 5 floors, the ground floor being the most “toy-ish”, with action figures, Gundams, Lego etc. Second floor was motorbike kits, ships and some sci-fi stuff. Third floor-military kits and Tamiya RC plus a big selection of parts, tools, airbrushes and more. This floor also has a Tamiya race track layout for motorised cars surrounded by glass display cabinets full of cool models. There were’t too many “racers” using the track this time which surprised me as it was Saturday, and on my previous mid-week visit, there were heaps of them. Fourth floor is the one we are interested in – cars and diecasts. About half the floor was plastic, with the rest diecasts (cars, aircraft, buses, earthmoving machinery, etc).

The Tamiya floor is good, basically Tamiya stuff only, and at least one of everything in the plastic catalog. One wall was all glass cabinets with very nice built-ups of Tamiya cars, tanks, ships and aircraft. Whilst my primary interest is cars, I have no problem spending time looking at well built models of almost anything, so I lingered around the displays for a while, even though there were no Tamiya kits that I wanted to buy. On the “robots” floor, there was a guy giving airbrush demos/lessons (part of the reason I at least walk through every floor of every store, as you never know what you might find!) Despite the location, the “teacher” was demo-ing techniques on car, aircraft and dinosaur(!) kits. There were 2 or 3 customers (adults) there watching and asking lots of questions…in fact there was more talking than painting going on.

Most of the diecast cars were 1/43, with cabinets full of Minichamps and others. Tamiya kits were at the second store, but there were plenty of Fujimi, Hasegawa and Aoshima, including the new Skyline GTRs, 250GTO and 250TR. There was a small cabinet of S27 and MFH, and an extensive range of airbrushes. I managed to get away with my purse intact, although I would have grabbed a Revell F2007 if there had been one. Stock actually seemed down a little from my previous visit, but that is purely a relative term. There were still more car kits than I have seen in any other shop in the world. Fifth floor was trains, but I didn’t do more than a cursory walk through.

The second Kids Land store is another 5 floors, but this one only really has the Tamiya floor that is of interest to car modelers. I’m not sure why they need 2 shops on the same street with basically the same content, but what do I know? Anyway, I picked up a Revell 1/24 BMW Sauber and the Hasegawa 250 TR (plus S27 PE). There were a whole bunch of really cool Mr Hobby tools, some of which I couldn’t resist: a stand for painting car bodies and parts that you can hold at arm’s length, an airbrush stand (with a magnet in the base for standing on a metal tray), a bottle with filter for spraying thinners into when cleaning your airbrush, a big size Tamiya airbrush paint bottle, some paint mixing tins, and a paintbrush holder/tray and a gold paint marker. I also couldn’t resist a couple more Aerobase Micro Wings PE aircraft kits: the Spirit of St Louis and a Boeing Model 40 mail plane. The more I see of these things the more tempted I am by them. I guess now I just have to set to and start building something!

The rest is mainly RC, anime figurines, and guns. The last two are a bit of an anomaly in a place named Kids Land. The guns floor is full of, well, guns. Along with military uniforms, SWAT type body armour and a bunch of other stuff. I’m thinking the guns were mainly replica type air guns as opposed to the genuine bullet firing article, but it was a bit strange seeing this sort of stuff in a kids store. Which brings me on to the figurines.

twosaka09There are whole shops dedicated to Amine figures, and many are sort of cutsey, but many more are also borderline pornographic, to the point where certain body parts on the display models are covered with flesh coloured tape. The figures are almost exclusively female, young, and exaggeratedly well-endowed. Poses run from strong (warrior queen types) to seductive and submissive. They are available in everything from 5cm candy toy collectables, to 30cm plus statuettes either alone or in vignettes. I didn’t notice prices, but I would imagine the larger ones to be pretty expensive. Don’t know who buys them, but to each his/her own I guess!

Dinner that night was Okonomiyaki…an Osakan specialty, sort of a cross between a pancake, an omelete and a thick pizza covered with a thick soy type sauce (bit like BBQ sauce) and mayo.

twosaka07

twosaka06Tastes better than it sounds, and is cooked at your table on a hot plate. Huge okonomiyaki, 2 beers and a couple of glasses of sake each..20 bucks per person. Local food is great and cheap (oh yeah, I think I have already mentioned that!)

Next day I was back to Romu-romu having done my research. I decided to stick with 1/43 and not to succumb to the lure of the diecast Dark Side. Senna’s 84 Monaco Toleman, Alesi’s 200th GP US Jordan EJ11, 07 Super Aguri (nearly bought the S27 1/20 Australian GP version) and the 1950 Le Mans Yellow Ferrari 166 (woman driver and my favourite car colour!) Similar car in 1951, but the 1950 had number 27…very Ferrari significant.

twosaka04

The last 2 weren’t in the cabinet, so looked like they were out of stock, but a very nice lady (only 2 women staff on that day) found a new box of stuff including the 2 kits I wanted. I also picked up a couple of S27 PE detail sets and 2 nice little packs of embossed type Ferrari badges and logos. They were very nice (and spoke better English than I did Japanese) I’ll definitely be back. I don’t think the prices of the Tameos were especially cheap, but I had yen to spend courtesy of our expenses allowances.

My shopping complete, I headed back for the hotel, but on the way stopped off for lunch and a visit to the 100 yen shop. Lunch was more okonomi-yaki, my favourite Japanese cuisine. Goes good with beer, but as I was flying that evening I had to stick with water and juice.

100 yen shops are great: everything is 100 yen or about $1, and the range of items is amazing. I picked up some Mickey Mouse stuff: plastic tray, plates, drink bottle and bag,  for my neice who is Mickey Mad, and some nick-nacks for myself, including a nice steel rule and a small cutting mat. Perfect for my Aerobase PE models! Having learned from previous trips, I had taken my BIG suitcase, so everything fit with no problems (except my packets of wasabi flavoured potato crisps: yummy, believe me, which I kept separate so they didn’t all get crushed up).

I highly recommend Osaka, and if the GPMA tour ever happens, I’ll be a starter for sure. If you do end up there, a bit of research beforehand will work wonders. Without Kaz’s help, I wouldn’t have known Romu-romu was even there, let alone how to find it! I’m sure I could go to Osaka 100 times and still discover something new every time. The number of little shops is incredible, and that is just at street level. Many buildings have tiny shops on every one of their 5 or 6 or 7 floors.

The city is clean and safe, although somewhat chaotic in places, and the people seem to take amazing pride in everything they do. Generally it is the people who make or break a visit to a foreign country, and everyone I met in Japan was fantastic.

Cheers for now,
Tania

Monterey Historics 2009 Photos

2009fallcover

Monterey Historics 2009 
Photo Gallery
by Scott Truesdell

I recently had lunch with Scott Truesdell and Dale King, and we got to talking about the Monterey Historics. Scott passed along the link to his website, which has some great photos of vintage racers and factory treasures from Laguna Seca.

When I looked through this collection, the photo above caught my eye and gave me a smile. Fortunately, the driver was not injured, but the priceless TestaRossa was. Any suggestions for a caption? Submit yours as a Reply/Comment to this post, below.

sthistoricspics


1/12 Interscope Porsche 935

dkinterscope01

1/12 Interscope Porsche 935
by Dale King

I recently finished this 12th scale model of the Interscope 935 . The base kit is, of course, by Tamiya.

dkinterscope02

Instead of scratch building the front clip, front fenders and running boards like the Hawaiian Tropic car, I used the resin pieces from Matt Burnett of “Monkey Claw”. It speeded the process up considerably. I did, however, create a new double rear wing and several other small bits and pieces.

dkinterscope03

The 3 dimensional doggie dishes came from California Model Works and will be used on his up coming 12th scale 935 K3 resin kit. The decals were drawn up by Wim Van Viasselaer of Belgium and printed up in the US by Norm at F-1 Specialties. The paint is Tamiya gloss black shot right out of the can then later rubbed out.

dkinterscope04

1/20 F1 – 2009 Plastic Kits

1/20 F1 – New Plastic Kits

New Tooling

Ferrari F60

Tamiya 1/20
Limited Release 
20059

This is Tamiya’s first new F1 kit in almost 10 years. It’s great to see Tamiya back in the game. 

Ferrari 187/88C

Fujimi 1/20
Grand Prix Series GP-12
090498

A great addition to any 1/20 F1 collection, and previously only available from Studio 27. Berger had multiple wins in this car, not just at Monza in ’88.

F1 Mclaren Honda MP4/6 
JapanGP

Fujimi 1/20
Grand Prix Series GP-10
090443

Fujimi steps up to fill the void left by Tamiya and complete the Senna MP4 range with this kit. Bravo.


Ferrari 312T2, 1976
JapanGP

Hasegawa 1/20
20243

This is the car that Lauda ultimately refused to drive in that rainy GP in 1976. You gotta believe that was a good decision . . .

Ferrari 312T2 1976
Monaco GP Winner

Hasegawa 1/20
FG1

Hasegawa’s first in this F1 series – a previously overlooked subject in 1/20 (only Tamiya’s T3 is close). Fortunately, Hasegawa is still cranking out more F1 Ferraris.

Ferrari F1 2007
Brazil Grand Prix

Fujimi 1/20
Grand Prix Series GP-11
090481

Kimi’s championship winning car. Another pick for the Tifosi. Not an appealing design, with all the tabs and brackets for the winglets.

Ferrari 248 F1 2006

Fujimi 1/20
Grand Prix Series GP-9
090467

Michael Schumacher’s last win was in this car. He didn’t win the championship in 2006, but he came close. 

Ferrari 248 F1 Brazil GP 2006

Fujimi 1/20
Grand Prix Series GP-7
090412

Other versions: Ferrari 248F1 Brazil GP Skeleton Body GPSP-6
090474

Ferrari 641/2
Mexico GP 1990

Fujimi 1/20
Grand Prix Series GP-8
090436

Not a favorite design of mine, but a significant car nonetheless.

Ferrari 641/2 France GP

Fujimi 1/20
Grand Prix Series GP-5
090375

Prost’s winning car. Other versions: Ferrari 641/2 France GP ClearBody Spec, GPSP-5
090450

Ferrari 126CK Spain, Winner – Villeneuve

Fujimi 1/20

Grand Prix Series GP-3
090351

Other versions: Ferrari 126 CK Spanish Grand Prix Clear Body, GPSP-4 , 090405

Ferrari 126C2 Monaco GP

Fujimi 1/20
Grand Prix Series GP-6

090429

Pironi was classified second in this race, although his car didn’t make it to the finish line.

Ferrari 126 C2 Long Beach

Fujimi 1/20
Grand Prix Series GP-2
090337

See our Kit Review for more details. Other versions: Ferrari 126 C2 Long Beach Clear Body Type, GPSP-3 , 090399

Ferrari 126C2 1982

Fujimi 1/20
Grand Prix Series GP-1
090320

The kit that started this series for Fujimi. Other versions: Ferrari 126C2 Clear Body Type, GPSP-1 , 090344;Ferrari 126C2 San Marino GP, GPSP-2 ,
090368

Re-Releases

McLaren Honda MP4/5B with
Driver & Engineer Set

Tamiya 1/20
Grand Prix Collection
92209

Tamiya finally got smart and started including the Driver and Engineer set with this kit. Senna fans can now create realistic displays with the driver and engineer included.

McLaren Honda MP4/4 with  
Driver & Engineer Set

Tamiya 1/20
Grand Prix Collection
92208

These kits are part of Tamiya’s Japanese catalog. I have not seen them in stores in the US, but they are available from online dealers.



Coming Soon

Ferrari 312T
1975 Monaco GP Winner

Hasegawa 1/20
FG2

This is an interesting future release. Ferrari’s dominant 312T was a classic design, and therefore a good subject for modelers.

Photo © Masahiko Nakasone

Williams FW14/B

Fujimi 1/20

Grand Prix Collection

Never before seen in 1/20 plastic, this is a classic F1 car we all need to have. Mansell fans can now complete their collections of his F1 race cars.

Photo © Masahiko Nakasone

 

Tyrrell P34 Six-Wheeler

Fujimi 1/20

Grand Prix Collection

This is an odd choice, since the 1976 car has been available from Tamiya for some time. Also, the nose of this car does not match any of the race reference photos I can find. Hopefully they will produce a 1977 version.

Photo © Masahiko Nakasone

Fujimi Ferrari 126C2 Kit Review

126c2refs
(Clockwise from top left: 1. 1982 San Marino GP, found on web; 2. Long Beach GP practice, Rainer Schlegelmilch; 3. Detail shots from Ferrari, the Grand Prix Cars; 4. Overhead shot from Automobile Year No. 30; 5. Brazil, San Marino, and Belgium shots from Ferrari Turbos; 6. Brazilian GP pits from Automobile Sport 82-83.)

1/20 Fujimi Ferrari 126C2 Kit Review

fuj090320

Kit No. 090320
Full Engine Detail
149 Parts

Overview

Fujimi has recently started a whole new line of F1 cars, and this is the first. Kit No. 090320 includes parts and decals to accurately depict either Gilles Villeneuve or Didier Pironi’s team car from the 1982 San Marino GP.

History

It’s interesting that both team cars were involved in the saga of this historic race. Despite team orders to let Villeneuve pick up the win (and points for the championship), Pironi passed him and won the race. Villeneuve vowed never to speak to Pironi again, and he died in practice for the very next race in Belgium. Great F1 lore, and it suggests a display with both of these cars, No. 27 and 28, from the San Marino GP. But if you want to model other versions, here are some tips.

The bodywork included with this kit is accurate for the following races: Brazil, Long Beach, San Marino, Belgium, and Monaco. For decals, you need to use the Tabu Design 20041 decal sheet. See Mark Palacz at www.mshobbies.com for these. Tell him GPMA sent you.

References

Above is a reference collage I put together using my digital camera and one photo I found on the web. First I spread out my book photos and take a shot of them, then I copy and paste other images to make a guide for the car I’m building. 

Books

Each of the following books has several photos of the 126C2 from the early 1982 season races.

Alan Henry, Ferrari: The Grand Prix Cars (Richmond, Surrey, UK: Hazelton Publishing, 1984 and Rev. 1989).

Anthony Pritchard, Ferrari Turbos: The Grand Prix Cars 1981-1988 (Bourne End, Bucks, UK: Aston Publishing/Motorbooks International, 1989). 

Ian Norris, Ed., Automobile Year No. 30: 1982/1983 (Lausanne, CH: Edita Lausanne).

Ian Bamsey, Ed., Automobile Sport 82 83 (Somerset, UK: Superprofile/J.H. Haynes).

Build Diaries/Completed Builds

For photos of a very nice example of this kit, see Eric Cole’s completed build on Automotive Forums:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=925781

KJS