1/20 Ferrari F310 F1, Monza version  BBR No. PR02  Resin plus multimedia kit  Kit includes gray resin, photo-etch, white-metal,  brass, turned aluminum, and rubber parts.  Carbon fiber decals, seat belts, tobacco markings included.  Color photo references and complete instructions.  Avg. retail: $149.95

Body

Bodywork is one-piece gray resin. The casting is excellent, with accurate and clear detailing and good panel lines. What looks like mold release is evident, so make sure you clean the bodywork thoroughly. The seat is also resin, and it's beautifully cast. The fuel filler is a highly-detailed 2-piece aluminum and photo-etched combo that looks very nice.

Chassis

Chassis pieces are the same high-quality resin, one underbody piece and two inserts for the main bodywork. Purists will want to fill in the BBR and Ferrari logos on the bottom. Others will be proud to display the evidence that licensing fees are all paid up!

The uprights, wishbones, exhausts, mirrors, cameras, and wings are white metal. They look smooth and easy to finish. Any tips on doing that are much appreciated, so send me e-mail. I'll share your advice with the group.

The end-plates are photo-etched, along with the side air dams and radiator grilles.

Engine

Who needs an engine?

Wheels

The wheels are out of this world. Each wheel is made by inserting a photo-etched inner wheel between two brass rims. Voila! you have a scale replica of a BBS F1 wheel. My only question is how do you finish fine photo-etched parts like this? The color is not quite right, but I don't want to paint them. Please write and tell me your secrets.

Tires

Tires are excellent rubber parts. I will just lightly sand these.

Markings

The kit comes with all the markings to build the Schumacher or Irvine Monza versions. Marlboros come with also. I don't know how BBR gets away with this, but maybe it's because no kid anywhere in the world will send in his own $150 to buy a kit like this.

References

A nice color reference sheet is included in the kit. I know I have lots of references for this car, but you don't need a lot. This should be an easy kit to build with what they provide.
 

Buy Rating: 8*

This kit would be a 9 if it weren't so expensive. I'm told it's easy to build, requiring only good finishing techniques and patience. It will be my first resin kit. Call me crazy to sacrifice such an expensive kit, but I just can't wait to see this thing completed. Stay tuned for a detailed build report.

*1-10 scale, 1-5 = don't buy it, 6-10 = buy it.