Alright, let’s talk about this red Ferrari F40 project I just wrapped up. It’s been sitting on my shelf for a bit, and I finally got the itch to build it.
First off, I cracked open the box. Always love that moment, seeing all the parts trees laid out. Lots of plastic bits, as you’d expect. Gave everything a quick once-over to make sure nothing was broken or missing. Looked pretty good.
Next step, I washed all the plastic parts. Just some warm water and a bit of dish soap, then let them air dry completely. Gets rid of any mold release agent they use at the factory, helps the paint stick better later on. Learned that lesson the hard way years ago!
Getting the Body Ready
I started with the main body shell. Glued the main pieces together. There were a few seam lines, you know, where the plastic parts join up. So, I spent some time sanding those down nice and smooth. Used different grits of sandpaper, starting coarse and finishing fine. Then, I hit it with a coat of primer. This helps spot any imperfections I missed and gives the final color a good base.
Painting Time – The Red!
This was the big one – getting that Ferrari red just right. I decided to use spray cans for this build. Easier cleanup sometimes. I laid down several thin coats of red paint. Patience is key here. You rush it, you get drips. Let each coat dry properly before the next one. It took a few days, going back and forth, letting it cure. The color started to really pop, which was cool to see.
Building the Insides
While the body paint was drying, I worked on the interior.
- Assembled the bucket seats.
- Put together the dashboard, painted the little details on the dials.
- Glued in the steering wheel and gear shifter.
It’s pretty basic inside, just like the real F40, but getting the flat black finish right took a bit of fiddling.
The Engine Block
Then came the engine. Lots of small parts here. Glued the block together, added the turbochargers (iconic F40 stuff!), painted various bits silver, black, and metallic colors. It’s not super detailed out of the box, but it looks the part once assembled and painted. Fit it into the chassis frame.
Chassis and Wheels
Built up the chassis next. Attached the suspension components, front and rear. Then put the wheels together. Painted the brake calipers red, of course. Got the wheels mounted onto the axles. Seeing it start to look like a car is always a good feeling.
Bringing It All Together
This is where it gets exciting. I carefully lowered the painted body onto the completed chassis. Lined everything up, made sure it sat right. Glued it securely. Then came the fiddly bits – installing the clear parts for the windows and headlights. Used special clear glue for this so it wouldn’t fog the plastic. Added the taillights too.
Finishing Touches
Last step was the decals. The Ferrari badges, the F40 logo. Applied those carefully with some water and decal solution. Let them dry completely. Gave the whole car a gentle polish with some modeling wax to bring out the shine on that red paint.
And that’s pretty much it! Stood back and looked at the finished model. Pretty happy with how this red F40 turned out. It wasn’t perfect, couple of small spots I might touch up later, but overall, a really satisfying build. Looks great on the shelf. Now, what to build next?
