Build Process

On this page you can see the work involved in building a 1/43rd scale white metal model. The subject involved is a Ferrari F2000 based on car from the Australian GP in 2000. The photographs are taken at 4 hour intervals showing the process from 280 parts in a box to a fully built and completely accurate scaled down version of the real car.

All The Parts

Opposite is a photograph of the parts to construct a 1/43rd Scale Ferrari F2000 kit by BBR.

This kit contains :

14 white metal parts
4 Turned brass wheels
3 Plastic parts
4 Rubber Tyres
108 Photoetched parts
147 Individual Decals

Total 280 pieces

Progress After 4 Hours

Body shell and floor have been cleaned up and all imperfections removed. On this particular model the shell is very well cast and there is very little filling required.
Suspension, mirror, aerial and driveshaft holes have been drilled. Side plates of rear wheel air deflectors have been added along with front wing mounting point.
Front wing has been built and drilled for mounting points.
The four wheel hubs have been built with discs and calipers, all painted the correct colours and Brembo decals added to the caliper sides.

Progress After 8 Hours

Bodyshell and front wing have been sprayed red, the floor has been sprayed black and all are ready for decals to be fitted.
The rear wing has been constructed, painted, all decals added and is now ready for clearcoat.
The steering wheel has been fitted with gearchange paddles to instrument panel, painted and all decals applied.

Progress After 12 Hours

All sponsor Decals added to bodyshell and front wing. Carbon fibre decals added to floor and inside of cockpit. Inside of exhaust exits painted.

Progress After 16 Hours

Bodyshell and wings given two coats of gloss clearcoat. Floor, carbon fibre parts of rear wing, steering wheel assembly and exhaust exits given two coats of matt clearcoat. Radiators painted and fitted to floor. Exhaust pipes inserted in exhaust exits.Seat fitted, seatbelts built, decaled and attached to seat. Steering wheel fitted into cockpit. Rear suspension currently being built.

Progress After 20 Hours

Rear suspension build completed, painted matt black and fitted to bodyshell along with wheel hubs. Front suspension built, painted and fitted. Front wheel hubs attached to suspension along with brake ducts. Bargeboards painted and ready for fitting. Wheels built, painted, decaled and clearcoated. Mirrors ready for painting.

Progress After 24 Hours

Front and rear wings fitted. Tyres fitted to wheels, fixed to hubs, wheel nuts positioned and painted. Tyre decals added and matt clearcoated. Floor screwed onto bodyshell. Bargeboards fitted to floor and bodyshell. Mirrors fixed, painted, decalled and gloss clearcoated. 3 aerials added and painted. Whole model polished to deep shine.

Another one for the display cabinet !

Click here for larger completed model photo