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This is a great little kit from Bburago (cod.5172) released in a pivotal time in their kit form evolution. It offers the best of the old with 4 operating panels as well as the new with clean well chased castings, great paint and fabulously detailed engine and drivetrain. In the early 80s, a new international racing formula - Group B - was launched, and Ferrari made plans to produce a 200-off "homologation special" which had the look of the 308/328 GTB but was a different animal under the skin. 4.4" longer in wheelbase, a wider track and distinctive side vents behind the rear wheels. Under the skin, this car is gutted out and ready for war. The body shell itself is an interesting mix of fibreglass, Kevlar, Nomex and honeycomb aluminum. Propelled by a longitudinally mounted 400 hp 2.855 liter twin cam turbo V8 married to a new 5-speed gearbox, it was the fastest Ferrari road car to date. Unfortunately, the Group 5 formula was outlawed before this car could ever hit the track. 272 of these were ultimately produced and a good number of them went direct from showroom to storage as instant classics.
T
his diecast is replica of the car presented at the 1984 Geneva Motor Show. Nicely finished in French racing blue which I assume is a result of its sponsorship by the French oil conglomerate Total. Bburago has captured the sensuous lines of this car. The panels are simple hinges but they seat positively and the shutlines are pretty tight. The engine detail is as good as you'll find in a kit. Little touches like the the Ferrari script on the trans casing really impresses the eye. The heads are classic Ferrari red, but because they are obscured by the twin turbo, the fins in the intercoolers are also painted red.
The interior is well done with much of the hardware in chrome. It accurately reflects the spartan business-like cockpit of a racing road car. The livery transfer are by Art and although they are btight, opaque and capable of negotiating all the compound curves and infinite number of louvers (a lot of Solvaset on this project), a couple of the colors were slightly off register and I had to do a little touchup painting to even out the white borders on some of the signage. I recommend sealing the livery with a clear acrylic like Future Floor Finish..
(11/08/2004)
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