Projects I’m working on appear below. Completed projects get moved off this page and into the Build Diaries list.
updated 7 March 2024
1978 Lotus 79 (Hasegawa, 1:20)
Instead of building another really old F1 kit from the stash, I decided to do this – a new release from Hasegawa, the Lotus 79 from the 1978 German Grand Prix, but this is the Detail Up version that includes extra parts and photo etch. Kit number 52298 (also listed as SP498), it’s 1:20 scale (same as the Tamiya Grand Prix series) in plastic with rubber tyres.
I plan to do this as an out-of-box build of Mario Andretti’s car #5 as he won the race on the way to becoming World Champion.
I did an unboxing video for this kit on YouTube – watch it HERE.
1991 Ferrari 643 (Rosso, 1:8)
I never thought I’d see, never mind build, one of these kits. It’s the big 1/8 scale version of the Ferrari 643 by Japanese manufacturer, Rosso Corporation.
Just after this model was produced in 1992, there was a fire at the Rosso factory which destroyed the production equipment and much of the stock of this model (ref: Wikipedia). The company never recovered and this promising model manufacturer was declared bankrupt.
With limited supply reaching retailers, the prices for this kit on eBay are rather spectacular. Cutting edge in its day, the model actually lacks detail that you’d expect in a similar scale modern kit.
I should point out, this kit is not mine. The owner made a start on it many years ago and has commissioned me to finish it off. He’s also given me authority to share the kit and the build process.
We have yet to decide the level of detail for the build. Some beautiful after market items have been produced over the years, but to go “full spec” might cost way more than what the model is worth (assuming the parts can still be found).