Fujimi 1/24 Enzo Ferrari

The Enzo Ferrari is a 12-cylinder mid-engine sports car named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It is currently the most powerful naturally aspirated production car in the world. It was built in 2003 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fibre body, F1-style sequential shift transmission, and carbon-ceramic brake discs. Also used are technologies not allowed in F1 such as active aerodynamics. After a downforce of 775 kg (1709 lb) is reached at 300 km/h (186 mph) the rear wing is actuated by computer to maintain that downforce.

The Enzo's V12 engine is the first of a new generation for Ferrari. It is based on the architecture of the V8 found in sister-company Maserati's Quattroporte, using the same basic architecture and 104 mm (4.1 in) bore spacing. This design will replace the former architectures seen in V12 and V8 engines used in most other contemporary Ferraris. The 2005 F430 is the second Ferrari to get a version of this new powerplant. In 2004, Sports Car International named the Enzo Ferrari number three on their list of Top Sports Cars of the 2000s.

Motor Trend Classic named the Enzo as number four in their list of the ten "Greatest Ferraris of all time".

Only 400 were built. All were offered to previous Ferrari owners and the production run was sold before any car left the factory. Want a used one? You'll need a minimum of $1,000,000.

Fujimi has a well deserved reputation for building quality car kits and this one of the Enzo is no different. Like many of its offerings, this one is a curbside (which means it does not have a complete engine or a hood that opens).

The one piece body is superbly molded in red (though many will choose to paint it anyway). There are two sprues of plated parts. One is for the aluminum wheels and the other is for various interior parts and the exhaust tips. Vinyl or rubber is used for the tires.

Of the other sprues, two are in red for the interior pieces and the rest are black for the chassis components and pan. The front wheels are designed to be able to be turned, but based on my GT 40 experience, it is best to fix them in place. There is a rather complete looking upper engine molded behind the passenger compartment piece with much of it to be painted in aluminum. Much of the interior is to be painted black, despite being molded in red. The instructions would have you mix a semi-gloss black by adding 10% matte base to their gloss black. This is the shade used for much of the interior.

The car has extensive glass and Fujimi supplies a set of masks to help in painting. I should mention that it looks as if the modeler will need to cut the masks out as they do not appear to be preformed. Fortunately, the design of the kit is such that attaching the body to the chassis is the last step so it makes for easier painting and no worries about scratching things up in the process of mounting as the mounting posts are all well away from the edges of the body itself.

The instructions are excellent with some English and a short color chart based on Gunze paints. The decal sheet is well done and should provide no surprises.

If you like Ferraris, modern exotic sports cars, or have a fondness for cars that just look cool, then this is the kit for you. It is one that should provide a trouble-free build and result in a beauty of a car for the shelf.

http://en.wikipedia.org

March 2008

My thanks to www.dragonmodelsusa.com for providing the preview kit. Get yours today at your local shop or ask them to order one for you.