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Rarely I’m building street versions of the supercars. I was honestly waiting for the Tecnomodel F430 GT when, upon request, I started working on one of the latest release from Fujimi: the Ferrari F430 Option Version, which differs from the standard one for the BBS wheels and the racing seats. Hmm… that’s ok, not a pure street version …it sounds better. The project will feature some improvements in the engine bay and, for the first time, I’ll use a Crazy Modeler product, a specific etched upgrading set intended for the Fujimi tool. Let’s go on.

The car

The F430 marks the arrival of a brand new generation of Ferrari 8-cylinder models. This new car takes Ferrari’s extraordinary achievements with aluminium technology, begun with the 360 Modena, to a whole new level, and offers a series of extremely significant innovations directly derived from the Ferrari Formula 1 single-seaters.

Two of these innovations are world premieres for production cars: the electronic differential (E-Diff) and the steering wheel-mounted switch (better known to the Formula 1 Scuderia’s drivers as "manettino"), which manages the integrated systems governing vehicle dynamics.

The other main characteristics of the new F430 are its light, compact 4,300 cc 90° V8 engine, which punches out 490 hp to achieve a specific output of 114 hp/litre, also providing the new Ferrari berlinetta with a weight-to-power ratio of 2.8 kg/hp (dry weight); a braking system with carbon-ceramic discs for optimal efficiency under extreme use (optional); a Formula 1-derived gearbox that cuts gear shifting times down to 150 milliseconds allowing the driver to make the very most of this truly high performance car (0-62 mph acceleration in 4 seconds flat, a top speed exceeding 196 mph/315 kmh) and an aerodynamic design that embodies the very latest competition technologies, specifically the flat underbody and large rear diffuser to increase downforce.

The kit

With the recently acquired Ferrari official licensee, Fujimi started a massive production of the latest cars of the prancing horse, including some re-issues.

Manufacturing philosophy is the same applied on their previous 550/575M, so even the F430 Option Version is a simple essential kit, at a first sight easy to assemble, for a total of 98 pieces. Volumes and shape generally rather well captured, I still have a doubt concerning the line of the rear fenders, too horizontal in the model. Overall engraving on the body is good but definitely on the soft side. Cockpit elements honestly reproduced, at least better than the F430 standard version. Tires, just fine, are molded in a economical way, engraving could be better and there is only a small Pirelli logo on the sidewalls. BBS wheels very well reproduced, formally correct in the diameter but too small for the model; the final visual impact is not so pleasant in my opinion. Well done the brake discs. Side skirts, headlight housings and front bumper air intakes are molded separately. Rear bumper grilles, instead, are molded-in. Engine and related parts are just a sign, a three-pieces part located under the rear window. Fine the clear parts. Simple instruction leaflet.

The process, step by step

As mentioned, the front air intakes are molded separately. A big plus, which makes easier the painting. Since the Crazy Modeler set provides the front grilles, it is necessary to remove the molded-in items. I carried out the operation drilling at first several holes around their perimeter, milling away the inner portion with a motortool and refining the parts with files and sandpapers. The intakes have been primed and then sprayed with metallic anthracite. The etched grilles fit perfectly the kit parts.

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