ManiacalTyrant

I’ve always thought my works to be, uh, decent, considering I’ve only built Gundam models and plane models up until very recently. But this is insane: if I didn’t read the WIP on this, I would NOT believe that this is a model car.

This is a Tamiya kit, in 1/24 scale. 1/24 freaking scale (that’s like, 15 cm long in real life). And here’s the real car, for comparison.

Here’s another one that made me poop my pants in amazement. It’s also in 1/24 scale.

Since it’s in 1/24 scale, I would just kindly like to remind you how friggin’ small most of the parts are. For example, the entire hood opening is just about 6 – 7 cm long, and 4 – 5 cm wide. Just to put it in perspective.

If you want to see the entire thread (or if you’re convinced I’m lying to you), here they are:

JGTC 350Z WIP -

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=718146

Peter Maxx NASCAR WIP - 

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=420758

Peter Maxx NASCAR Completed thread -

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t479453.html

Suddenly, I am almost ashamed to show my own works.

Today I just took out and cleaned up most of the parts. Most of the parts have their flash sanded off, etc. From what I see so far, this is typical Tamiya quality. Barely any mold lines, almost no flash, and most injection marks are hidden in places not seen. Only downside is that this kit is curbside. Oh well.

The individual sprues/ parts:

On a side note, in an effort to conserve storage space, these pictures are linked, instead of uploaded, which means they may break over time. Just a warning.

The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is Ferrari’s ‘Gran Turismo’ coupe, which replaced the 575 M Maranello in 2007. It’s powered by a 6.0 L V12 engine, and with 612 HP backed by 448 lb ft or torque, it is Ferrari’s most powerful normal production car (as far as ‘normal’ can go for Ferrari). It also costs about $264, 000. Standard Ferrari fare.

And, in case we were thinking that shelling an excess of 250 thousand dollars wasn’t POSSIBLY enough to satisfy us, they recently opened the One to One Personalization Program. It’s like, this thing that lets you go to the factory where the 599 GTB is being made, in Maranello and directly work with Ferrari’s consultants to make your very own ‘unique’ Ferrari (since Ferrari’s totally AREN’T unique enough yet). Apparently, there are over a thousand options to personalize your 599 GTB with. Yay?

Also, the GTB is the first Ferrari to come with iPod connectivity as a standard feature. I guess even Ferraris are evil now*.

*http://maniacaltyrant.personallog.org/2008/09/18/ipods/

(Just wanted to try out focussing my camera on different objects and see the effect.)

I’ll get some better pictures in as soon the weather clears.

For polishing the body of the model, I employed the use of something I have actually never used. Tamiya Polishing Compounds!

That’s all for today (short update today…).

After lots of swearing, Tamiya masking tape, and cuts on my finger (thanks to a sharp hobby knife), the body was masked and prepped for the black bodytrim painting.

As you might’ve noticed, my Space Marine has become something of a mascot for my posts. 

Next up, the unveiling, polishing, and waxing.

Since I’ve used up too much of the storage space. Or, at least, less images. With my all-new ’storage space convervation act’, I will use links instead of pictures. This doesn’t mean there’ll be no pictures. Just less.

=\

Sometimes, you can just never guess what the Japanese will pull out of their asses. A great example is the Suzuki Escudo (known as the Sidekick/ Vitara here). 

Yeah, remember this car? You practically see it every day, driven by ’soccer mums’. It featured 1.4 L, 1.6L, and for the daring, a whooping 1.8 L S4 engine (/sarcasm)! However, the Escudo was eventually dropped off the North American market in 2003. Anyways, I was saying that Japanese were crazy, right?

Enter hillclimbing: it’s a branch of motorsport where drivers compete against the clock reach the finish. So, basically, it’s an uphill version of rally. It’s usually held in the Alps or some other mountains. So, if I said that the Suzuki Escudo whooped everyone’s butts in the late 1900’s, would you be surprised? Yes?

This beast is Suzuki’s interpretation of hillclimbing. The Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak Edition (EPPE). You might be saying, “so?”, but wait. Just look at this thing. Have you ever seen a front spoiler that big? How about that rear wing? And the cherry on top of the awesome sundae, this car has CARBON FIBER HEADLIGHTS. Not only do those not work, but are like the insane Japanese version of painted headlights (eat your heart out, NASCAR). Oh, and the EPPE has 987 HP supported by a 4WD system. But who cares? It has carbon fiber headlights.

(PS. Japanese are crazy. Have I mentioned that yet?)