599 California Spider project

I had to make a model for someone in Nero Daytona (metallic black) and I had lot of paint left over. So I looked at the 250 California Spider in my case and thought <what a beautiful car in such an ugly color (the factory ruby red from Mattel). The execution of the model was not great either. So I made a copy of a car I had seen pictures of somewhere. If I had the money to own a Cali Spider, this would be the combo I would like.
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About the same time I bought a 599 (red) from the economy range together with a Superamerica. What a disappointment. The hood were plastic, the brake detail was all there but just everything being black. The Superamerica doesn't even have decals for the instruments- it's just a black void. The 599's interior is a completely different molding-everything being molded together as one piece.
The engine is just disgusting etc.
So I decided that something had to be done with these two.
Sinice I loved the way the 250 Cali came out, I decided to make a modern version of it from the 599.

 

I had to keep the model in the same spirit, so I thought that it needed to have chrome A-pillars, chrome door handles and somewhat flashy chrome wheels with as many spokes as possible, but keeping it Ferrari style. Since the car has its engine derived from the Enzo-why not have the wheels derived from the Enzo too. And because convertibles are usually heavier than their coupe siblings, the only brakes for this model should be carbon (hence the darker color)
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About the interior I wanted same treatment as the 250 so it is all red with black accents. I needed to balance the chrome on the A-pillars so the luggage rack behind the seats received some chroming.
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The 250 Cali has aluminum grille and headlight housings so it was only natural to imitate it on the 599 (except for a slightly darker/more modern color on the headlights). At this point it made sense to me to put some grilling on the two side intakes as the model came with plane gaping holes. I really don't know how can HW get away with some of the crap they sell with "ferrari authorized item" stickers on it. On the cheaper models with plastic hoods, the colors don't match between the hoods (not painted but just molded in colored plastic) and the rest of the model. My "economy" 430CH does not even have interior rear window. WTF!!??
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What is left to do now is just some emblems and details and a nice shine. Some touch ups maybe.Stay tuned.....

 

Oh yeah-I almost forgot. A hard top is in the works to keep with the 250 spirit. And of course it would be silver.

 

Yeah! Me too. So I can go to the other 20 or so projects I have going on.

 

The trunk lid originally has a cavallino rampante on it. However to stay with my 250 theme I put a Ferrari script and a lock on it.
Very subtle retro.
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I'll post more pictures when I finish it tonight. After I put the little one in bed.
Those wheels do not exist. I made them myself and this is the only set. Maybe sometime in the future I would make molds of them, but is not going to be soon.

 

I use DREMMEL motor tool to cut or grind almost everything.Al tho you can do it by hand with a hack-saw.

 

Whoooo Hoooooo.....
It is finally done. A month ago or so I was thinking that this moment would never come.
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Some more.....
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OK last few...
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Now what I have left to do is the Daytona Spider in the same color combo (which was also started some time ago) and I would have my dream trio. 3 generations of totally awesome cars.

 

Well, I absolutely agree with you, but since I was going after the 250 California Spider look I wanted to make a hard top for it, which I am. This is why I left the lines the way they are. It is way more fluid this way. By the way the top would be silver (totally Cali Spider) I just haven't figured it out completely.
Before I do it I need to finish the following:
1:12 Gallardo
a Diablo
360 Challenge Stradale
355 GTB
360 Novitec Spider
F430 Novitec Spider
optioned out F430
Optioned out Superamerica
Testarossa Spider
Testarossa Spider (Giani Agneli)
Hamman 599
hamann 612
An actually realistic looking288GTO
F40 LM
F40 GTE
the aforementioned Daytona
250 Lusso
166 (Giani Agneli)
250 Breadvan
348 spider
348 Zagato
and a couple of Enzos
So you probably would not see the top soon, but the good news is that I have material to keep you guys entertained for at least another year.

 

I don't have to do all of them, as the majority are just for me. However I would like to make them because of the challenges they provide.

 

Nothing special. Just replicating Robbie's car. I think it would be the last car I'm making for him. If he sells his 355 collection he could probably park a 308 next to that yellow beauty. I don't know how many he has by now, but it is a lot.