Building the Ferrari 458
By: Rich Vecchio Date: 5/26/2015
Summary
The 1/24 Revell 458 Italia plastic model kit was an easy build and fits into Electron Raceways Sports Car Class. The 458 may be one of the most competitive bodies in the class because of its wide track, low center of gravity and very large wheel openings that easily accommodate scale wheels. The class also specifies a production chassis and sealed 16 D type motor. I selected the Scholer i55-1360 Intruder 1/32 chassis and a Pro Slot 2002 Speed FX balanced sealed 16D motor as a power plant. In testing, the car performed quite turning near course record lap times. The car will make its racing debut at the next Electron Raceway Triathlon. I will update this article subsequent to that event.
Background
For several years, Electron Raceway has relied upon the tried and true formula of racing scale-wheeled, production chassis based, sealed motor powered plastic model kits. Chassis modifications are quite limited and have been optimized over time. With such well-defined specifications, body selection is often the difference between success and failure in any given class.
The Sports Car Class is the latest addition to our racing program. Electron Raceways Sports Car Class features a production Scholer or Plafit chassis sporting scale wheels. Power is provided by a Deathstar or ProSlot 2002 Speed FX balanced sealed 16D motor. We are also experimenting with the ProSlot 4002 FK sealed motor as well. Legal bodies include production or racing sports cars models with a maximum width of 3.3 inches. Open cockpit cars are not permitted. Can-Am and Gran Sport cars (endurance cars of the mid-60s and early 70s such as the Porsche 906, 917, Ferrari 512, Ford GT-40) are excluded because each run in their own distinct class.
Prior builds for the class included a Ford GT and a Ferrari Modena coupe. Both have their limitations (see images below). The Ford GT has a relatively narrow front track, while the Modenas rear wheel openings require that the scale wheels be tucked under the body. The 458 exhibits neither of these problems.
Both Fujimi and Revell produce 1/24 Ferrari 458s. I selected the Revell kit because it was less expensive. Both kits have a one piece body, but the Fujimi kit has many more detailed parts unnecessary for a slot car build (box art shown below). For the purist, Studio 27 sells Ferrari 458 decals sets in a wide variety of liveries. However, I was not about to pay $15 plus shipping for the privilege (see a couple examples of the Studio 27 decal sets below).
