Model Factory Hiro has always been know for great kits. Most of their kits are focused on Ferrari's of the '50's, '60's, and '70's. When this line of kits was announced, most people wondered why they were doing the 330P4's when Fujimi and a couple of other manufactures had created many examples. Several resin kits were out there including the CMA, Island Collectibles, and Climax. Once the kits did come out, MFH chose the most common ones including the '67 LeMans entrants and the '67 Daytona winner. This review is about the '67 Spyder that won the 24 Hours of Daytona. CMA and Island Collectibles had both produced a version of this kit, but both were curbsides. The MFH kit is a full detail version which includes a removable rear and front bonnet. MFH also produced the 412P that was a close variant which will be the subject of a later review.
BODY
The first thing that one notices is that the body is made entirely of metal. This is both a blessing and an upset. Since it is metal, it is very forgiving and any warpage can be easily fixed. Plus if you go too far with the sanding stick, you can simply add some solder. The downside to this is that it will create a very heavy model and any details will be softer than what can be done in resin. Overall though, the body looks very good. It definitely resembles the Fujimi kit, but lacks all of the rivets on the rear.
The rear bonnet is nicely done. The hinge is already molded in place. Almost all of the extra details needed will be added by either photoetch or other metal parts. From the picture you can see some of the grain in the metal. This will require some sanding, but overall, it is still a good kit.
CHASSIS
The chassis is a simple plate. Almost everything goes on top of this but connects to the tub. The main tub is one piece with a separate seat. The upholstery is correct with the ribs going vertical.
PHOTOETCH
There are three sheets of photoetch. One fret is for the brake discs. The medium sized sheet is made up specifically for the 330P4's. As you can see by the rear windshield outline, not all of the pieces will be needed. It does include a nice heat shield for the exhaust and a set of Firestone stencils. The large sheet was made for the 412's, but most of the items are interchangable with the 330's. The main details are the various grills, the tub extensions, and the "luggage" compartments. As with the other sheet, there are several that are not needed for the 330P4 as they are either unique to other variants or used just for the 412.
OTHER TIDBITS
I took several pics of the small metal parts. It would be nearly impossible to comment on everything. Everything looks good overall, but some things will need straightening out. Just be careful as the metal may break. If you take your time preassembling everything, things will go a lot smoother.
CONCLUSIONS
The kit is expensive as are all MFH kits, but to me it is a nice addition to my collection. I did not get a picture of the decals as they are stored in a set of notebooks in a separate room. They do look good and are up to their standards. This kit will require a large amount of time to assemble and paint. Overall the quality is excellent even though it is not their greatest effort. The 412P is very similar in nature with a few exceptions in the engine bay and bonnet. I will post a review of the all white NART version sometime in the coming weeks. Also, look for the review of the HRM engine transkit. That is a feasible alternative to those that want to do the coupe with full engine detail. If you are a 24 Hours of Daytona fan, this would make a great addition to your collection. I could not find a picture of the real car for comparison.