The first thing you notice is that the kit isn't in one of those sturdy cardboard boxes. Instead it is in a plastic toolbox. I for one think it is a nifty idea considering it can be used to put your tools in or to even carry the kit to a contest or two.
At the very bottom of the "toolbox" you will find a very small set of photoetch. MFH has started to put the window trim in metal instead of molding it in. This makes painting easier and keeps it crisp. There are also three representations of door handles and three "Z's." These are the Zagato body emblems. I would say those emblems would have been better off on a backed PE sheet, but if you are careful, you should be alright.
Also, at the bottom is a set of decals. Two full sheets are included which is nice since there are some white decals on there. The colors are very vibrant and the package itself if very well protected as it comes incased in a nice clear plastic envelope and has wax paper on both sides. The wax may rub off onto the decals, but that is okay as it can be wiped off after they are applied.
BODY and CHASSIS
The body is molded in the same white resin that the current kits contain. It has a slightly rough texture that will help with paint adhesion, but it still needs to be sanded some. Overall there are no defects other than minor flash. MFH has gotten their molding down to an art. It appears as though they definitely use a pressure system to ensure everything comes out right. BTW, the car is extremely small. I saw a picture on the internet with two guys inside, and it looked like they could have had more room in a go-kart.
The rear has some nice details. It appears as though they nailed the shape of the rear window perfectly. The lines all flow very nice just like the real thing. You'll also notice that they have included positive locating points for all of the external hardware.
The chassis plate also includes the interior subfloor. In there you'll find locators for the seats, pedals, and the shifter boot. The interior is very basic just like the real thing.
The bottom of the chassis plate is just about bare except the "engine" detail and locator for the exhaust. The ribbing is there for the oil pan. The dimples are for the screws that connect the chassis plate to the body.
INTERIOR
The dash is really nice yet simple. The instruments are all represented by decals. On the far right their apears to be a radio molded in.
The rest of the interior consist of a rear bulkhead, side panels, and two seats. All require to cleaning of the injection points. The resin should be easy to cut and sand. The side panels are nicely made with all the appropriate handles and even map pockets.
OTHER TIDBITS
The vacuum formed pieces are of the usual quality. I seriously wish though manufacturers would always include two sets. The tires are little gems. They are extremely small and include a very nice tread pattern indicitive of the era. The two brass rods are the axles.
The wheels come with separate hubcaps. The hub detail is nice. If you look close you'll see an emergency brake lever and two small emblems. One simply reads "Fiat" while the other reads "Fiat ABARTH 750." This is the first I have seen of these in any of MFH kits. Usually their emblems are all photoetch.
The next bits of metal are all white metal plated with nickle. These include the steering wheel, turn signals, brake lights, mirrors, door handles, shifter, some interior parts, and the grill. All are very nice and have the chrome look of that era. These should be able to be used without any modification except the steering wheel which will need some paint.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall I am very pleased with this kit. I look forward to their next releases in this series. The only complaint I have is the absence of any color diagrams for the decals. The instructions are two pages but don't need to be any more complex. If you want one of these, act fast as there are only 50 made. I have seen a handful sold already so they might not be available much longer. You can get them directly from MFH or Strada Sports.
