I just picked this kit up at the last Hobby Lobby 50% off sale, and was wondering if anyone out there in modeling land has built it. It looks to be a great build, but sometimes, you just never know. Any critiques, good or bad, are most welcome.
Also, did Tamiya misspell the car name? I always thought it was “Spyder”, not “Spider”.
I haven’t built the spider, but I have built the Modena version of the kit (hard top version). It was a very nice kit. The fit of parts was fine from what I can remember, and it looks accurate in shape too. I’m guessing that the spider will be of similar quality.
BTW, I’m pretty sure it is spelt “Spider”. Spider is just what the Italians call the convertible versions of their cars.
Dear Devil Dawg
If its Tamiya, its a great build. I have not built that particular car, but loads of other ones and they go together well.
And yes it is spelt Spyder.
It should just fall together, at least my regular Modena did. The only thing you should do is to glue the lower part of the body before painting as I ruined a beautiful paint job when I was attaching them on mine. The paint also builds up and makes the fit somewhat poor. So when I get around to strip and re-paint mine I’ll go that route instead of the instruction way.
Good luck!
Niclas
It’s a very nice kit, as others have mentioned. Here’s mine:
The engine’s particularly nice, and even has little chrome-plated “Ferrari” metal transfers. I almost bought the regular Modena kit when I was at Tamiya/Con last weekend, and now I’m kicking myself because I didn’t!
Matt Usher @ FSM
It’s a good kit, not quite up to the “Tamiya” standard on their current kit (on the other hand, even the older Tamiya kits are better than most other manufactures current offerings) but I found it an easy build and finishes up nicely with a high gloss Ferrari red paint job.
I’ve never gone wrong with a Tamiya kit…
ohhhhhhh I was at TamiyaCon also, and I DID get the Modena…and the shuttle, and some tanks, and some planes…11 kits in all…lol Did you enter anything?! It’s a shame I didn’t know you were going to be there I woulda loved to have sat down and chatted with ya a bit. I know sometimes there is some tension on the forums, but I assure you, I am a very reasonable person in…well person…lol I didn’t enter anything spectacular, but I entered a Mini cooper with stars on it, a F4U-2 Corsair with the wood base, the British Rover Ambulance, and a Panther early version w/Zimmerit. All box stock except for the Corsair. If you go next year, you can’t dodge me, you have to kick down some knowledge on your car builds!
I was there both days for the magazine. It was my first time at Tamiya/Con, and I didn’t enter anything – I wasn’t sure I wanted to carry models all the way from Wisconsin to California. If I go again, I probably will, though. I brought home the 1/12 Ferrari 312 and the Subaru Impreza WRC car, and both of those would make great candidates.
If I go again next year, I’ll make sure to post something here in advance so folks will know I’m there.
Matt Usher @ FSM
Thanks for the comments, guys. I am very aware of Tamiya’s reputation and quality, and I appreciate everyone’s advice about Tamiya kits, even though I was only asking about this particular kit. Thanks again for all of the comments. Looks like I’ll be having an enjoyable time with this one.