LB Performance Ferrari 458 Italia

[mrm]

A regular customer of mine asked me if I could convert a Ferrari 458 into the one Liberty Walk tuned up.

I gladly took on the challenge and ordered everything that was necessary.

The base for it is the 1:24 Fijimi model of the Ferrari 458 Italia.

This is what is in the box. Over all very promising looking and typical Fijimi.

This is a transkit that I am going to use. It came from Honk Kong and it includes a new front bumper, new front lip, rear wing, wheels and tires, side skirts, rear diffusor and the four fender flares.

Edited November 4, 2014 by mrm

[blackandwhite]

what was the cost of that transkit if you dont mind me asking

[ferrari87]

Oh this looks really awesome!!! Did you order from Hobby Easy? Im looking forward to building this kit myself. Have fun!

[mrm]

Honestly, guys, I don't know who the kit is made by and how much did it cost. It was sent to me from my customer, who commissioned the build. I had to find the Fujimi kit, which surprisingly was not that simple. It came from Hobby Japan and was just under $50

[mrm]

First order of business was to cut off the front bumper with a jeweler saw.

Then I glued the rocker panels and the rear bumper, which are all original kit pieces.

Gluing the resin front bumper was kind of tricky. After scratching my head a little, I decided to first glue in the headlight buckets, so I could use them to alight the front bumper. It worked out pretty good.

And now I have a complete body to work with.

[Roncla]

Thats a wicked looking car. Eightyone make a trans kit which looks like the one shown

http://www.eightyone81.com/tk010-lb-performance-458-transkit/

[mrm]

Thats a wicked looking car. Eightyone make a trans kit which looks like the one shown

http://www.eightyone81.com/tk010-lb-performance-458-transkit/

Yep. I asked and that is exactly where this transkit came from - eightyone.

[ferrari87]

looks great man. should look wicked!

[mrm]

Next the fenders were glued on. This was not all that easy and a lot sanding and adjusting was necessary.

[Pizzwizz24]

This is DEFINITELY my new favorite topic! So excited to see it posted. I too have the same exact kit planned so I'll be watching very closely. Can't wait to see how it turns out and I am certainly gonna need some advice so I hope you can give as much input as possible. Good luck! Hope it goes well for you.

BTW......for the guys asking, I ordered my transkit from Hobby Easy, as I do with most of my supplies. Shipping is ridiculously quick to USA and prices are very competitive to other online shops. The transkit I ordered is made by Hobby Design and was about the $100 range.

[Pizzwizz24]

Are you looking to finish the body in chrome?

[mrm]

Are you looking to finish the body in chrome?

NO. It will be white with carbon fiber fender flares and spoilers.

[Pizzwizz24]

NO. It will be white with carbon fiber fender flares and spoilers.

Sounds good

[ferrari87]

BTW......for the guys asking, I ordered my transkit from Hobby Easy, as I do with most of my supplies. Shipping is ridiculously quick to USA and prices are very competitive to other online shops. The transkit I ordered is made by Hobby Design and was about the $100 range.

I do as well. I ordered on 30 October and the entire order was here Monday. I'm STILL waiting on my order from Hobby Linc. Gotta give those guys 2-3 days just to process the order, let alone pull it from their stock and then ship it. Anyway, Hobby Easy seemingly has EVERYTHING! Them and Hobby Link Japan.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Beautiful subject...certainly one of the best looking exotics of recent design.

Great looking work, too. Nice tight, clean fitment of the aftermarket bits. Care, patience and a critical eye at this stage make all the difference.

[Tonioseven]

I'm DEFINITELY gonna watch this one!!! I lOVE this car!!!

http://www.speedhunters.com/2014/08/liberty-walk-works-458-challenge/

[mrm]

I'm DEFINITELY gonna watch this one!!! I lOVE this car!!!

http://www.speedhunters.com/2014/08/liberty-walk-works-458-challenge/

That's the look we are going for. Just a little less decals.

[PatW]

I like the idea so...................

Is it going to look something like this?

Edited November 9, 2014 by PatW

[JesseJames]

What a beautiful 'Rari the 458 is... Can't wait to see more of this one!

[mrm]

I like the idea so...................

Is it going to look something like this?

Not color wise. The wheels are going to be black and the entire fender flares are going to be carbon fiber. I guess at the end there may be more black looking parts on the car than white.

[djmcguire]

Liberty Walk's 458 just got crushed by a Jeep that rear-ended it in the SEMA parking lot. Lots of fiberglass crunching and the rear wing was definitely gone. You can find it on YouTube...

[PatW]

OK Michael I'll continue to watch your build with great interest! I've got the Toyota 86 with all the bits plus two extra packs of wide arches (fenders) coming from HLJ. Hopefully I can fit the extra arches to a few Porsche 911's I have on the shelf!

Edited November 10, 2014 by PatW

[ferrari87]

Omg. I'd have lost my sh*t if I was in the 458. It wasnt as bad as i was expecting.

[flo9mr]

This is looking awesome!!! I want to build one soo bad, will be following this one closely. Eightyone parts are flawless

[Pizzwizz24]

I like the idea so...................

Is it going to look something like this?

The white with red wheels is the look that got me to purchase the aftermarket kit for mine. Although Michael has a great color combo that has me thinking otherwise. I think either way it can't go wrong. Can't wait to see yours all done and finally get mine started.