Just found this F40 how to get it looking good again?

Just found this F40 how to get it looking good again?

Author
Discussion

Daston

Original Poster:

6,075 posts

203 months

Monday 9th May 2016
quotequote all
So going though some boxes that I haven't looked inside of since we moved and found my burago 1/18 scale F40. I remember my Dad getting this for me when I was around 6 or 7 and loved it. Sadly its looking a little sorry for itself and I wish to bring it back to its former glory.

I am an experienced war-games modeler but not tackled any die-cast restores.

Here is what I am dealing with























Everything appears to be in good order, decals are still on the interior (under the dust) and the bodywork has all the clips etc.

The front right wishbone seems to have taken a whack at some point tho.



Are there any sites that do upgrade kits or spare parts for these? Or am I better of making my own out of brass rod?

Also if I unscrew the 6 screws along the bottom am I able to lift the body off?



PanzerCommander

5,026 posts

218 months

Tuesday 10th May 2016
quotequote all
I'm going to follow this with interest as I have the exact same model in a cupboard which is also looking a bit sorry for its self.

EagleMoto4-2

669 posts

104 months

Tuesday 10th May 2016
quotequote all
These can be totally disassembled so should have no trouble restoring it. Just undo the screws you mentioned and the body will split in half along the grooves that are painted black on the real car.
I painted the interior of mine back in the day. Plastic polish should sort out the misty windows, unless that is just a layer of dust? Likewise the body might need polishing as well.
Depends whether you want to just clean it up or want to paint the interior as well?

Daston

Original Poster:

6,075 posts

203 months

Tuesday 10th May 2016
quotequote all
EagleMoto4-2 said:
These can be totally disassembled so should have no trouble restoring it. Just undo the screws you mentioned and the body will split in half along the grooves that are painted black on the real car.
I painted the interior of mine back in the day. Plastic polish should sort out the misty windows, unless that is just a layer of dust? Likewise the body might need polishing as well.
Depends whether you want to just clean it up or want to paint the interior as well?
The interior and engine bay might be given a fresh lick of paint (nothing that I can't handle). I would like to rub down the body work and repaint it but don't want to lose the decals. I guess I could attempt to remove them but not sure if that is possible.

The windows is a mixture of dust and UV damage.

marcosgt

11,021 posts

176 months

Tuesday 10th May 2016
quotequote all
I'm sure it has sentimental attachment (I have the same one) and a quick clean as suggested will help, but you're not likely to find any 'transkit' like sets for the Burago - It was always more of a toy than an adult model.

Kyosho make a great F40, if you want something more detailed. Even some of the HW models are fairly good.

M.

ferrisbueller

29,328 posts

227 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
I've stripped and resprayed a couple of cheap-ish 1/18ths now and the results aren't terrible (see my thread) and I'm a ham fisted oaf compared to some of the guys on here.

With the Burago you have you're not talking high end so well worth having a go. They frequently come up on eBay for spares/repairs, so you could scavenge bits off another one. Equally, a mint in box on wouldn't cost much but you'd lose the sentiment.

ferrisbueller

29,328 posts

227 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
marcosgt said:
I'm sure it has sentimental attachment (I have the same one) and a quick clean as suggested will help, but you're not likely to find any 'transkit' like sets for the Burago - It was always more of a toy than an adult model.

Kyosho make a great F40, if you want something more detailed. Even some of the HW models are fairly good.

M.
Kyosho do indeed make a great F40. They currently fetch about £250 for the 1/18 and £400 for the 1/12. Even the 1/43 is £40+

The basic Hot Wheels 1/18 is £40-50 with the Elite at £80+

All of those are big numbers relative to the Burago starting point.

bazza white

3,558 posts

128 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
Along with my f1 models I was thinking about my f40 I had and having just spotted this I had the exact same model. I'm gutted i binned them all. Great to see the same to. I used to keep my boot proper open but the plastic stand went a bit bendy.

Triple8

63 posts

152 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
I dug my old Bburago one out recently. Similarly battered, but decided to still put it out on display, as it's always been my favourite car. Went to the Touring Cars at Brands recently, and spotted a brand new boxed Bburago in mint condition. Couldn't resist, even at best part of £50. Yes I probably could have got it cheaper on eBay, but it was the first time I'd seen one in years, and sometimes life is too short smile now on display alongside its Lego counterpart, with the original to pass on to kids ( when I have some... wink ). Enjoy yours OP!

marcosgt

11,021 posts

176 months

Thursday 12th May 2016
quotequote all
ferrisbueller said:
Kyosho do indeed make a great F40. They currently fetch about £250 for the 1/18 and £400 for the 1/12. Even the 1/43 is £40+

The basic Hot Wheels 1/18 is £40-50 with the Elite at £80+

All of those are big numbers relative to the Burago starting point.
Blimey - I didn't pay anything like that for my Kyosho new!

As I say, I have a Burago (I think it was a present from my wife or kids decades ago as the F40 is my only dream car, so mine has sentimental value too), but you can't make a silk purse out of a pig's ear... wink

M.

SydneyBridge

8,608 posts

158 months

Thursday 12th May 2016
quotequote all
Snap, my F40 shelf...


sgrimshaw

7,323 posts

250 months

Friday 13th May 2016
quotequote all
Dave, this might be of interest ....

http://shop.autographmodel.com/Autograph-wheel-kit...


DubZeus

1,401 posts

218 months

Oakey

27,567 posts

216 months

Monday 16th May 2016
quotequote all
I had that. I had no fking idea the front lifted up!

I think I threw it out about 15years ago because at some point my brother pulled a wheel off and lost it! There's a spare, in the front!??

Coatesy351

861 posts

132 months

Tuesday 17th May 2016
quotequote all
The burago models must be based on the prototype F40 spare tyre in wheelwell exposed fuse panel inside and to many slots in the rear window.

Evangelion

7,728 posts

178 months

Wednesday 18th May 2016
quotequote all
I'd strip the whole thing down and clean every part in warm (NOT hot!) soapy water, then you can see what you've got to work with.

T-Cut or similar can restore the shine to clear plastic windows.

EagleMoto4-2

669 posts

104 months

Wednesday 18th May 2016
quotequote all
Coatesy351 said:
The burago models must be based on the prototype F40 spare tyre in wheelwell exposed fuse panel inside and to many slots in the rear window.
Indeed it was based on an early version of the car. You could also tell by the extra vertical vent behind the rear wheels.

K50 DEL

9,237 posts

228 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2016
quotequote all
Watching this one with interest as I have the exact same model in an ever worse condition - think missing a wheel!
It has sentimental value though so I really don't want to just replace the model with one from Ebay

ferrisbueller

29,328 posts

227 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2016
quotequote all
Some usual pointers from the collective on my thread here.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

FrankAbagnale

1,702 posts

112 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2016
quotequote all
I've got a few of these models lying around. Tried giving them away to my 16 year old brother who wasn't interested in the slightest!