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#4490419 - 09/24/19 12:13 PM Model Factory Hiro 1/12 Mazda 787B Full Detail Kit Review  
Joined: Mar 2000
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goon Offline
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Hi All,
This is my review of the Model Factory Hiro Mazda 787B full detail kit. I have to thank my amazing wife Sarah for this, a gift for my fiftieth birthday in the middle of September. The 787B has long been my favourite racing car. In 1991 it was driver to victory in my favourite race, the Vingt Quatre Heures du Mans. The team of drivers included another of my favourites – Johnnie Herbert. The story of his rehabilitation after his awful F3 accident at Brands Hatch is incredible, and during the 90s I followed his career in F1 very closely. In 2011 I was present at Le Mans when Mazda demonstrated the restored car, driven by Johnnie.
[Linked Image]

My three favourites all combined.

I’ve long had my eye on this kit, but it’s eye wateringly expensive. Sarah asked what I wanted for my birthday, and I jokingly sent her the link to Hiro Boy. Imagine my reaction when she agreed it was an appropriate gift. I contacted Hiro Boy to see what the lead time was and they replied immediately that they had one in stock, as far as I know the only one in the UK at the time. A week later it was in our front bedroom while I counted the days to my birthday like a child waiting for Christmas.

Anyway, on to the kit. It all arrives packed in a large and very sturdy cardboard box. It’s too big to go in my photo booth so here’s a shot of it on shed floor.
[Linked Image]

The parts come separated in to two compartments. All the large resin is in the top, wrapped in bubble wrap, but I’ve already spent several days poring over the kit, so it’s all unwrapped here. The (many) metal parts are in zip lock bags, all under the cardboard insert and each bag cling film wrapped to an insert, so it can’t move around in transit. I’ve found no issues with the parts being damaged.
[Linked Image]

This card folder protects the decals and instructions, along with the PE sheets.
It also serves to show several corrections / clarifications of the instructions, and provides some useful templates for the vac formed side windows and internal detail
[Linked Image]

The instructions are very good, with clear diagrams and notes.
[Linked Image]

The main construction of the model is in large resin parts. The resin is a tough type I’ve not encountered before. My copy of the kit has no warping or distortions, and I’ve found no more than two air bubbles. The parts are covered in small depressions to show where to drill out the holes for many screws used during the construction of the model.
[Linked Image]

Here’s the nose area, which can be posed removed or fitted, with two magnets holding it in place.
[Linked Image]

There is no compromise when it comes to detail. I don’t think it shows here but the access covers in the back of the light recesses are molded in the underside.
[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

These are the side pods.
[Linked Image]

The massive under tray.. There is another part that the nose mounts on.
[Linked Image]

The four tyres feature printed Dunlop logos, and no central mold seam!
[Linked Image]

The wheel rims are turned in aluminium, very nicely done, with no hint of burring or machining marks.
[Linked Image]

There’s a small bag of metal parts, with springs and screws contained.
[Linked Image]

Another with wire, heat shrink tube, and hoses.
[Linked Image]

The thinner PE sheet contains the radiator grilles and air intake meshes. This is very finely done, and attachment parts so one part came away with just light handling.
[Linked Image]

The thicker PE provides wing end plates and various brackets, and the seat belt buckles.
[Linked Image]

The decals for the green areas and dashed lines. I’m hoping to use these to make masks and paint all this.
[Linked Image]

The main sheet, with some handy blocks of the colours should any patching be needed.
[Linked Image]

The white metal splitter.
[Linked Image]

Some of the smaller resin parts come on molding trees.
[Linked Image]

This is the massive collection of white metal parts that I, frankly, couldn’t be bothered to lay out to photograph. There’ll be plenty of chances to see them during the build. The metal parts are very well cast, with a lovely smoothly textured surface.
[Linked Image]

In the box, the kit exudes quality. If it builds as well as it looks it’s going to spectacular fun to work on. Is it worth the high price tag? That’s a very subjective judgement, but I intend to build this over a very long time, one stage at a time, and savour the process. I think the ratio of expense to fun will be favourable! (The 1/24 version I'm building at the moment now seems like a rehearsal or recon build!)

Thanks for looking in, look out for a WIP as soon as I start.

Last edited by goon; 09/25/19 03:35 PM. Reason: I'm incompetent!

cheers
Gareth

UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing.
OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing.
HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall.
TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.

Read my scale modelling blog at www.latibuliser.com or mfhmazda787.com
Inline advert (2nd and 3rd post)

#4490428 - 09/24/19 02:31 PM Re: Model Factory Hiro 1/12 MAzda 787B Full Detail Kit Review [Re: goon]  
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 25,138
RSColonel_131st Offline
Lifer
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Lifer

Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 25,138
Vienna, 2nd rock left.
Congrats to this awesome present (and belated to your birthday wink )!

Did you know you would be building this when you got the 1/24? If you need to make space for the big one, send me the small one biggrin

Oh, and I just saw the price of that kit. Wow.

#4490460 - 09/24/19 08:55 PM Re: Model Factory Hiro 1/12 MAzda 787B Full Detail Kit Review [Re: goon]  
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goon Offline
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Cheers!

Nope, this is a recent purchase,the 1/24 has been in my stash for years. I decided to get the 1/12 after about a month's work on the smaller one got me obsessed!


cheers
Gareth

UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing.
OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing.
HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall.
TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.

Read my scale modelling blog at www.latibuliser.com or mfhmazda787.com
#4490531 - 09/25/19 02:40 PM Re: Model Factory Hiro 1/12 MAzda 787B Full Detail Kit Review [Re: goon]  
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Ajay Offline
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Ajay  Offline
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Brisbane OZ
Dude, you crazy. See you at the end in six months!


My il2 page
Seelowe Campaign
Cliffs of Dover page
CloD
My Models
Tanks/Planes/Ships


#4490532 - 09/25/19 02:43 PM Re: Model Factory Hiro 1/12 MAzda 787B Full Detail Kit Review [Re: goon]  
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adlabs6 Offline
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Tracy Island
Oh man, that is fantastic. I cannot recall how often I've browsed the MFH models, struggling with the idea of buying. Seeing your build progress will be a treat!


WARNING: This post contains opinions produced in a facility which also occasionally processes fact products.
#4490727 - 09/28/19 03:44 PM Re: Model Factory Hiro 1/12 MAzda 787B Full Detail Kit Review [Re: goon]  
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goon Offline
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Six months! Hahahahaha..... I'm taking my time on this one. One stage at a time, compromises, no "that'll do...". I've picked out an out of the box build to keep me occupied while things dry or set, or I pluck up the courage to start the next atage. (I might be done in six months though, in which case I'll buy everyone who can make it to the shed a beer!)

I happened across this video via the MFH Builders' Facebook page. THIS is why they are such expensive kits. (Part two on the right.)


Last edited by goon; 09/28/19 03:46 PM.

cheers
Gareth

UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing.
OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing.
HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall.
TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.

Read my scale modelling blog at www.latibuliser.com or mfhmazda787.com
#4490752 - 09/28/19 08:11 PM Re: Model Factory Hiro 1/12 MAzda 787B Full Detail Kit Review [Re: goon]  
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 25,138
RSColonel_131st Offline
Lifer
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Lifer

Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 25,138
Vienna, 2nd rock left.
Has been nice knowing you biggrin

Maybe put up some pics from BN before you lock the shed from the inside :p

#4490783 - 09/29/19 02:06 AM Re: Model Factory Hiro 1/12 MAzda 787B Full Detail Kit Review [Re: goon]  
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Ajay Offline
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Ajay  Offline
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Brisbane OZ
That tyre making mould, awesome, and what a great little setup they have.


My il2 page
Seelowe Campaign
Cliffs of Dover page
CloD
My Models
Tanks/Planes/Ships


#4498839 - 12/01/19 07:36 AM Re: Model Factory Hiro 1/12 Mazda 787B Full Detail Kit Review [Re: goon]  
Joined: Nov 2019
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Xamper0 Offline
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Xamper0  Offline
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Posts: 1
Melbourne, Australia
Hello Goon... I have also purchased the MFH Mazda 787B kit. I havent building it yet as I am still finishing MFH's Ferrari 250 GTO (photos of WIP attached).

I am working on my painting scheme based on books about the real car by MFH, Super Detail File and Pierre Dieudonne. I haven't decided yet if I will use the green decals, or paint the green and add the white lines with the MFH Line Decals pack.
I am also collecting materials for some superdetailing, including carbon fiber decals, hose clamps and cable ties, some addtional wiring/piping, and LED lighting of the headlights, tail lights and indicators.

I note that the instructions are a little unclear about where some of the piping lines are supposed to run, so the above books have been some help for that.

ALSO, were you aware that MFH has issued updated instructions to correct some of the errors (although they still do have some errors)? The new instructions aare available on the MFH page for the kit.

Best of luck
Jason

Attached Files Section 31 - 1.JPGSection 31 - 2.JPG
Last edited by Xamper0; 12/01/19 07:37 AM.

Jason
#4498855 - 12/01/19 01:58 PM Re: Model Factory Hiro 1/12 Mazda 787B Full Detail Kit Review [Re: goon]  
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goon Offline
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goon  Offline
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Stone, UK
Hi Jason,
Nice work on the GTO! Thanks for the advice re. the 787. I've got MFH book, which I used to build the Tamiya 1/24 kit over the summer. I've also got the revised instructions, but thanks for pointing them out.
I'm going to paint the orange and green on mine, using Zero Paints, and I think I'll try painting the white dashes as well. I have a Cameo plotter cutter so it will easy to make masks for them. (I've already made masks for the ornage and green by copying the decals. They work quite well so far.)

You can see my build at my blog - MFH Mazda 787

Cheers,
Gareth


cheers
Gareth

UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing.
OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing.
HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall.
TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.

Read my scale modelling blog at www.latibuliser.com or mfhmazda787.com

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