On April 1st, (no this is not a fools joke), I went on a long awaited trip to Model Factory Hiro. My close friend Motoi Shiozama of HAPICO fame, arranged a personal visit and tour of MFH. He is a long time friend of Hiro-san and Kyoko-san. My daughter lives in Japan and had a friend of hers that lives in Shizuoka and at one time owned a hobby store, guide me from Tokyo to the suburbs where the MFH is. After two trains and a bus, we were deposited across the street.
I was greeted by Kyoko who speaks perfect english, thank goodness, I do not speak more than a few words in Japanese. I can order a beer.
I was escorted into the back which is the design center. I was soon greeted by the resident shop greeter, a wonderful white Lab that loved belly rubs.
I was able to take a close look at what was being done on the various computer screens. One was an upcoming release which I can not mention, but I did guess correctly what it was. All I can say is I am saving up for it. They also had two 3d printers, one was actively printing out a prototype piece. I also guessed what that was.
I got to meet Kazu, the master modeler that assembles all of the new kits in their bare form for photographs. What a nice guy. I asked him what is the best thing to use to clean the resin release coating. He told me acetone. Would have never guessed that. He was actively building the new Ferrari 365 GTB/4.
Kyoko took me on a tour of the plant which is upstairs. I could not take any pictures. I saw how they produce the metal parts in a centrifugal spinner. Also watched them moulding tires for a Harley kit. Outside there were many boxes of the new Ferrari 365 GTB/4 resin body. I would swear they were plastic, the body pieces were perfect and thin.
I finally got to meet Hiro-san. He was out back playing with his 1/1 cars. He showed me this beautiful silver sports car. I had no idea what it was. He told me it was a completely modified Smart car using Brabus body parts. It is called a Brabus Smart Roadster.
