Carrera 1/24 Ferrari Breadvan - Home Racing World & Slot Car Garage

08/02/2011

Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta - "BreadVan" - 1/24th Scale

The Breadvan. I have to warn the reader right away that I am very biased towards this model and it will likely show. Sometimes models are released that simply shock me and this is one of them.

So why does this car surprise me so much? It was a few years ago I voted this model one of the Ferrari's never to be done! In ANY scale. Even when it was announced I still could not believe they were doing it.

Yet here it is. First, do yourself a favor and do a web search on the prototype. You can then easily understand just how unique this Ferrari truly is. Some might even argue it is not a real Ferrari at all, but I will leave that well enough alone. Ferrari gave it's stamp of approval on the case and that is good enough for me.

The model Carrera has reproduced in 1/24 scale seems very well done. Is it perfect? Of course not. But it is very close and certainly close enough for my eyes. I am not a fine scale critic and likely will never be.

The paint and graphics work here is just outstanding to me. All of the markings are crisp and opaque with one of the cleanest clear coats you could ask for in our hobby.

And the details. There are plenty of those to enjoy so scale enthusiasts should be very happy. The dual fans up front are just one of them. Carrera could have easily just blacked this out, but that added detail just shows how far they went to make this model.

It is also fully lighted front and rear which of course means a lot to me. I can just see these models now snaking around a road course in the dark. What a sight that will be.

My photos will simply not do this model justice. If you are lucky enough to have a local hobby shop near by, stop in and grab this car in your hands and take it in.

Wheels and tires are nicely done although they are not perfect. Still, they capture the essence of this car and for me they play the role nicely. One thing that had me curious were the tires. Perhaps it is just me but the front tires seem to be a different compound than the rear. In fact, they feel softer than the rears. I doubt Carrera made two types of tires and it would not matter anyway as I will have tires made for it soon enough.

Turning this beast over we see the familiar setup that is commonly found on these 1/24 Carrera models. A drop arm guide with the dual braid up front with the motor in the sidewinder configuration.

Removing the 4 body mount screws exposes the inside. Here we see the digital and lighting boards and quick disconnect wiring system. The motor is the stock Carrera power which will need at least 18 volts to run properly.

Box Stock Track Testing

ATTENTION! These cars require at least 18 volts to run as designed.

Standard 1/32nd scale or lower transformers will not have enough voltage to make these cars operate properly.

This model is also DIGITAL. ALL new Carrera 1/24 models will be digital ONLY. To operate in analog mode you will need to quickly program them. Here is a video below that shows you how.

DIGITAL to ANALOG CONVERSION VIDEO
Courtesy of Carrera USA

This video shows 1/32nd scale but the process is the same.

For those who cannot load the video:

1. Move the polarity switch to the forward position.

2. Place model on track with rear wheels in the air.

3. Pull the trigger on your controller 3 times.

On the 3rd time you should see the wheels turn. You are done.

You can now also move the polarity switch to change the direction of the model.

CARRERA TRACK TESTING

I have been running mine on about 16 1/2 in non-magnet form and I have to say that is right where I like it. If you run this model with the magnets in place you will find a very stuck down slot car. On our Carrera oval you can hold the throttle down almost full the entire length of the track.

But you can remove some of the magnets easily enough. Inside there are 2 screws that secure a brace that covers the magnets in the center of the car.

Removing these magnets, or just one or two of them can really change things in the operation. And when I use the magnets, these are removed and I leave only the rear bar magnet in place that resides under the motor.

Remove Motor Pod For Access To Rear Bar Magnet

For non-magnet purists you might as well start shopping for tires. Although the tires work decently with the magnets on plastic track, you will likely need to change the rubber our for your favorite tire. K&D makes many custom tires for Carrera 1/24 so I will send these in and have them made. These are a urethane based tires and they really make the difference for those of us racing on wood or non-magnet.

However it must be stated that even with new tires, these larger cars do not perform like our smaller 1/32nd models. And as I have said before, I am glad they do not. More and more my personal tastes are leaning towards not only SCALE realism in the looks department, but in how they drive. I don't want a high speed magnet missile glued to the track, I want to see and enjoy the model.

So if you are expecting commercial track type performance, do not bother. These are a far cry from "thingies" you might see elsewhere.

To add even more appeal there is another version. This silver edition makes the perfect running mate of course and I know that one of these will find a spot on my shelf next to this one.

Photo courtesy of Dave Kennedy

Final Thoughts

Some have commented that they want this car in 1/32nd as well. I suppose I cannot blame them for that as it is such a great model with such a glorious history. Yet, this scale deserves a great model just as much as any other scale. Those with Carrera or wood tracks with the lane spacing to accommodate them have it now. However, you never can tell what Carrera might do. Some models in the 1/24 line do get ported over to 1/32 and some do not. As usual, time will tell the tale.

In the end I am very impressed with this car. I simply do not take for granted we have this ready to run version in our hands and just appreciate it for what it is. If you are a Ferrari fan I bet this model is on your list. If you are new to this hobby and 1/24th scale racing, I think this model would be the perfect first time buy.

- Harry

As always feel free to contact me about this article or just the hobby in general at harry@homeracingworld.com, or better yet drop into our Message Forum and share your thoughts with other enthusiasts!

Thanks Go To Carrera of America For Sponsoring This Review!

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