Italeri - 1:12 Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v Safari Rally 1991

Italeri Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16V Safari Rally 1991 — 1:12 Scale Model Kit Competitors faced enormous distances across Kenya, deep ruts, dust, mud, rocks, river crossings, extreme heat, and the occasional animal with no particular respect for the racing line. A conventional rally car would not last long. The Lancia Delta HF Integrale was not conventional. Developed from an ordinary five-door hatchback into one of the most successful rally cars ever built, the Integrale combined four-wheel drive with a turbocharged 2.0-liter, 16-valve engine and a competition record that eventually included six consecutive World Manufacturers’ Championships for Lancia. This impressive 1:12 scale kit recreates the specially prepared Delta HF Integrale 16V entered by Martini Lancia in the 1991 Safari Rally. Italeri builds upon its highly detailed large-scale Integrale tooling with newly developed Safari components, including raised off-road suspension, heavy-duty wheels and tires, additional wheel-arch protection, a reinforced front bull bar, flexible mudguards, and the unmistakable roof-level air intake snorkel. The completed model measures approximately 12.8 inches long. It is large enough to reveal exactly how thoroughly Lancia prepared a compact Italian hatchback for several thousand kilometers of African punishment. Prepared for the Safari The Safari Delta was not simply a European rally car fitted with different tires. Its suspension was raised and reinforced to cope with broken surfaces and deep ruts. Larger off-road tires required dedicated wheels and additional clearance around the arches. Flexible mudguards helped control the constant spray of stones, dust, and mud. At the front, a substantial protective bar guarded the bodywork and lighting from impacts. Above the roof, an elevated intake supplied the engine with cleaner air, keeping it away from the dense clouds of dust that followed every car across the Kenyan landscape. These Safari-specific components give the model a markedly different stance from Italeri’s previous Monte Carlo and Sanremo Delta kits. It sits taller, looks tougher, and appears entirely prepared to encounter something unpleasant just beyond the next bend. Everything Opens for Inspection The front hood opens to reveal a highly detailed reproduction of the Delta’s turbocharged 16-valve engine and crowded engine compartment. The engine assembly includes the cylinder block and head, turbocharger and intake components, intercooler plumbing, hoses, wiring, reservoirs, and surrounding structural details. Vinyl tubing is provided to reproduce the various electrical and fluid connections that make a large-scale engine compartment convincing. The rear hatch can also be opened, while both front doors operate to expose the competition interior. These functional panels allow the completed model to be displayed as a clean exterior portrait, a mechanical study, or somewhere comfortably between the two. A Proper Group A Cockpit There was very little inside the Safari Delta that did not contribute to speed, safety, navigation, or survival. The kit reproduces the full competition cockpit with a multi-piece roll cage, racing seats, dashboard, instruments, steering wheel, gearshift, fire-extinguishing equipment, spare wheel, navigation equipment, and the additional hardware carried during the event. Fabric material and photo-etched fittings are supplied for the racing harnesses. Separate switches, instrument decals, interior labels, and other small details give the cockpit the busy, purposeful appearance of the original Group A car. With the large scale and opening front doors, much of this work remains visible after assembly—which is considerate of Italeri, since you will have spent quite some time building it. Working Suspension and Steering Underneath the body is a fully developed chassis rather than a conveniently flat approximation of one. The kit includes detailed front and rear suspension, drivetrain, exhaust system, brakes, underbody protection, and associated mechanical components. Metal coil springs are incorporated into the functional suspension, while the steering system allows the front wheels to turn. Safari-specification off-road rims are fitted with realistically treaded rubber tires. Screws are used at selected structural and moving points, providing additional strength to the large model and allowing the operating features to function properly. The chassis and suspension form substantial projects in their own right. Much of the detail will be less obvious once the body is installed, but experienced modelers understand that invisible accuracy remains accuracy. Three Martini Lancia Safari Cars The kit provides three alternative marking options from the 1991 Safari Rally: No. 6 — Juha Kankkunen and Juha Piironen: Winners of the 1991 Safari Rally No. 1 — Jorge Recalde and Martin Christie: Third-place finishers No. 7 — Miki Biasion and Tiziano Siviero: Retired from the event Two extensive exterior decal sheets reproduce the famous Martini Racing stripes, competition numbers, sponsor logos, identification markings, and Safari-specific details. A separate sheet supplies dashboard instruments, seat markings, number plates, technical labels, and interior stenciling. The decals allow you to build the victorious Kankkunen car or one of its two Martini Lancia teammates. History naturally favors the winner. Modelers are permitted to be less predictable. Multimedia Detail in Large Scale A photo-etched metal fret supplies fine grilles, mesh panels, brackets, harness hardware, and other components that require a thinner and sharper appearance than molded plastic can provide. Chrome-plated components, flexible polyurethane mudguards, black acetate splash guards, vinyl hoses, metal springs, screws, fabric harness material, and realistically molded rubber tires add a variety of materials and textures throughout the build. Together, these components turn the 1:12 Delta into considerably more than an enlarged plastic car kit. It is a detailed mechanical model with a body attached. Kit Features Large 1:12 scale plastic model kit Approximately 12.8 inches (32.6 cm) long when completed Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16V in 1991 Safari Rally configuration New Safari-specific components Raised and reinforced off-road suspension Safari wheel-arch extensions and protective equipment Reinforced front bull bar Roof-mounted air intake snorkel Off-road wheels with realistic rubber tires Highly detailed turbocharged 16-valve engine Complete engine compartment with hoses and wiring Opening front hood Opening rear hatch Opening front doors Highly detailed competition interior Multi-piece roll cage Fabric racing harnesses with photo-etched fittings Working suspension with metal springs Functional steering Detailed chassis, brakes, drivetrain, and exhaust system Photo-etched detail fret Chrome-plated parts Flexible polyurethane mudguards Black acetate splash guards Accessory set with hoses, screws, and springs Three 1991 Safari Rally marking options Two large exterior decal sheets Separate interior and instrument decals Full-color assembly and painting instructions Italeri Skill Level 5 Assembly, paint, and cement are required and sold separately.