Lamborghini Countach 5000QV

This is Aoshima's Countach 5000QV kit. While I still have an unbuilt curbside Fujimi kit of the same subject, I was intrigued by Aoshima's new Countach kits and when offered the chance to review this one, I jumped at it.

At first glance in the box, and seeing photos of the built models, I was enthused. However soon after I took the body out of the wrapper, I saw that something was amiss...the body was warped, the roof pushed down a bit at the top of the windscreen, and you could see a definite bow (outwards) to each of the body sides where they meet the rocker panels. I inquired about getting a replacement, but at the time I wasn't able to get a replacement...between HLJ's tsunami-related stoppage of parts replacement, to the fact that the US distributor of Aoshima suddenly stopped carrying Aoshima kits (MRC; now Dragon has begun importing them), there wasn't a replacement to be had. The magazine also received an LP400 Countach kit, and apparently that body as well was warped. Okay...guess I would have to work with what I got :frown:

There was a lot of extra work involved to deal with the warp; I got most out by just bending the plastic carefully. I had to paint the model and buff it out with the windshield filler (a kit part to save the thin A pillars from damage, but they still snapped on me). And ultimately I had to glue the doors in place as this was the only way to get the body straight. I'm not a fan of gimmicky opening doors as it is, this kit would have been better IMHO w/o the opening doors. This Countach is a bit more accurate looking than the Fujimi kit of the same subject, especially in the front around the bumper/skirt/spoiler area. There's a bit of mismatch between the front flares and spoiler, but still better than what I've seen by Fujimi.

In general it seems to be a well-engineered kit; most everything fit fairly well until final assembly; I had some serious issues w/the engine compartment keeping the chassis from seating and the engine cover from closing. It may have been my fault from an assembly view. I was kind of disgusted w/the model by then.

Yet once it was all buttoned up and finished...the stupid thing looks really good :lol: Had I not had the body warp issue, I'd have been a lot less stressed over the whole thing, and I did compare the body w/another from a friend's kit, and his kit has no warpage at all. If you get this kit, make sure the body isn't warped, and you should be good to go. By now I would hope that parts replacement isn't an issue.

http://images15.fotki.com/v235/photos/8/10258/9894039/IMG_9158-vi.jpg
http://images58.fotki.com/v132/photos/8/10258/9894039/IMG_9153-vi.jpg
http://images55.fotki.com/v608/photos/8/10258/9894039/IMG_9098-vi.jpg
http://images110.fotki.com/v109/photos/8/10258/9894039/IMG_9157-vi.jpg

Yikes (re: warpage issues)! I really hope HLJ gets the parts dept running again soon. From their email to me, it was closed before the Tsunami for reorganization, and the Tsunami has slowed its re-opening. I didn't realize how much I relied on the parts dept. until it was closed!

Back to your model - great job as usual, but I would have done a more wild color for the raging bull! Agree with you on the gimmicky doors. If they don't work well in the first place, leave them out.

Yikes (re: warpage issues)! I really hope HLJ gets the parts dept running again soon. From their email to me, it was closed before the Tsunami for reorganization, and the Tsunami has slowed its re-opening. I didn't realize how much I relied on the parts dept. until it was closed!

Back to your model - great job as usual, but I would have done a more wild color for the raging bull! Agree with you on the gimmicky doors. If they don't work well in the first place, leave them out.

Thanks! As for color, I've been wanting to do a white Countach since they were new. I had considered a triple white (wheels and interior), but decided against that after seeing photos of a couple white QV's w/red interiors. I have an orange LP400 already built, and I may do my Fujimi QV in a bright blue metallic. But I had to get the white out of my system :lol:

I first asked Jim at Scale Auto if they could get a replacement; at the time the answer was "no", today that may be different w/a new US distributor. Now that the kit is available, it was good timing for the review, but hopefully the warped body issue isn't affecting too many kits. When I built the kit (over the summer), HLJ was also a "no" for replacements. I just decided to go w/what I had, since the parts were so flexible I figured that when glued together it would all fit.

I just finished building the new LP500R version and had no warp issues at all so hopefully they have it all worked out. Sorry, can't post any pictures yet as it was for a review also.

Not my favourite Countach but we don't see enough Lamborghini's here and when they do look as good as this one does, I can forgive it for not being a LP400.

You mentioned having a little trouble when coming to the final fitting.
Would you say this was a result of these modern kits being designed to 100% fitting when unpainted?

Looks sharp! Engine detail seems rather lacking tho. I'd have liked them to include a bit more. I like the Ansa exhaust too ;)

I prefer the 400 too but this one really look crisp and glossy when finished. Thanks for the info about the kit, seems aoshima's still a bit fresh at handling such complicated engineered kit. Great work as always!

What got me back into modeling was Aoshima's 1/48 Airwolf helicopter, which is really fantastic, so I was excited about their new countach too, but this seems to lack the same level of detail. This model does look great tho!

Definitely my favourite Countach ever since I saw one or two in London when they were new. Just look at the way the bumps and bugles barely cover the mechanicals (the QV has the engine lid power bulge too and slightly larger chin spoilers) and the wing for the drama. No car turns more heads.

I bought the Fujimi version of the Countach QV back in the 80s but never got around to building it because I was afraid of botching it up, then bought a Doyusho 1/12 Countach LP500S but sold that too for the same reason.

Your model is the best I've ever seen of a Countach kit but then again, all of your models are the gold standard for the rest of us to aspire towards. Astonishing that you made something so beautiful from a warped kit!

White is a good choice for this car and period and I like the red interior too. Thanks for sharing. Please find a scanned article of a road test between a Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV v Yamaha FZR1000 debating the fastest car vs fastest bike from 1987 below:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/sets/72157611249033589/with/3113383704/

you've done a fantastic job on this!!

Dispite the problems you've mentioned, I really like it.

Thanks for the replies!

I just finished building the new LP500R version and had no warp issues at all so hopefully they have it all worked out. Sorry, can't post any pictures yet as it was for a review also.

Glad to hear that! I just finished a Mercedes AMG SL65 Black Series w/the Aoshima/KA upgrade kit, quite a different experience from the Countach...all for the better.