Progress: Lamborghini Murcielago

Hi all, decided on a bit of a change of pace so ordered one of the newly released Fujimi Murcielago’s. Was a bit shocked at the amount of extra work that will be required to fix all of Fujimi’s shortcuts, I was expecting something better based on experience of their excellent GT40 kits.

First here is the back end where the rear wheels have been moved back and lowered. I kinda knew about this problem from Veyron and Kunta’s build diaries. But I didn’t realise how narrow the front track was as well. Pretty easy to fix, but took 2.5mm of plastic card on either side to bring the front wheels out wide enough.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/Murcielago/Dscf3076a.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/Murcielago/Dscf3078a.jpg

The result is probably a bit too low bit hopefully will be okay when everything is assembled and painted. Even though I stretched the wheelbase, the front wheels didn’t sit centrally in the arches so I added some bulk to the front part. You can see the white card just in front of the wheels. The rims are only black because I’ve stripped the chrome off, they will be silver plated later.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/Murcielago/Dscf3080a.jpg

Brakes also need a bit of work. The rears aren’t too bad, especially when the PE form Acustion’s set is added. The fronts are way too small to my eye. So I’m replacing them with some larger disks from a Megane, and PE from a S27 Jag XJR-9LM set. The calliper has been separated so the PE face can fit properly. I will probably replace the callipers on the rear too, since the new ones look a bit closer to reality. I also screwed up, because the 40th anniversary kit doesn’t include the white Lamborghini script for the callipers, just black ones. So might have to do something weird with the calliper colour, like paint it green to match the body! What do you guys reckon?

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/Murcielago/Dscf3085a.jpg

The kits engine detail is very spartan, I contemplated building it curbside. However, the Acustion PE set features some Lamborghini scripts for the induction boxes that will look pretty cool, so will have a go at jazzing it up. Here I’ve split up the single piece for the top of the engine so I can modify, paint and decal it. The heads, exhaust and ancillaries will need major work as Fujimi provide zero detail OOB.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/Murcielago/Dscf3087a.jpg

Also lots of little things like the headlight have been very poorly done. Here I'm in the process of trying to correct the shape with some tiny pieces of plastic card. Also check out the rough mouldings, looks like the master was covered in sand or something :screwy:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/Murcielago/Dscf3088a.jpg

Finally, here is the colour it is going to be. PPG Verde Ithaca, pearlescent metallic flue green. It comes in two coats, an almost fluorescent lime green base followed by the pearl. It finishes matt and needs a clear coat to give a shine. It's mixed from the actual paint codes from the real car. The pearl is very fine so I’m hoping it will look okay in scale.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/Murcielago/Dscf3092a.jpg

Looks like you got most of the problems sorted out, this should become a work of art when your done! Nice colors also!!

Another RallyRaider Superbuild coming up. I really like that side shot, good choice to lower the ride, makes it look a lot more realisitic. And I think that the lowerage is just right, don´t worry, it´ll look great.

NICE COLOR CHOICE, kinda waited for that one to appear on the board.

Damn I love the Murci... great write-up so far, keep it coming! I'm tucking all this info away for when I finally get my hands on one of these kits.
Cheers.

Great start!

I just have one question...is it legal for YOU to build a street car? :screwy: :lol:

Great start!

I just have one question...is it legal for YOU to build a street car? :screwy: :lol:


hehe.

I am really thinking about buying this kit but it looks like much extra work... but we will see, can't wait for the next update!

Yes Sir, I would say your looking sweet so far and I would also say that green is an excellent color choice. http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/57665LAMBO_FRONT.jpg

look kids, this is how you do "modelling" :D

great job Phil

I am really thinking about buying this kit but it looks like much extra work... but we will see, can't wait for the next update!

I'm thinking like you Thesaint111. Veyron and Kunta’s cars are very well built and i'm sure that RallyRaider's will be too.

Let' see if I buy one too.

RallyRaider , Keep up the good work and photos coming!!!

Cheers!

I really like the Murcielago, but am still uncertain whether i will ever buy another Fujimi kit. Are they all made of crappy waxy plastic with crummy details and bad moulding?

Very nice build so far RR :biggrin:

:eek2:
You are probably modeliholik! Simply amazing work!

Phil goes street :eek:

Looks like some neat work going on here Phil, will stay tuned.

Great improvements! :sunglasse

Nice progress! I have to agree, this kit is a bit off in many places. I read somewhere that the front noze shape is a bit off also. In a website where the owner of the site has this kit in progress also. site is www.warachan.com

You know this kit cost about $50 CDN in Canada, it is just cheaper than the Tamiya Porsche CarreraGT and Ferrari Enzo.....but this Fujimi quality is sucks....poor brakes and chassis.

Fantastic start, looking forward to more progress.

Very impressive the way you're correcting the little flaws and I love how you've disassembled the engine insert to try and detail it out.

Hope this one goes well for you, and I have to agree - that is a perfectly slutty color for a Lamborghini.

Thanks guys, I thought me doing a street car might raise some eyebrows :)
Great link there RB26DETT-GTR, his solution of sanding the rear wheel arches forward is a bit easier than moving the wheels back! :lol:
It seems somehow unjust that while the Enzo and Carrera GT were given the royal treatment by Tamiya, Fujimi have severly shortchanged the Murcielago in comparison. :(

Awesome progress! I never knew they had a PE set for this car.

JeFF

Got my attention, sir!! :)

Nice and needfull detailing there. It's a very good start. I think the color is awesome. Really want to see that color on the finished car :D

Yes sir. You certainly raised some eyebrows :lol:

Well, it's really a shame that Fujimi didn't go all the way with this car...it would be very nice to have a "tamiya-quality" Murci next to the Enzo and the Carrera GT...Oh well...I guess this just makes me want this kit even more, so I can devellop my modelling skills a little bit more, and a make a decent kit out of it :rolleyes:
I'm sure you'll end up with a great car, Phil, in spite of the colour wich I really don't like....eheh

The one thing Fujmi seemed to get right were the wheels. Are you spraying them chrome or any other colour?

Please do keep us posted on this one. I'm still wainting for some progress on the GT40....eheh

Best Regards,
Pedro.

I know your build will be sweet!! Keep us posted on the progress!!

']Awesome progress! I never knew they had a PE set for this car.

JeFF

Thanks Jeff, the PE set is from Acustion, a bit pricy and not that great, but worth it for some useful parts. MediaMix, amongst others, have them in stock. (http://www.mediamixhobby.com.sg/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2455) Fujimi also do a Deluxe Murcielago kit which has some PE in it. Had to go and order one for the little Lamborghini scripts :rolleyes:

I'm sure you'll end up with a great car, Phil, in spite of the colour wich I really don't like....eheh

The one thing Fujmi seemed to get right were the wheels. Are you spraying them chrome or any other colour?

Please do keep us posted on this one. I'm still wainting for some progress on the GT40....eheh

Best Regards,
Pedro.

Which colours do you like Pedro? There are so many great options for Lamborghini's it is hard to decide on just one!
Yeah the wheels do seem pretty good, it is just their location that is screwed up. And the P-Zero Pirellis are not "handed". I'll be painting the rims chrome or polished aluminium, not too bright.
I'm aiming to get the GT40 finished for the Le Mans Comp, still a long way to go there. :)

Great work so far, Phil!!:sunglasse

Which colours do you like Pedro? There are so many great options for Lamborghini's it is hard to decide on just one!
Yeah the wheels do seem pretty good, it is just their location that is screwed up. And the P-Zero Pirellis are not "handed". I'll be painting the rims chrome or polished aluminium, not too bright.
I'm aiming to get the GT40 finished for the Le Mans Comp, still a long way to go there. :)

I perfectly understand your colour indecision. Lamborghinis look good in almost every colour, except white and that green you've chosen (IMHO) eheh
After Veyron and Kunta completed their red versions, I changed my mind and now I agree that red suits the car very, very well. On the other hand, I wouldn't like to see a Ferrari-Red Lambo, I guess it just wouldn't look right, if you know what I mean. Probably a solid dark red, or with a little blue hint to it, kinda of "purplish".
Also, there's a Jota around here somewhere that has a great Blue on it. Very dark, almost black. Although I love metallic paint, and I've done 2 or 3 cars/bike with it, I think all italian cars should have solid colours. Don't ask me why, it's just the way I see it...
Black would also be a very nice choice. I know it's not a very good colour to show off those gorgeous lines, it kind of "kills the spirit", but hey, I like it :)

The other obvious choices that I would never go for would be Yellow and that baby blue the 40th Ani. Ed. has (wich I really hate too..eheh).

Now, after all this rambling, I would suggest.....dark solid grey! It's not a very common colour for italian cars (zhe germans love it, though eheh), and I'm sure it would look much better than that idious green :rolleyes:

On the wheels, I'm really happy that you said "not too bright." :)

Man, this time I really got carried away. Sorry for any inconvenience :D

Thanks for getting carried away Pedro. :lol: However since I already have the paint I think I will stick with the Verde Ithaca. It was the colour specially made for the Murcielago, although similar light greens had been used occasionaly on Lamborghinis previously. Here's the inspiration :)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/RallyRaider/Murcielago/669127_03_640b.jpg

Looking at that pic it cant be very difficult for anyone to be inspired !!!
Cant wait to see some paint on yours, Mike :sunglasse

nice, I hope to start on my few projects when I get some time over thanksgiving brake from my classis.

I Like your detailling work, will watch this, but IMHO you should paint a 40th anniverary murcielago verde artemis ;)

True Andy, a 40th anniversary Murcie should be Verde Artemis, but I'm building a regular 2002ish car. I'm just starting with the 40th Anniversary kit but not using the extra bits.

that's quite ok, phil :p
perhaps i will have to go that way to, as i don't know where to get the colour :(

Yeah, the USA have got it made with Cobra Colors but they don't ship internationally due to US laws. Do you have a PPG paint shop close to you? If you do, go in and ask them, that is where I got my Verde Ithaca mixed. www.lambocars.com has a list of Lamborghini PPG paint codes, unfortunately Verde Artemis isn't on the list :(

i wanna see updates, i know how insane this will be

no PPG shop around :(

Try glasurit, standox, dupont, etc.

no PPG shop around :(

Just try any automotive paint store then. Odds are they should be able to access the appropriate codes and mix something up accordingly.

i just went to the car stuff shops.... but the only thing i could get is duplicolour or noname things...

will watch out for a cargarage wich does paintjob too and ask for mixing me the paint...

Andy. I'm not talking about the automotive shops that sell you all the little bits and pieces like sunshades and injector cleaner along with generic rattle cans. Rather the paint stores that supply the auto repair workshops. You won't find them in the mall or down the main street, so check the phone directory for what is in your area. They usually supply industrial quantities but may do smaller batches if you ask nicely. They should be set up so they can match the paint of any damaged car, so mixing a colour for us should be child's play.

Little bit of progress on the body, nothing too exciting, almost ready for primer now. I had a good long look at the nose and felt it needed to be lengthened and straightened somewhat. Here is the result, a slight improvement?

http://www.rallyraider.nwwo.com/build/murcielago/Dscf3111a.JPG

Also have deepened and crispened up the panel lines. The one on the nose from the lights to the front wheel arch is in slightly the wrong place. But I didn't notice until it was too late so it will have to stay there this time! For the windscreen I left the boarder that Fujimi put around but sanded it very thin so the glass will fit almost flush with the bodywork and hopefully look more true to life. I'll paint the surround gloss black so it appears to be part of the windscreen rather than a rubber insert or whatever.

http://www.rallyraider.nwwo.com/build/murcielago/Dscf3114a.JPG

Also, as I mentioned in another thread I have found some heads for the engine! Will start attacking that after I get the bodywork prepped and primed.

nice, lookin for myn...

nice progress so far
and thanks for being that patient, :uhoh: sometimes i am just too stupid :banghead:

cant wait to see this finish , excellent work so far ill be watching this thread

Excelent Phil your eye for details is perfect, great stuff.

Phil, are you going to make it with a gravel or tarmac setup? :icon16:

I love to see your work on this beauty :smile:

-Mikko

Phil, are you going to make it with a gravel or tarmac setup? :icon16:

I love to see your work on this beauty :smile:

-Mikko

:lol: Mikko, lucky I have plenty of practice playing with suspensions on rallycars, because this Fujimi kit needed a lot of fiddling in that area!

Body is primed, the lime green base coat is next.

http://rallycars.topcities.com/build/2001-murcielago/Dscf3118a.JPG

The color looks like a good choice also reminds me of Busta Ryhme's car.
Paint that BABY!!!:smokin:
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/81211BustaRhymesb.jpg

Mmm that will be nice.

Great progress. :thumbsup:
Looking forward to see more.

Here is the green basecoat applied, looks like Zinc Chromate. It's matt finish, as will be the next pearl coat, only the final clearcoat will gloss it up. Body is coming along nicely, I'll have to hussle with the chassis. :)

http://www.rallyraider.nwwo.com/build/murcielago/Dscf3128a.JPG

Looking fantastic. Can't wait to see it with pearl and in clear. Great work!!

Scrumptious!!! :bigthumb:

Mmmm must get now... Mmmmm

Awesome!!

looks very smooth

Might I suggest the following instead of that "green"?

It would certainly help you get back to the forum you're SUPPOSED to be in...;-)>

http://www.scaleproduction.de/media/spd24036.jpg

Hey cool Bill. I'd love to build a David Brabham R-GT. If the decals are out does that mean there is a full transkit as well? Or at least the difficult bits like the wheels?

Hey cool Bill. I'd love to build a David Brabham R-GT. If the decals are out does that mean there is a full transkit as well? Or at least the difficult bits like the wheels?

Yes it does, It's due out by the end of the year......of course I have one on order.

Preordered from where Veyron? Looks like we are going to have to discuss versions to build so we don't overlap :)

Here is the pearl coat sprayed. Looks a bit different to how I envisioned it. Quite a range of colours from gold to green depending on the angle. Not a "flip-flop" colour put getting close. Was quite difficult to paint as the pearl layer is very translucent. Needed very even coverage to avoid any blotchiness forming.

http://www.rallyraider.nwwo.com/build/murcielago/Dscf3156a.JPG

why not talk about it? I am planing on a few lambos