Bugatti EB110 (Monogram): Reasonably Detailed

Well, here goes another project. I hope to complete this in ONE summer so that I can bring closure to it, and take it to school with me when I go back.

Unlike my previous project (the deadly AMT 1969 Firebird), this kit actually includes plastic that really looks like an engine, but the fit and finish are pretty bad on many parts. However, the trade-off is that this engine bay is so packed there are hardly any visible wires or hoses, so no extensive research or tedious wiring jobs will need to be done. Just a few, fun details that should reasonably challenge my skills.

I picked the kit up off EBay for a mere $15 USD (including shipping), so I feel that it was a pretty good deal. The body was slightly warped but I've mostly straightened it out. Here we go......

The mandatory box photo. The box looked like it either went through a flood or was soaked in a pot of coffee, but the contents inside were fine and all intact, aside from some mysterious sandy stuff that brushed away easily.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/Bugatti001.jpg

Here are the numerous contents, arranged haphazardly on my not-yet-fully-unpacked model desk (which had been put away in boxes during my time away at college)
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/Bugatti002.jpg

As always the first step is the engine. Here are the basic core parts, cleaned up.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/Bugatti003.jpg

I like lotsa pieces, especially when it aids in realism. But I think the cylinder head/cam cover assemblies are a BIT too segmented on here:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/Bugatti004.jpg

I had a brain lapse and didn't take certain pictures, but just imagine the intake before it was painted. It needed a lot of filing and cleanup. I made the crossover pipe out of 1mm copper wire as it was bad-looking.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/Bugatti005.jpg

I then spent about an hour making the little throttle levers for each intake tube. This is one of the most prominent details in need of addition on the engine. These will be painted and topped with linkage and soforth.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/Bugatti006.jpg

Final pic of the day: I assembled the engine and heads, then airbrushed some Model Master Aluminum Non-Buffing Metalizer (GREAT paint, just delicate...don't rub it off!), and did some detail painting. My brand-new Iwata Revolution BCR airbrush worked beautifully (no more Testors Aztec for me!...although it was still working OK) I can't wait to lay some body paint on with that new instrument.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/Bugatti007.jpg


Look for more updates soon. I try to do a little each night while also building my own REAL car (1982 VW Rabbit Cabrio), so there should be more on the way.

Thanks for looking!

Alex

Nice start.
did you find good references on the web?

You're going to want to test fit all of the induction/exhaust pipes before commiting anything to gluing... Biggest problem areas in getting the turbos into the correct position so that the exhaust pipes fit.

Also, DO NOT fit the exhaust ends before matin chassing and the body.

I picked the kit up off EBay for a mere $15 USD (including shipping)...

I've had that model for a decade or so, still in the box. Now you're going to make me open it and put it together, aren't you!

Nice start.
did you find good references on the web?

Decent...I looked for EB110's for sale as they usually include a lot of pics. carclassic.com is a good place to find pictures of high-end cars (including the Merc CLK-GTR street car) that are being sold.

You're going to want to test fit all of the induction/exhaust pipes before commiting anything to gluing... Biggest problem areas in getting the turbos into the correct position so that the exhaust pipes fit.

Also, DO NOT fit the exhaust ends before matin chassing and the body.

Thanks, I knew this kit had fit issues but not where specifically. Good heads-up.

Alex

And another thing, not sure about the US edition but my RoG kit's plastic was a bit soft. Be careful of the area between the nose of the car and the main body. I've cracked mine right in the middle of the wheel arch where I flexed it a bit much. Just looking at the kit you'll see it is a weak-spot but the plastic in mine didn't help.

And another thing; the rear spoiler is a tight fit even without paint on it. Make sure to sand down the sides so that it has a chance to sit in place when fully painted.

This is without a doubt one of my favourite kits ever. and even the silly Revell wheel system doesn't matter because the alloys are so "full". Not sure about the accuracy though as somehow, the Airfix kit looks more purposeful and hence a bit more aggressive and well, not having ever seen one of these for real, I can't say which is the more true shape.

Yes I noticed both of those issues (spoiler, wheel arch)...the A-pillars look super-easy to snap too. I'm actually planning to fix the wheels/brakes (which looks to be pretty simple) despite the general irrelevance of this mod.

Nice start. I have the Airfix version waiting to be built so looking forward to seeing more as it goes along. Are the kits actually different or just marketed by different firms??

Sweet, i have the same kit. Looks sweet, keep us posted.

Nice start. I have the Airfix version waiting to be built so looking forward to seeing more as it goes along. Are the kits actually different or just marketed by different firms??

I've never personally seen the Airfix but I am positive that they are completely different.

the Airfis kit is different to the Revell/Monogram kit (which is the same as the RoG kit).
The Airfix kit looks a bit more aggressive but the engineering isn't on par with the Revell kit. The general detail is better on the Revell kit but strangely, the turbos on the Airfix kit are little gems, literally, being smaller than the ones found in the Revell kit. I don't know which kit is the more accurate though.

I've got both partially built and both are near complete now.

I'll see about getting some photos up, of both, if you want.

Lest you think I've been idle after my statement of "frequent updates," I have one picture to prove I've been working...a little (hey, I have a busy life!)

Oil filter added. I could find ZERO info on the Bugatti's filter, so I don't know if it is a canister type or a paper filter in a housing. So I painted it Fram orange to add some color to the engine. The filter won't even be visible once everything is assembled (same goes for most of the engine).
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/Bugatti008.jpg

I have also been working on the throttle linkage, which is tiny and a pain in the butt to make. Hopefully I'll have that done by tomorrow so I can show some REAL progress.

Thanks for lookin'!

Alex

More work:

PHEW. I got those TEDIOUS throttle actuators done (mostly...still need the connecting rods, but those are WAY simpler).

Lots of teeny bits of styrene and coils of wire, which are pretty much impossible to see in these pictures.

Before paint:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/Bugatti009.jpg

After paint (Tamiya X-13 Metallic Blue) and installation. Here's with camera flash:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/Bugatti010.jpg

Without flash:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/Bugatti011.jpg

With this out of the way, I should be able to get some more productive work done! I'm sad to see that metalizer wearing off all over...it's hard to keep on (despite generous doses of sealer). However real aluminum is hardly ever perfectly clean so I'll probably be able to work it out to look realistic.

Thanks for looking!

Alex

A little more progress has been made (although it took a long time)

First, I decided to paint the undertray. According to all my reference info, the EB110 had a carbon underpan, but rather than use a huge amount of SMS decal on this hardly-seen part, I opted for another method I learned on this forum. I first sprayed Testors semi-gloss black, then covered the piece with tightly stretched nylons and sprayed Tamiya XF-56 Metallic Gray. The results aren't perfect (especially on the corners), but with a coat of Tamiya Smoke and a good polishing, I think it will be suitable, especially considering that it was my first try with this method and it is the undertray, which is hardly ever seen.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/Bugatti012-1.jpg

I then managed to finish my throttle linkage with this complicated bracket and the two rods you see at the bottom. They still need paint.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/Bugatti013-1.jpg

I'm still debating on how much detail to add to this build, but expect to see more work shortly.

Alex

i just wonder...going in to such extreme detailing state, will they all be seen by the naked eye after completion?

will they know that you really did all this, when you post the completed pics later??
i hope so, if not all these effort will be wasted!

great work!

marc
SGP

Well the title of my thread (Reasonably Detailed) means that I won't be adding any details that are hidden, because in the interest of time and sanity I realize they aren't necessary! So yes, all these things will be visible (in fact they are PROMINENT in the engine bay).

Thanks for looking.

Alex

I don't have much to show tonight, as I had a meeting to attend to and most of the work I did was insignificant. However, I have been playing around with making heat shielding. About 1/2 or more of the engine bay of this car is covered in a textured steel heat shield material. I found that by burnishing aluminum foil over Tamiya mesh (I'm using the square from my as-yet unstarted 360 Modena), I can create almost an exact duplication of what my reference photos show. Here I glued a piece to the top of one of the exhaust shrouds to show the effect. The wrinkles around the boltheads are a little annoying, but they are much more pronounced in the photo than in real life. MUCH more shielding to come (all will be airbrushed with Metalizer Steel once they are cut out)
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/Bugatti014.jpg

More significant progress should be coming soon as I begin to paint the interior and detail the engine bay! I still need to order the French Blue paint for the body, but that should happen once I get paid.

Thanks for looking!

Alex

why don't you remove the molded in bolts so you can cover with the foil properly then just replace bolts with bits of hex rod?

Well, besides not having hex rod, I realize now that the exhaust shields are hardly shaped correctly. After I get all the ducting and pipes installed I will reshape the shields to fit properly and then add the heat shielding. This was more of a test to see if my method would work, which it did.

Thanks for looking.

Alex

Got a little more work done today... with the weekend upcoming, I may be able to push through and get a big portion done soon.

I assembled, puttied [the huge gaps] and sanded the seats. In my opinion they are one of the most realistic parts of the kit, with wrinkles and texture that makes them look like they are actually leather. I'll be painting them with the rest of the two-tone gray interior.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/Bugatti015.jpg

I also used my new heat shield method to apply the small shields to the ignition units as per my reference photos.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/Bugatti016.jpg

This weekend I should be able to wrap up the engine and get the interior painted.

I also placed my order for the French Blue body paint, clear coat, and some other NECESSARY SUPPLIES (including a Revell BMW 635 CSi kit :tongue: ), so it should show up some time next week.

Thanks for looking! Hopefully the next few updates will be longer and more exciting.

Alex

Nice progress.