Testors (Gunze Sangyo) Lamborghini Spelling Bee Special (Silhouette)

[89AKurt]

Since I'm burned out on three hero WIP, wanted to knock a Box Stock out before year's end.  Had the chance to get these two kits, boxes are not in good shape, the Testors was terrible to begin with so it will not be saved.  Same mold, the Gunze has the battery terminals but no motor (have a few laying around if I wanted), instructions show light bulbs for the front lights but no bulbs, the Cheetah kit had some so I will snag those.  I find it amusing how the Testors model is poorly built, missing mirrors, top not set in enough, light lenses askew.

I will paint a different color, think it will compliment the car, and it won't be Testors paint.  I'm going to paint the safety bumpers the same color, it was common at the time with other cars.

I love this interior.

Read about the body needing work here:  Lamborghini Silhouette 1978?.  Was inspired here:  Lamborghini Silhouette, Gunze-Sangyo, 1/24.  Yep, the sink marks are severe on the doors!

The panel lines need some sanding, and some minor mold seams to clean up.

The wheels are the worst part of the kit.  I'm going to drill out the holes a little.  One wheel has bad sink marks, so this will be fun to fix!  Tempting to use Fujimi P7 tires, wider for the rear should be done, but that would disqualify for Box Stock, and that would lead to installing and engine, and then another hero project......

[89AKurt]

So much for qualifying for the GSL Box Plus category. ?  Would drilling the holes bigger with a #37 .104" bit would be considered a disqualification?

Quote

[...] Additionally, bodies, panels, parts and components may not be modified, altered or reconfigured to “correct” design inaccuracies in the kit. For example: fender lines, hood contours, window frames and all other body shapes must be maintained as the shapes created by the kit manufacturer, regardless of their accuracy. However, material may be removed to enhance or achieve realistic detail in a particular part. For instance, a competitor may drill out exhaust pipes and carburetor venturies, and remove material to “open” a grille or enhance any detail present in the kit, [...]

Mocked up the dash and front suspension.  The footwell does not exist, and no pedals.  The hole in the fender well really bugs me.  I dig the moving steering wheel though!

Removed the ring gear for the non-existent motor.

Opened the vents at the back.

Couldn't help myself, filled the slots, using cut off motor mounts (toothpick pointing to).
First time I have used Tamiya putty, and the rubber painting tool.  This might be a dreaded red bleed through plastic, it's translucent and stiffer than "normal" plastic, bled through the putty.

Something I would like to do with the seats, is cut a wedge out, and bend the front under.   It's a pet peeve to see daylight through the wheel wells, could use wine bottle foil and fill the holes.  To add the lights, and the metal parts including the switch, which are not in the Testors instructions, would definitely disqualify for Box Plus.  So I might as well fix the footwell area!   Then I can use steel tubing to make quad exhaust tips.  But that's it....... famous last words

[89AKurt]

Totally removed from the Box Stock, OOB, whatever class for straight build.  Some things bug me, building what looks good enough.
Fixing the seats, just the front, could cut completely out and fabricate floor and bulkhead, but not this time.  Fixed the license plate light.

The front wheel flare doesn't look right, decided the front needed to be moved back.  Will reduce the size next, shouldn't be the same as the rear.  Such a shame the tire aspect ratio is wrong, but will live with that.

Noticing the greenhouse is a bit lower than the real deal, leaving that alone.  This white car is a prototype, the door mirror is not like the kit, which is a good thing.  ?

[Dann Tier]

Where do i start?...this is a fun kit to build!!  1) This plastic does bleed through HORRIBLY, and doesnt react well to hotter paints -even after a good primering. 2) the sink holes are pretty annoying. 3) No decals is a real pain -thank, God for aftermarket bits. 4) The foot-wells are a huge let down that i can never just leave. 5) The wheels are Nasty. 6) The tyres are nice, but have way too much side wall....BUT; It has a pretty closely accurate body, and stance...the removable Targa top fits perf, and the dash has some decent details -still a VERY fun, and satisfying kit to build!!!

  I'm really looking forward to more of this, Bud!!!, i have two more in the stash i need to use to build one really nice one. I will be totally separating the seats from one of the firewalls, and making them separate, realistic. The footwells will be remade with the proper depth, and NO holes! 

  I never get the point with having the steering wheel turn the wheels in these kits...i think its stupid. Even as a motorized "toy", its not like you can actually steer it while chasing it around the room, and why have it when basic details are left out?

 Like the first Sihlouette i built, i used the wheels from a Tamiya Countach kit -spot on!, and the tyres are from Fujimi.

 This is the first one i built over 20 years ago...

[Matt Bacon]

Good to see another one of these under way, and @Dann Tier s build as well... I assumed the “working” steering was so you could set the front wheels to the right angle so it would go round and round in circles of whatever size there was space for on your living room floor! Wait a minute... isn’t that the Indy 500..? ?

best,

M.

Edited December 20, 2020 by Matt Bacon

[89AKurt]

10 hours ago, Dann Tier said:

Where do i start?...this is a fun kit to build!!  1) This plastic does bleed through HORRIBLY, and doesnt react well to hotter paints -even after a good primering. 2) the sink holes are pretty annoying. 3) No decals is a real pain -thank, God for aftermarket bits. 4) The foot-wells are a huge let down that i can never just leave. 5) The wheels are Nasty. 6) The tyres are nice, but have way too much side wall....BUT; It has a pretty closely accurate body, and stance...the removable Targa top fits perf, and the dash has some decent details -still a VERY fun, and satisfying kit to build!!!

  I'm really looking forward to more of this, Bud!!!, i have two more in the stash i need to use to build one really nice one. I will be totally separating the seats from one of the firewalls, and making them separate, realistic. The footwells will be remade with the proper depth, and NO holes! 

  I never get the point with having the steering wheel turn the wheels in these kits...i think its stupid. Even as a motorized "toy", its not like you can actually steer it while chasing it around the room, and why have it when basic details are left out?

 Like the first Sihlouette i built, i used the wheels from a Tamiya Countach kit -spot on!, and the tyres are from Fujimi.

 This is the first one i built over 20 years ago...

[...]

Thanks for the comment. ?  You added US sidelights, and the mirrors are like the prototype.  Very nice job on that, and it's not RED.  I have the hood badge emblem, so that's why the molded on detail was sanded off.

7 hours ago, Matt Bacon said:

Good to see another one of these under way, and @Dann Tier s build as well... I assumed the “working” steering was so you could set the front wheels to the right angle so it would go round and round in circles of whatever size there was space for on your living room floor! Wait a minute... isn’t that the Indy 500..? ?

best,

M.

Working steering is a gimmick, when you turn the wheels, you can watch the steering wheel move. ?  It's hokey, but keeping for the fun of it.

After really screwing up the bad wheel, decided to cast a resin copy.  I could have stolen one from the other kit, but that wouldn't be cool, and will throw a resin copy in that box.  Fixed the other front flare, started to refine the shape and added some putty.  After wet-sanding the body, saw all the other low spots, so putty on those.  Also drilled the wheel holes to .113".

Fixed the holes in the wheel wells with wine bottle foil.  This just happens to be black, not intended to be the finish color.  Some styrene in the footwell, plus foil to fill the gap.    The funny thing about the steering rack, they put teeth all the way across, when only about 5 were needed. ?

I could have used the other kit's battery contacts, but didn't.  I had just converted my utility room fluorescent light fixture to LED (without the ballast), had salvaged the brass from the 'shunted' terminals, and thought this would work.   Got the stained glass soldering iron out, and made this:

Instead of figuring out a switch, glued in cigar ribbon, to pull the battery out to turn 'off'.  Coffee can lid used for the wire thingies.  Drilled a hole in the 'firewall' for the wires, guess the giant gap was supposed to be where the wire was to run. ?

[89AKurt]

Interior details whipped together.

Gas, brake, and clutch pedals.  Handbrake, seatbelt buckles.

Second try at casting a new wheel.  What remains in the holes is Silly Putty.  My first attempt failed because I didn't shake up the part a/b bottles enough first, mixed the heck out of this batch resulting in all the bubbles.

[89AKurt]

"Fixed" the wheel, had to be careful how much from each half to remove.

Because of how the mold is done, there were no dash vents.  Based on one picture, fabricated them.  First was drilling a small hole all the way through, then a bigger drill the size of the inside of the Replicas & Miniatures of MD photo-etch rings, then punched out aluminum disks with the Waldron tool.

Finally got to painting.  I've noticed the kit's plastic holds a static charge, part of the reason was my polyester blend t-shirt and sweats, stripped down before painting so everything drifting in the air didn't land on the paint.  Tamyia primer, and gold, plus Model Master flat black was done.

I hope this nail polish color compliments the wheels.

[89AKurt]

Spent most of the day painting.  Needed to refine the front flare, the horizontal creases needed work.  Touched up the primer, then quick wet-sanded, then painted the nail 'polish'.  Also painted Model Master aluminum; the shifter and turn signal got Alclad chrome.

Had to figure what order of colors to paint for the interior, resigned to the fact that some colors were going to need two sessions, depending on the easier way to mask.  For example, the door panel insert first, the seats will be last with the same color.  The steering wheel needed a badge in the center.  I picked Insignia Red for the seat stripe, in homage to the most common color for Italian cars.

Would have been nice to have brown carpeting, it exists, but is never in stock.  So black carpet was put in.  Made patterns with "onion skin" sketch paper, then cut the self-adhesive carpet.

Last color for today was a mix of Leather and Flat Black.  Only used regular masking tape.

Next steps: lightly wet-sand the body, quick spray of nail 'polish', 'Afrika' seats, instrument decals, carbon-fiber decal the roof, some brush detail painting, tube exhaust tips, clear the body.  Might get done this year!

[Bainford]

Very cool. It's coming along nicely.

[Ace-Garageguy]

You're doing a lovely job, but man oh man...the shot with the photo of the real one confirms just how abysmally bad the model's proportions are.

I was kinda lusting after one of these, as I had one for a couple weeks back in the late '80s, bit I think I'll pass.

Your phrase "hero build" is definitely what it would take to make this mess actually look like a Silhouette, and I've got a lifetime's supply lined up already.

But soldier on, sir. I'm sure you'll make her as pretty as she can be for anything like a "reasonable" amount of effort.   

[Pete75]

Very interesting project. This "Box Stock" building looks mighty hard work!!?

[89AKurt]

4 hours ago, Bainford said:

Very cool. It's coming along nicely.

Thanks, so far so good!

3 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

You're doing a lovely job, but man oh man...the shot with the photo of the real one confirms just how abysmally bad the model's proportions are.

I was kinda lusting after one of these, as I had one for a couple weeks back in the late '80s, bit I think I'll pass.

Your phrase "hero build" is definitely what it would take to make this mess actually look like a Silhouette, and I've got a lifetime's supply lined up already.

But soldier on, sir. I'm sure you'll make her as pretty as she can be for anything like a "reasonable" amount of effort.   

Appreciate it.  I've seen discussions about this subject with you, and you nailed it.  The greenhouse needs major adjustment.  I have a couple lifetime's of projects myself.  This is fake it until I make it, and call it done.  Good practice for the hero projects.

33 minutes ago, Pete75 said:

Very interesting project. This "Box Stock" building looks mighty hard work!!?

Yes it is, didn't know they are rare, due to problems with the company and economy.  It's hardly Box Stock now. ?

Between baking Pumpkin pie, and making Christmas Eve dinner entree,  I put instrument decals on.   Why did they put 8 gauges in the dash?

I know this isn't factory stock, they may have done fiberglass, but couldn't resist updating with lighter carbon-fiber for the roof (Hobby Design decal, good stuff).  If it was real, would not be a big deal to switch out for the original.

I better start working on dinner.......

[89AKurt]

Got some done today, last color for the interior got painted.  Detail painted the dash.  Did a quick second coat of nail 'polish' put on.

[beeRS]

What a fantastic job so far!  I’ve contemplated building this kit several times, but keep putting it back on the shelf due to all the shortcomings of the kit. It’s great to see someone tackle all these issues. This is coming together beautifully. 

[89AKurt]

7 hours ago, beeRS said:

What a fantastic job so far!  I’ve contemplated building this kit several times, but keep putting it back on the shelf due to all the shortcomings of the kit. It’s great to see someone tackle all these issues. This is coming together beautifully. 

Thank you.  I totally understand.  I have numerous kits in this category, and have another on the way.  I have a Profil Audi Quattro that I got before the Beemax came out, so that may never get built.

[Pete75]

Sweet looking interior! I noticed the bare dashboard had embossed dials. I have one like this for my next project & am wondering whether to just lay the decals on top, or maybe to drill them out. Can't quite see enough in your latest pic, but yours look cool; how did you do them?

[Lunajammer]

Sow's ear = silk purse.

[89AKurt]

8 hours ago, Pete75 said:

Sweet looking interior! I noticed the bare dashboard had embossed dials. I have one like this for my next project & am wondering whether to just lay the decals on top, or maybe to drill them out. Can't quite see enough in your latest pic, but yours look cool; how did you do them?

Thanks.  I hate painting gauges, so these decals are my saving grace.  I think they can be found on feeBay.  I used Solvaset to get them down.  Not concerned about the needles not lining up, so to do a killer job, drilling out would be a good idea.

5 hours ago, Lunajammer said:

Sow's ear = silk purse.

Is that a contest category? ?

So this is why some don't do WIP topics (seems like I said that before).  Totaled the wheel I cast. ?

So I broke into the other kit.  I have to make a correction, Gunze-Sangyo managed to cast all the wheels without sink holes, so if anyone is thinking of getting this kit, avoid the Testors.  Drilled the holes, then painted the Tamiya 'titanium gold' without primer, came out good.

Maybe these Huracan wheels would work. ?

First thing I did today was spray Splash Paints clear.  Found out it's not compatible with the nail 'polish'.  ?  The bumpers are okay.

Needed to have the body on, to see how the new tips will look.

Then bit my lip, and threw into the brake fluid.

Edited December 27, 2020 by 89AKurt

[beeRS]

Oh no! What a shame about the clear coat. Does brake fluid remove the filler used for fixing the sink marks as well?

[peteski]

Shame about paint compatibility problem. The color changing paint actually looked good on that model.

When I try new paints combinations I try to do a "spoon test" first, but sometimes I forget to do it.  

[89AKurt]

On 12/28/2020 at 1:10 AM, beeRS said:

Oh no! What a shame about the clear coat. Does brake fluid remove the filler used for fixing the sink marks as well?

Tamiya putty also disolved.

23 hours ago, peteski said:

Shame about paint compatibility problem. The color changing paint actually looked good on that model.

When I try new paints combinations I try to do a "spoon test" first, but sometimes I forget to do it.  

Oh well.  Yea, I've been collecting plastic spoons, need more.  ?

[Funkychiken]

Man that's a shame, it was coming along so well... Those dash vents are super cool, and all the other details in the basic kit really make a difference. Good luck with the respay 

[89AKurt]

On 12/31/2020 at 2:41 AM, Funkychiken said:

Man that's a shame, it was coming along so well... Those dash vents are super cool, and all the other details in the basic kit really make a difference. Good luck with the respay 

Oh well, appreciate it!

Ok, so this is what it looked like after the brake fluid bath.

Repaired the putty spots, wet-sanded, primed, then sprayed this Splash Paints that was intended for a Huracan.  I need to wet-sand this next, then do another coat.  I wasn't planning on a contest winner anyway, just wanted this weird Lambo on the shelf.

[Pete75]

Shame about the first paint but the new shade is pretty darn cool! I'll say this: stripping airbrushed paint appears WAY quicker than my experiences getting spray can paint off. Looks to be no big deal!