The most exotic of Italian Exotics

[ea0863]

I got to sit in one of these at SEMA this past year. Climbing in was like getting into a fine Swiss watch!  

[dsummone]

The detail you’re doing on this is stunning, that exhaust… well what can I say and this is 1:24. You must be just a bit crazy?

[mrm]

10 hours ago, Mopar - D said:

Michael thanks for sharing your step by step on your building. Looks awesome!

Thank you Dan. I'm glad you enjoy the build.

6 hours ago, Timonator said:

Following,  this is looking really cool !

Thank you Tim. Appreciate it.

5 hours ago, TarheelRick said:

Just watching your detail work so far and realizing what must be left with the c/f decals, I have already made an appointment with my mental health professional. I grew up too used to AMT simplicity and liked it.  Now I have done a couple of intricate builds and a few scratchbuild projects, but nothing as intricate as this one.  Keep me entertained with your abilities and I will continue to drool in my Sippy cup while watching.

Thank you Ricky. I definitely will keep you entertained for a wile with this one. LOL

[mrm]

5 hours ago, ea0863 said:

I got to sit in one of these at SEMA this past year. Climbing in was like getting into a fine Swiss watch!  

I agree. These cars really are something else. There is a local guy that brings some crazy cars to Cars and Coffee and he has one with a Tempesta package. He has Some of the latest Ferraris, a Maclaren P1 and a Senna, even the latest Ford GT. But nothing is build remotely to the standard and quality of his Huayra. He usually brings two or three cars to the meet and if the Huayra is one of them, usually his wife drives it. 

4 hours ago, dsummone said:

The detail you’re doing on this is stunning, that exhaust… well what can I say and this is 1:24. You must be just a bit crazy?

Thank you Dave. A lot more to come. Funniest thing is, I was thinking, that so far this model is totally eligible for any box stock class, as the only thing added is paint and decals. 

[mrm]

The rear shocks being detailed. It's a shame they will be mostly covered. 

 

And let the carbon madness begin....

In this case the carbon decals are a little bit more complicated, because the weave has to go in certain direction, which means that all templates have to be carefully planned in advance. I always mark the direction of the weave, which is what the lines are on the masking tape templates. For these particular parts 1:12 scale Twill Weave from Scalemotorsport is used. 

 

This is what about ten pieces of decals looks like when they are done and clear coated. 

 

I had to change the light and took the color away, so the AMG metal transfers could be seen. They are present on the previous picture under the clear coat. 

 

The transmission cooler's airbox with a photoetched emblem from the detail set. All carbon parts on this model so far are cleared by brush with Tamiya gloss clear acrylic. Tamiya spray can clear attacks the scalemotorsport decals and pretty much dissolves them. Ask me how I know! LOL

 

The engine permanently fixed in the chassis with the exhaust attached. 

 

Stay tuned and thanks for looking....

Edited July 22, 2022 by mrm

[Codi]

Just found your thread Michael.  I've always loved Pagani. The car you've shown does have one of the lesser appealing interiors which I found very surprising.  Their interiors (along with Singer Porsche) make the best interiors in the world IMO.  Will certainly follow along to see how yours turns out.  Cheers, tim

[mrm]

The engine is almost completely done. It just needs some decals on the mufflers and maybe few photoetched bolt heads here and there. The aluminum exhaust tips also need to be added, but I am thinking that it would be best to put them on at the end, after the rear bumper. 

I hope you like it. 

 

Also I got the shipment I was waiting on.

I love it when good businesses keep reminding you why you have used their services for decades. I've met Mathew a couple of times at shows and he is pure class. I wished all businesses operated like him. 

 

Now I have everything I need - decals, solutions, brushes, box of brand new Exacto blades, reference pictures, meditation videos, Advil, a case of Red Bull, psychiatrist on speed dial and a whole weekend. LOL

Time to tackle the interior!

Thanks for watching and stay tuned. 

Edited July 23, 2022 by mrm

[mrm]

1 minute ago, mrm said:

The engine is almost completely done. It just needs some decals on the mufflers and maybe few photoetched bolt heads here and there. The aluminum exhaust tips also need to be added, but I am thinking that it would be best to put them on at the end, after the rear bumper. 

I hope you like it. 

 

Also I got the shipment I was waiting on.

I love it when good businesses keep reminding you why you have used their services for decades. I've met Mathew a couple of times at shows and he is pure class. I wished all businesses operated like him. 

 

Now I have everything I need - decals, solutions, brushes, box of brand new Exacto blades, reference pictures, meditation videos, Advil, a case of Red Bull, psychiatrist on speed dial and a whole weekend. LOL

Time to tackle the interior!

Thanks for watching and stay tuned. 

 

[mrm]

Somehow I end up quoting myself for no apparent reason and I have no idea how to remove it. Can a moderator perhaps do that please.

[mrm]

Last night I got quite a bit done on the interior. I started with the directional carbon on the firewall and the speakers behind the head rests.

 

 

I still need to do the carbon on each side of the package trey behind the seats. Also, on these pictures I can see some areas that need to be cleaned up or touched up, which you can't really see when looking at the parts in person.

Next I moved to the center tunnel.

 

Finally the sides of the tub were done in 1/24 High Definition Carbon - a product from Scalemotorsport I had not used before. It achieved the result I was hoping for and in person the parts covered with it look almost a solid color, just like on the real thing. It creates a nice contrast to the super big carbon weave used on everything else, for which I use 1/12 scale Twill Weave Carbon. 

 

Here comes the fun part....Making the seats truly unique. For the purpose some American Plaid decal from Scalemotorsport as used. Also a print of theirs I've never used before. 

 

The luggage was done in the same color scheme.

 

And of course some had to carrie on the doors too.

 

The seat backs still need to receive carbon fiber, there are plenty of spots that need some minor touch ups, the luggage needs to get detailed with its logos, picked out handles, zippers etc., the door panels still need to be covered in carbon and their speakers need to receive some detail......Well, a lot still needs to be done, not to mention I have not even started on the dash yet. But you get the idea of the finished interior. Oh, yeah....the floors will receive blue "carpeting", which in Huayras is fine leather. I will be making that from thin sheet styrene. 

In typical Pagani fashion, the plaid pattern from the seats carries perfectly aligned to the luggage behind them. 

 

I wanted to go all out on this interior and took a gamble with the plaid, but I think it's a cohesive result totally in character with the flamboyance of Pagani interiors. 

 

There is still tons of work to be done to that cockpit, but we're getting a step closer.

 

As always, thanks for looking and stay tuned....

[jaymcminn]

I love that plaid. I've used it on several builds (see below) and just bought some more for the 1/16 scale BMW Isetta. Looks pretty wild in the Zonda!

[Belugawrx]

Very nice decal and paint work Michael!

I'll be following your build?

 

[mrm]

10 hours ago, jaymcminn said:

I love that plaid. I've used it on several builds (see below) and just bought some more for the 1/16 scale BMW Isetta. Looks pretty wild in the Zonda!

Those two builds look top notch, Jay. I have been using Scalemotorsport decals since the beginning of their existence, but some reason or another, I have never used their interior patterns. With the excepgion of some blue checkers pattern, which I had very bad luck with. I don’t think it’s been made in years now. I wish they made more plaid patterns. 

[mrm]

8 hours ago, Belugawrx said:

Very nice decal and paint work Michael!

I'll be following your build?

 

Thank you, appreciate your kind words. 

[mrm]

Moving along on the interior..... I did not do as much as I wanted during the weekend as I had some other stuff to handle. But, oh well...

The steering wheel received some paint.

And then the bottom part of it received the first layer of carbon, altho you can't see much on this picture.

 

The upper dash is moulded together with the roof/upper part of the monocoque. This required some careful masking and then decals. The carbon around the windshield is 1/12 scale, while the one on the dash is 1/24. It took me quite a bit searching to find pictures that showed that area (the 1/24 carbon) on the real car up close. On almost all pictures those parts of the dash look just painted flat black. 

 

Some rough start on the dash.

 

While some things were drying, I wanted to check the front suspension assembly and then one thing led to another and before I knew it, I was pretty much done with it. Quite a bit of carbon went into these pieces too.

 

This was fun, getting everything aligning seamlessly and in the same particular directions as on the real car. Not.

 

The front brakes. Note how one emblem on the caliper is in the wrong direction. I can see it on the picture, but looking at the part with a naked eye it is impossible to see. 

 

And everything together. I did the best I could to line up the direction of the carbon weave on all the parts. This was no small task, but I think it came out OK. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a quick test fit inside the front bumper. Most of the work will be exposed.

 

and visible through the front grilles, which thanks to the Aoshima detail kit are going to be all see through photo etched parts. 

 

Now back to the interior.....

Thanks for looking and stay tuned. 

Edited July 26, 2022 by mrm

[mrm]

The subwoofer my kids voted to be included is done in all it's gloss carbon fiber enclosure, chrome surround and carbon cone glory.

 

The interior tub received a couple more metal transfers and a whole lot more carbon.

 

For the leather "carpet", sheet styrene was used cut to shape.

 

After it was painted, it was installed in the interior tub, followed by the pedals and a couple of photo etched emblems that I am not going to use. 

 

How to build carbon speakers.....

Punch an appropriate size circle out of carbon fiber decal

 

remove a strip from the center

 

Apply decals to speaker face with couple drops of setting solution and dry up with a hot blowdryer 

 

follow up by detailing with chrome marker and -Voilà! Carbon cone speakers are ready to rock!

 

Next the shifter and handbrake were added and the tub is complete, minus the seats and the luggage.

 

At this point my older son told me in a very serious tone that I've gone mental. But I think I'm still hanging....

[89AKurt]

I need professional help just digesting your project! ?  I have this kit, and the second version, and all the photo-etch and even turned aluminum detail parts, but don't think I'll ever build them because of the c-f decals.  I've had bad experience with some Scale Motorsport decals, the copper weave, so that turned me off.  You are doing impressive work, and enjoy reading the commentary.  I have to take pictures to see what I screwed up, understand!

[Bugatti Fan]

Airfix are releasing a little starter kit of this subject in 1/43rd scale.

[David G.]

Wow! What a fabulously complex and delicate kit.

Your work on it is top notch and a complete delight to follow, thank you for taking the time to share it with us.

David G.

[Mopar - D]

Amazing progress Michael ! Your carbon fiber looks awesome with all the different patterns going all different directions. 

[mrm]

On 7/26/2022 at 11:32 PM, 89AKurt said:

I need professional help just digesting your project! ?  I have this kit, and the second version, and all the photo-etch and even turned aluminum detail parts, but don't think I'll ever build them because of the c-f decals.  I've had bad experience with some Scale Motorsport decals, the copper weave, so that turned me off.  You are doing impressive work, and enjoy reading the commentary.  I have to take pictures to see what I screwed up, understand!

Well, Kurt, something things don't go exactly as planned and other times it just takes a little persuasion to get things going. Even if its on ourselves. I think you should start your kits and just enjoy them and see where it takes you. No matter what you get out of it, I bet it beats the feeling of watching the parts sitting in the boxes. 

 

20 hours ago, Bugatti Fan said:

Airfix are releasing a little starter kit of this subject in 1/43rd scale.

That would be interesting, altho I am not going to add a new scale to my building explorations. 

16 hours ago, David G. said:

Wow! What a fabulously complex and delicate kit.

Your work on it is top notch and a complete delight to follow, thank you for taking the time to share it with us.

David G.

Thank you David. I'm glad you're enjoying it. 

15 hours ago, Mopar - D said:

Amazing progress Michael ! Your carbon fiber looks awesome with all the different patterns going all different directions. 

Thank you Dan. A lot more carbon left to do. It's almost discouraging. 

[mrm]

Some more interior detail work....

Steering wheel.

 

The dash behind the steering wheel

 

The AC vents. These have to be assembled from two halves each, then sanded, wrapped in carbon fiber and then clear coated. 

 

Here you can see the clear difference between the matt fiish on the carbon IN the interior vs the gloss finish on the outside of the cabin.

 

All the inside of the cockpit under the roof is also covered in carbon fiber, but in matt finish, to reduce glare, just like on the real Huayra. 

 

The dash top is matt finish, but the face of it is all shiny carbon.

 

The kit does not provide a decal for the infotainment screen, which strikes me as odd, considering everything else they have included. I used a Huayra script from the decal sheet, which is supposed to be on the body work, but I will be replacing with a photoetched piece. It's beter than plain black screen. 

 

The steering column is installed ( in carbon fiber of course) and the adjustment lever. 

 

I still have to put all the pieces on the dash together and then tackle all the carbon on the inner door panels before I can call the interior done. 

Thanks for looking and stay tuned.....

[David G.]

Beautiful job on the carbon fiber decals. It seems that this kit is a true test of skill and patience.

David G.

[mrm]

3 hours ago, David G. said:

Beautiful job on the carbon fiber decals. It seems that this kit is a true test of skill and patience.

David G.

Thank you David. 
the kit is very well engineered and very detailed straight out of the box. Fitment is fantastic and an experienced modeler shouldn’t have trouble with it. Now, if one wants to add CF decals and to what extent to take their application is a different ball game and it’s on the builder, not the kit. 

[mrm]

Some more on the seats....

The panels on the seats that are between the legs of the passengers have these round "cups" that are made out of carbon. Inside them is a silver knob, which I believe is used for the controls of the seat. On the kit the knobs are moulded in the seat. I had to drill out the "cups' before painting. 

First a piece of carbon fiber decal was punched to slightly larger size than the "cups".

 

Then it was let set on the part soaked in Micro Sol.

 

For the knobs I used these ball pins from the jewelry department in Hobby Lobby. They would make the perfect shift knob in a Ferrari too. 

 

The luggage received new blue handles with chromed ends and some Pagani emblems on the front and was mounted in the shelf behind the seats. 

 

And my interior is yet another step closer to complete.

 

Thanks for looking and stay tuned. 

Edited July 28, 2022 by mrm