LeMans Miniatures Audi R8 Crocodile Dundee

[Nacho Z]

I decided to pull the trigger and build this model.  It is LeMans Miniatures' Audi R8 in the famous Crocodile Dundee livery.  I will not do a rundown of this car's pedigree, a quick Google search will tell you everything you want to know about this car.  The terms "rare" and "expensive" are relative, but this kit, as of today, is relatively rare and if you can find one, expensive.  I have had mine for many years.  After that doggone Heller Renault Gordini R8 nearly made me quit modeling, I thought I would build something that I liked.

A slight departure from how I normally do my WIP threads, this time I am going to post current progress pics and ask for opinions, advice and comments.  I normally post my updates weeks after the work is already done.  I am hoping that you guys with a lot of resin experience will follow along and chime in often.

This introductory post will just be pictures of the kit contents.  I am really going to take my time with this one, not so much that it is particularly difficult, but because I will only get one shot at it.

 

 

I will post more closeup pictures of the other bits and pieces as I get to them.  I will source some tire decals.  I may already have some in my stash.  Again, anyone that can give me pointers and advice, I'm all ears!  Thanks for checking in.

 

[Dr Cobra]

I don't think those decals are going to be fun !

 

 

[1959scudetto]

Very clean and crisp-looking resin kit - excellent quality I would say. The real challenge will be without doubt the application of these decals, which cover the entire body.

[Pierre Rivard]

Kit looks very crisp and straight (not a given with resin) so building it should go fairly well. The big challenge will be the very elaborate livery. Despite the best planning it is possible some decals will not want to line up perfectly at their intersection, requiring delicate paint touch ups to help them blend seamlessly. I'll be following with immense interest. 

[Rich Chernosky]

John.......Looks like a pretty straight forward resin kit. LeMans Minatures, from my experience, have been good quality. Once you get everything cleaned up and fitted it should be smooth sailing.  As others have mentioned the decals  will be you biggest challenge.  A nice hi-gloss base will help them adhere .  I find keeping the water warm greatly helps decals stick.  What kind of shape are they in and how old are they.  Never had a problem with their decals but my experience is limited.  Hey....I am rooting for you on this one.

[Nacho Z]

On 10/22/2024 at 12:16 AM, Dr Cobra said:

I don't think those decals are going to be fun !

 

 

Dale, decals are my favorite thing to do!  I bought this kit, years ago, based on the fact of all of the decals.  They appear to still be in good shape.  I may come to rue my decision, we'll see!

 

 

On 10/22/2024 at 3:42 AM, 1959scudetto said:

Very clean and crisp-looking resin kit - excellent quality I would say. The real challenge will be without doubt the application of these decals, which cover the entire body.

You are absolutely correct, Helmut.  Decaling is very enjoyable to me.  Let's hope this one doesn't bite me!

[Nacho Z]

On 10/22/2024 at 7:57 AM, Pierre Rivard said:

Kit looks very crisp and straight (not a given with resin) so building it should go fairly well. The big challenge will be the very elaborate livery. Despite the best planning it is possible some decals will not want to line up perfectly at their intersection, requiring delicate paint touch ups to help them blend seamlessly. I'll be following with immense interest. 

No doubt the decals will be a challenge, Pierre!  I can't wait to tackle them.  I have never built a LeMans Miniatures kit before, so I don't know what to expect out of the decals.  I will definitely study the decal directions before starting.  There are no real directions, there is only a 2-sided sheet of paper with multiple pictures.  You can tell the decaling sequence by looking at the photos.  I feel like it will be very easy to miss a decal or two if I'm not careful.

 

 

On 10/22/2024 at 10:14 AM, Rich Chernosky said:

John.......Looks like a pretty straight forward resin kit. LeMans Minatures, from my experience, have been good quality. Once you get everything cleaned up and fitted it should be smooth sailing.  As others have mentioned the decals  will be you biggest challenge.  A nice hi-gloss base will help them adhere .  I find keeping the water warm greatly helps decals stick.  What kind of shape are they in and how old are they.  Never had a problem with their decals but my experience is limited.  Hey....I am rooting for you on this one.

Hey, Buddy, I'm glad that you are following along.  You have a ton of experience with these kits and I have zero experience.  The best advice that I have received from my local building friends, (one in particular has a lot of resin kit experience), was to take my time and test fit everything a gazillion times...lol.  To answer your question, I bought the kit when it was basically new.  It may have been out for a year or two.  I keep all of my kits in my basement which is temperature and humidity controlled.  The decals look like new.  No cracking that I can detect.  The only spare decal(s) that I may be able to test on are the racing harness decals.  Otherwise, I don't believe there are any spares.

[Nacho Z]

How about a small, Monday night update?  As I mentioned above, I am really taking my time with this one, mostly due to the fact that it is a relatively rare kit at this point.  Also, my inexperience with resin kits makes me question and evaluate everything I do before I do it.  This update really will be about parts prep.  All very basic stuff for you guys and gals here on the forum.  However, maybe it will help someone.  You have already seen the body and chassis.  I have them cleaned up, but there is really no need to post more pictures of them.

 

There are pour stubs to contend with, as well as minor flash and a few pinholes.

 

I am in no way complaining about the kit or the condition of the kit parts.  Not at all.  I'm just showing what I am starting with.  The other smaller parts all needed minor clean up and this has been done.  In my next post I will show you some of these parts now that they are all cleaned up.  Thanks for checking in!

 

[absmiami]

Those brake discs are disappointing - could be replaced but maybe they aren’t seeable unless you make a wheel removable - sorry - i like building every one else’s kits ..

[RancheroSteve]

I would advise making some high resolution scans of those decals if you can. Worst come to worst, you could print them out on decal paper.

I've only built one LeMans Minatures kit - a Panoz LMP1 - but it went together quite well, no drama.

Edited November 5 by RancheroSteve

[Pierre Rivard]

I've only built one resin kit (Lemans 1933 winner) and started with parts that look a lot like these. Time, patience, enjoying the journey more than the destination was a must but I surprised myself with the result. I love your work and will follow your journey with immense pleasure. Please post regular updates. I need my fix!

[kensar]

I've built several LeMans Miniature kits and have had not big issues with any of them.  I built another version of the Audi you are doing here and don't remember having any issue with it.  LeMans Miniatures are typical resin kits and better than a lot of them.  Just take your time.

[MarkJ]

I can already tell this is going to be an awesome one to follow. You guys make resin look like child's play but for me it's a definite no, no.

[Nacho Z]

On 11/4/2024 at 10:29 PM, absmiami said:

Those brake discs are disappointing - could be replaced but maybe they aren’t seeable unless you make a wheel removable - sorry - i like building every one else’s kits ..

I agree with you, Andrew.  The good thing is that is the back side and will not be seen.  The fronts look nice.  They will not be very noticeable on the completed model.  And don't worry about giving advice.  I know your work.  I will take advice from you all day long and twice on Sundays!

 

On 11/4/2024 at 10:52 PM, RancheroSteve said:

I would advise making some high resolution scans of those decals if you can. Worst come to worst, you could print them out on decal paper.

I've only built one LeMans Minatures kit - a Panoz LMP1 - but it went together quite well, no drama.

Great advice, Steve!  I have already thought of that.  I will have to figure out if my home printer/scanner/whatever else it does, has enough oomph for the job or if I will need to look elsewhere.  My decals look to be in great shape with no signs of cracking.  The kit came with racing harness decals and I will experiment with those.  You may have already shared your Panoz on here but feel free to drop some pictures in this thread.  Would love to see it.

[Nacho Z]

On 11/5/2024 at 7:44 AM, Pierre Rivard said:

I've only built one resin kit (Lemans 1933 winner) and started with parts that look a lot like these. Time, patience, enjoying the journey more than the destination was a must but I surprised myself with the result. I love your work and will follow your journey with immense pleasure. Please post regular updates. I need my fix!

Thank you for checking in, Pierre!  I'm having fun so far.  This is only my second resin kit and I want to do a good job on it.  I am definitely going slow and taking my time on it.

 

On 11/5/2024 at 8:44 AM, kensar said:

I've built several LeMans Miniature kits and have had not big issues with any of them.  I built another version of the Audi you are doing here and don't remember having any issue with it.  LeMans Miniatures are typical resin kits and better than a lot of them.  Just take your time.

Thanks, Ken.  It sure seems to be a nice kit.  The body casting is amazing, IMHO.  Please feel free to post pics of your Audi in this thread, I would love to see it.  There is not a lot of guys building resin and even less building LeMans / endurance cars.

 

On 11/6/2024 at 9:17 AM, MarkJ said:

I can already tell this is going to be an awesome one to follow. You guys make resin look like child's play but for me it's a definite no, no.

I hear you, Mark.  I'm with you on this and I'm definitely not one of those guys who make it look easy.  I'm excited and intimidated by this kit.  It will be one of those cases, "if I can do it, anyone can do it".  Thanks for looking in and commenting!

[RancheroSteve]

5 hours ago, Nacho Z said:

You may have already shared your Panoz on here but feel free to drop some pictures in this thread.  Would love to see it.

Thanks for asking, John. Here's a couple of shots of the Panoz:

[kensar]

Here's my LeMans Miniatures Audi R8 from the year 2000 LeMans.  Built in 2004.

 

[Nacho Z]

18 hours ago, RancheroSteve said:

Thanks for asking, John. Here's a couple of shots of the Panoz:

Doggone, Steve, that is nice!  Thanks for sharing it.  You just have to love these racers and the fact that we can get them in scale, even if only in limited numbers and higher cost.

[Nacho Z]

9 hours ago, kensar said:

Here's my LeMans Miniatures Audi R8 from the year 2000 LeMans.  Built in 2004.

 

Well, dang, Ken, I might as well sell my kit and take up Legos!  That thing is beautiful!!  Good Lord, you have given me something to shoot for.  I will fall far short of the mark, but I'm still going to shoot for it.  I am really going to pour over these pictures.  I'm seeing details that I had questions about.  Would you happen to have any pictures of the tail?  I am curious about the gap between the body and chassis where the exhaust pipes exit.  I don't believe I have the best fitting kit and the rear is an area of concern.  Anyhow, that Audi of yours is just fandamntastic!!  Thank you for sharing.

[Nacho Z]

I thought that I would share a few more pictures of the kit parts as they came out of the box.  As I said in my last post, I am not complaining about the kit itself.  Not at all.  Just thought others might like to see what I started with.

The biggest disappointment so far was the rear wing.  There is a metal rod, very similar to axle rods from American kits, that runs through the wing.  I'm sure it has something to do with the molding process although I don't know why it is needed.  It has to be cut to length which could be tricky.  On my example, the resin did not cover the metal rod and the whole wing is a little wavy.  I am seriously considering scratch building my own rear wing.

 

After many years, the brass PE looked a little worse for the wear.  I spent a few minutes cleaning it up.  I did the same with the 2 silver PE sheets.  I'm not 100% sure what they are made of.  Steel perhaps? 

 

The tires took a minute or two to clean up.  The wheels are a very tight fit, especially the rears.  I was afraid of breaking the wheels while test fitting them.  I was even more afraid of getting them back out.

 

I am still working on cleaning parts and test fitting.  I am studying the instructions and getting a game plan of when to glue bits together and when to paint them.  Thank you to everyone who has checked this out and to those of you who have commented.  I appreciate it!

 

[RancheroSteve]

2 hours ago, Nacho Z said:

 There is a metal rod, very similar to axle rods from American kits, that runs through the wing.  I'm sure it has something to do with the molding process although I don't know why it is needed. 

I believe the metal rod is molded into the wing to try to keep it from warping, with a thin resin casting can be prone to. It may also provide a solid round leading edge to the wing.

[kensar]

Quote

Would you happen to have any pictures of the tail? 

I found some photographs of the tail and scanned them.  Hope this shows you what you need.

[Nacho Z]

On 11/13/2024 at 11:02 AM, kensar said:

I found some photographs of the tail and scanned them.  Hope this shows you what you need.

 

That is perfect, Ken!!  I can't thank you enough.  I am, or at least was, struggling a little bit trying to figure out the gap in the rear, where the tail pipes exit.  Your pictures really help.  Thanks again!

[Racephoto1]

On 11/12/2024 at 12:59 AM, RancheroSteve said:

Thanks for asking, John. Here's a couple of shots of the Panoz:

I am planning on doing this model, I have the kit. My question, what shade of red is it. In every photo the red looks different.

[RancheroSteve]

49 minutes ago, Racephoto1 said:

I am planning on doing this model, I have the kit. My question, what shade of red is it. In every photo the red looks different.

Good question, but it's been a long time since I built this and I can't recall. I may have gotten the presumably correct color from MCW. Reds especially seem to photograph differently depending on conditions and cameras. When all else fails, I say mix something that looks right to your eye.