Assembly issue with Fujimi 1/24 Lamborghini Countach ...

[Cartino Dean]

Hello all, I'm new here. I was wondering if anyone ever had an issue in fitting the chassis assembly of the Fujimi 1/24 Countach to the body. I'm finding that the body will not admit the completed chassis assembly, as the body is about a whole cm too narrow. The only way to get it in that I can see would be to attempt to prise the body open by a cm, which seems to me ridiculous. Is there something I'm missing? Could anyone help? Thanks so much.

[MrObsessive]

Hi Dean and Welcome!

I built this one (the Enthusiast Series) way back in the '80's and I remember having to pry the body open slightly to get the chassis in. Unfortunately, it sounds like you've already painted it------in which case all I can tell you is to be VERY careful that you don't chip the paint!

I highly recommend test fitting everything before doing any body painting to avoid pitfalls such as this.

Hope it all goes well--------just use some patience trying to get 'er on. I eventually did get mine to fit, but I no longer have the model as it's been gone for years.

[Cartino Dean]

Hi Dean and Welcome!

I built this one (the Enthusiast Series) way back in the '80's and I remember having to pry the body open slightly to get the chassis in. Unfortunately, it sounds like you've already painted it------in which case all I can tell you is to be VERY careful that you don't chip the paint!

I highly recommend test fitting everything before doing any body painting to avoid pitfalls such as this.

Hope it all goes well--------just use some patience trying to get 'er on. I eventually did get mine to fit, but I no longer have the model as it's been gone for years.

Thanks so much! Yes, I'm test fitting at the moment. So prying is the way, then. It really does feel as though I'm about to fracture the body piece as I try this, but I guess I'll just have to trust in Fujimi and the fates, grit my teeth, hang on for dear life and just do it! Thanks again for your kind help.

[MrObsessive]

One thing I would try to do before painting is to test fit different methods to getting the body on before I paint. Whatever the easiest way to get the chassis on with the fewest attempts is what I would go with.

Maybe write this method down on the instruction sheet so you won't forget when it comes time for final assembly............I just hate surprises when you're so close to the end!

[Peter Lombardo]

Dean, this is a common problem with many kits as the bodies are wider in the middle but get much more narrow at the bottom. Consequently most builds require prying the body open a bit in order to receive the chassis. Some times you can "slide" the chassis in either from the front or the back and then slowly work the rest of the chassis into the body.

No matter how you attempt this, Bill's advice is true, always test fit the chassis and have a "plan" for repeating the procedure once the paint is complete. More then a few times I have cursed the kit designers, but in the end the build looks better for the "tight fitting" chassis.

Remember, the two keys to success are, one, test fit and have a plan, and two, be VERY careful and work slowly.

Good luck, you'll see, the designers knew what they were doing.

[Cartino Dean]

Thanks very much, everyone. As you can probably tell, this is my first car build...

[philo426]

Sometimes tilting the chassis can help but many of my builds required spreading the body to get the chassis to fit.Just be real careful and work carefully and all should be well!

[Tommy Kortman]

Thanks very much, everyone. As you can probably tell, this is my first car build...

Just be patient, and you'll get there.

[CAL]

and when all else fails use a BFH.

Personally I like the 16# Maul, but you can use whatever you have.

Edited March 16, 2010 by CAL

[Tommy Kortman]

and when all else fails use a BFH.

Personally I like the 16# Maul, but you can use whatever you have.

Like I always say, "If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer." Of course there's also this perennial old favorite. " If it don't fit...force it. If it breaks, you needed to replace it anyway."

Edited March 17, 2010 by Tommy Kortman

[JamesW]

I built this in the 80s...

Terrible pictures, marginal model. The kit is buildable as Fujimi suggests though...these were done exactly as the instructions told me to.

I have GOT to get me one of those kits. The Countach has ALWAYS been my FAVORITE car.

[CAL]

I have GOT to get me one of those kits. The Countach has ALWAYS been my FAVORITE car.

It's kind of cool with doors and everything. I have the anniversary ed Enthusiast kits and the Diablo, also with opening doors.

[JamesW]

I never really liked the Diablo. I like the Gallardo though.

[CAL]

I never really liked the Diablo. I like the Gallardo though.

A Gallardo is a VW

[JamesW]

http://www.edmunds.com/lamborghini/gallardo/2007/review.html

Edited March 17, 2010 by grimreaper

[CAL]

It's not a real Lamborghini.

It's a fancied up Audi A8, which might be a nice car, but it's not a Lamborghini. It doesn't even have the halmark gullwing doors.

It's Germany's idea of what a Lamborghini should have been: heavy on engineering and technology and very light on passion and emotion.

A bit stuffy.

A really fantastic car need balance between those.

Ferrari is getting close.

The Germans are capable, the Carrera GT comes to mind, a brilliant car, they just don't have enough passion most of the time.

It is funny however, the Gallardo suffers a lot of engine bay fires just like when Lamborghini was building cars.

Edited March 17, 2010 by CAL