The LP400, Lamborghini’s first Countach design, turned many heads turning during the mid-’70s. Scissor doors, bold tires, and a wedge shape made it look like a car that came from the future. But with its 4.0-liter V-12 engine, the Countach was much more than just looks — it packed a real punch.
Tightly packed into Aoshima’s box are 18 sprues holding 153 parts, as well as four vinyl tires, a sheet of mesh, painting masks, and a decal sheet. The parts are molded in white, black, or gray styrene and are completely flash-free; I was amazed at how crisp the moldings were.
The directions come as a 12-page, 29-step booklet. A painting guide and parts-tree map are also included. The directions are clear and easy to follow.
Assembly begins with the chassis and suspension. Take care with the suspension so all four wheels are firmly grounded. The rims are prepainted in aluminum and look accurate according to my reference photos.
The interior is the next major assembly. I chose to go with a tan interior, which matched the photos I had on hand. (Some do have a black suede interior.) Decals are provided for the instruments and steering-wheel emblem. The seats are accurately represented and fit nicely; the only things missing are the seat belts.
The V-12 engine shines, especially with the hood open, although you have the option of leaving the hood closed. Headlights can be positioned up or down, too. The engine and headlights are both easy assemblies.
Be careful with the body, though. The frames for the windshield are extremely thin and could easily snap in half. I also noticed a crack down the center of the trunk that appeared as I was attaching the body to the chassis. This might have happened when I was polishing the paint, or it may have been there all along.
The clear parts looked great and were scratch-free. The windshield fit snugly with no problem.
The scissor doors are a good part of what sets this car apart. You can pose them opened or closed; having them open exposes a fantastic, clearly visible interior. The side skirts and bumpers fit nicely, giving the Countach its famous look.
I airbrushed my model with Tamiya Italian red lacquer and Tamiya clear (both decanted from spray cans), polishing both the paint and the clear coat for a little extra shine. Decals went over the clear coat with no troubles. I used a little Micro Set just to make sure there would be no silvering.
My Countach took me about 15 hours to complete, which is par for a car model that is this complex. If you’ve built a few kits, you should have no problems at all turning out a showroom Lamborghini.