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BMW M5 E34 Touring

32K views 71 replies 38 participants last post by  Skotch  
#1 ·
Finally it's time for my first scratch-built station wagon.
As much body works as I already did, I had (and still have) a huge respect on building a wagon, because extending the roof not only in correct shape but also sturdy enough, means a special challenge.
And, of course, I want a working rear lid.
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That given I call this my personal master's examination.
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For "victim" I choose an E34, because its straight lines seem not too difficult to me. But to keep it not too easy otherwise, it's going to be an M5 in face-lifted version with the wide front grille!
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And that's my pattern:

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If anyone knows the name of this colour, please help!. It must be an Individual paint, because non of the known stock colours for E34/M5 are matching.
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I've googled for hours already but couldn't find any useful hint.
In a pinch I'll go with VW's "Blue Graphit" which is very similar.

But now the first steps:

First I cut off the roof behind the B-pillar.

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Then I drilled a hole in both sides of the roof:

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also in the rear:

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From 3mm steel wire I bent two identic beams:

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This will be glued in the holes, two give the new roof line the correct shape and strength:

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The pillars will be covered and shaped with putty.
The top is planned to be build like a sandwich. First I'll glue a styrene sheet from inside to the anterior ceiling along the beams to get a new headliner. Between the beams I'll put some aluminium mesh and then I'll spackle the top. I hope this will work...
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The window trim and roof rails will be add with styrene bars.

The lower part of the lid can be cut from the notchback, the window frame will be done either with wire and putty again or with styrene. I'll decide that later during process, also the way how to create the hinges.
 
#2 ·
Phew Rainer, I really don't think this is 'M' level.....
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I think if the final result is anything like, then you'll deserve a PhD at least!!!
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Good luck! I can't wait to see how this one progresses!!
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#3 ·
wow..bravo, Raidou.

Very cool choice...can't wait to see it done. The fact that you're scratch building the Touring is
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.

I've been on Enthusiast Auto's site many times...they're located a couple hrs from where I live & advertise on Craigslist...and great selection of excellent BMW's. The owner has a E34 M-Touring in Santorin Blue over Lotus White as his personal car.
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
wow, soo nice!
you just gave me another ideea about how to do a station or another roof top with those two steel wires
I'm making a Caddy out of a Touran... and if you have posted this thread earlier, maybe I would have spared some grinding...
it looks good and I'm sure you're gonna pass the test
 
#7 ·
Whoa, that's a brave project
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And very clever to realize
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I was just looking and trying to think if it's possible to make a Ferrari 456T "Venice" Wagon, so I'll be following this thread closely
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#8 ·
I agree with those that would bestow the honor of a Ph.D. on Raidou for this project...I am looking forward to seeing the finished product!

Raidou, as always, I admire your skill, and I think you've taken the right approach to making this model so far! The metal you are using for the roofline looks precisely like the shape of the E34 Touring, so I am sure the finished product is going to look great!

I recently bought a 2010 VW Passat Wagon (I believe that's a Passat Variant to most of you out there!). I'd love to have a B6 Passat Wagon in 1/18 scale, but the closest thing I've found so far is the B6 Passat sedan made by a Chinese manufacturer (it is the Chinese Magotan-badged Passat). In the meantime I am going to settle for a 1/43 wagon. The most basic projects for me are really ambitious, as I manage to mess up even minor modifications, so I will be following this thread with great interest!
 
#35 ·
I didn't have time for going on recently so no update yet, BUT maybe good news for some of you:



Well, as mentioned I ordered a set of Schnitzer wheels from Uli Nowak with the intention to rework them, making them look as near as possible to the M-parallels. I mentioned this idea to Uli as well and he responded: Wait! What about me making those rims for you?
What? Seriously??
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Yes, Uli designed a complete new inlet, milled a casting for it and produced a set of perfect resin inlets within ONE week and without any extra costs for me!
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Amazing, isn't it?
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And you will benefit from that as well because they will be available in 16" and 18" in his shop soon, maybe 19" later, too.
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That's what I call service and proximity to customers!
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#13 ·
I'll take this Schnitzer wheels from Nowak and rework them a bit (grinding down the spokes and the screws): http://www.modellbau-nowak.de/shop/popup_image.php/pID/281/imgID/0
That should look similar as possible.

The result of last night:

I had to cut out the piece below the trunk lid. The opening at Touring is larger down til the bumper:

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Then I milled the new shape of the taillights:

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After that I started with the roof construction. First I glued a sheet of styrene from inside

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The upper side was covered with a mesh. This will be spackled like armored concrete.

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Then I covered the pillars with modelling clay:

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It's pretty sturdy already, seems to work as visualized.
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#16 ·
You can have made as much experience over the years, there's still some try and error on it.
Of course I'm thinking seriously about how to realize a project before I start with it. I have a straight plan in mind on the basic subjects. And fortunately my ideas work mostly, so once in a blue moon I have to search for an alternative way. Sometimes details or perhaps issues occuring during the process need offhanded improvisation though.
 
#18 ·
It's running better than expected!
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Today I spackled the mesh:

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But just thin so the mesh was even covered. I didn't want to build the complete thickness with it because putty isn't that sturdy. My 2-k modelling clay becomes much harder and more rugged. But how to apply clay in a thin layer? I wanted to have as few bumps as possible.
When I went out to get a pizza, I got the idea...of course, rolling it out like a dough!
I wetted the desk, took a small bottle and rolled the clay to thin stripes, put those on the top and flattend it with wet fingers

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After the first rough sanding I'm pretty surprised how good it worked! It looks already smooth and even.
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From the left side the roofline is nearly perfect:

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From the right there's still a little dent visible but that will be corrected easily:

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It's hard to catch it in pics but the whole shape looks much better than I expected after the first run.
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The details will follow after fine-sanding the top.

And the best: the construction is really strong I could dance on it!
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#21 ·
Thanks! For the wheels take a look in post #13. I found no matching engine yet but that's secondary to me.

Yesterday's work:

- leveled the dent
- fine-sanded the top
- straightend the windowline
- shaped the pillars (still needs some work)
- cut the piece from the lid

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Tonight I'll try the rear door frame and the hinges.
 
#25 ·
Ok, the roof was easier than expected but the back door is turning out to be more tricky in return.
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I attempted 5 times to create a frame that joins optic and function but without success!
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I have to think about the construction again...
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Instead of that I went on with the roof and added the window frames and roof rail from styrene.
This worked well and with it the overall shape comes a lot closer to the point.
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Until now it was all done by visual judgement. For verification I checked the measurements today since I'm approaching the point where no correction is possible anymore. But the looks didn't deceive, the tolerance is within 0,1 - 0,2mm.
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#27 ·
Now since the Touring is already identifiable and I was too lazy for a new try on the back door today, I did the next step and transformed it into an M5.
I did this twice on a sedan before so I knew what to do, hence it wasn't difficult and turned out quick and easy:

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Next step is to widen the nose, this will be "fun" again...
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BTW: I know the name of the colour now. It is Orinoco Met., only 4 Tourings were made in this colour.
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#29 ·
I know someone who knows someone who knows the owner of the car in the pics.
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But this was by fluke.
And the knowledge about the quantity comes from this side: http://www.e34m5.se/forum/M5tourfarger.asp

Today it was time for the nose surgery!
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First I cut the grille in pieces what hurt a bit.

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Then I milled the bottom line of the bonnet:

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After that I created the new lines with 0,5mm styrene.
The right one was corrected half a millimeter inwards after taking this shot.
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Then I spackled the bonnet:

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While this was drying I widened the kidneys with 5mm spacers.

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This will be spackled and sanded to shape now.