Subaru Impreza 555 Rally Catalunya 1995

Hello everyone! Finally came back to modeling after a half year hiatus. In fact, I started working on a simpler subject as warm-up before moving on to this one: the Impreza 555 from the controversial 1995 Rally Catalunya.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/subaru_impreza_wrc_1995e.jpg

I’ll be using Hasegawa’s kit, plus the tarmac transkit and decal set from Renaissance. Due to the limitations of the decals, I’ll be building Sainz’s car instead of Colin McRae’s.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4602.jpg

The decals look very good as the tobacco decals are fluorescent yellow in color, instead of orangish-yellow you see on the kit’s decal sheet.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_3652.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_3653.jpg

Here’s what I’ve done so far:

Drilled holes front and rear, and primed the body

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4586.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4587.jpg

Next comes the question: which paint to use to match the real car’s purplish-blue color? As I don’t have a spray gun, Mr Color’s spray cans is my only option. First of all, I used bright blue as a base, then a layer of cobalt blue, followed by 2 layers of clear blue. The result is pretty convincing IMO; it looks pretty close to the Monte Carlo blue used on the real car, with a slight purple hue to it.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4595.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4596.jpg

Under bright light:

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4598.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4600.jpg

More updates coming soon. Thanks for looking!

Cheers,

Looks like good progress so far, nice match on the paint. Look forward to seeing more

Excleent start. I am looking forward to this, as I have recently also purchased the Renaaisance transkit, and I would love to see the result. It looks to me that your paint is a close match. I am considering buying an airbrush almost purely to get a better match for this paint - I have 3 works 555 WRX's from various rallies and the Rally NZ Legacy in my to-do-pile!

Good luck with the build.

Grant.

Excellent start. I am looking forward to this, as I have recently also purchased the Renaaisance transkit, and I would love to see the result. It looks to me that your paint is a close match. I am considering buying an airbrush almost purely to get a better match for this paint - I have 3 works 555 WRX's from various rallies and the Rally NZ Legacy in my to-do-pile!

Good luck with the build.

Grant.

Very nice start!!. I have the gravel version, but maybe I should buy the tarmac version transkit. I'll be watching this thread closely.

Regards,

Thanks for the replies guys!

endac: Thanks! I'm working on the decals right now; will have another update later next week

potsie: I also considered getting an airbrush just for this model as only Zero Paints produce this particular color, but it's too big an investment. Glad the color I "mixed" turned out ok :p Looking forward to seeing your 555s and Legacy getting built!

SCORPIONFB: The transkit is nicely cast, so you may want to consider getting a set. Colin McRae's 1995 Rally GB-winning car looks good as well IMO.

Very nice progress so far. The colour looks like a good match. I also have this car in my stash, so I will be following your build closely...

Thanks for your reply stevenoble!


Updates:

Bought another Impreza 555 decal sheet, this time by Shunko models. Quality is much higher than the Renaissance set I’m currently working on; more on that later. I used the moon and the gold 555 decal for the roof of the model, and save the rest for another Impreza 555 I have in my “to be rebuilt” pile.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4618.jpg

Almost done with all the fluorescent decals. Perhaps I’ve been spoilt by Studio27 and Museum Collection decals, the Renaissance sheet is a pain to work with. The decals are very thick and brittle, and do not respond to decal softeners too well. As a result, there are quite a few cracks on the 555 decals, namely on the hood, doors and trunk.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4788.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4789.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4790.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4791.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4792.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4793.jpg

Fortunately I was able to fill the cracks with fluorescent yellow paint, so they are not too visible unless you look at the model very closely.

Thanks for looking!

Cheers,

Looking good so far, the colour looks spot on!!!

Looking good. Am I correct that the "555" decals on the car are from Renaissance, though the one on the roof is Shunko? The photo you have of the Shunko decal kit shows the "555" decals to be quite a different colour, and nowhere near as fluorescent as the reference photo in your sig. Is that true, or a trick of the light in the photo? I am curious because I had been thinking about getting the Shunko decals.

I never noticed the decal on the roof before, looking good so far

Thanks for the comments!

potsie and endac: yes the decals on the roof (the moon and the 555 decal) are from Shunko, while the rest is from Renaissance. From the reference pics I got, the 555 on the roof seems to be gold instead of fluorescent yellow in color, but brightness is different among the three numbers. Here's a pic from 1995 Rally Catalunya:

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/espaacatalua1995subaruicw0.jpg

and the link to Shunko's decal set:
http://modelpower.net/product_info.php?products_id=1530

So I think Shunko's decal is more accurate, and that's why I used it. Also the quality of the Shunko decal set is very high; I'll take that over Renaissance's set (or even the sheet that came with the Hasegawa kit) anyday :tongue:

Cheers,

Hey welcome back!!! I'm on hold too, my current project it's the Monte Carlo Evo VI. Maybe someday I'll continue with it... Nice model BTW

REGARDS

Hello Vladamor! Nice to see you around! Yeah it’s been a while as I had been busy with other things for the past few months. Looking forward to seeing progress on your Monte Evo VI!

Finally, some updates:

Finished cleaning all the resin parts. It’s my first time working with resin, so I was extra careful with the parts :tongue:.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4809.jpg

Also finished putting all the decals on. Will clearcoat the body later this week.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4996.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4997.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4998.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_4999.jpg

More updates later in the week. Thanks for looking!

Cheers,

Finally, some updates:

Finished clearcoating the body and other parts.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5135.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5136.jpg

The chassis is also done. To my surprise, there weren’t too much fitment problems with the transkit.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5137.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5138.jpg

Need to bend the suspension arms at the front to accommodate the shorter suspension of the transkit. The brake discs are copied from Tamiya’s Impreza.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5140.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5141.jpg

Next up is the interior.

Thanks for looking!

Cheers,

Very nice decaling!!. I like so much the rim and tires set that you have!!. I am seriously considering to work in the same version as yours!!.

Regards,

Thanks! The transkit is way better in terms of quality than the older Renaissance products I tried. Highly recommended:lol:

Cheers,

Hello everyone. More updates after a 3-month break:

The dashboard used in 95-spec Impreza is slightly different from the earlier versions, namely the locations of switches.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/ae8f3287.jpg

Added a toggle switch and the Prodrive decal in the middle

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5717.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5719.jpg

Completed rims

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5745.jpg

Body, polished and waxed

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5746.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5747.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5749.jpg

Completed interior. I made some modifications to the steering wheel as well

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5750.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5752.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5754.jpg

More updates in the next few days. Thanks for looking.

Cheers,

More updates:

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5755.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5756.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5757.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5760.jpg

Used the spring catchpin set by AcuStion at the back.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x216/ng_nmda/Impreza%20555%201995/IMG_5759.jpg

Thanks for looking!

Cheers,

Its really starting to come together, looking very nice

Wow, that blue looks stunning..!! Which gold did you use to paint the wheels.? Looks a perfect match to the real ones..

Thanks for the comments guys!

Stevenoble: I used Gunze's #9 Spray can (Gold) to paint the wheels and it looks much better than Tamiya's gold.

Just finished this one up. The completed model can be found here (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=1064238).

Cheers,