Our Community is 940,000 Strong. Join Us.


The new Rocket Bunny S14


willimo
06-21-2015, 03:24 PM
Everyone has surely seen the renderings of Rocket Bunny's new kit for the S14 Silvia. If not, look here for pictures (http://www.speedhunters.com/2015/04/a-new-beginning-for-rocket-bunny/) of what the car is supposed to look like. There are some pictures of the actual 1:1 under construction on the internet out there, but I am trying to get this done before any transkits are available!

As it turns out, it's just going to be "inspired" but the renderings of the 1:1, as I'm not that great at body work and there are some things I want to change to my own taste.

I know a lot of you want me to get started on the Eightyone81 Civic RR, so if tradition holds up, this WIP thread will kill my momentum and I will give up on the Nissan, and get started on that :uhoh:

Forgive me for the pictures, as these were all taken with a cell phone...

First, I cut off the rear bumper and boxed in the body work, and began adding the ribbing pressed into the sheet metal. I also added some flares from Fujimi's detail-up set. I thought they would be too small, but when I mocked them up and then glued them on, they were perfect. I have had these wheels laying around in my stash for years, decades even, and never knew what I would use them on. Good thing I kept them, they are perfect!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2002_zpsiueofy3v.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2001_zpsvmknwnsc.jpg

I was going to try to build up my own front end but two efforts were pretty awful, so I decided to order a Revell Challenger to base the new body work on. You may have noticed the to plastic strips along the edge of the fender, I will use them to line up the Challenger nose and to help form the more defined line as it extends back and into the bodywork of the Silvia.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2003_zpsosi7cjff.jpg

It needed to be narrowed, the front bumper needed to be made shorter, and the front valance was going in the trash. I narrowed the Challenger's front end, replaced the front bumper with some styrene, and fleshed out the valence. I added a piece of sheet styrene to the Silvia's hood, to extend the character bulge down the length. I puttied it all up and sanded. Then I drew the vents and things on the front end and cut them out.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2004_zpsoztqzfga.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2006_zpskvhisznk.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2005_zpsfhthswv2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2007_zps9gfrt9yx.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2008_zpsbkaxlpdr.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2010_zpsjdnl6ifo.jpg

I added the front fender flare. I decided to mold the flares to the body instead of making them look bolted on. Mostly because I am not great at body work, but also because I thought it would look a little cooler if it were a smooth transition. (Also, I drew the 9 on the side because when I was measuring out stuff that number kept showing up, and I might put it on the model at the end.)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2009_zpsmbzx5icx.jpg

Then, prime and sand, prime and sand, prime and sand, prime and sand, prime and sand....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2011_zpsf3foc1gx.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2012_zpsllnzkzvw.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2016_zpsmmmvizvg.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2013_zps4f4u2f3c.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2015_zpslmeidbqv.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2014_zps2nnhhsaa.jpg

You'll notice I extended the character line from down the side and around the back of the car, to the front ahead of the wheel arch, something that Rocket Bunny didn't do.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2017_zpsa40w7qta.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2018_zpsxykbfqlf.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2019_zpssurq6e1z.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2020_zps8kheed88.jpg

Oh, also, spoiler. Easy enough, just a piece of styrene along the edge and a thick fillet of putty, sanded smooth.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2021_zps1ys6v05i.jpg

Then some white primer...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2022_zps7sgt36mp.jpg

And paint! Woohoo! TS-85 Bright Red Mica, same as my Rocket Bunny FRS, for a family look.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2023_zpss06ztrx7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2024_zpsn5oikwue.jpg

Looking good, oh ye--

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2025_zpsuxtekz8i.jpg

Oh noooo!!!

Oh well, quick repaint. While I waited on that to work itself out, you know, putty drying, primer drying, new paint drying... I got started fooling around on the interior. I wanted a "full" interior but with a bare package shelf and a roll cage. I cut the kit's package shelf off and built a new one, cutting and drilling holes and adding strip styrene for the ribs stamped into the metal. I used the roll cage from a Tamiya Porsche 911 GT2 as a jumping off point, providing the sides. I made the rest with styrene rod, with the major parts pinned with thinner styrene rod.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2026_zpsuqpr0oz4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2028_zpsjem8p1ti.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2029_zpsngv52and.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2030_zpslpxs6xxm.jpg

Seats and steering wheel and shift knob are all Hobby Design parts. I added some decals from a Hobby Design set for the FIA stickers. I used a digital gauge cluster from the same decal set, as well. I wanted to leave some red body work showing through the center console and the package shelf, so the chassis plate was painted red before I put it all together. Not really shown, but I made new door cards too. They are a piece surrounding an open space, like on a Ferrari F40, with the wire as the door pull and everything. You can see them in pictures later.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2032_zpsuz8nndxt.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/s14%2031_zpspvimp8j9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2033_zpspwp3i2q6.jpg

The body freshly repainted, and polished, ready for detail work. You can see how the red pops behind the body work, and barely make out the door cards I made. I still need to build the front headlight/grill assembly though I am not exactly sure what I am going to do for it. I feel the same about the rear diffuser - it will be important to get the look right but I want to do my own thing to integrate it with the exhaust. I also have to build up the suspension, and I am going to do this more "correctly" than I usually do, and not just use epoxy to stick it wherever I want to make up for a lousy ride height.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2034_zpsvm3bdl3v.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2037_zpsdtn0zw3b.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2039_zpsnko6vde1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2035_zpsgqt0pzpl.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2038_zps1kiybo4m.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S14%2036_zpsgk0eiqr4.jpg

That's where it sits now. Any comments and criticisms welcome! I know I am not the best at body work but I think this job is coming out well. I have started using a new putty called Apoxie Sculpt, and it has been a revelation for me!

Thanks for looking!

avd
06-21-2015, 05:05 PM
That look amazing. Can't wait til to see its finish

da_ashman
06-21-2015, 07:36 PM
Amazing work, Looks awesome!!! Love the Wheels!!!!

ZoomZoomMX-5
06-21-2015, 10:25 PM
Wow. Much cool. The model even has that subtle hint of BMW E9 going on. :sunglasse

There's a guy on the Model Cars forum who really wants to build this car, but he's completely hung up on his inability to deal with a curbside. He knows so little about Japanese cars much less Silvias and he doesn't even know the nomenclature. But it has to have a little lump of full-detail plastic playing "engine" under the hood, otherwise it'll never happen. I assume...it will never happen.

Meanwhile, you're merrily taking care of business and we're seeing a killer model being created. Keep going!

circuitR
06-22-2015, 04:42 AM
Amazing work Will!

GTRfan01
06-22-2015, 09:03 AM
this is AWESOME!
i really like this car and youve done a great job so far,
thanks for sharing

tonioseven
06-22-2015, 09:30 AM
Fantabulous! This is typical of the fantastic work you regularly produce yet downplay your capabilities on. Lol Thanks for sharing this with us!! Willim:sunglasse C:sunglasse:sunglasselness!!

willimo
06-22-2015, 05:03 PM
Thanks y'all. Those are kind words! I am struggling a bit now that I have moved back to a humid climate - I have had to learn to paint all over again. But y'all are as encouraging as you are inspiring so I am happy and am not losing momentum yet!

tonioseven
06-23-2015, 09:05 AM
I went through a similar situation when I moved back to Ohio. I had to re-learn the techniques I once left behind. I'm still not there yet but I'm making progress.

nugundam93
06-23-2015, 11:17 AM
very nice conversion work!

sportracer02
06-26-2015, 05:49 AM
great work, looks fantastic

GTRfan01
07-12-2015, 08:36 AM
great work so far, i love it!

nascar49
07-13-2015, 08:20 PM
Awesome work so far

generationx
07-14-2015, 12:01 AM
Excellent work on a great looking car.

accord2k2
07-14-2015, 09:16 PM
not to take attention from this build, but would you mind posting some pics of the green EK in the background?

BTW killer build! you have always built some cool kits!

willimo
07-18-2015, 07:47 PM
ZoomZoom - He could just put a hemi in it, apparently Miura-san wants to do that with his 1:1, though he put out the first car with an SR20. That way your friend could just make it with what he knows...

I wanted to get this done before a 1:1 got built, but I already missed that. Damn. So, now I'm trying to get it done before the transkits come out... as far as I know I'm still good. Next time you see a post, this will be done, so it's getting there. Mine is more and more inspired-by than replica because A. I didn't know the 1:1 would be so close to the rendering, B. There are some things I would change and C. I'm not that good at body work. Anyway, here's progress:

I started working on the grill.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S%2014%2037_zps5ooec8gg.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S%2014%2038_zpso2ordoad.jpg

Oh, that sucks. Start over...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S%2014%2039_zpsmaicf7gl.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S%2014%2040_zpswh08wts8.jpg

Better. I made it from some sheet styrene cut to size and shape, bent in the middle to give it dimension, a little more strip and rod behind it to give it structure, and some styrene rod for the trim around the cutouts. I used some Tamiya putty to fillet the relief. What's that in the middle? Well I really wanted to use the S badge from the Silvia kit, I wanted to keep it Japanese even with all the American muscle influence.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S%2014%2041_zpsju1d3o9l.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S%2014%2043_zpsgnbmvlhw.jpg

Like that.

I went and masked off the window trims, sprayed them, and broke the A-pillar taking the tape off. Damnit! I was being extra careful, too, since I had broken the A-pillar twice already. I will just use a little paint on a brush to fix it when the rest of the car is done.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S%2014%2042_zpspyfizk2x.jpg

I glued the body to the chassis... it was a tight fit, the roll cage interfered with the glass a little, and I had to cut a LOT of glass away to make it almost fit. I like the way it turned out, though, because the roll cage tucks in a little instead of sitting inside glass and looking a little undersized.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S%2014%2044_zpst77ycsrk.jpg

And I glued the wheels and suspension on. These pictures were pre-suspension, but it looks like this right now (minus the wonky left rear wheel). You can see the intercooler, the radiator, and the radiator support which I just made from some styrene strip that I drilled holes in and sanded all the sharp corners from. I realized that it's a little to far back behind the grill, but... not changing it now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S%2014%2045_zpsd2znfqyc.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/S%2014%2046_zpssonag739.jpg

I still have a lot of details to do. Headlights, PE Nissan logo, mirror, wipers, and I have to build the diffuser which I am not too excited about, and the exhaust which I am going to run through the diffuser for style points.

Thanks for looking! Comments, criticisms welcome!!

GTRfan01
07-18-2015, 09:00 PM
you've done an awesome job here, well done.
this is something i really want to do.
thanks for sharing.

Wolf95
08-08-2015, 04:59 PM
Looks PHENOMENAL!! I'm actually quite fond of the 1:1 build (All my friends hate it. :P)

But I had a quick question, how do you cut your styrene and the holes in the front bumper? You say you're not good at body work but it looks fantastic. I need to get into scratchbuilding but a razor blade and a scribe tool can only go so far...

Thanks for any tips!!

willimo
08-11-2015, 04:58 PM
I use a variety of tools to cut styrene, and sometimes I try to avoid cutting at all. The lower opening of the front valance, for example, was never filled in. I built the two sides and then just put a piece of styrene across the bottom.

Thin styrene is easy to cut with a hobby knife, and an old trick I learned long ago is the scribe-scribe-snap technique. You just make a couple passes with the blade, or if it's thick, a couple more with the reverse edge of the blade, until the cut is deep enough that you can just snap the plastic apart. This will leave a jagged edge on thick plastic, so I always cut oversize and file down. I also use my sprue nippers sometimes for thick plastic, especially strip and rod, and I also use them to make quick work of an oddly shaped cut that is concave - I will draw out my shape, nip out pie pieces with the nippers, then sand to final shape.

I also have a great tool called The Chopper from North West Short Line. They do model train stuff, but it's this handy little board with a razor blade on a hinged handle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/chopper_zps6tonuwsx.jpg

You can clamp some triangles down onto it, against the baseline straight edge, and cut miter cuts or (most importantly, to me) many pieces the exact same size - I used it to good effect for the vertical ribbing below the taillight.

But you asked specifically about the front valence. I actually used a Dremel to cut the slots, the two main ones in the center and the two smaller ones to the sides. At least, to rough them out. Again, I drew out what I wanted to cut, and then cut a little less with the Dremel since I don't have as much control.

The tool I use to get started is the High Speed Cutter, and it works like a champ.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/high%20speed_zpsbyao5c5n.jpg

I'll get the hole started, and then use small files to get the final shape. You will rarely (never) find a negative space on any of my models that you can't fit one of my files into! I find that the files are sturdy enough and come in square shapes that allow me to make nice, neat little square cuts easily. I lightly drag my hobby blade across the edge, perpendicular to the edge (like a plane over wood) to remove any sanding burrs.

I hope this helps!

Wolf95
08-29-2015, 03:11 PM
That helped a lot! I have that exact bit in my dremel kit too. lol

I use the scribe/snap method. but I feel this creates a larger gap than what I imagine (as the scribe gets thicker, so does the gap).

I've seen photoetched saws but from I remember, they're pretty expensive for what they are.

Also curious what file set you have?

willimo
09-01-2015, 07:03 PM
I have never gotten a set of PE saws, but always want to. I don't know why I have managed not to get any yet.... I have a basic K&S needle file set. Nothing magical.

petesy
09-04-2015, 01:20 AM
Once you have tried photo etch saws it is very hard to go back. They are just so handy.

Hasagawa makes a set that is literally paper thin. Very handy for scribing work.

liya_leacree
09-04-2015, 02:04 AM
excellent color!!

white_R34
07-23-2016, 12:16 AM
Man its so good to see your still at it. That custom graphed parts was stunning!!!

MidMazar
07-24-2016, 11:28 PM
scale motorsport makes a nice set too, they are handy. Awesome progress Will.

iloveBJ
10-03-2016, 07:04 AM
damn that is crazy man,good work

Add your comment to this topic!