Revell 1/24 Ford Escort mk2

Hi! I've been here since 2009 following some great projects but this is actually my first post... Apologize for that. I thought I might share one of my current projects, a Ford Escort mk2. The kit is the good old ESCI kit in a Revell box. I built a Cosworth powered mk2 10-15 years ago. It's the first time I'm building the same kit for the second time. It's not a high quality kit, but since I'm modyfing a lot most of the negative aspects can be adressed.

https://i.imgur.com/1SQNi2Vl.jpg
The old Escort I built long ago, together with a Heller R8 Gordini.

And now for this new project! I started building this in October 2018, but it has been laying around gathering dust from time to time. I've made some progress up until today, but I'll start from the beginning in these first updates.

The idea is to du the opposite of what I normally do. Normally I go all-in which instantly makes me dream of a mk2 with a BDG or Millington engine and tarmac wheel arches etc. Modelling is about making dream cars, but what if I have a bit more down-to-earth approach? I went for a tuned street car with stock wheel arches and a mix of different Ford parts, like what you would find in every issue of Retro Ford Magazine or Classic Ford. Also, everybody else are building rally spec versions so it was a fun idea to go down a different route.

https://i.imgur.com/V5YGWPDl.jpg?1
I began cutting out the wheel arches and rear wing. They are out of proportion anyway.

https://i.imgur.com/L2oqd7ll.jpg?1
An old Monogram Capri donored the wheel arches. The Capri was about to become a modified race car, so it was a perfect match.

https://i.imgur.com/86pytskl.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/tdqJr5Ol.jpg
After some cutting and patched some panels.

https://i.imgur.com/qghdr4Cl.jpg
Cutting the front end.

https://i.imgur.com/oosyccfl.jpg?1
Making a few adjustments.

https://i.imgur.com/8NdZNtQl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/uyNUcffl.jpg?1
The hood has really bad fitment, as many of the parts in this kit. I added strips of styrene to each end to reduce panel gaps.

https://i.imgur.com/eBFnUFkl.jpg
Test fit.

More to come! This is where the project halted but restarted during 2019.

Some more progress from last year:

https://i.imgur.com/125LSXbl.jpg
I worked on making some corrections on the body. Some shapes were wrong.

https://i.imgur.com/vk5wzdol.jpg
Put some primer on to see where I'm at. Some more sanding, filling, sanding etc. needed.

https://i.imgur.com/egWF5DKl.jpg
Did some work on the oversized front bumpers.

https://i.imgur.com/cCvnTFEl.jpg?1
Some more corrections, this really annoys me as it ruins the appearence.

https://i.imgur.com/JcRlPfTl.jpg
Looks more like an Escort now.

https://i.imgur.com/dVRMLb5l.jpg
Mock-up with bumpers. There's something wrong with the front end and the trunk that ruins the proportions. I will work on that.

https://i.imgur.com/wIjcVRzl.jpg
The rear lights has very poor fitment, so I added some styrene to try and make it better.

https://i.imgur.com/wJoEHA6l.jpg
The front window has a very odd shape and it sits a bit too low. I sanded it down and did some scratchbuilding

https://i.imgur.com/qjraVOfl.jpg
I need to make new windows since the kit ones don't fit now. But the fitment was bad even before my modifications :) . The stock windows sits to deep and makes the finished model look more like a toy.

Quite a surgery going on!

As I said, not happy with the shape of the trunk. The rear end looks too long and the angle of the trunk lid looks strange.

https://i.imgur.com/LmmMXa6.jpg
I cut out the upper part of the trunk...

https://i.imgur.com/IiO35W7.jpg
...and raised it, as well as modifying the rear window.

https://i.imgur.com/x5VSPbG.jpg
I also modified the front end. I straightened it up as the front has a weird looking slope. These two adjustments are minor (in result but not in effort :) ) but I think it looks a bit better. I have another trick to try on my next mk2 Escort, but that involves a bit more cutting.

https://i.imgur.com/zTAXMC4.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/tvh3Q4w.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/QZmrIiF.jpg?1
Drilling holes to make the vents look a bit more realistic.

https://i.imgur.com/ZTtD8Qw.jpg?1
Such a stupid task to commence, but what the heck! :D

https://i.imgur.com/pNfiyFNl.jpg
Added primer again.

https://i.imgur.com/axltOoal.jpg
And some paint...

https://i.imgur.com/KPIWIHIl.jpg?1
Preview of the color (Tamiya TS-26 rattle can) before polishing.

Next update will focus on the interior and a mock-up with wheels.

Looks good!

I did a mock-up with the engine before painting the body and chassis.

https://i.imgur.com/5Xzauub.jpg?1
I'm going for a classic 2 litre Pinto 8v, and I'm going to use the gearbox that came with the kit.

https://i.imgur.com/GR3jVj7.jpg
Test fit.

https://i.imgur.com/qR2OOe9l.jpg?1
The chassis is lacking some details, so I'm adding some more parts.


Moving on to the interior!

https://i.imgur.com/1UhIR7k.jpg?1
I cut out the rear seat which was molded in with the interior bay of the donor, the same Monogram Capri mentioned earlier.

https://i.imgur.com/A1dPM3m.jpg?1
The rear seat wasn't wide enough so I had to add some styrene.

https://i.imgur.com/xJiOexb.jpg
Front seats from the same Capri.

https://i.imgur.com/FJ4KrRq.jpg?1
Making a new centre console.

https://i.imgur.com/tcY45fC.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/IPQzpZC.jpg
Working on the dashboard.

https://i.imgur.com/KTY3eVs.jpg?1
I modified the side panels as the fitment is really poor.

https://i.imgur.com/mCgOZPv.jpg
Mock-up of the interior. I also made some adjustments to the chassis/engine bay.

https://i.imgur.com/yCboZog.jpg?1
Modifying the front seats. I'm not looking at any specific Ford seats, I'm just making something that I think fits with the build.

https://i.imgur.com/tdNll3l.jpg?1
Modifying the crossmember.

https://i.imgur.com/OW3VyhG.jpg?1
Test fit.

https://i.imgur.com/UfnLqLe.jpg
Added some paint on the chassis and interior, and added flocking.

And finally a mock-up and stance check! It might end up sitting just a tad higher, but we'll see. I'm using the Reji photoetch front grille.

https://i.imgur.com/vGg2VWp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/npxrfjo.jpg

Very impressive work!

:thumbsup: Cool!

Wow ! Though I am a hardcore rally Escort guy, this is the best Esci Escort build I've ever seen together with afxracing's one !

Wow ! Though I am a hardcore rally Escort guy, this is the best Esci Escort build I've ever seen together with afxracing's one !

Thank you! That's a huge compliment, his build is one of the builds that has been a great inspiration for this and my other Escort projects.


Moving on with the project:

I kind of messed up when painting the black trim. A typical rattle can mistake when you have limited control, I had some black paint bleeding under the masking tape. I decided not to strip and repaint, I managed to save most of the mess.
https://i.imgur.com/f6ROABZ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/S2tXA6Z.jpg

Some work on the Pinto engine
https://i.imgur.com/JSNEZR8.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/PrHpI4a.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/4CSPTkw.jpg?1

First time testing the carbs from Scale Production
https://i.imgur.com/ISYCf20.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/0NnkMWt.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/vsfk31A.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/o3GXDmt.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/gvTtt6T.jpg?1

Engine painted and pair with the gearbox.
https://i.imgur.com/CRdsawT.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/KqXfnv3.jpg

Suspension painted. I'm using the ones supplied with the kit.
https://i.imgur.com/q3tYJWG.jpg?1

After a while, the engine is finished.
https://i.imgur.com/qHfC0aI.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/LXDVrDK.jpg

I used some cheap mesh bags for detail.
https://i.imgur.com/RefqbDD.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/fziosp4.jpg

Last week I spent a few hours on attaching different parts on the body, and today I took these pics. Still some parts and details left.
https://i.imgur.com/13X72Ws.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Vy3sYo3.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/0wtwYbP.jpg

Cheers! :)

Great work on the engine.

Great work on everything, this definitely looks like a real MK2 Escort !
Makes me wonder why nobody ever released a droop snoot :iceslolan

Finally took this one over the finish line. Pictures can be found here: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=1156577

Awesome work, the end result looks fantastic! Would you be able to let me know what product you used to make the windscreen surround?

Awesome work, the end result looks fantastic! Would you be able to let me know what product you used to make the windscreen surround?

Thank you! I used styrene strips 0,5 x 0,5 mm from Evergreen Scale Models (item no 120).

Thank you! I used styrene strips 0,5 x 0,5 mm from Evergreen Scale Models (item no 120).

Thank you!

I admire all the work you did on this. Beautiful little car.

I admire all the work you did on this. Beautiful little car.

Thank you! :)