1986 ETCC Sierra XR4Ti

Hi I've never posted anything before so I hope this works.

I have started converting an old Tamiya roadgoing Sierra XR4i that I built badly about 22 years ago when I was a youngster!

Following reading a number of articles on this forum I have been suitably encouraged to strip it and place the bodyshell in brake fluid so that it can be repainted properly.

My aim is to convert it to the 1986 ETCC Eggenberger Ford Merkur XR4Ti (South African Version of Sierra?, driven by Steve Soper and Klaus Niedsweidz among others) that was run by the Eggenberger team prior to them using the Sierra Cosworth in 1987. I actually went to see the Tourist Trophy in 1986 at Silverstone in the UK where the car was fast but unreliable. Another XR4Ti drven by BTCC regular driver Andy Rouse actually led the race before a front wheel fell off and he crashed!

It appears to be relatively straightforward to use the bodyshell from the roadgoing XR4Ti combined with the parts from the Tamiya RS500 Group A kit to create the car.

My only problem is a lack of decals for the car, it didn't actually have very many so at the moment it is looking as it will be in plain white (test car?) Unless anyone can tell me if it is possible to create some. I may be able to get hold of some 1:43s cale decals, enlarge them and then scan onto the PC.

But the problem is that after reading threads on here it looks very difficult to achieve and apparently a special printer is also required.

Any help/advice here would be appreciated.

If you want to see the car in action go to www.racingsportscars.com and look at either Donington or Tourist Trophy 1986. Pictures are also available on www.etcc-history.it4us.nl

I will post some photos when I have figured out how to do it!

Cheers

Photos of original model made in 1982ish added - very poor indeed!

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/DSCF3520.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/DSCF3516.jpg

Sounds interesting! Looking forward to seeing it, and welcome to AF! :)

welcome to AF. that is lot better then the models i did 22 years ago! looking forward to this conversion.

Great and interesting project. Your XR4i looks awesome, I was building glue bombs back then.

Looking forward to seeing progress on this,.

Hi and welcome, I might be able to help you out with some of the decals you need, I'm not promising anything mind, I'll have a scrounge through my decal stores and see what I've got spare then I'll let you know. Shaun aka gpz900ra7.

Hi and welcome, I might be able to help you out with some of the decals you need, I'm not promising anything mind, I'll have a scrounge through my decal stores and see what I've got spare then I'll let you know. Shaun aka gpz900ra7.

That would be great if you could find something, thanks for the help.

Darren

I quite like the model as it is, has that sought of 'found in a barn, 20 years on, one careful owner' look to it.

Had a quick look at the Donnigton pics and the decals should be no problem if you have or have access to a scanner and a half decent ink jet or laser printer ( I used a 5 year old Epson, so any off the shelf newish printer will be fine). Just make sure you use decent branded ink cartridges.

I'm sure you could search around and collect the decals you need from other kits, but making your own adds a bit of fun.

I wanted to convert a kit for a while with some custom decals and after a quick search recently found a specialist paper supplier that does white and clear water slide transfer paper. They have a web site and you can order all you need on line. See www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk (http://www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk) and ask for Bernie, who I have found to be very helpful.

I have just posted some pics of my finished kit under another thread, but here's one for you http://www.promrally.bun.com/Part6.jpg

All the decals you can see except the Subaru sunstrip were custom printed

I have promised to put together a 'How to do' article but need to get some photos of the process together, but basically you need to do the following:

1. Collect copies of all the logos you need and scan at full size and 300dpi.

2. Using photoshop or similar re-size the logos to suit you model by taking measurements from the kit and using reference datum lines from your photos.

3. Produce a print out on normal paper, cut these mock decals out and try for size/scale. Re-size where necessary.

4. When happy with sizes then print onto the waterslide paper. A tip here clear paper will not work on a dark car such as my Impreza above and you will need to use white paper with a printed border to suit your car body colour. In your case your kit is white so should be no problems with clear, but having never tried it I can't say for sure.

5. Once the print out has dried, give the decals three light coats of clear (also available from craftycomputerpaper) and then allow to dry for a day or so.

6. Cut out decals and apply in the normal way using water.

7. Leave to dry and the clear coat the whole body using light coats.

The Impreza was my first go at this and I have been pleased with the results but reckon I could make some small improvements based on the experience gained.

I quite like the model as it is, has that sought of 'found in a barn, 20 years on, one careful owner' look to it.

Had a quick look at the Donnigton pics and the decals should be no problem if you have or have access to a scanner and a half decent ink jet or laser printer ( I used a 5 year old Epson, so any off the shelf newish printer will be fine). Just make sure you use decent branded ink cartridges.

I'm sure you could search around and collect the decals you need from other kits, but making your own adds a bit of fun.

I wanted to convert a kit for a while with some custom decals and after a quick search recently found a specialist paper supplier that does white and clear water slide transfer paper. They have a web site and you can order all you need on line. See www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk (http://www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk) and ask for Bernie, who I have found to be very helpful.

I have just posted some pics of my finished kit under another thread, but here's one for you http://www.promrally.bun.com/Part6.jpg

All the decals you can see except the Subaru sunstrip were custom printed

I have promised to put together a 'How to do' article but need to get some photos of the process together, but basically you need to do the following:

1. Collect copies of all the logos you need and scan at full size and 300dpi.

2. Using photoshop or similar re-size the logos to suit you model by taking measurements from the kit and using reference datum lines from your photos.

3. Produce a print out on normal paper, cut these mock decals out and try for size/scale. Re-size where necessary.

4. When happy with sizes then print onto the waterslide paper. A tip here clear paper will not work on a dark car such as my Impreza above and you will need to use white paper with a printed border to suit your car body colour. In your case your kit is white so should be no problems with clear, but having never tried it I can't say for sure.

5. Once the print out has dried, give the decals three light coats of clear (also available from craftycomputerpaper) and then allow to dry for a day or so.

6. Cut out decals and apply in the normal way using water.

7. Leave to dry and the clear coat the whole body using light coats.

The Impreza was my first go at this and I have been pleased with the results but reckon I could make some small improvements based on the experience gained.

Thanks for the tips, I will definitely give it a try. I haven't got a decent printer or scanner but I'm sure I can organise borrowing somebody elses!

Your Impreza looks great, you wouldn't know the decals were home made! And it was a very nice and unusual design to do too.

Now you have completed the Impreza what livery are you going to try next. Now that the possibilities are endless!

Thanks for the tips, I will definitely give it a try. I haven't got a decent printer or scanner but I'm sure I can organise borrowing somebody elses!

Your Impreza looks great, you wouldn't know the decals were home made! And it was a very nice and unusual design to do too.

Now you have completed the Impreza what livery are you going to try next. Now that the possibilities are endless!

Next decal project is one of these

http://www.promrally.bun.com/1994.jpg

Hope to get some spare time to make a start soon, as I aim to use this project in preparing the 'How to do' as promised.

Next decal project is one of these

Hope to get some spare time to make a start soon, as I aim to use this project in preparing the 'How to do' as promised.

Looks good, how will you do the Rothmans stripes? Will they be painted or can you make those as decals too?

Darren

My mom had one just like that when i was a youngster, lol.

Looks good, how will you do the Rothmans stripes? Will they be painted or can you make those as decals too?

Darren


Going for decals for the red & gold stripes. Just put a mist coat of white on the body today. Will add another top coat of white then leave that for a week or two and then mask and apply the blue. Then the decals probably next.

Because of the gold I am going to have a go a painting the stripes onto the water slide paper rather than risk messing it up painting direct onto the body. If that doesn't work then I will use gold decal paper.

Sounds like a good idea. As long as the paint is flexible enough to follow the contours of the decal. Be interesting to see how it goes.

I did manage to find all the decals that I need from other kits in my 'to do' pile apart from the Motorcraft and Istel Tourist Trophy ones. The Motorcraft ones I have found on a Ford website (does anyone know if they were Fluorescent red, they look like they might be in some of the pictures I have seen) and I think I may actually have the 1986 TT race programme somewhere, just have to find it now......

Also don't know how I will do the Eggenberger windscreen one yet either.

Darren

If you need any decals from the Tamiya Sierra models let me know, I have a few spare sets of both the Eggenberger and Piumino models.

Sounds like a good idea. As long as the paint is flexible enough to follow the contours of the decal. Be interesting to see how it goes.

Also don't know how I will do the Eggenberger windscreen one yet either.

Darren

Paint flex - That's something I wont know until I try but hey that's why it's worth having a go.

I have the Tamiya Texaco 'Egg & Baconburger' kit unstarted so if there are any of the decals you would like scanning and e-mailing let me know.

Thanks for the offers Technoman and Marco T, I have got the Trampio Piumini Kit which I will use as a donor. I think all the decals for the Eggenberger Cosworth are Fluorescent red but the British drivers flag would be useful that goes next to Steve Sopers name.

I found the 1986 TT programme and have attached a couple of pic's which show a few of the other cars as well. The Sierras shown are from 1985 though and have a slightly different livery and door mirrors. I also seem to remember that they had a fuel filler and vent mounted where the rear number plate is but don't have any photos to show this. If anyone knows of any it would be appreciated.

I have stripped the bodyshell (difficult to get rid of the paint from all the nooks and crannies!) and it is ready for the sunroof to be filled.

Darren

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/DSCF3529.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/DSCF3530.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/DSCF3527.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/DSCF3526.jpg

Sounds like a good idea. As long as the paint is flexible enough to follow the contours of the decal. Be interesting to see how it goes.

Darren

Have had a quick 'test' go of painting gold stripes onto water slide paper and shock horror it works fine. Paint flex appears to be no problem. Will reproduce a neater set soon to go on my Legacy in the next few weeks and will add some progress pics under a separate thread.

Who makes that kit, and are there any transkits out to make it into a Merkur? I love the car as a Merkur, and I'd love to build one (eventually)

Who makes that kit, and are there any transkits out to make it into a Merkur? I love the car as a Merkur, and I'd love to build one (eventually)

The kit that I am using was originally a Tamiya Ford Sierra XR4i road car kit. It was available in the early 1980's but you may still be able to find one on e-bay.

Do you mean you want to build the race version as I am or a road version? because I don't think the road version was visually any different to the Sierra. Come to think of it the race version looks identical to the Sierra too and was actually listed as a Sierra in some books/magazines.

As I said at the beginning of the thread I am going to use the Tamiya racing Sierra RS500 Cosworth kit as the base for converting it to a race version of the Merkur (Sierra) from the 1986 ETCC championship. The chassis from the RS500 kit can simply be used to create the race version.

I hope to have some update photo's soon but it is very cold here at the moment and as I do my painting outside I need to wait until the weather gets a bit warmer!

Darren

Have had a quick 'test' go of painting gold stripes onto water slide paper and shock horror it works fine. Paint flex appears to be no problem. Will reproduce a neater set soon to go on my Legacy in the next few weeks and will add some progress pics under a separate thread.

Good news, look forward to seeing the pic's.

Darren

Thought I'd just post a reply to let everyone know that the reason that there has been no progress for 9 months is because I had a nightmare with the paint and had to throw it (almost literally) into brake fluid!

It is now looking reasonably ok, I have done the fuel fillers (after watching 1985 ETCC Video which was superb!, the centre bits will be added later)and need to get the enthusiasm to redo the white topcoat again, Is it me or is Tamiya white rubbish to use? Rubbed straight through it with cutting polish without even trying! Really did almost end up binning this one!

Also had to redo the filler in the sunroof as the brake fluid damaged my original effort and I also managed to snap the rear spoiler but managed to repair fairly successfully!:banghead:

Darren

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/6757/dscf5276xl2.jpg

http://img319.imageshack.us/img319/9743/dscf5274qh1.jpg

You are making nice progress. Nice book you are using for a Ref. I like the pic on the top left showing Alan Grice's Holden Commodore.....that was a cool car as well.

You are making nice progress. Nice book you are using for a Ref. I like the pic on the top left showing Alan Grice's Holden Commodore.....that was a cool car as well.

The book is actually the race programme from the 1986 Silverstone ETCC race that I went to at the time. I agree the Holden is cool and so are some of the other cars too, what about the Volvo 240 Turbo!

very nice project
I just love those 80' touring car's, I'm in the middle of building a piumini sierra and a schnitzer m3.
anyway keep up the good work

shai

A bit more progress after a long break! Finally happy with the paint finish and I have had a go at making the full roll cage from copper wire. Still need to do the front cross bar and then re-paint. With hindsight I should have done the roll cage before painting the interior as it was all a bit fraught!

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6391/dscf9000tu3.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/3397/dscf9001xk1.jpg

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/285/dscf8808xx2.jpg

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/5409/dscf8804nt8.jpg

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/509/dscf8806fz6.jpg

Nice! I like the paint. Do you know where I can get this kit for cheap?

Interesting thread. will follow it, as I haven`t seen it earlier. Hope next progress won`t be in next year:lol:
Do you know where I can get this kit for cheap? on ebay I think

Great finish on the paint....very nice. Cage is coming along well.

Just so you know, you won't really find this kit easily, let alone cheap.
Didn't the road car kit come with engine and other gubbins?
how's that coming along?

Any progress on this.....Just wondering as I'm buying a 1:1

Any progress on this.....Just wondering as I'm buying a 1:1

Not much, progress is slow with this one! I keep getting distracted by other projects! I take it you mean a road version, not the race one!

Yup

So...what's up with this build??.....

My fullsize XR....

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h97/mrgixxer13/XR4Ti/Picture-1.jpg

Progress is still very slow! I re-painted the roof because a hairline could be seen where I filled the original sunroof in and since doing this the paint has sunk and it is visible again so still unhappy. It has therefore gone on the backburner while I decide what to do!

I also noticed that the fuel fillers that I made were in the incorrect location for the Eggenberger cars (I copied the Andy Rouse version which has a different arranegment because no pictures existed at the time of the rear of the Eggenberger cars). I have now added fuel fillers in the correct position which are in the top of the bottom section of the rear spoiler. I will try and add some photographs of this tomorrow!

Here are some photographs to try and illustrate the hairline where the sunroof was. It is hardly visible really so I might live with it. I have also added a couple of pic's to show the new fuel filler/breather locations.

http://a.imageshack.us/img26/1720/20100823xr4i0017.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img26/9265/20100823xr4i0027.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img26/5438/20100823xr4i0004.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img26/335/20100823xr4i0006.jpg

I have decided to live with the imperfection on the roof and am going for it now!

I watched some of the 1986 European Touring Car Championship DVD recently and one of the drivers Steve Soper commented that he was doing over 170mph down the straight at the old Brno circuit, the big boxy Volvos could not keep up, awesome scary stuff! The Sierras had problems in the race as usual though!

First test fit of chassis, interior and wheels pictures below.

http://a.imageshack.us/img178/47/20100824xr4i0005.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img178/6901/20100824xr4i0004.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img178/641/20100824xr4i0010.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img178/4136/20100824xr4i0002.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img178/4682/20100824xr4i0008.jpg

Looks great so far...keep up with the updates

looks great so far...keep up with the updates
:1:

Awesome Work!

brilliant change from the norm for the tamiya kit..

paint look good to me..






http://209.85.12.234/11295/165/emo/grd.gif




you have pm....

keep it going.

Pretty good job so far. Very interesting to see the process!!.

Almost a year later an I have finally made a bit more progress! Had to re-do the roll cage because it didn't fit when the glass was added and re-painted the roof for the fourth time!

Doing the red piping and the black window edges was prpobably the most difficult work I have done so far! The white body work shows up every tiny imperfection.

Getting there now, only the seat carbon fibre decal and seat belt to add before I can finally get it fitted all together.

Below are some photographs of a test fit of the chassis. Hope to have some more updates soon!

Apologies for the size of the images, it has all changed since the last time I uploaded pictures and now I cannot work out how to make them larger! I used to use Image Shack which worked ok previously but I can no longer get Image Shack files to work now (I get error messages). I therfore uploaded from my computer using the browse function and they came out as the thumbnails you see! Very frustrating, any help appreciated please!

trying again.

Still can't get larger images! Help desperately needed please!

Great work, if only they would re-issue this kit!

Looking good. Unusual to see the XR4 version of the ETCC Sierra that came before the Cosworth. A good combination of the XR4 and Cosworth Tamiya kits. What are you going to do about the decals as they were unique to the XR4 touring car racer and are different to the Cosworth racer?

trying again.

Still can't get larger images! Help desperately needed please!

Don't worry Darren, if you click on the photo you posted, it then opens into very big photos. All good.

Love your work, very clean.

Mal

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/7168/20110817augustsuffolkho.jpg

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc447/viccario/2011_0817AugustSuffolkHols0473.jpg

Just checking I can post images in the correct size, at last!

This is now in the completed section!