Tamiya's Subaru WRX

[Guiddy]

And progress on the chassis.

I masked the front section off and sprayed it semi gloss black, but I decided the rear suspension was too complex to mask, so this will be brush painted.
The exhaust was masked and sprayed up to the point you see, but the rest will also be brush painted, and detail/weathering added.
I used that superb chrome paint I have to do the rear exhaust box, and it looks great!

[Jay!]

Originally posted by Guiddy
I used that superb chrome paint I have to do the rear exhaust box, and it looks great!

Who makes it?

[Guiddy]

Originally posted by Silver S2000

Who makes it?

Plasti-kote

[Guiddy]

Thursday, 16th August, and another good day!
The interior was all sprayed today, using the airbrush shown and Tamiya paints.
It has been done using XF-8 and three mixes of XF-63, as per the instructions.
Test fitting some of the parts of the body has revealed the paint is quite thick, and so I think some filing will need to be done to get the lights etc. to fit into their holes, and I want to do this before I polish it incase it chips some of the paint off!
No problems otherwise, just a lot of patience needed for all the masking today!
I shall now get on with hand painting the rear suspension, and it is ready for the brakes and wheels tomorrow...

[Jay!]

The back seat is molded to the chassis? That's new for Tamiya, isn't it? Usually they have an interior "bucket." The chrome on the brake rotors looks hot, Guiddy. Damn! Did you chrome the A/C vents too?

[Guiddy]

Originally posted by Silver S2000
The back seat is molded to the chassis? That's new for Tamiya, isn't it? Usually they have an interior "bucket." The chrome on the brake rotors looks hot, Guiddy. Damn! Did you chrome the A/C vents too?

I'll give my views on the whole kit when I have finished it, but it isn't the molded seat that's the problem, it is the molded suspension on the chassis!
I decided to brush paint it, but I hate doing that and it looks crap!
I am going to put the second coat on with the airbrush, so it comes out much smoother!
In trying to cut down assembly time, all they have done is increased painting time for the REAL modellers!

I will be happy doing a normal kit again, with nice, spray painted suspension!!! Plus that way I can lower a car if I want. With the Subaru I am buggered!!!

The air vents have a chrome ring round them, but I did that using BMW silver, not my chrome.
But the brake rotors are that chrome spray, and spot on they are too!

[Guiddy]

Progress is still on with this kit, and I am well into polishing the now cured White paint on the body shell.
This has taken me about 3 hours so far, and I am about to wash the body in soapy water, ready for the wax and polish final coats!

After that it is masking time to add the rubbers around the windows.

Photos and technique to follow when I have done this part!

[Guiddy]

Progress has been good today, and I am well on my way to completing this kit!

The body is now cut back, and awaiting polish once everything is in place.
The lights are being sprayed silver on their backs, I didn't like the silver film they give you to place round the back!
I am also plucking up the courage to black line the doors, I have already done the boot and bonnet!

The interior is also fully completed, and I will post some pics of that in the final summerization!

The model is over the article I used to detail the dashboard....

[primera man]

Originally posted by Guiddy

I am also plucking up the courage to black line the doors, I have already done the boot and bonnet!

Dont ya just love that bit !!!

How do you do yours ??

I mix some black paint and then i thin it down so its like water.
Using a really thin brush i start in one corner and then let the paint "run' by it's self in the seem lines.
Its the part i hate doing the most as i can never seem to get it just right.

[Guiddy]

Yeah, same for me, using capilary action to haul the paint down the shut line.
But it nevers seems that even, or you come across a high point and it won't go anymore!

I could have done with widening them a little to allow for all the paint I sprayed on it!

Should have the kit finished by tonight though!

[Guiddy]

Just to update you on this kit!

It is a pain in the Ass!

The rear lights especially don't want to sit in the recess very well, and they are totally different from how Tamiya usually mount their lights!

The trouble is using force just chips the paint off, so now I need to retouch a few points and blend it in with polish, so I shan't rush it!

All this is putting me off the kit though, so I couldn't recommend it to beginners!
I have never had light trouble like this before!
But I shall stay calm, and finish it soon!

Over and out!

[primera man]

Is the fit tight because of the layers of paint...or they just a bad fit ??

[Guiddy]

All kits need modding if you add a lot of paint, no problem, but because these lights go in from the back, I can't bevel them like I usually would! So it is the body that has to be modded!

[primera man]

Whats the finish like with there new amber/red signals ?

Do they mark easy ?...or is the old way of painting the lights better ??

[Guiddy]

Just stick to the old way! In 15 years I have learnt how to paint lights!

But no, they are good really! Nice finish!
Just prefer it if they went in from the front!