Subaru WRX STi Ver. 3

After sitting in my display case totally modified body and primed for 3 years.. I have finally decided to finish this kit up.

It's a Subaru Impreza WRX Ver. 1 kit by Hasegawa.

http://www.hlj.com/images/hsg/hsgcd12box.gif
http://www.hlj.com/images/hsg/hsgcd12.gif

Ok, as some of you may know.. I almost NEVER built a kit box stock, infact, I like to totally hack up a perfactally good kit and scratch built a good part of the body.

This kit, I basically converted the Ver.1 to a Ver. 3 STi

For the body, I hand built a body kit... front lip (with brake cooling vents), as for the side and rear skirts that come with the kit(shown in picture above).. they don't fit too too well, plus they don't hang low enough for my taste, so I hand built those too with Tamiya Expoxy Putty, Tamiya Tooth Paste Putty, & Mr. Surface 500.

The rear spoiler that comes with the Ver. 1 is only a low rear wing, and the Ver. 3 has a mid height wing.. so I took a wing from a Fujimi Integra Type-R and modified it to look like the wing off of the Ver.3 I basically cut it lower, and built it more thick with Tamiya Expoxy Putty.

The front bumper vent has two small licesence plate holders which I have removed, since i'm not going to use a front plate.

The primed product looks like this..

http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/Impreza1.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/Impreza2.jpg

And it has been sitting in my display case in that form for 3 years now..

Until today... I actually took it out of the display case, and continued with it.

I took the body and sanded the primer and ready to paint. (3 years of drying time, I think the primer is dry for sure now :D)

I choose the Tamiya Mica Blue paint which was made for Imprezas and applied 2 coats tonight (currently waiting to be dried).. there are some small dusts that got on the body which I need to sand out and apply another 2 coats to ensure complete coverage of paint. (since for some reason this color doesn't cover very well.)

The wing, side mirrors, hood scoop, and front grill are ok, but the wing can use another coat as well.

I then cut out all the smaller parts of the remainder of the kit and primed them all too.. then after it dried, I sprayed everything in flat black and now drying... small details are to be brushed in tomorrow.

I also masked the windows with the included masking tape, then sprayed the window frames... the windshelds from this kit is not the best quality, and sure not in perfect shape.. it's got minor scratches on it as well as a small crack (no idea how that got there).. but it's not too too bad.

more details and pictures will be up tomorrow. :cool:

More pics more pics!! hehehe
I need more ideas for my Version 6:D

Cool! I picked up a version IV here in Aus, but the wheels are too small, so I will wait till I get back to the UK and mod it a bit!

:o Just start your own model company!!! :o

You never cease to amaze me with your sculpting skill, man!!! And I love the fact that we all call it "toothpaste putty." :p

Ok, went downstairs and took some pictures just for you :)

http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/DSC00024.JPG
http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/DSC00025.JPG
http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/DSC00026.JPG http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/DSC00027.JPG http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/DSC00028.JPG

Originally posted by Guiddy
Cool! I picked up a version IV here in Aus, but the wheels are too small, so I will wait till I get back to the UK and mod it a bit!

oh man, you think Fujimi wheels are off scale (too small)... those itti bitty little wheels that come with this hasegawa kit are SO small, they look like they're all spare tires man :rolleyes:

So I'm going use a set of 17", 5 spoke wheels that i took off of a Fujimi Initial D FC3S.

AWESOME, just awesome!!! The mica blue really stands out....GOOD WORK!

how'd you stick the wing on that tube?!!!

You understand now why Fujimi has a special line call "Inch up" for models with bigger wheels, when they are actually the correct size for the car instead of being a "inch up" LOL

The wheels sound good!
I might go for grey 18" Multi spokes or 18" 6 spokes for mine!

Originally posted by turbos86
AWESOME, just awesome!!! The mica blue really stands out....GOOD WORK!

how'd you stick the wing on that tube?!!!



Masking tape backwords :)

Man, you have a solution for everything! SMART!!!

Did you mask and paint the window plastic? It looks fantastic! :)

Originally posted by jay@af
Did you mask and paint the window plastic? It looks fantastic! :)

ya... the kit comes with masking like some of the Tamiya kits do :)

What you do with that putty is just amazing. It's a real skill you have there.
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
Looking really good. I dont know how you do it
:eek: :eek:

I can't sleep, so I started painting and putting together the interior and bottom.

Blue and Black interior :cool:
http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/DSC00001.JPG http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/DSC00002.JPG http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/DSC00003.JPG
Brushed on STI logo :D
http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/DSC00004.JPG

Keep 'em coming! Looking good! The Subaru interiors always look a bit special!!!

Very nice. You got quite the steady hand there. My attempts at putty work are very sad indeed. :(

Don't tell me your wrote STI on the seats!!!!!OMG!!!

progess report:

ok, I sanded down the 1st coat of paint to remove all dust and stuff.
The 2nd layer of the 2 coats just went on today.. no signs of dust on that one.. so I'll just have to wait for that to dry, and put on some clear coat.

I also have to go buy some rubbing compound to buff that baby to shine as well.

The interior and under side are all finished ready to rock and roll.

I still have to see how I'll modify and put on the wheels, since I'm using Fujimi wheels on this kit.

Then I'll have to wait till the entire kit is put together to see what type of muffler will look cool on it, and the angle I'll hang the muffler

Using one of your metal mufflers you brought from hlj earlier I presume:D

I don't know actually.. i was planning to use some aluminum pipes to make a muffler...

and save those metal mufflers for some other cars that has a lot more putty work on them. you know.. those metal mufflers were so expensive :eek:

If you want some cheap mufflers, buy the Fujimi muffler set
its plastic, but there's like 10-15 muffler in 1 set and it comes with some bucket seats too!!!

Ya, I got some of those, maybe I'll put one of those on.. :)

Oh! you do have it:D I have a question, what other things does the muffler set come with? I'm waiting for HLJ to send me some.

I had a Version 3 sedan when I was in Japan for a summer(It was my friends car), and it was an absolute blast to drive. I'm annoyed that I can't make a front bodykit like that, b/c my friend has an old Hasegawa kit.:mad:

Great Work though! I'll probably end up buyig the stock Fujimi coupe or the Initial D one(me and turbos86):rolleyes:

Originally posted by JDMTUNING
Great Work though! I'll probably end up buyig the stock Fujimi coupe or the Initial D one(me and turbos86):rolleyes:

Really?! hehe I can't wait! Impreza group build!!! :D

aThe place i go to is about 45minutes-1hr away form ym house. Plus i gotta gt off my lazy @$$ and drive there.

Originally posted by JDMTUNING
aThe place i go to is about 45minutes-1hr away form ym house. Plus i gotta gt off my lazy @$$ and drive there.

What's ym house?

I cant type: I meant my house.

Ohok!
haha, I would sell you my Version 6, but I'm turning that into the Cusco race car :D If you are too lazy, let HLJ help you, they have lots of Impreza in stock right now.

I need to get some (pirated) VCDs, imported PS2 Gran Turismo and other sutff so....

So where do you live? and are you chinese? you sounds like one, hehe, pirared vcds!

I'm a jew actually! But my friends are CHinese/Japanese and I love this asian mall b/c it has Fujimis, Pirated VCDs of Best Motoring Option and Initial D. At my school(s) I went to when I was younger, my name was Gwai lol

Oh man! They really call you "Gwai lo"? That's so mean!

Nice mall!! Where is that? I mean what city? hehehe, maybe you can help me get some Fujimi kits sometimes:)

I'm in toronto and it's pacific mall. It was mostly a joke, as I had many friends form elementary to high school. My best friends are still msotly asian. I'm the "Gaijin Lol" lol. I do get good deals on car parts, and other stuff. I got an Initial D box set recently form my friend who pirates VCDs/DVDs.

I had a feeling you were in Canada too:D You can tell from under my name that I live in the west coast. Pacific Mall, I heard lots about it, but I've never been to Toronto before. Over here in Vancouver, we have similar stuff, but the prices are unreasonable!!

Its amazing. I pay anywhere fom 30-40 bucks for a kit and tax included. Not bad but HLJ is cheaper although shipping can be a bitch, espcially with customs.

30-40 with tax?!!:eek:

Over here, its 30-60, 30 being those really old kits from 5, 6 years ago.
The new Tamiya Ferrari 360 cost $60+tax here!
I love HLJ!;)

Anyway, have to go, nice talking with you, see ya

Nice talkign 2 u 2. Tamiyas are about 40

Man, this is one HELL of a kit to built :mad:

Things are going alright, up till when I try to fit the wheels on to see if any lowering or stuff are required.

Turns out, the height is pretty good... *phew*.. I'd hate to have to modify such a complicated suspension design on a kit. BUT.. it turns out that the wheels (from a FUJIMI FC3S kit) has too low of an offset. The wheels stick out like crazy. :rolleyes:

so here I am, moding this thing like crazy to make them fit well.

Here is a couple of shots of the rear suspension's Mod, and the wheels.
http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/Impreza/DSC00001.JPG
http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/Impreza/DSC00002.JPG

hehe, com'on, let the wheels stick out! Drifter look:D

so much for cutting and making the rotors tuck in more.. it's still not enough clearance, plus now the shocks are in the way.

so the final solution.. is to go shockless.

I glued the rotors straight to the suspensions, and use the rubber bushings on each side (one on the wheel, and one glued to the rotor's center and use what I've never thought i'd use in a model kit to hold them together... a toothpick... hey it fits :rolleyes:.. perfect too ..

Toothpick in the middle of the wheel :)
http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/Impreza/DSC00003.JPG
http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/Impreza/DSC00004.JPG http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/Impreza/DSC00005.JPG

Ok, hours later.. I finally managed to get all 4 sides of the suspensions modified so the wheels don't stick out of the fenders.

The front two wheels, I even had to use different tires (slimmer) and cut the wheels slimmer also to clear the suspensions, since I can't go shocks-less in the front like I did on the back, due to the front wheels needs the shocks as steering parts. ( I guess I can always make the car not steerable, but that wouldn't be fun now would it?) ;)

Here are some pictures showing the different width of rims and the modified front suspensions.

http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/Impreza/DSC00006.JPG http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/Impreza/DSC00007.JPG

Here, it shows how the modified front suspensions are assembled, and how the front lower tie linkages are cut to fit with the modified suspensions.
http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/Impreza/DSC00008.JPG

Toothpick! that's what I used for the wheels on my FC! I always tend to put household items on my kits as well....straws is another example

ok, the wheels are painted Titanium Silver :D they look awesome... but for some reason this color doesn't seem to cover very well, very transparent, I'd already put 3 coats on, but they still don't look totally covered. So i'm going to give it a 12hr dry, then add another on to see how that goes.

here's a picture of them for now :D
too bad the titanium color isn't really show pretty well on this photo (they look MUCH MUCH nicer in real life)
http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/Impreza/DSC00009.JPG

The brakes are painted as well, once the wheels are done, I'm going to assemble the entire car (besides the shell, which is sitting for that 1 week drying time before I rub/wax it.. and window trims)

I'll have pictures of this pretty soon :cool:

Ha Ha! Those are the same problems I ran into trying to fit custom wheels on my Hasegawa Galant VR4. All that and then figured out that the fenderwells were not big enough. Lots of dremel work. I wound up having to make axles out of brass tubing that run the width of the chassi for the front and rear. Luckily they're hidden pretty well by other suspension pieces and the brakes fit over them nicely.

Old schooler eh?

Originally posted by JDMTUNING
Old schooler eh?

Huh?

I meant thats quite an old kit your building. Among my friends, I call the oens who build old kits or old cars "old-schoolers". Sorry if I confused you.

Alright, I catch your drift. I'm building that kit because I have the real car. I have all the versions of the VR4 that Hasegawa put out in the early 90's. This is the first one that I've decided to build.

turbowop....any mods done to your gvr4? I love those cars, I tried to find one before I settled for my 94 GSX. I just found that same model in your sig this weekend (and the tamiya 3000gt/GTO) and got them, and i've done one of the rally versions (in a street paint scheme).

Hmmm, interesting reading pkw! This is why I am waiting until I return home before starting the STI IV! If you want to build a kit out the box, do a Tamiya!;)
But should you have to do all this modding just to build a kit as per the instructions? I don't think so!

Shocking!!!:eek:

ya.. I think the main problem was pretty much wanting to put different wheels on other then Hasegawa wheels.

Here are some latest pictures of the project :)

http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/Impreza/DSC00010.JPG
http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/Impreza/DSC00011.JPG
http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/Impreza/DSC00012.JPG
http://members.shaw.ca/sidewaysdriver/Impreza/DSC00013.JPG

Still waiting for that 1 week before rubbing to shine :cool:

They are pretty mean looking side skirts :)

Looking good so far

ok, I'm FINALLY done this kit...

one of the comments that I have to make about this project is... IT IS NOT worth all the trouble of making this kit a conversion car...

for the amount of time i spent on this kit, i'm TOTALLY not satisfied with the out comes... I have spent WAY too much effort to make things look as good as possible. But the design of this kit was just not up to my standards.... Fujimi kits are just MUCH MORE building/moding friendly.

Jay, I'll have a full write up with pictures for ya pretty soon.

Originally posted by pkw1
Jay, I'll have a full write up with pictures for ya pretty soon. :D

Even though you're complaining, I'm sure it looks fantastic! :)