Hi guys, joint AF for not long but I've already read a lot of amazing yet very inspirational WIPs and builts.

This is my first thread at AF and it's my recent completed Subaru Impreza WRX STi S204 edition. This Fujimi kit was picked up last year and I started collecting reference materials of S204 on the internet.

http://news.hspn.com/content_images/2006/old/s204-styling1-small.jpg

Not much modifications planned but wished to focus on the details and make it a realistic street racer. Starting with the body, primed with GSI 1200 surfacer, removed mold lines and sanded the body

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SdjX1mZZ6II/AAAAAAAAAGc/Ph2HjfWIvuU/s720/IMG_1771.JPG

Then start working with the chassis. Painted flat black. Some of the components painted and weathered a bit.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sdjl2lTMyHI/AAAAAAAAAIk/enXGtNGvWgo/s720/IMG_1824.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sdjkrl2XM4I/AAAAAAAAAH8/7GZoCD-W_ew/s720/IMG_1805.JPG

Then chassis was then lowered for about 2mm. Put the lower lip of the front bumper for a test of ride height.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SeDOtKliVRI/AAAAAAAAAc4/PAtNNpKE7ek/s720/IMG_1893.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SfSbe27-kzI/AAAAAAAAAgc/-6H_BLGhcvI/s720/IMG_2058.jpg

By the way, the rims were changed to Fujimi Work Meister 18-inch, looked a bit too shiny, see if anything can be done to them...

Stay tuned and more progress is on the way...

I cheated and looked at your blog, looks very good! Are you planning on making the correct rear wing too?

Interesting project, very interesting project. This SUBARU is very nice car. :smooch:

Cool project!!!

Woooowooo yes indeedy!!! This will be a great one mm hmm. Good luck on this!!!

Looking good so far, keep up the good work!

Thanks for all your feedback.

As some of you may have visited my blog, the final completed pictures have not been posted yet...so please bear with me and give me some time, sorting out all the pix then present in my project closing note.

I think I'm still green in car modeling so any comments are more than happy to listen to.
Hope you all like this built.

When the basic stuff are nearly finished, it's time for some extras.
Look at the official reference, the S204 wing is a bit too small

http://www.hspnnews.com/images/uploads/s204-exterior-4-small.jpg

and this's what I'm looking for...

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll58/ghk82/WRX-S204-CARBON-2.gif


styrene board and AB putty...

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SeNvgi3MgEI/AAAAAAAAAdo/BlRDijqvck8/s720/IMG_1931.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SeNvgnx7eHI/AAAAAAAAAdw/X1IMyqRJr1E/s720/IMG_1937.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SfShQE1ogjI/AAAAAAAAAhU/pkQLEaKsleo/s720/IMG_1958.jpg

Don't really like the OOB exhaust, removed the original one and cleared the fitting area of the pipe. Styrene sheet and tubes of different sizes are trimmed to fake the new pipe...

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SeNxq6eFuLI/AAAAAAAAAeM/I29xtX03lic/s720/IMG_1943.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SeNxq62POaI/AAAAAAAAAeE/oRY5CaxqcXY/s720/IMG_1941.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SeNx5svDP3I/AAAAAAAAAec/ZSNymu1EseI/s720/IMG_1945.jpg

Get back to the body, primed and sanded then layers of gloss black and re-sanded.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SdzooEbKkcI/AAAAAAAAAJI/Q5pMbyPpQVY/s720/IMG_1834.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sdzqo7u06bI/AAAAAAAAAJo/kBORVkOHU9E/s720/IMG_1851.JPG

I should say reading my blog may not be a real pleasure as it's half English half Chinese and it's bit jumping around depending on the mood of the day. I hope a much organised version can be shown in AF for your enjoyment.

Thanks for your feedback and patience. More progress and the finals to come.

nice progress, i got this kit too :lol2:

what colour did you use for the body? light gun metal?

that's correct. TS-42

nice looking scooby. keep up the great work.

When body paint is nearly done, other extra body works went on. Built a front grille just for fun, still not sure if I would put it on

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SfSnmKb4ECI/AAAAAAAAAh8/pi4oYq4Fjfw/s720/IMG_2048.jpg

First time using S27 CF, planned to put on the hood, front bumper lower lip and the wing.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SfSsUYpPm-I/AAAAAAAAAiE/jfBp5jnowSw/s720/IMG_2070.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SgZpIzFy3FI/AAAAAAAAAis/SjslJNcaJ8U/s720/IMG_2086.jpg

Thanks for reading and more update is coming.

Time for working on the interior. Equipped with Crazy Modeler's WRX PE

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/ShmEJUEkvRI/AAAAAAAAAjk/1JbXQlBQ4HE/s512/IMG_2114.jpg

Not used to handling PE, what I'd done was not very neat. Need some more practice.

The other day wandering in a arts supplies shop, bought some sticker materials which can be used for interior carpet. I thought it would be too large for 1/24, but anyway, just a few bucks, why not give it a try. If things went bad, flockings next time.

Did some rough measurement, cut it out and stick it in...

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SjzFIc629YI/AAAAAAAAAlM/LPWBlxR1sKw/s512/IMG_2174.jpg

Well...for the 1st time, not too bad. Go on with the rest...

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sjzh-mhn0BI/AAAAAAAAAl4/duxJ4D3zjK4/s512/IMG_2199.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sjzh-3_czfI/AAAAAAAAAmA/jCRanVopsY0/s512/IMG_2202.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sj0YaTRq7-I/AAAAAAAAAqE/mL7hv-DWxYI/s720/IMG_2295.jpg

Planned to change the Subaru seats to a racing bucket seats. Got these from an old Hasegawa rally kit. The seats are relatively smaller in this Fujimi kit, so styrene boards are used with the seat mounting bracket to raise it and titing it forward a bit. Too lazy to do anything such as CF, belts on the seats. May be next time as plenty of "next project" in the line...haha

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sj0Yar_6PmI/AAAAAAAAAqU/zf5Kfji34LE/s512/IMG_2301.jpg

Thanks for reading and more updates coming.

Nice CF work! This is the HQ (or HD???) carbon?

Hope this is the final episode of this built.

To fix the exhaust to the chassis, I took 2 brass rods, make holes on the exhaust pipe and the rear diffuser. The key point is putting those rods in the exhaust with a large glob of CA glue, which after painting, became the welding point of the support upon installation.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sjzh_Tdq_UI/AAAAAAAAAmY/VPN0DbXbR2w/s512/IMG_2212.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sjzh_QTiCPI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/SJmmVSg2vOI/s512/IMG_2211.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sjzh_KmFMdI/AAAAAAAAAmI/36uIE5pxx2A/s512/IMG_2209.jpg

One of the techniques that I learnt in the past is: The most reaslistic part of the glass covering the head lights is the rubber rim for waterproof, some of the modelers would put directly the bare transparent part on the "eye socket", which turns out to be very plastic and toy. Here's what I did to the tail light cover:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sjzsy9lKRQI/AAAAAAAAAns/BDRSSR4HGt8/s512/IMG_2246.jpg

I used a thick Gundam marker to run around the cover (evenly!) and it's done.

Another technique that handling of head lights is make sure the under side of the cover and the socket are cleaned. It would be fuxked when you found dust INSIDE the head light after you glue it to the socket...

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SjzsATlOHKI/AAAAAAAAAnc/3mdw2hIVHwo/s512/IMG_2259.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SjzukV6G0KI/AAAAAAAAAog/l9g2idvSup8/s400/IMG_2267.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SjzzeZf-m5I/AAAAAAAAAo4/OOipXkBANvE/s512/IMG_2260.jpg

Windows are also prepared and painted flat back at the inside

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sk9u11F7v3I/AAAAAAAAAro/OH08Y8OvpRA/s512/IMG_2323.jpg

When the interior was nearly finished, put on the rest of PE i.e. the speaker and final touch op the wheel and shift knob. Notice that to try to mimic the real S204, the tried to highlight the steering wheel by drybrushing bright red to make it look like the S204 signature red stitches. If the seat were not replaced, the lining of the stitches should also have to be in red.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sk9u1QUQ7hI/AAAAAAAAArY/ieYyzG0YQVk/s512/IMG_2312.jpg

The reference of the S204 aftermarket wing should have the brake light, Scratch built it by using the transparent left over materials, cut, filed, sanded, painted and glued to the back of the wing.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sk9u1jYhrvI/AAAAAAAAArg/MLOaXDvCXBY/s512/IMG_2321.jpg

When everything had come to the finishing point, take a look at what had been done so far.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sk9u2G7A-sI/AAAAAAAAArw/hjTC_BIKzmo/s512/IMG_2328.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sk9u2Y-RCWI/AAAAAAAAAr4/DznvpPBvhJQ/s512/IMG_2329.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sk9vAG85MXI/AAAAAAAAAsA/9ya2FT6UIXM/s512/IMG_2330.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sk9vAUJd4wI/AAAAAAAAAsI/YliVrR_FFXA/s512/IMG_2342.jpg

When everything is ready, it's time for the final assembly and the touch ups.

Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy the built.

Not sure if it's HD, but it's Studio27 Carbon Decal-C

Hope this is the final episode of this built.

To fix the exhaust to the chassis, I took 2 brass rods, make holes on the exhaust pipe and the rear diffuser. The key point is putting those rods in the exhaust with a large glob of CA glue, which after painting, became the welding point of the support upon installation.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sjzh_Tdq_UI/AAAAAAAAAmY/VPN0DbXbR2w/s512/IMG_2212.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sjzh_QTiCPI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/SJmmVSg2vOI/s512/IMG_2211.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sjzh_KmFMdI/AAAAAAAAAmI/36uIE5pxx2A/s512/IMG_2209.jpg

One of the techniques that I learnt in the past is: The most reaslistic part of the glass covering the head lights is the rubber rim for waterproof, some of the modelers would put directly the bare transparent part on the "eye socket", which turns out to be very plastic and toy. Here's what I did to the tail light cover:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sjzsy9lKRQI/AAAAAAAAAns/BDRSSR4HGt8/s512/IMG_2246.jpg

I used a thick Gundam marker to run around the cover (evenly!) and it's done.

Another technique that handling of head lights is make sure the under side of the cover and the socket are cleaned. It would be fuxked when you found dust INSIDE the head light after you glue it to the socket...

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SjzsATlOHKI/AAAAAAAAAnc/3mdw2hIVHwo/s512/IMG_2259.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SjzukV6G0KI/AAAAAAAAAog/l9g2idvSup8/s400/IMG_2267.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/SjzzeZf-m5I/AAAAAAAAAo4/OOipXkBANvE/s512/IMG_2260.jpg

Windows are also prepared and painted flat back at the inside

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sk9u11F7v3I/AAAAAAAAAro/OH08Y8OvpRA/s512/IMG_2323.jpg

When the interior was nearly finished, put on the rest of PE i.e. the speaker and final touch op the wheel and shift knob. Notice that to try to mimic the real S204, the tried to highlight the steering wheel by drybrushing bright red to make it look like the S204 signature red stitches. If the seat were not replaced, the lining of the stitches should also have to be in red.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sk9u1QUQ7hI/AAAAAAAAArY/ieYyzG0YQVk/s512/IMG_2312.jpg

The reference of the S204 aftermarket wing should have the brake light, Scratch built it by using the transparent left over materials, cut, filed, sanded, painted and glued to the back of the wing.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sk9u1jYhrvI/AAAAAAAAArg/MLOaXDvCXBY/s512/IMG_2321.jpg

When everything had come to the finishing point, take a look at what had been done so far.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sk9u2G7A-sI/AAAAAAAAArw/hjTC_BIKzmo/s512/IMG_2328.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sk9u2Y-RCWI/AAAAAAAAAr4/DznvpPBvhJQ/s512/IMG_2329.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sk9vAG85MXI/AAAAAAAAAsA/9ya2FT6UIXM/s512/IMG_2330.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hhmYYGwwvcY/Sk9vAUJd4wI/AAAAAAAAAsI/YliVrR_FFXA/s512/IMG_2342.jpg

As everything was ready, it was time for final assembly and the minor touchups.

Thank you for reading and hope you enjoy the built.
Any comment is welcome.

The completed pictures can be found here (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=957969).

Ed aka modelaholics

You put attention to a lot of details on this model! It's coming along very nicely. The only thing I can pick out is that the rear wing seems a little too big. I am not sure where I would be able to find the original BBS wheels on the S204 but it sure would look much more authentic, it still looks good now.

You're right. the wing is bigger than expected. did some rough measurements base on the picture posted previously, the aftermarket wing is that big. Pardon my scratch building techniques, the wing may not be trimmed to the right size or as thin/streamline as it should be. It takes some more practice or may be buying a dremel later would help.

For the rims, it was a mere frustration. I did order the 7-spoke BBS from 1999.co.jp, but received the last minutes "out-of-stock" message. Couldn't do anything, and till now already waited for over a month for their re-stock. No sign. Hope the rims can finally arrive and change it back on the 204.

The S204 wing isn't aftermarket, its a factory piece from Subaru. Check out this thread here (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1234917&highlight=RAR). You can get a better sense of the size of the wing from those pictures. The car in the link is an RA-R, but the rear wing is the exact same as the one on the S204.

For the wheels if you really want to change them you can use the one from hobby design (http://www.mediamixhobby.com.sg/shop/hd030008-hobby-design-1-24-18inch-bbs-wheels-and-tyres.html).

I think it looks fine the way it is though.

The S204 wing isn't aftermarket, its a factory piece from Subaru. Check out this thread here (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1234917&highlight=RAR). You can get a better sense of the size of the wing from those pictures. The car in the link is an RA-R, but the rear wing is the exact same as the one on the S204.

For the wheels if you really want to change them you can use the one from hobby design (http://www.mediamixhobby.com.sg/shop/hd030008-hobby-design-1-24-18inch-bbs-wheels-and-tyres.html).

I think it looks fine the way it is though.


Thanks for the info.

From most of the materials about Spec C and S204, they didn't mention any difference between their stock wings. I would expect they are of the same size and shape but only making of different materials.

Your suggested article really provides good views of the wing, and that's exactly what I thought the stock one is small.

Here's the source article (http://www.iwsti.com/forums/northeast-subaru-classifieds/121986-fs-nj-s204-wings-sale.html) contains the picture that I refered to. I don't think the wing in this article is a stock one as I tried to search a few Subaru official accessories websites, they do not provide this products.

Happy to see feedbacks and any suggestions/comments from other experts is welcome.

--Ed