Honda Today

Long time no see guys!

After a bunch of Mitsubishi builds, I am finally taking a break from it. I wanted to build something small and quick, and I thought the small size of this car would make painting a breeze....well not anymore after what I did to the chassis!

This is a kit made by Tamiya. It was made to be battery powered, but I cut off all those features on the chassis and replaced them with a more realistic floor pan. The right rear wheel well has also been narrowed to match up with the other side. The stock interior piece is not used, instead I made inner panels, rear seat, and carpeting to put in creating a realistic interior. I am solely treating this project to be a past time and inaccuracies would be inevitable, although I have always wanted to build one of these things a long time ago before it got reissued.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02727.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02728.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02729.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02738.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02726.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02730.jpg

Here I am testing this new method: wet wipes carpeting. Seems like it would look good for replicating old carpets. I soaked it with white glue while I was forming their shapes. It stays stiff to the shape of the surface after it dries and became much easier to trim to shape.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02737.jpg

Mock up of body and new interior pieces.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02731.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02732.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02733.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02739.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02740.jpg

Painted
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02741.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02742.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02744.jpg

Thanks for looking!

This looks really good!

Is this also called a Honda City here in Australia?

i've been looking for this particular kit!

coincidentally im buildint the later honda city turbo II. :D

I really like theem. Its cool dude, keep it up.

Thanks for the reply!

Got the body polished and bumpers painted, bumper is painted with tamiya X-18 black mixed with XF-2 white. Ratio unknown, I just figured it wouldn't be realistic that it looks totally black.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02749.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02750.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02751.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02752.jpg

Its looking great!

Some parts have been cut off from this original interior such as hand brake lever and rear seat bar ends.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02753.jpg

New gear stick is made from paperclip rods and new knob is turned to shape.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02755.jpg

To make the rear seat pull bar, the ends were cut off from the kit. A paperclip was cut off and the curves somewhat straightened, then rebent into shape and inserted into the pre-drilled holes at the ends. It is then painted gloss black.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02754.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02761.jpg

I chopped off the snap mechanism on the kit's battery cover and glued pedals onto it. The entire pedal assembly can hook itself onto the floor, making it more sturdy than gluing individual pedals onto the floor or dashboard.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02758.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02759.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02760.jpg

The floor mats are kind of plain, but I am just trying it out to see how well it looks. I think it looks fine for replicating those really really cheap rubber mats. I used rubber cement to install the mats.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02762.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02763.jpg

Interior done! The only thing I am worried about falling of is the rear seat. It is being held up using only white glue underneath the carpet attached to it. Should have used more masking tape to hold it up like the side panels! :icon16:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02764.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02765.jpg

I used the remains of an old binder to make the rubber floor mats. I will never run out of resources like these! I am planning to use the same materials to make mud flaps for future projects.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02768.jpg

After a long process of remaking the inner side panels, I think the heights of the seats and steering wheel match up alright.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02766.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02767.jpg

This is turning out really nicely!

Great little Honda. I like the red/black paintjob. Gives it that OOB look.

Great little Honda. I like the red/black paintjob. Gives it that OOB look.

Thanks! Yea it just felt natural to paint it red with black bumpers.

The thing is now complete.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02769.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/Honda%20Today/DSC02772.jpg

I'll post this as completed project shortly.