Subaru wrc 1998 body shell tamiya

Hello to all,

I've watched car WIP posts on AF for years and now i finally decide to start my first model.
I want to try and build the car as realistic as possible but since I've got no lathe machine or other advanced tools, for now i just try to modify the body shell with hand tools and some plastic plates from Tamiya.

As I've never built a model kit before, please point out to me if I make any mistakes when or, if there is a better way, modifying the model. That will help me a lot. Thanks in advance.

And if you have got some close up rally car picture, interiors, chassis, other components,etc, please post it. Thanks.

The objective is to make it like this in the pictures.

body shell front
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Prodrive%20Subaru%20Impreza%20S5%2098%20WRC/WRCshell14thApril2008S009_zps32dcc014.jpg

body shell rear
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Prodrive%20Subaru%20Impreza%20S5%2098%20WRC/WRCshell14thApril2008S035_zps94235836.jpg

And by the way, the photos I'm gonna take will be by an old web camera which will hurt your eyes probably. So take a short brake after seeing each one.


I've spent the whole afternoon just managed to file the left side and front left wheel well.

first i use a scriber to cut the side (a)
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/002_zps18a05071.jpg

and file it up to the outter edge of the door under frame (c) using #400 tamiya sandpaper (is there a better way to remove unnecessary parts?).
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/003_zpse521e753.jpg

for the front left wheel well, i cut it a little bit with a craft knife and then stick the sandpaper to a steel ruler and align it to the side under door frame to file the wheel well (b).

finally, after about 5 hours (i really cannot believe), the wheel well and side door frame are aligned (d).
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/001_zps263b7c50.jpg

cut engine bonnet with back of craft knife (a)
cut roof with back of craft knife (b)
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/004_zpse77888f5.jpg

cut right door by drilling holes on edge of door panels and file with #400 and #800 sandpaper (c)
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/005_zpsdffe5097.jpg

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/006_zps879a19b5.jpg

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/007_zpsac1603ad.jpg

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/008_zps9237e6d1.jpg

just cut the trunk panel with drill, side cutter and saw, not sanded yet (a) (b)
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/009_zpsde7162b3.jpg

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/010_zpsa555d06f.jpg

cut left door with drill and side cutter, not sanded
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/011_zps61054f2a.jpg

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/012_zpsa9e440ce.jpg

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/013_zps308f0b50.jpg

left door frame sanded
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/014.jpg

weather seal on left side of roof sanded off (a) (b)
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/015.jpg

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/016.jpg

remove weather strip of rear left window by sandpaper #400 and #800 (d)
notice the mark (c), that's where the B pillar will locate, not gonna sand it off for now.
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b569/zouguoqin/Subaru%20Impreza%20WRC%2098%20Safari/017.jpg

Ok I can see the pic now.
this pic shows the nude WRC body shell, so I don't really see what you aim to do in terms of modifications as the rally cars plastic kits made by brands are of course already modified compared to street cars to be accurate as much as possible to the racing versions.
I probably have misunderstood something in your question but I don't see what to say, if you intend to build a rally car just buy a rally car kit and you wouldn't have to modificate anything on the body, being able to concentrate on details.
I may have pics from these years WRC but need to take a look at my books, haven't much on the computer.

Ok Ok as said in PM I think I now understand.
You want to build the nude body frame.
nice ambitious project but great original model expected for sure.

I think someone will be able to point you to the Evo racer model someone shows here the building process from copper and soldering, but I can't remember myself builder or thread names, you may use it as inspiration.

EDIT: suddenly remembered the good key word, here is the link to the thread I mentioend:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=954617

Ok Ok as said in PM I think I now understand.
You want to build the nude body frame.
nice ambitious project but great original model expected for sure.

I think someone will be able to point you to the Evo racer model someone shows here the building process from copper and soldering, but I can't remember myself builder or thread names, you may use it as inspiration.

EDIT: suddenly remembered the good key word, here is the link to the thread I mentioend:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=954617
thanks :)

yes him!

i WAS inspired by him, mike@af, who built the Time Attack/Circuit Racer Mitsubishi Evo V.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=954617

and another guy hakkfan with WIP:Jeff Gordon's '06 Superman/Pepsi Monte Carlo.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=922989

i was so astonished to see what can be built. those are so realistic.

Oh yes you're right, those Nascar builds we were used to see are simply inbelievable and very inspiring !

Oh yes you're right, those Nascar builds we were used to see are simply inbelievable and very inspiring !
exactly! until then i never thought it would be possible to make the suspension and steering system functional for a 1/24 scale kit. those screws and nuts are so small.

NEED HELP!

1 are there any other ways to cut panels?
i found a little damage to both side of where i cut with craft knife (.38mm)
and i tried another way using 0.2mm drill bit, that was quite ok without any
damage to both sides of panels but it costs me a drill bit after i drilled 8
holes.
is it because i didn't use the drill right to broke the drill bit or its just
impracticable to do it this way?

2 please tell me how to use putty.
i have 2 kinds of putty, 'tamiya putty basic type' and 'tamiya epoxy putty
smooth surface'.
With what tool should i apply it to the surface?
How much should i apply it when for example if there is a scratch by
knife or a hole by a drill bit?
How long should i wait before i can file it?

thanks

why did u cut also roof? it is a main part of all bodyshells...also the racing chassis u posted in first pics still have it on.

why did u cut also roof? it is a main part of all bodyshells...also the racing chassis u posted in first pics still have it on.
because there will be 2 bars between a pillar and c pillar respectively supporting the roof. it'll be easy to fit them on with the roof out of sight and it'll be easier to fit in weather seal along the seam between roof and sides. also, easier to do all sort of other measurement later on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GKGKh7JCPME
thanks

i found a fantastic site with hundreds of detailed photos of subaru wrc in different years

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1769332

saving image as... now