Tamiya S2000++

Hi there guys,

After a recent competition, I've been tired out with the competition build. Therefore I decided to build a simple curbside kit as my next project. As simple as it sounds...

But as I started the project, more ideas came in, and it became not as simple as I would have thought it to be.

Please give me your valuable advices and comments.


Car body is too high, bent the arms, shortened the shocks. =)
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3279.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3278.jpg
Top: before Bottom: after

Wanted a bonnet like the mugen's -->
http://nhc.en.ecplaza.net/2.jpg

When the first blade drops, u know its a one way road...
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3281.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3282.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3290.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3296.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3304.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3307.jpg

Will try to find time to prime it and see the overall effect soon.. =)

Nice work on the bonnet! Yip once you start to mod you cant just stop!

very excellent work!

The vents look great! Keep us updated.

Thanks guys for all your encouragement. Anyways had been busy the whole of last week, and couldn't find the right energy for the hobby.

Just a small update. Primed the bonnet, its looking the part now, I guess after a layer of cf, it should also sort out some of the imperfections.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3313.jpg

Worked on the brakes as well, the stock brakes just does not match the eventual outlook of the car, I had em replaced for brembos(from Hobby Design). Shaved the original brakes out...
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3311.jpg

And.. there you have it. Before and after.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3312.jpg

However calipers seemed abit plain. Added the connecting oil hose for the front and rear pistons.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3319.jpg

Cut away the original exhaust, and scratched one to be abit more aftermarket.
Wanted a feel somewhat to this.
http://www.xlevelonline.com/img/MUG-18000-XGS-K4S0-1.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3318.jpg

Cheers!

really sharp work on the mugen hood, id be proud of that, this will be fun to follow

nice job on the hood!

Looking good so far!! :sunglasse

This looks great. You are hitting the marks!
Awesome ideas on the upgrades and excellent execution.
Keep it up!
Andy

Thanks guys for all your compliments.

Just came back from Taiwan recently, and had been down with the flu for the past few days, thus no progress on the work.

Well, now that I'm good, back to the desk, there should be a update these few days or so. =)

Wow! The bonnet looks great! I was thinking about how to make air intakes like these...inspiring!! I'm curious about what the "++" will show to us :D

Thanks Fabio, anyways the "++" as you could see, is from the bonnet details, all way down to the exhaust tip. =)

The hood work is outstanding.

Hi guys, its been awhile since I posted an update. I've been kinda lazy lately. :naughty:

Anyways, got a package from Hobbyeasy recently, with it would be the wing and bonnet pins for this kit. The wing is from hobbydesign, and its alot of bang for the buck. Includes PE for different wing heights, wing ends, and rivets to put it all together, there're holes for you to use the wings at different angles too.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3326_zps10bf8b4a.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3327_zps53607a67.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3330_zpsf2e59a01.jpg

I painted the brembos, and also the wordings using enamel.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3517_zps88f446be.jpg

Brakes are drilled to lighten weight of this street racer, disk finishing is MGM 2 part stainless steel(equiv to alcad imo)
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3524_zps44b41ff8.jpg

Exhausts! The cat and mufflers are painted MGM stainless steel, while the pipings MrMetal aluminium. It may be hard to see in photos, but I really like the very subtle difference between the shinier SS and the slightly duller aluminium.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3525_zps3dc79aaa.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3526_zps107a0369.jpg

Next up, the coilovers, it was just instructed to be painted black, but I wanted something more realistic. Had wanted it to look like this -->
http://www.hspnnews.com/images/uploads/KW_coilover_kit_Honda_s2000.jpg

So basically it MGM SS'ed it, painted the springs, masked then sprayed the spring ends with custom mixed clear purple to get the metallic purple effect.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3523_zps35b82a02.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3528_zps105bf8fe.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3529_zps4172316d.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3536_zps679c3a74.jpg

There, it seems quite alright I think. :biggrin:

Great job so far!

The coilovers are spot on!

Looks great, nice detailing.

great job on that hood, definitely following this project ;)

i cant wait to see that hood CF'ed! i love the color on the coil overs too.

Stu

Lets see some progress on the wing. Brakes and suspension came out great.

looks great with the mods...can't wait to see this finished :)

Thanks guys for all your encouragements.

I would have wished to work on the wing, and the cf hood, but there're stuff to be done before I get there.

Working on a simple diffuser on the rear currently. =)

Meanwhile, a little quick update, gotten the color for the body from my friend's paintshop, Honda's vivid blue pearl. Inspired by all the FD2R's running around the city in their mystical blue.

Painted the undercarriage, and also did some heat shielding via cigarette paper.

Cheers!

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3548_zpsb3e91fbf.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3555_zps789fed14.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3556_zpsf5fd59d4.jpg

That blue will look killer on it. :thumbsup:

Thanks midmazar, I hope it will. =)

Ok, like I mentioned earlier, the diffuser I was working on, initially I had planned for a 4 leaf diffuser between the 2 exhausts, however it did not work out too well, looks a little off...
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3565_zpsc76c3a2e.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3564_zps66943899.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3569_zpsaf79706b.jpg

Went searching for a better looking one online, and I found this..
http://www.gotuning.com/images/products/Axle_RearDiffuser_03.jpg

Remade the diffuser..

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3566_zps3fc634b1.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3570_zpsa216ae1f.jpg

Normally, when it comes to a more customised build, rims are first to be changed, i guess? but the stock rims seem pretty good, so i thought, if I colored it differently, would it give a very different feel of the car compared to stock?
http://www.cyber-hobby.com/shop/images/TA25245.jpg

Tested the rims with the overall height of the car. Think it will go well with the blue. =)
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3572_zps916dfcda.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3574_zps0549bce4.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3575_zpse4f02325.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3576_zps0b8a1d2a.jpg

Ok! Update long overdue~~

I had sanded and reprimed the body, but the white primer doesn't seem to cover the red and black colors well. However this also could be a good show of how good actually automotive paints could give coverage. It was kinda ironic, as I had wanted white to bring out the blue, but as this blue was "heavy" and probably would cover over any color below(even black). :grinno:

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3578_zps8c0beda9.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3579_zps73594fc6.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3580_zps16d485cf.jpg

As you could see the earlier red stains are well covered? Blue now looks abit candy, still abit of distance from the effect I wanted. But i think a good coat of 2k and polishing should bring the color out.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vd3wMXEFELM/SRA6VFSNQqI/AAAAAAAAKsw/aWZO00ru9M0/s400/IMG_6640.JPG

Moving on to CF!! gosh, this took me a good 10+ manhours!

Had only half a piece of cf decals left, and I had to cover the bonnet, roof, boot, diffuser, front lip, side skirts, rear lips, and wing. Tough challenge on the management of decal usage. But I'm lucky it turn out pretty ok.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3583_zps49c0ef62.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3584_zpsc28f8cc1.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3585_zps9f13505a.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3586_zps6635879a.jpg

And now, with the chassis... Oh and a underground shot of the chassis(90% done)

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3587_zps2e555cc9.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3588_zps62208740.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3589_zpsad9a5f7f.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3590_zps69780b25.jpg

If you had observed the earlier pictures of the wing, the wing stands are a pain in my a$$! Small rivets, and tiny holes. So I glued the rivets on first, and I had to wait for them to cure and dry before I glue the next part.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3591_zps27b8408f.jpg

good work with cf decals, and very nice colour!

Thanks juanmi, the color would come out even nicer glossed.. ;)

Btw guys, I have not touched the interior as yet, running low on ideas, anyone have ideas on how the interior color scheme and feel should look like? I didn't want it to be too track ready, however the exterior screams track~ basically this little Honda was to be aggressive on the outside, yet soft on the inside? Haha! If ya get what I mean.

Nice build,

how about an full leather interior, or an semi leather semi alcantara / little bit of cf ??

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/wrxsti/wrxsti13-sti-interior1.jpg

something like this??

Thanks scorpiopab, I was thinking of a stock interior, probably with cf trims, rsm, and maybe a auto timer or vtec timer..

Hi guys, update time. =)

Clearcoated it with 2k, as usual, bubbly surface, waiting for it to dry and be polished.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3662_zpsca36143e.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3663_zpsede1b1f7.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3664_zps55ed6f81.jpg

However, there was a mistake in polishing, something that I hated everytime, polishing through the clear, and seeing color pigments on the cloth.

Lesson learnt this time, put on a thicker coat of clear especially on areas that tend to be over polished e.g. corners.

2nd problem, this almost made me mad. I touched up on the mistake areas with a thin coat of blue, then clear coat. The funny thing is that the clear made the blue coat underneath "crystalise". Well, it was a nice pattern, but did not match the car. I was contemplating of whether to sand it all down and redo it, but unless I strip the whole car, this would happen for some areas too.. Dun know if u got what I meant, but maybe pictures would do that job.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3665_zps58fc4719.jpg

Anyways, I stuck with it and went on polishing the whole car. Small tip for assembling side mirrors that tend to drop off easily. Find some thin copper wire(0.5mm thick) and get 0.5mm a drill bit, drill on the centre of the mounting area of the side mirror and the body of the car. CA the wire to the mirror. Assembly would be much easier afterwards.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3670_zpsb2763097.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3671_zpsb5935252.jpg

The final gloss and stance of the car:
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3675_zps89d031eb.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3676_zpsd7b3f08b.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3677_zps2af66b20.jpg


Oh, and moving on to the interior, I scratched seatbelt mountings on the seats. CF some panels in the interior. And also scratched a vtec timer/auto timer.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3678_zps97298bc0.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3679_zpscb7a6d51.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3680_zpsa236f735.jpg

Ok, probably this would be the last update, before project comes to a close.

Quite a number of problems(murphy's law), but luckily i managed to get them solved and most importantly, lesson learnt (and shared via AF). :)

The cf roof as you can see is polished, spent a night polishing that, after which it was masked to paint semigloss black onto the side and rear window mouldings. I left the masking tape on for too long I guess, around 2-3 days before I painted it. After painting, I removed the masking tape, and to my horror, as cautious as I had been, the act of removing the tape caused the decal to rise from the part, but luckily not enough for it come off the part. Result was the gloss being damaged, and the surface looked like it had juz been given a bad coat of clear. Re-polished it, and this time round, using only fresh masking tape, masked the part and painted, as soon as the paint dried, I removed the mask. All is good now. Lesson learnt: never let the masking tape stay too long with the part.

Another problem with masking. This time round was with the liquid mask. As you could see below, I had cf-ed some of the interior panels, and clear coated it. I went on to apply liquid mask, and probably some of the mask went places it shouldn't have. Resulting in small gaps of unpainted plastic. Using a small masking tape, carefully tape the area just behind the gap, and spray with a low psi. I also used this techinque to paint the latch on the cf storage cover between the 2 seats. Extra tip!! Try to do this at around the same temperature/humidity when u were doing the color before, this would ensure a similiar flatness/gloss. Or in simplier terms, do it the next day at the same time. :)

Another problem was with the dreaded wing mounts, parts just would not stick properly, with CA, or solder. Probably due to the small surface area of bonding. Luckily with the help of fellow forumers, I used 2 pack epoxy glue and tada! it worked like magic!

Other than that, I had flocked the interior tub red.

Meanwhile, just a little bit more and this thread should be headed to the completed section. :lol2:

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3705_zpsd7aa0529.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3706_zpsdeaed96f.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3707_zps9f2f9f21.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3709_zps46a9ced4.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3710_zps68656ebe.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3712_zpsa5b48d3f.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3714_zpse09a7564.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3715_zps9846154e.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3716_zps232dc5c9.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3718_zpsfd62b8e8.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/leafwerks/one%20twentyfour/Tamiya%20S2000/IMG_3722_zps7ea16887.jpg


Next up.. did somebody mentioned spiral 86?

nice save on the CF decals. if that was me, i'd dunk them all in IPA then just reshoot the black and just skip the CF. hahaha.

I'm digging this build a lot. I'm curious what did you use / get the heat barrier tape for the exhaust area. I've been looking for that material for some of my builds. Thanks in advance.

Nice work with carbon fiber.

I'm digging this build a lot. I'm curious what did you use / get the heat barrier tape for the exhaust area. I've been looking for that material for some of my builds. Thanks in advance.

I don't get u. Heat barrier tape? Erm, do u mean the silver patterned heat shield?

If so, and if u've a little cash to spare, you could get MFH heat shield (http://www.hlj.com/product/mfhp928) it is self adhesive. If not, just ask any of your friends who smokes, the cigarette paper inside the pack is just the right pattern. Apply using a brush, some white glue diluted with water and they should stick quite nicely.

Hope that helps. =)

Thanks for the help! We're thinking of the same thing. I only knew about this when I had it on my S2000 intake box that it was referred as a heat barrier tape. but yes the bottom is a heat shield. I will now have to ask my buddies who smoke for those pieces lol.