1/12 Rover Mini

Hello,
Here is my latest project - big scale Mini by Tamiya. Although quality wise it's not as good as other Tamiya's big scale kits I have built but it's still a fun model to build (so far:smile:). It will require some detailing especially in the engine bay but other than that I'm not planing on making any major changes to the kit. Anyway, here's where I am so far:
I cut and cleaned up all parts and got them ready for painting.
I also removed the toy-like chrome plating from the wheels and sprayed them with TS-17. I also had to try on the tires - simply couldn't resist:smile::smile::smile:

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/6dc24e2c-63f1-4b7a-8432-9e2d6b2f7e43.jpg

Then I gave the body a golden base and painted it with Mclaren F1's Metallic green as I thought this cool color would suit the Mini and it seems to be very close to the original metallic green that Rover was using in the 90's. It will change quite a lot after clear coat (hopefully in plus) but I'm pretty happy with the shade already.

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140414_174156.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140415_161502.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140415_161251.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140415_161435.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140415_173722.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140416_161111.jpg

That's it for now. I hope to do some more work on it soon,

ATB
Emil

Great Colour!!

Thanks!
I really hope it will pop under clearcoat:)

Nice paint scheme, the tamiya sprays are great.

Nice paint scheme, the tamiya sprays are great.

Thanks! I also like the TS sprays - I use TS17 on the wheels almost all the time. However I never use other TS metallic colors as the metallic particles are waaaaay out of scale imo.

Hello,

It's not much of an update but hopefully regular posting will help me stay motivated to stay on track with this slightly frustrating project. Last night I dropped the painted engine block on the floor:banghead: I had to thinner-wash it and start over. I also started scratch building the plugs and drilled some holes for the wiring. however... The big challenge is about to begin. Tamiya took way too many shortcuts on this kit, which is both; frustrating and certainly not Tamiya-like. But what they did on the alternator (which is probably one of the most visible parts of the engine) is just too much. It looks like a giant hollow piece of tube with no details whatsoever!!!!!

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140419_221049.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140419_221402.jpg

I will have to make the alternator from scratch then :/
I'm planning to use the front of the kit part, scratch-build the middle and add the back from a Lamborghini Countach kit.
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140419_221524.jpg

I also did a mock up of the chassis and body shell to check if the color matching. It wasn't too bad but I gave the bottom part a light coat of base color to make it better.
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140419_164659.jpg

That's it for now. I took last picture of the progress before I called it a night:)
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140419_200834.jpg

Have a good weekend everyone
Emil

im in love with this colour and would love to get this kit some time.

GREAT work so far. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I'm another who have fallen heavily for that colour, absolutely gorgeous... :worshippy

Thanks for the up date, keep going!!!

Time for another update from this (I hate to say this but...) annoying build. I decided to give the decals a go last night. I started with the bonnet stripes. I don't know if it was just my kit but the decals are really bad:/ I decided to fix it by masking and painting the stripes instead but unfortunately this happened:

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140425_161442.jpg

It was mostly my own fault really, since I didn't realize that the green paint won't stick well enough to the gold base:banghead: - lesson learned - should have sealed it with clear coat first
But that's not the worst part. The side stripes also cracked and broke beyond repair. I'm not sure if I should order another set or just build a car without the side stripes.

The only consolation today is that after applying the first coat of clear, the color looks really gorgeous

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140425_170656.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140425_170659.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140425_170559.jpg

That's it for now
Have a good weekend everyone

So sad to see this, sometimes s&it happens, but the color with the clear coat looks AMAZING.
Keep going please!!!!
Guillermo

After quite a few setbacks and frustrations I am happy to show you some substantial progress.
First all areas, where I rubbed through the paint were touched up and after getting a new airbrush (at last!!!) from my wife as a birthday gift:biggrin: I sprayed another coat of clear. I was shocked with the difference in quality between the new ab and my old and extremely worn grandpa airbrush.
I also polished the body using tamiya compounds and hasegawa ceramic compound (for the first time)

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140506_204846.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140506_225834.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140507_173936.jpg

But it really started to look like a real mini when I glued the black wheel arches on (which btw don't fit very well). Since they looked a bit plain, I added little p/e rivet heads
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140506_201228.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140506_202518.jpg

After my first failed attempt on applying the side stripe decals (they were extremely brittle and basically fell apart) I got another set from a friend of mine and gave it another go being super careful this time. The result is not perfect but I guess it is still better than no stripes.
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140507_212534.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140507_212746.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140507_213118.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140507_212527.jpg

That's it for now.
Cheers
Emil

Very cool...

Amazing shine!!!!!!! i never try the tamiya compound, and i need to say, looks great, also in big scale.
Thanks for share .
Guillermo

Hello,
Here's a little progress on the mini project. I finally started the engine compartment. I improved the 'nonexistent' alternator:smile: I know it isn't perfect but I can live with it.

http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140515_202542_zps76ad1c3d.jpg

I also added some p/e bolt heads here and there
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140515_202409_zps41dbdca4.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140515_202337_zpsfe30d110.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140515_195350.jpg

I painted the inside and the outside radiators. I'm planning to weather the engine a bit so the fans were lightly sprayed with flat black.
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140518_170415_zpse42e5f84.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140518_170441_zps604525d6.jpg

The window trims have been painted and front lights installed
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140510_234548.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/Emson667/Mini%20cooper/20140510_234641.jpg

That's it for now
Cheers
Emil

A small update. I started weatgering and wiring the engine.
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140520_195351_zps789cc302.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140520_195320_zps9fddcff6.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140520_200623_zps5c55dfda.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140520_195907_zpse6c86613.jpg

Cheers
Emil

Hello again. Work on the Mini continues. Last night I fitted the engine to the front frame and added some more wiring and the ignition coil (also from the Countach:biggrin:)

http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140525_160506_zps2b870c1d.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140525_182124_zps564ed34f.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140525_182055_zps38d94ed8.jpg

Cheers
Emil

Nice paint job
I didn't understand, the green color is tamiya spray paint?


Best

Nice paint job
I didn't understand, the green color is tamiya spray paint?


Best

Thanks. The color is called Silverstone green and it's not from Tamiya. I had it mixed by my local equivalent of Zero paints called E5.

Cheers

Hi everyone!
After a while I finally had some time today to work on the Mini. And I have to say that it was quite productive too :)
Although it is missing few more cables and hoses, the engine is almost finished and it's been installed in the car. I particularly like the fuel lines but unfortunately they will be extremely hard to see after the air cleaner is installed (but I will know they're there:wink:)
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140607_204853_zps0804b525.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140607_205050_zps726ce326.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140607_205255_zpsc3135b84.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140607_205630_zpsba947ab6.jpg

Since I din't have the confidence to mask and paint the red strips on the seats, I decided to glue a red wire to the seats and remove the paint from them after painting, which worked out quite well and certainly much better than my masking skills would have achieved :)
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140606_211833_zpsf706de8a.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140606_211838_zps585830dd.jpg

Cheers
Emil

Hello

Today I continued working on the engine compartment (which is 85% done now) and did a test-fit with the body to make sure that everything fits, opens/closes etc. So far so good:)

http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140608_185450_zps411d948d.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140608_185017_zps14a4ee7d.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140608_185005_zpsac2a2523.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140608_194430_zps348059f2.jpg

Cheers
Emil

Hello,
Another step forward in this project:)
Engine is done, interior is done, wheels are on. The only major work left to to be done is the roof and clearcoating the hood + minor details like lights, bumpers, decals etc. and... I can't find the handbrake anywhere so I guess I will have to scratch build it :/

http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140615_195615_zps8a704e0b.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140615_182834_zpsf9f90c19.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140615_182605_zps40dbdf3e.jpg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140615_182723_zps76d4f4f4.jpg

ATB
Emil

Wow, nicely done! Very clean and detailed.

Looking very good! How did you remove the paint from the red piping on the seats after painting?

ianc

Thanks for your replies,

ianc, I removed paint from the piping in easily accessible places with a cotton bud soaked in thinner (pretty stressful procedure haha) and for the tighter spots, I used hobby knife.

Atb
Emil

Absoluetly stunning work !

Paintwork is epic ! Color is just perfect and gloss is really spot on

This is going to be the last update in this WIP
The Mini is pretty much done, -the rear fog light and some minor accessories. The Mini was fighting me till the very end though... As I mentioned a while ago, I had a mishap with bonnet stripes and when I tried to remove the decals... they pulled the paint So I tried again and they looked 10 times worse!!!

http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140622_132517_zps3df270d5.jpg

I didn't want to have to strip and paint the bonnet for the 3rd time so I clearcoated it, polished, then masked and painted the stripes. I have to say that I'm extremely happy with the result as it must be the best masking job I have done so far:)

http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg545/Emilssi/Mini2/20140622_180813_zpse6e720f3.jpg

Thanks everyone for your interest and encouragement during this wip and see you in the 'completed' section

ATB
Emil