Subaru WRX STi

I picked this kit up several years ago, when these cars/kits were very popular. I almost built it many times over the last decade, but each time put it on the back burner due to different reasons.
I decided now or never is the time, and I wanted to paint something blue.

Once I cleaned up the mold lines and scribed the panel lines a little deeper, I primed the body with gray Tamiya primer, re-sanded and then put a base coat of Tamiya Intermediate Blue.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DoctorJones/WRX/DSC04184_zpsf41462cd.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DoctorJones/media/WRX/DSC04184_zpsf41462cd.jpg.html)

The wheels and calipers came pre-painted gold, but not on the back side, so I shot a coat of gold on the back to cover up the blue plastic while they were still on the sprue.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DoctorJones/WRX/DSC04172_zps9a273857.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DoctorJones/media/WRX/DSC04172_zps9a273857.jpg.html)

I shot the single piece chassis with the same base and color blues as the body will get, and then proceeded with the hand painting of silver and black as well as some washes mixed from black, smoke and earth.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DoctorJones/WRX/DSC04171_zpsf1824639.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DoctorJones/media/WRX/DSC04171_zpsf1824639.jpg.html)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DoctorJones/WRX/DSC04170_zps374ef308.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DoctorJones/media/WRX/DSC04170_zps374ef308.jpg.html)

looks good so far

looks good!

I sprayed the door panels German Gray and brush painted the blue inserts and speaker grilles as called out in the instructions. I did a really light wash of dark gray to enhance the engraved lines.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DoctorJones/WRX/DSC04198_zpsc5c88cb0.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DoctorJones/media/WRX/DSC04198_zpsc5c88cb0.jpg.html)
Shot the body with a few light coats of Mica Blue, let it dry for a week and color sanded it with 2000 grit. Then shot three more coats about 45 minutes before taking these pictures. It is really hot today.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DoctorJones/WRX/DSC04201_zps6920dcd1.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DoctorJones/media/WRX/DSC04201_zps6920dcd1.jpg.html)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DoctorJones/WRX/DSC04200_zpsbb2d3a46.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DoctorJones/media/WRX/DSC04200_zpsbb2d3a46.jpg.html)

Looking Good!

I shot the gray portions of the seats with a dark semi-metallic gray then hand painted the blue inserts then assembled the interior.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DoctorJones/WRX/DSC04208_zpsf40acbfc.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DoctorJones/media/WRX/DSC04208_zpsf40acbfc.jpg.html)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DoctorJones/WRX/DSC04209_zps4b715f06.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DoctorJones/media/WRX/DSC04209_zps4b715f06.jpg.html)
I masked the windows with the kit provided masks and shot the black trim.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DoctorJones/WRX/DSC04205_zps349b6cbe.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DoctorJones/media/WRX/DSC04205_zps349b6cbe.jpg.html)
Then I removed the masks from the rear and side rear windows…
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DoctorJones/WRX/DSC04206_zps7122d35d.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DoctorJones/media/WRX/DSC04206_zps7122d35d.jpg.html)
…and sprayed the smoke tint.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DoctorJones/WRX/DSC04207_zps7f3e9eea.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DoctorJones/media/WRX/DSC04207_zps7f3e9eea.jpg.html)
I went with limo tint on the side windows, lesser density on the back glass.

I decided to not use clear and just wax the Mica Blue. I painted the window trim and the panel lines. Looks like it’s ready to assemble…
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DoctorJones/WRX/DSC04233_zpsce1f2f08.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DoctorJones/media/WRX/DSC04233_zpsce1f2f08.jpg.html)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DoctorJones/WRX/DSC04234_zps54ac48d2.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DoctorJones/media/WRX/DSC04234_zps54ac48d2.jpg.html)

The headlights, taillights and side markers are very well engineered. Not only are the molded in color, the kit includes the chrome foil to back them. But the best part is how easily they install and how clean they look.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DoctorJones/WRX/DSC04240_zps04ce6250.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DoctorJones/media/WRX/DSC04240_zps04ce6250.jpg.html)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DoctorJones/WRX/DSC04242_zps749da2c6.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DoctorJones/media/WRX/DSC04242_zps749da2c6.jpg.html)

nice paintjob. can't believe you didn't have to use clear on it.