Ford Escort RS1800

I am going to try my hand at building the old Esci kit. I will be borrowing many ideas from Petri Huhtala's excellent build which you can find here (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=1047056).

I have not fully decided on the livery yet but here is the kit I am starting with.

http://images43.fotki.com/v1439/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN1958-vi.jpg
http://images15.fotki.com/v1626/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN1961-vi.jpg

I start with improving the fit of the hood.

http://images58.fotki.com/v154/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN1964-vi.jpg
http://images53.fotki.com/v716/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN1956-vi.jpg
http://images20.fotki.com/v502/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN1968-vi.jpg
http://images15.fotki.com/v1624/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN1966-vi.jpg

There was always something that didn’t look quite right to my eye about the rear flairs on the kit. I have heard many people say that the flair should not extend above the body crease. Yes there are versions of the car with the top of the flair below the belt line. However there are also versions with it extending above the belt line. So that wasn’t it.

After studying many photos of the 1:1 car I think I figured it out. The top of the rear wheel well on the kit is too low. If you draw a line through the apex of the wheel wells it should be parallel with the belt line.

You can see this in the photo on the bottom unaltered car. The car on top I have raised this apex about 1mm (one scale inch) to bring the lines parallel.
http://images15.fotki.com/v792/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN1971-vi.jpg

It is a small change but I think it makes a big improvement.

http://images20.fotki.com/v682/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN1980-vi.jpg

You're making a good professional start to this venerable kit. My advice would be to take care of the spacing of the front wheels, it makes or breaks the look of the finished model.
The rear arches are correct for certain tarmac-spec versions of the "Works" Mk2s, but not all so check your references. Also if you really want to get this "correct" you need to do serious surgery on the rear suspension and floor pan. Good luck, I'm watching with interest!

Yea its curious that Esci would choose to model a tarmac car. The RS1800 was never very good on that surface. It made it's legend in the forest and the gravel rallies. I am currently modifying the suspension and will mock it up the get the stance correct.

Hi

Really nice start for this Project =)

Take a look of these pics, some motivation for building. Revell/ Esci kit really need improvement to the bottom of the car =)

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/5341/img9581n.jpg
http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/9589/img9582f.jpg
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/1705/img9583l.jpg
Credid to the pics: Spede

Regards

That's a nice looking transkit. Where did you get it? It would save me a lot of work.

That's a nice looking transkit. Where did you get it? It would save me a lot of work.


Hi,

This kit is made in Finland =) By: Petteri Nyholm. you can send him mail.
But last time we spoke he told that the molds were used and he was think about if he made a new ones.

Here is his profile

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/member.php?u=511690

Regards

First mock up, still a long way to go.

http://images58.fotki.com/v449/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2042-vi.jpg

I wil follow your thread with great interest and I can only confirm what generationx wrote : check your references ! I noticed no less than 6 body versions for the works (or semi-works) Escorts between 1975 and 1980 so you must absolutely know which version you will build first.

Moreover, if the rear arches of the Esci/Revell kit are close to the tarmac specs of circa 1980-81, the front arches are wrong for any version :(

1975
http://www.eifel-rallye-festival.de/tl_files/nennungs-info-14/Tejpar_Ford_Escort_RS-1800-histo.jpg

1976 : front arches and spoiler are different
http://m.cdn.blog.hu/ra/rallyedream/image/RAC_archiv/Clark_RAC_1976[1].jpg

1978 : the top of the rear arch is now above the belt line
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/824314/HannuMikkolaRAC1978.jpg

1979 : tarmac version aka the "Monte special". Only seen at the Monte Carlo 79 (works), 80 and 81 (Publimmo) and on a few european events with Russell Brookes (Andrews colors). Big big arches, specific front spoiler and a modified wheelbase.
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/9410/79montecarlo05mikkolahe.jpg

http://www.redbull.com/cs/RedBull/RBImages/000/000/327/217/photo610x343/Waldegard_Monte_1979.jpg

1980 : very similar to the 1978 forest arches but slightly wider though.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-060kVkVbSo4/TeghMxuCLNI/AAAAAAAAQBg/CJmy35bGyiQ/s1600/10+1980-VATANEN-FORDESCORTMKII-ACROPOL.jpg

You can notice on this one that the rear wheels well is lower than the front one, as it follows the red line that goes down (from front to rear).

1981 : tarmac arches for rallies on asphalt and on mixed surfaces (Monte Carlo, Portugal, San Remo). Wider again. The most approaching form compared to the Esci/Revell kit, at least for the rear...
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/172915/VatanenMC81b.jpg

Conclusion 1 : front arches are always narrower than the ones on the kit.
Conclusion 2 : there is not one Escort truth but... a lot ! :runaround:

;)

Sorry Chris I didn't mean to imply reradiusing the rear arch solves all the issues but I do think it improves the look. The arches most closely resemble the Rothmans car.

http://images20.fotki.com/v233/photos/4/1755924/13407189/escortrothmansarch-vi.jpg
http://images45.fotki.com/v1310/photos/4/1755924/13407189/car_photo_281463_25-vi.jpg

Ideally both arches should be completely reworked. First for an early car below the beltline and again for a more standard later car above the beltline. However I am not sure I have the skills to pull off all the modification that would be required. For now I think I will press on with all the chassis mods and see how that work turns out.

For information, the car shown above is the National Motor Museum car, and was driven directly from winning the world championship in '81 to the museum. It has never been restored and is as correct as an historic rally car can be.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/hamishrobson/RothmansEscort_zps3eedb6f8.jpg

i agree about the rothmans car being original. if you decide which car to model, i have the definitive book on the works escort rally cars, i can then check it out on the info in the book. it is also to be noted that many cars received new shells during their sometimes short careers, they could also have different arches for different events. confusing it is ! by the way i think it will be great whatever you decide to do with it. i have built a few of these kits, they always get comments when i display them.

I think that according to the specific version you must make the details. Which will it be? Then we can discuss and advise.

nice project

here are still some RefPix

http://www.scaleproduction.com/pictures/reference-pictures/ford-escort-mk1-mk2/



Mike

Hi Mike,

This one would be a nice transkit wouldn't it ? :iceslolan

http://www.scaleproduction.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/100_7596.jpg

Hi Mike,

This one would be a nice transkit wouldn't it ? :iceslolan

(knee-trembling picture)

This was one of very few extremely special Mk2s - the story can be found here:

http://www.montescort.com/

Reading reJI's post (because they made a nice TK of that car), I realised I forgot another body type :iceslolan

1975 San Remo, 1976 Monte Carlo and a few others : the Zakspeed wings !

http://www.gloryandlegendary.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/actualites/Clark%20monte%20Shell.jpg

i agree about the rothmans car being original. if you decide which car to model, i have the definitive book on the works escort rally cars, i can then check it out on the info in the book. it is also to be noted that many cars received new shells during their sometimes short careers, they could also have different arches for different events. confusing it is ! by the way i think it will be great whatever you decide to do with it. i have built a few of these kits, they always get comments when i display them.

I have "The Works Escorts" by Graham Robinson. The book is helpful but doesn't include a lot of photos. What other book would you recommend?

I think that according to the specific version you must make the details. Which will it be? Then we can discuss and advise.

I am leaning towards the '78 RAC winner.

Another book by Robson is "The Works Escorts In Detail" - all works cars listed in order, a masterpiece.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Works-Escort-Detail-Rear-Wheel-Drive-Competition/dp/1906133441/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417024389&sr=8-1&keywords=escorts+in+detail

I have ordered but not yet received another Robson book, Rally Giants Escort RS1800. I assume it will have more in depth details and also more photos.

interesting project.
You could say I have a passing interest in the Esci/revell Mk2 escort .
the detail up resin and white metal kit looks very interesting.
As you've identified the arches are all over the place.
The front are particularly bad as they are a different shape from one side to another.

the front end or front panel is also out whack.
here's some I bought earlier...

https://scontent-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/319048_4865355562446_752697723_n.jpg?oh=831c33adc6 7312a01cdf4e06a6f85266&oe=55CEA139

looks like you have a full set there.

i agree about the rothmans car being original. if you decide which car to model, i have the definitive book on the works escort rally cars, i can then check it out on the info in the book. it is also to be noted that many cars received new shells during their sometimes short careers, they could also have different arches for different events. confusing it is ! by the way i think it will be great whatever you decide to do with it. i have built a few of these kits, they always get comments when i display them.

Just received my Rally Giants book and according to Robson the '78 RAC winner although badged as SJN 830R was actually chassis STW 200R. I would appreciate any additional information you could provide for this car. It is the sister car to WTW 568S.

http://images16.fotki.com/v387/photos/4/1755924/13445442/TW568SWaldegaarde1393419367357-vi.jpg

I've taken the plunge and will attempt to correct the front fender flairs. At this point I have removed about 1mm from the overall width, square the top edge and improved the symmetry. I think they need to be more narrow still.

http://images20.fotki.com/v502/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2046-vi.jpg
http://images15.fotki.com/v587/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2049-vi.jpg
http://images108.fotki.com/v1629/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2051-vi.jpg
http://images108.fotki.com/v1629/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2056-vi.jpg
http://images16.fotki.com/v258/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2057-vi.jpg

After more work I was able to remove a total of 2mm (2 scale inches) from the overall width of the front wheel arch extensions.

http://images108.fotki.com/v360/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2065-vi.jpg
http://images53.fotki.com/v716/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2062-vi.jpg

Very nice work so far. I have two of these to build, but I'm put off by the amount of work needed to make them good. I plan to build one as the British Airways car and one as the Andrews Heat for Hire, as driven by Russel Brookes. Look forward to following your work as you progress..

Front arches look better!

Just received my Rally Giants book and according to Robson the '78 RAC winner although badged as SJN 830R was actually chassis STW 200R. I would appreciate any additional information you could provide for this car. It is the sister car to WTW 568S.

Good luck trying to work out STW 200R. I believe Ford were playing with number plates because I have seen photos of STW 200R as follows and I am sure there are more photos out there

All the rear flares are smaller than the Esci/Revell model, they either just breach the body line or are lower than the body line.

'77 Safari - gravel spec - RHD - flares below rear body line
'77 RAC - gravel spec - RHD - flare below rear body line
'78 Scottish - gravel spec - RHD - flare below rear body line
'78 Alpine - tarmac spec LHD - flares above rear body line
'78 Ypres - tarmac spec LHD - flares above body line
'78 Burmah - gravel spec - RHD - flares above body line
'78 Cyprus - gravel spec - RHD - flares above rear body line
'79 Galway - tarmac spec - RHD - flares above rear body line
'79 Elba - gravel spec - RHD - flares above rear body line

Very nice work so far. I have two of these to build, but I'm put off by the amount of work needed to make them good. I plan to build one as the British Airways car and one as the Andrews Heat for Hire, as driven by Russel Brookes. Look forward to following your work as you progress..

Thanks for following Steve and I hope you post your Escort builds.

Good luck trying to work out STW 200R. I believe Ford were playing with number plates because I have seen photos of STW 200R as follows and I am sure there are more photos out there

All the rear flares are smaller than the Esci/Revell model, they either just breach the body line or are lower than the body line.

'77 Safari - gravel spec - RHD - flares below rear body line
'77 RAC - gravel spec - RHD - flare below rear body line
'78 Scottish - gravel spec - RHD - flare below rear body line
'78 Alpine - tarmac spec LHD - flares above rear body line
'78 Ypres - tarmac spec LHD - flares above body line
'78 Burmah - gravel spec - RHD - flares above body line
'78 Cyprus - gravel spec - RHD - flares above rear body line
'79 Galway - tarmac spec - RHD - flares above rear body line
'79 Elba - gravel spec - RHD - flares above rear body line

Thank you for the information. Yes they did play with the registration numbers moving them to different cars on occasion. In addition chassis were often fitted with new bodyshells after a crash or extensive damage. According the Robson POO 504R was reshelled (5) times!

Front arches look better!

Thank you. I know they should be narrower still. However I was removing so much material I was getting concerned I would have nothing left to allow me to reattach the arches. I have removed the front arches from a 2nd body. I am using this body as my test mule. I might try to take those arches a little further.

Some suspension pieces in progress.

http://images15.fotki.com/v1624/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2069-vi.jpg

Big improvement on the arches .
The inquiry about SJN 830R was actually chassis STW 200R has come to a dead end for me at the moment.
There is no chassis number listed for SJN 830R but all other works cars chassis numbers are listed.
if appears that SJN 830R was an accumilation of parts which leaves it open to being anything.
There was a culture back then that escort Idenifications seemed to swap around and appear at will.
It's a mine field and without books like The Works Escort which had research done in detail we'd never know.

Personally if you have decals for an event or can get decals for an event , using any reference material you can find build the car as accurate as you can .( arches especially both front and back).

keep it up ..loving this thread.

Work continuing on the chassis and suspension.

http://images46.fotki.com/v522/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2074-vi.jpg

Reshaping the rear wheel arches to make them as small and narrow as possible without major surgery.

http://images108.fotki.com/v360/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2077-vi.jpg

Did some subtle reshaping of the wheel rims but I really am not happy with them. Unfortunately I know of no good tarmac wheel/tire replacement.

http://images15.fotki.com/v1626/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2080-vi.jpg

Wheel arches before

http://images20.fotki.com/v682/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN1980-vi.jpg

Wheel arches now

http://images108.fotki.com/v360/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2077-vi.jpg

Rear arch before

http://images53.fotki.com/v716/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2062-vi.jpg

Rear arch now

http://images16.fotki.com/v363/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2083-vi.jpg
http://images46.fotki.com/v275/photos/4/1755924/13536348/4_286068408188659_1889340322_n-vi.jpg

Looking great!
For the wheels I've bought a couple of sets of RS Watanabe rims by Aoshima or Fujimi. They are VERY similar to the Minilites and might be a good alternative. I'll take a look during my next, future, Mk2 build.

Great work on the floor pan corrections.
The boot floor , turrets and leaf spring shackle mountings.
Not all the Mk2 escorts ran leaf springs.
Some ran with a 5 link but mostly towards the middle/end of the escorts activities they ran with a 6 link set up with watts linkage as shown below.

The Monte Tarmac Special was an exception to the rule which ran with a "slipper spring" in conjunction with a 6 link set up.
This couldn't work in theory as the leaf srping would have "fought" the plotted direction of the axle with the 6 link kit.

Here's some reference material for you if you wish to use it
http://www.doublegmotorsport.com/rsprep/01-Body%20Shell.pdf



http://www.turbosport.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=39711&d=1260219420&thumb=1



http://www.motorsport-tools.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/600x600/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image00233.jpg

Great work on the floor pan corrections.
The boot floor , turrets and leaf spring shackle mountings.
Not all the Mk2 escorts ran leaf springs.
Some ran with a 5 link but mostly towards the middle/end of the escorts activities they ran with a 6 link set up with watts linkage as shown below.

The Monte Tarmac Special was an exception to the rule which ran with a "slipper spring" in conjunction with a 6 link set up.
This couldn't work in theory as the leaf srping would have "fought" the plotted direction of the axle with the 6 link kit.

Here's some reference material for you if you wish to use it
http://www.doublegmotorsport.com/rsprep/01-Body%20Shell.pdf




Fantastic information - Thank you! I will incorporate as many of these details as I can. I would welcome any additional information. It is my intention to build the best Mk II my skills will allow.

Your doing a very tidy job of the build as a whole .
Arches and floorpan have been improved/corrected which isn't something that's done too often in the build of this kit.
Keep it up and plenty of WIP pic's please.

I'm not critizing the build by any means just providing the reference material and information that is available

Here's a more comprehensive version of that manual.
http://calencar.free.fr/escort/tech/FordEscortRallyPreparation.pdf

I appreciate all your help Boreham. I assume this is what you mean by a "slipper spring"

http://images15.fotki.com/v1626/photos/4/1755924/13445442/48246g-vi.jpg

Your doing a very tidy job of the build as a whole .
Arches and floorpan have been improved/corrected which isn't something that's done too often in the build of this kit.
Keep it up and plenty of WIP pic's please.

I'm not critizing the build by any means just providing the reference material and information that is available

Here's a more comprehensive version of that manual.
http://calencar.free.fr/escort/tech/FordEscortRallyPreparation.pdf

Thank you! This is exactly the type of information I was looking for. It looks like I have some studying to do.

that looks like a slipper spring set up to me although I did think the "trick" was at the end of one of the shackles.. so it wouldn't be so obvious to the scrutineers.

Here's some photo's from a Monte Carlo Tramac special that I took a few years ago.
The Tarmac special had huge arches in an attempt to deter the eye from noticing the reduced wheelbase length and raised floor( basicly the body dropped down over the floor by a inch of 2 to drop the centre of gravity) all illegal as it was a deviation for the orignal cars spec and Homoglation specs.
You can see one of the shackles (the one closest to the driver or centre of the car) has a similar Nylon/plastic part but flat to allow the Flat srping to move in.

https://scontent-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/531446_4341787033560_1179451540_n.jpg?oh=72ffc95bf 22c21139d403e91e5e409df&oe=55BF431D


https://scontent-b-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/v/t1.0-9/547706_4341789993634_936229915_n.jpg?oh=f7d7472855 bb25e45e6ee4f25e42bf70&oe=551B8BC0

https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/v/t1.0-9/548896_4341785393519_1769419192_n.jpg?oh=22a6798f2 491c5e8f21b44fca40c66b5&oe=54FB9164


https://scontent-b-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/373828_4341780673401_1257321015_n.jpg?oh=a09bf2b2a 25824882efc38331bf80394&oe=5514B5AE

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/v/t1.0-9/536858_4341784233490_1218090591_n.jpg?oh=b4fa001fa 2cb12563c216bf349c715f2&oe=550FA1F7&__gda__=1423119160_d80bd766fa6d76a2d14fc16b5e82baa 0







https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/409672_4341777153313_728067570_n.jpg?oh=a913774af3 795cac1e3f491351762afa&oe=5517F793&__gda__=1426691163_ebb98ddcf3c2044035a4d73a3874440 0

I have read that they moved the engine lower and further back in the chassis as well. Love those wheels/tires. Wish theses were available. They would improve the look of the entire kit.

I think I could pull of creating the tarmac special wheelarch extensions but without the correct wheel/tire there really is no point.

Add skid plates and working to improve the fit of the chassis to the body.

http://images20.fotki.com/v502/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2086-vi.jpg
http://images20.fotki.com/v682/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2088-vi.jpg

great work so far, enjoying this build.

funny thing is , all the areas that have been repaired are exactly the places where Mk2 escorts Rot . Talking about realistic..

Thank you for the interest in this build. Here is the current state of the topside of the chassis and engine bay.

http://images16.fotki.com/v382/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2090-vi.jpg
http://images20.fotki.com/v1534/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN2099-vi.jpg

Hi.

Nice work you have done, if you want to improve your engine bay,
You need to remove moulded parts on both sides of the engine bay


http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q9cSoWGdYFw/VIWKIkpbt_I/AAAAAAAAAOg/XMx7Y_hzJ48/s800/huomioita1.jpg

Regards

Kimmo

Hi.

Nice work you have done, if you want to improve your engine bay,
You need to remove moulded parts on both sides of the engine bay


http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q9cSoWGdYFw/VIWKIkpbt_I/AAAAAAAAAOg/XMx7Y_hzJ48/s800/huomioita1.jpg

Regards

Kimmo

Thank you for noticing that Kimmo. I will remove these. I really appreciate everyone's help with the details.

thanks
JC

The rear spoiler on the escort isn't good,you can make a other one.
I have made a mould and then a new spoiler in resin.

https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/v/t1.0-9/482497_460194264064464_350722641_n.jpg?oh=f1a31f11 693ea3be9c676caa96de4b39&oe=5503BA1C

The rear spoiler on the escort isn't good,you can make a other one.
I have made a mould and then a new spoiler in resin.

https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/v/t1.0-9/482497_460194264064464_350722641_n.jpg?oh=f1a31f11 693ea3be9c676caa96de4b39&oe=5503BA1C

I agree. I have already started modifying it to make it more flat. Not finished yet though.

http://images15.fotki.com/v792/photos/4/1755924/13445442/DSCN1971-vi.jpg