Mazda RX-7 C-West (FD3S)

After many years away from car models, I finally manage to get back to work on one!

It's Aoshima's C-West FD3S. There are some issues that I'm trying to solve and I'm also trying to improve some details here and there.

There were large gaps between the C-West body kit parts and the car body and these were plugged with epoxi putty.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/marcopreto/C-West%20FD3S/CWestFD3S_01_zps4cyk5qej.jpg

After primer and base colour, here's the result.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/marcopreto/C-West%20FD3S/CWestFD3S_02_zpsou7w3dbo.jpg

While the body colour cured, the work on the interior parts started. A rollcage was built out of 2mm solder wire.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/marcopreto/C-West%20FD3S/CWestFD3S_05_zpsbn6i8hrh.jpg

All mechanical and underside parts were painted with satin black
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/marcopreto/C-West%20FD3S/CWestFD3S_04_zpscrlpzcsn.jpg

The exhaust was detailed with a metal tube tip and some bolts and nuts on the flanges
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/marcopreto/C-West%20FD3S/CWestFD3S_06_zpstgtabzvi.jpg

The wheels were sorced from another Aoshima kit and were painted in Pale Gold.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/marcopreto/C-West%20FD3S/CWestFD3S_03_zps2leaajb0.jpg

I hope to post more soon.

Marco Preto

Looking good!!

nice going! is this an aoshima kit?

Exhaust looks awesome....keep up the wip.

Thanks!

Yes, it is an Aoshima's model kit.

Here are a few photos of the progress I made this last Saturday.

The wheels are almost ready (just need to paint the wheel nuts).
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/marcopreto/C-West%20FD3S/CWestFD3S_11_zpseq4xqpbz.jpg

The window tinting worked almost perfectly (just a few stubborn dust particles in the rear window area). The tint is a lix of clear green and smoke (tamiya acrylics), heavily thinned with lacquer thinner (Tamiya or Mr Color, as these do not attack plastic - if you want to try this out and use other brand of lacquer thinner, try it out first on a scrap piece).
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/marcopreto/C-West%20FD3S/CWestFD3S_07_zps2xwzpwzu.jpg

The underside is almost ready (just need to install the brakes and wheels).
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/marcopreto/C-West%20FD3S/CWestFD3S_08_zps2y1d2t1f.jpg

The interior was also completed and I hope I will not run into problems with clearances between the rollcage and the roof.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/marcopreto/C-West%20FD3S/CWestFD3S_09_zpswaipgbmq.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/marcopreto/C-West%20FD3S/CWestFD3S_10_zpsikdab7it.jpg

I hope to post more soon.

Cheers
Marco Preto

i could never get those window tints properly sorted out. what paint:thinner ratio do you use, 1:10? also, i assume this was airbrushed and not dipped in the thinned paint mix?

Looking great so far. I was wondering what brand of flocking you're using for the interior? The color looks 'just right' to my eyes.

Hi:

The Tamiya clear colour mix was indeed airbrushed. It was diluted at least 1:15 (one part paint to 15 parts thinner, but could be even higher dilution). I don't measure dilution ratios, as the consistency of the paint in the pot varies with age. Usually, I add some paint and thinner, homogenize it and them add more thinner until the consistency looks right. For this effect, it was almost "dirtied" thinner mix.

The flocking is "Black flock" from Hiroboy (mine is an old packaging in a zip-bag, but now I think it is packaged in little alluninium tins)! After gluing the flock, I do something considered a big no no - I airbrush some flat varnish over it, as I always think the flock is to shiny and does not merge with the rest of the interior finish. I do the same when applying static grass to dioramas or little bases, for the same reason.

Cheers

Marco Preto

Nice. Like the window tint.

Looking great! I think I'll try that tint technique. I'm a big fan of using Tamiya lacquer thinners with acrylic paint. Seems to dry faster and harder

Nice project!

Thanks!

The model was completed recently. Here's a photo:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/marcopreto/C-West%20FD3S/CWestFD3S_17_zpsb6g5griw.jpg

I'll post more in the completed models folder.

I hope you like it.

Cheers

Marco Preto

Excellent!