Aoshima/Beemax EF Civic Si

Hi all,

Recently completed a model! I've already met last year's productions so maybe it'll be a banner year?

Started with the Aoshima/Beemax EF Civic. I added the interior from a gluebomb Tamiya Civic hatch. I used ZoomOn+ Recaro Speed seats, but I used the decals for the Recaro Jetsetter seats from the old Aoshima S-Parts Prelude to make them look period and interesting. The steering wheel is from Orange Wheels, and the shift knob is Hobby Design turned metal, which I painted it flat red to look like a Flossy Redhead. The exhaust is scratch/bashed from stuff from my spares box and some styrene rod, with some sheet cut and sanded to indicate flanges.

Decals are from the parts box, including a "Civic" decal for the center taillight trim which is correct, both in style and size. I've had it for probably a decade and a half, from someone here on AF that was selling Alps-printed sponsor decals, so I was pretty excited about how well that worked out!

I didn't like how bright the taillights looked straight from the box - after years of grumbling about how model kit manufacturers don't make separate, chrome plated light buckets, one finally did and I didn't like it! So after I painted the clear red and orange, I gave it a couple coats of smoke to tone it down. I probably went too far, strictly speaking, but I like the look.

My favorite part of the build is a set of wheels I've been saving for a long time. This was finally the perfect project from them. The wheels are Mugen NR10s from a (kind of) rare Mugen Beat kit. I think they're perfect and really love how they look.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/EF%201_zpsqscdemoy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/EF%202_zpsywyqaw8y.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/EF%204_zpsiqir377k.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/EF%203_zps1ssor1uz.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/EF%205_zpsdzuudmny.jpg

I want to share a little trick that I'm proud of:

To make the red Si stripe, I used decals. I modified one of my Xacto handles to hold two blades next to each other. The distance between the blade tips is just about right for a skinny little stripe. I lightly cut the decal film with the double blade. After dipping in water, I removed the excess from either side, leaving only the tiny stripe behind. It wasn't as fiddly to apply as I feared, and with a little proding it settled in just right and I am VERY happy with that result.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/EF%206_zpsgbb7inym.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/EF%207_zpspeovlksm.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/EF%208_zps6kmoxqbz.jpg

Thanks for looking! As always, criticism and comments welcome!

Sweeeet!

Back end is spot on, tail lights look great. And I'm off to modify an Xacto handle- love the way the stripes came out.

But I'm thinking the wheels are a bit bright. Shape is great- but make them gunmetal, and to me it is there. Just sayin'.

Still love your background.

Looks awesome! With the shadow, lighting, and the background scene, I thought it is 1:1.

Cracker, nice one. Like the pinstripe as well

Turned out great; those Mugen rims fit it just fine!

Very clean work, the ultra-thin red pinstripe makes it look very realistic.

Brings back memories of the EF'S I've owned. Great job!

That is so cool! Great job man, I am also working in my own street version of this kit and yeah that rear "civic" decal, not easy to come by. Again,beautiful work.

Rick

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. I feel like AF just keeps getting better and I just keep staying the same - so it's nice to hear generous opinions!


But I'm thinking the wheels are a bit bright. Shape is great- but make them gunmetal, and to me it is there. Just sayin'.

You know, in the pictures I can see that they look a little toylike. The bright sun makes that satin chrome pop in a weird way. I also had forgotten the center caps and lugs, and after painting them I think it tones it down. Since the 1:1 wheels are a not-super-polished cast aluminum with a very-polished lip, I think that gunmetal wouldn't be quite right, and I'm afraid to put a wash on them, though I think that would help a lot. Thanks, I'm giving in thought... just unsure. I don't want to damage these wheels, as they're a bit hard to get.

Looks great, if only they kept selling orange slice in our region.

and the model looks great too.

Paul

Sweet little ride! Great job.

Dude, it looks amazing. So nice to see a clean EF! So over the cambered sterile rust bombs lol. The pinstripe is awesome and a great way to make it. Thanks for sharing.

And who says this forum is dead huh!

Keep up the awesome work man!

I'm getting over those cars, too. It seems like a lot of the other places you find model cars online are full of them, so AF is a great respite from them!