Return of the Zombie Cossie

This Escort will be a replica of the car in which Tommi Makinen picked up his first WRC win. It was guest drive on the 1994 1000 Lakes rally in Finland, he went on to win the event for the next five years straight! Will be using the Tamiya kit and LauBak decals. I've already got about three or so 'progress' threads going at the moment so was a bit sheepish about starting another one :bloated: Oh well here it is anyway.

First pic is of the underside, showing the new exhaust. The Tamiya kit is for 1994 Monte cars where a side exit exhaust was used, on the 1000 Lakes a twin, rear exiting exhaust was the go. I've also built up the wheel arches with putty so the interior won't show through.

http://rallycars.topcities.com/build/1994-ford-escort/Dcp_2352.JPG

Here are the 15" gravel wheels and tyres replacing the 18" slicks from the kit. Suspension has been raised just a little bit - 1mm at the rear and 2mm at the front. Also visible are the opened up jacking points on the doorsills and the cooling vents on the roof, the latter so the vents can be displayed in the more common open position.

http://rallycars.topcities.com/build/1994-ford-escort/Dcp_2349.JPG

That is about it for now, off to do some priming :)

very cool, i love the escort cosworth. my best friend owned a tuned one which had 360bhp and was awsome to drive in. silly git sold it for a TVR Cerbera.

cant wait to see more progress

Another model on its way from the rally model master - sweet!

You have my attention...

I'm going to follow this progress with great interest!

I've been thinking about doing this same project myself, but I have yet to order the decals and a Monte version of the Escort. Too bad Tamiya has rereleased only the Repsol and Michelin versions...

I was thinking about the Museum Collection set for this car, but I heard that they are not too good (the blue isn't metallic and I guess they are very tricky to apply too). I had completely forgot Laubak made decals for this car too, thanks for reminding me :biggrin:

-Mikko

Wow, lucky I didn't miss this thread. Looking good!

I was thinking about the Museum Collection set for this car, but I heard that they are not too good (the blue isn't metallic and I guess they are very tricky to apply too). I had completely forgot Laubak made decals for this car too, thanks for reminding me :biggrin:

-Mikko

Yes Mikko I have the Museum Collection decals and they are not good at all. The only part of their sheet I'll be using is the seat names and maybe some other small pieces like the "Michelin men". The rest is woefully innacurate and being of the 'high-tech' variety, impossible to place over complex surfaces.

Thankfully LauBak's sheet is much better, although not 100% :)

Looks to be another excellent build from you!!:sunglasse

Looks to be another excellent build from you!!:sunglasse

Thanks for the confidence Tonio and everybody, I only hope I can actually get this one finished before my interest wavers!

I had to share this discovery with everybody, look at the finish on the exhaust. It is painted with GSI Creos Mr Super Metallic Plate Silver (bit of a mouthful). This stuff is liquid chrome, even better than Alclad IMHO. It is a system that includes its own sealer, or at least that is what I figured it to be, since the instructions are in Japanese. This picture doesn't fully capture the mirror finish, I'm very impressed!

http://rallycars.topcities.com/build/1994-ford-escort/Dcp_2373.JPG

Next shot is of the primed and partially base coated bodyshell. Before painting I scribed the panel lines down very deep, a technique I have heard mentioned before on this forum. The result is clearly defined panel lines with no painting or wash. I hope the effect doesn't diminish after a proper gloss coat, decals and clear, will have to wait and see.

http://rallycars.topcities.com/build/1994-ford-escort/Dcp_2377.JPG

Woohoo!
Great to see a progress thread on this one Phil, you've had me curious about it since you mentioned it to me last week. :)
I found(?) another way to build up the wheel arches, I will have to snap some photos and send them to you to see what you think.

Ray

Just to put my 2 cents, and to get advertise of build progress in mail box :-p

Go phil, go... no doubt, another great model coming.

Loving it so far.

looks good so far!

I found(?) another way to build up the wheel arches, I will have to snap some photos and send them to you to see what you think.

I'd be interested to see your method Ray. I had to build them up like that on the Escort because the normal way of adding inserts after fitting the chassis wouldn't have worked. The inside arches of the chassis come right up to the exterior and would have left no room for an overlap. The more techniques to choose from the better off we will all be :)

That looks very very nice man. I love your exhaust. Very good job soo far. Fantastic!

Already prepared to fallow one more of your great progress threads Phil. :) I don’t remember this Escort decoration. One more motive of interest.
Great start and those panel lines are simply amazing.

I don’t remember this Escort decoration.

It is nothing too exciting Nuno, basiclly the 1993-4 works scheme with a few changed details. After Delecour broke his leg in early 1994 the Ford team used all kinds of drivers to fill his place. Tommi Makinen was one of their more inspired choices!

Another model on its way from the rally model master - sweet!

:iagree:

Just a quick pic of the now Gloss White bodyshell. The panel lines didn't fill in which pleases me. Now just got to leave it for a few days to cure, then the decalling can begin http://rallycars.topcities.com/burnout.gif Just about all the other parts have recieved some colour, a few of which can be seen in the background. The seats are currently gloss blue, that is for the decal application, will be flat coated in the end.

http://rallycars.topcities.com/build/1994-ford-escort/Dcp_2398.JPG

Will you be ready for rally contest? You have one month to enter it. You won 2 in row. :-)

That is the plan Zeljko, fingers crossed.

What category do you think this will fit into? For a start it will have different wheels, raised suspension, aftermarket decals, seatbelts, opened vents, some internal plumbing, a tiny bit of CF, and hopefully more! I guess that makes it (lightly) modified? :lol:

Will you be ready for rally contest? You have one month to enter it. You won 2 in row. :-)
:iagree:

That is the plan Zeljko, fingers crossed.

What category do you think this will fit into? For a start it will have different wheels, raised suspension, aftermarket decals, seatbelts, opened vents, some internal plumbing, a tiny bit of CF, and hopefully more! I guess that makes it (lightly) modified? :lol:
Noooo it is definitly OOB :iceslolan
what is with Stratos?

Looking good so far, keep up the progress!! COOL

Phil, so far look for Modified category, but with more details ... :-)

what is with Stratos?

Stratos is on the backburner, along with the Croc Audi, Marlboro 206, McLaren M8B and a string of Mitsubishis! Will get back to 'em all sooner or later. Although I feel the need to start a 917K soon as well :screwy: Wish I could stick to the PMan's golden rule of one project at a time!

Wish I could stick to the PMan's golden rule of one project at a time!

I stick to it for some time, but I back to old. :p
Now I have Supra, Camaro and I just got new body for Focus, on table.
Beetle is finished but one small chromed piece droped off somewhere where I can't find it so I didn't make photos of it.

Wish I could stick to the PMan's golden rule of one project at a time!
or grow few more hands :iceslolan

Phil, so far look for Modified category, but with more details ... :-) Modified it is then, what would adding more detail make it? ;)

Modified it is then, what would adding more detail make it? ;)

Super detailed? :p

one small chromed piece droped off somewhere where I can't find it so I didn't make photos of it.

Don't you hate that! Lost a mirror face off the Escort yesterday, fortunately it is easy to make another one.
Hope you can find it, I'll be looking forward to seeing the pics of your Beetle.

or grow few more hands :iceslolan

:rofl:

This brain of mine has enough trouble keeping two under control!
What we really need is to quit work, eating and sleeping to concentrate on modelling full time :)

Phil,

That is an amazing piece of work.

I'vw had this one sitting around for a while, now I just wanna get on with it!

I may have missed this, but did you use the wheels & tyres from Tamiya's Lancer Evo 6 New Zealand rally version?

Can't wait to see the finished result.

Very nice work indeed. :iceslolan I can just imagine how beautiful it will look with all the decals in place. I would problably be crazy by then :cwm27: <<<if that makes anysense :lol: Great job!

Phil,

That is an amazing piece of work.

I'vw had this one sitting around for a while, now I just wanna get on with it!

I may have missed this, but did you use the wheels & tyres from Tamiya's Lancer Evo 6 New Zealand rally version?

Can't wait to see the finished result.

Thanks, I'm only getting started, still plenty of oportunity to screw up! Especially since I might have to rush to finish it in time for Zeljko's contest :eek:

I'm really enjoying building this Escort, so you probably will too!

The wheels are out of a Tamiya ST185 Celica kit, better than the Evo VI because it includes a spare!

Stratos is on the backburner, along with the Croc Audi, Marlboro 206, McLaren M8B and a string of Mitsubishis! Will get back to 'em all sooner or later. Although I feel the need to start a 917K soon as well :screwy: Wish I could stick to the PMan's golden rule of one project at a time!


hehehe, you forgot the SEAT Cordoba WRC :-p

thats gonna look awsome!

i have a ford focus R/C car...

http://www.radiocontrolzone.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42035&stc=1

http://www.radiocontrolzone.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42037&stc=1

hehehe, you forgot the SEAT Cordoba WRC :-p

Yeah, thanks for reminding me Seb, I was too embarrassed to mention too many :p

Don't you hate that! Lost a mirror face off the Escort yesterday, fortunately it is easy to make another one.
Hope you can find it, I'll be looking forward to seeing the pics of your Beetle.

That is amazing, isn't it? I searched whole room and I can't find it.:screwy:

Yeah, thanks for reminding me Seb, I was too embarrassed to mention too many :p

hihihi i am in the same case :-p i start another kit :-p the 306 MAXI.

Great work on the build up so far Phil. I'll keep a keen eye on the progress. Let us know how the 'panel line deepening' goes - I have always thought about adding panel lines but often find painted ones look to thick to be real - especially on white cars.

BTW, someone mentioned earlier in this thread about the Repsol and Michelin liveried versions of the Escort being rereleased. Has anyone got anymore details - I'd be particularly interested in the tarmac-spec Michelin car.

Grant.

Your work always impresses me, this one is another example from the rally master! How good are the fine molded detail on this kit vs. Tamiya or Fujimi... I often toyed with the idea of buying out-of normal realm resin kits... this one looks like its goign to be great!

Great work on the build up so far Phil. I'll keep a keen eye on the progress. Let us know how the 'panel line deepening' goes - I have always thought about adding panel lines but often find painted ones look to thick to be real - especially on white cars.

BTW, someone mentioned earlier in this thread about the Repsol and Michelin liveried versions of the Escort being rereleased. Has anyone got anymore details - I'd be particularly interested in the tarmac-spec Michelin car.

Grant.

Thanks Grant, the panel line deepening is working so far. Although I should have scribed out around the door windows as well, as it would have made painting the rubbers easier! Since I didn't think of that early enough I might try doing them with black matt decal to keep a nice straight edge. Don't know if it will work but is worth a try.

I don't know about the Escort reissues, but if you are prepared to wait then Tamiya will probably eventually run off some more agian. Just look at the Le Mans Group Cs, they are all going to be reissued again soon.

Your work always impresses me, this one is another example from the rally master! How good are the fine molded detail on this kit vs. Tamiya or Fujimi... I often toyed with the idea of buying out-of normal realm resin kits... this one looks like its goign to be great!

Thanks SLK320, this is a Tamiya kit and therefore is pretty damn good in every respect! Being almost ten years old it dosen't have some of the nice details found in their more recent efforts but I'm not complaining.

Resin kits can be a mixed bag, some of the recent ones like the ALLModel Hyundai are almost to the standard of older injection molded kits. On the other hand some are just lumps of resin with not much more than a vague resemblance to the subject.

I suppose you are right Phil about the reissue issue. I have been eyeing the Escorts that have come up on Ebay over here in Old Blighty, but as they generally go for 30 quid or more I don't know that I can justify the purchase to she-who-must-be-obeyed :grinno: . Besides, I have managed to pick up a few kits no longer seen back home in Aus, so I shouldn't complain too much. So patience it is!

Not much progress this weekend mainly just applied the metallic blue decals to the bodyshell. Will need to touch up a few small places but by and large the decals went on exceptionally well. Next up is all the sponsor and competition markings :)

http://rallycars.topcities.com/build/1994-ford-escort/Dcp_2419.JPG

I suppose you are right Phil about the reissue issue. I have been eyeing the Escorts that have come up on Ebay over here in Old Blighty, but as they generally go for 30 quid or more I don't know that I can justify the purchase to she-who-must-be-obeyed :grinno: . Besides, I have managed to pick up a few kits no longer seen back home in Aus, so I shouldn't complain too much. So patience it is!

Yikes Grant, 30 pounds for a Tamiya Escort kit! At that price you can afford to be patient.

Wow Phil, you're flying through this build!!

Great work so far, looking forward to seeing more.

Very fast progress & immaculate results :smokin:

Be careful if you are masking those window rubbers for airbrushing, it will be a nasty surprise if the masking tape lifts the decals off (I've had it happen).

-Mikko

Thanks guys, I hope to get it finished within a month, but you know how things sometimes go...

Yes Mikko one does need to be especially careful when masking over decals. By the time I get around to the window rubbers, there will be several layers of clear that should normally bond the decals in well. However, since the separation lines have been scribed down I might be able to get away with just brush painting this time.

Please excuse the following rant, brought to you by Museum Collection Decals and the letters C, R, A and P.

Let me categorically and unequivocally, state that with out the slightest doubt or any suggestion of overstatement or bias on my part that Museum Collection decals are a pile of steaming CRAP! They are completely and utterly useless to anybody and the manufactures of these waste of the earth’s resources should hang their heads in shame and possibly commit Hara-Kiri if that is appropriate to their belief system. Not that any human being decent enough to have an honest belief system could ever allow others to be ripped off in a fashion as criminal as these particular decals. Which are in word, as stated previously, without any chance of error or possible hope of salvation, CRAP.

Okay, what drives a man to say such things? Well, I tried to apply the driver’s names from the Museum Collection (hereafter referred to as CRAP) decals on the seats tonight. I positioned them straight on the seat as close as I could to their correct position. However it is practically impossible to get the position right first go and they were slightly off. However they stuck fast in the original position and no amount of persuasion could make them move to the right spot. Ended up having to scrape them off with a knife, taking the paint with it. Thanks a lot! This is just one small example of the thorough CRAPiness of these decals, I won't bore you with the rest.

So now I’m going to have to raid an Evo III kit for the Makinen and Harijane seat names. Grrr.

Sorry but I needed to blow off some steam! And warn you all that it would proably be a sensible course of action to consider not wasting your money on these decals. Unless you are able to flop a decal down in exactly the right position first time, every time and aren't concerned with trivial matters such as accuracy of colour, size, shape and spelling.

Decal frustrations.....our topic for the week...

:lol: @ Ray! Sorry to hear that, Phil :(I havebeen keeping up with this thread and am enjoying it.

oh fuck !!!!
you confirm all what i heard about Museum Collection,
i hope for you that the XJ220 will not be the same when you will start it !!!

:eek: that is sweet! i know nothing about that particular car, but it looks awesome!

i hope for you that the XJ220 will not be the same when you will start it !!!

That is a nasty thought Seb. I've calmed down now and think I'm going to have to experiment with these decals and find out if it is possible to make them work. It will be worth it to be able to build models like the LM Jag XJ220C. I've also got a sheet for last year's Rally Argentina Pug 206, Didier Auriol's 1994 Celicas and Olivier Panis' 1996 Monaco winnning Ligier. However I won't be buying any more of them at this stage!!

There must be a way to make these things work, perhaps using detergent in the water to prevent them sticking so quick. Even if that can be solved they are still more miss than hit in the accuracy department. Renaissance, S27 and I'm sure ELG :) are way better.

Good luck with your decal delima, you definately have more patience than me. which is why i have a folder full of decals that i will probally never use.
Very cool project, can't wait to see it completely completed.

Okay have to acknowledge I went a bit overboard with my above critique of Museum Collection decals :sly: Been working with them tonight and have had good results. They have some serious cons, but have some good points as well. For example, very brilliant, opaque whites and vibrant colours (sounds like an add for washing powder :rolleyes:).

Used the Ford and Mobil 1 logos as the printing and definition is far superior to the Tamiya decals. Found that if the surface you apply the decals to is very smooth and glossy and kept wet, then they can be moved around to the correct location quite easily. However, they seem to use a very strong glue, so if allowed to dry out at all, will stick fast. Also very interesting in that they are of the "hi-tech" variety with the carrier film designed to be peeled off once the decal has dried. Leaving just the graphic with no carrier film - works well. This benefit is partly eroded as the decals are very thick, they seem to have a carrier film underneath the printed colours.

So things are looking up, here is a pic of the shell with some more decals applied, try and spot any carrier film!

http://rallycars.topcities.com/build/1994-ford-escort/Dcp_2425.JPG

Looking good Phil!!

All the decals are finished now, or at least those that need to be before the clear coat. There'll be a couple more after, like Xerox logos that lay over the blue/white edge, so the ridge will need to be smoothed first. Will also carbon fibre decal the front spoiler lip. Not sure if it should be carbon fibre but not sure it shouldn’t either! The all white roof looks very bare!

Made one error with the decal placement. I placed the Mobil 1 logos over the front wheel arches too far back and ran into trouble squeezing in the crew names. Had to cut off the blood groups and close everything up to the max. Fortunately I got away with it in the end, although a direct comparison to the real car will reveal the irregularity.

Touched up the edges of the blue with Tamiya Mica and Light Metallic Blue. Since there is a slight graduation lightening towards the top, subtly different mixes were needed everywhere.

http://rallycars.topcities.com/build/1994-ford-escort/Dcp_2428.JPG

http://rallycars.topcities.com/build/1994-ford-escort/Dcp_2432.JPG

Last photo is of a lot of bits in various stages of being painted. I removed the molded in detail of the cylindrical, red case (spare turbo?) and have added a wire handle. Will replace the straps with silver tape as well as some fittings and gauges. Dash will get some switch and circuit breaker detailing. Exhaust needs heat staining. Didn’t bother painting the brake disk hubs, as they’ll be hidden behind the wheels. Used GSI Creos Plate Silver on the shifter leaver, so it has a nice chromed ball handle.

http://rallycars.topcities.com/build/1994-ford-escort/Dcp_2438.JPG