Progress: A31 Cefiro Drift Machine

This id one of Aoshima's "Drift Machine" range and one I've had sitting unbuilt for ages. The part that was putting me off was the body - the kit is just a standard Cefiro with a few aero parts that you are obviously supposed to just glue right over the existing ones. Trouble is, that looks completely crap - the skirts and rear bumper parts fit over just fine, but neither of the optional front bumpers is even close to fitting properly.
So, I grabbed a scalpel and slowly sliced off the existing bumper. One this was done, I offered up the replacement and superglued it on, reinforcing the join with some filler. The box art shows that the bumper should look "flush" but I actually thought it looked a better fit if I recessed it ever so slightly. Maybe not technically accurate but I just prefer it.
Once this was done I had to do an awful lot of filling and sanding, whilst at the same time trying not to totally lose any body seams. Annoying and fiddly!

http://www.vsupermarket.co.uk/~lopez/model/A31Cefiro01.jpg

http://www.vsupermarket.co.uk/~lopez/model/A31Cefiro02.jpg

On goes the filler.....

http://www.vsupermarket.co.uk/~lopez/model/A31Cefiro03.jpg

Lots of sanding later, a coat of white primer and the first dust coats of Rover Tahiti Blue - spraying upwards from beneath the model to make sure all the surfaces get a good coat

http://www.vsupermarket.co.uk/~lopez/model/A31Cefiro04.jpg

After final coats of paint, no polishing or anything yet. Here is the body sat on the chassis to give you an idea of how it will look when done:

http://www.vsupermarket.co.uk/~lopez/model/A31Cefiro05.jpg

http://www.vsupermarket.co.uk/~lopez/model/A31Cefiro06.jpg

looks good man:)

Good start & nice painwork.

Mike :smokin:

Lookin good!

nice work so far!

Looks good!

solid start, should look killer when its done.

very clean...that sure is a purty blue...

Great. That's a nice blue, how about painting the inner spokes of the wheels gold or black? Or do you have plans for different wheels?

I think that is not too bad. but try to make it looks a real car~

Nice paint!