WIP the last Rothmans Escort

I’m a great Ford Escort rally fan, so when I was lucky enough to take lots of photos of the last Rothmans Escort that was in the 1981 RAC Rally I thought I would love to make this car.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/escortrothmans.jpg

I will be using the Revell Escort model, Renaissance decals and Reji photo etched parts.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/escortanddeclas.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/declas.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/photoetched.jpg

Also I will use a few detail parts along the way.
I have not really detailed a model before so I will be learning along the way.
When looking around there are many little parts you can buy but I’m still thinking on how much detail to put into the model.

The body needs work on it to make it like the Rothmans car, also there are lots of mould marks that need filling.
There was no rear stone guards on the cars arches so they have to come off.
Also the front spoiler and front wheel arches were all one so they have to be filled and sanded.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/escortreararch1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/escortrothmansarch.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/escortreararch.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/escortfrontspoiler.jpg
When checking the lights they did not fit very well, so I had to build backs to the lights and put some plastic card on the edge to build the height up.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/escortrearlights.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/escortrearlightmade.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/escortbootspoiler.jpg
Once this has all been completed I will prime the body and check all is ok.

I have ordered some parts for the build so will let you know when they come.

See my website for lots of Classic Rally car photos.
http://www.piczo.com/classicrallymodels?g=16453804&cr=1&rfm=y

Looking forward to this, love this car, Vatanen in this car was about as good as rallying can get.

Vatanen in this car was about as good as rallying can get.

Couldn't agree more, I have practiucally worn through the video I have of him putting this car through it's paces.

Looking forward to this build, I have the S27 decals for this car and am looking to do it in the near future.

What a great project!
I love cars of this era as I was about 10 at the time and just getting into motorsport. Some great memories!
I will be watching closely so keep up the great progress!

While working on the body I have been working on some of the other parts as well.

One of the seats is wrong, so I went looking through my other models and found a seat from a Lancia Stratos was a good match. See photos.

The seat which came with the model is ok for the high back seat. But you still need to do some work to it.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/rothseat1.jpg

The drivers seat is the same as the Lancia one.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/rothseat2.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/newseats.jpg

Also I have been working on the ignition pack. You need to make two of these as one goes on the back shelve as a spare.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/rothcoil.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/rothcoil2.jpg

The black one is from the kit the one on the left is the start of my one.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/newcoil.jpg

Looking forward to this, love this car, Vatanen in this car was about as good as rallying can get.

Vatanen recently drove the car and his comments were along the lines of "I must have been a much better driver 25 years ago, it really is hard to drive!"
:grinyes:

Looks like it will be a good build. Something I've noticed with these kits is the front track looks far too narrow, I think spacing the rims out slightly might help the realism a bit when it gets to that stage..

I have been working on many parts at the moment.
The engine bay, air box with home made brackets and springs ( I will photo ) , seats, steering wheel and inside the car.

The steering wheel is wrong, you can get the right one in a Reji upgrade kit.
I made mine from the steering wheel centre that comes with the photo etched parts.
Wrong one.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/rothstreeringwheel1.jpg

Converted one
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/rothstreeringwheel2.jpg
I still have to put a Ford logo in the centre.

Also been working on the engine bay 2 big mould lines that have to be taken out.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/rothenginbay2.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/rothenginbay1.jpg

Also need to move the rear shocks and roll bar.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/rothinsiderear2.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/rothinsiderear1.jpg

The rear shocks on model look like they are where the standard shock would be. So I have to cut them out and rebuild them.
Still also waiting for some detail parts to arrive.

Keep this one up! A great looking project!

Great, amazing little extras!

I m watchin!

Oli

Again I have been working on lots of parts but here is a bit of an update.
I have made the rear turrets just need to fill the gaps to finish them off.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/turrets4.jpg

Also got this aerial from Hobbylink Japan, I thought it looked quite good.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/rothmansaerial.jpg

Still working on the seats and air box.

Just been looking through the pictures in this thread and noticed this fella in the background, and if I'm not mistaken its Mike Rosser from MRM,

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4398/mrmdj3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

brilliant bloke, he's sold me loads of stuff over the years.

Shaun.

I have been working on the seats.
I made up some decals to go on them.
The decal on the left was printed on a ink jet printer on clear paper. So I had to paint white on the seat first for it to show. ( I only had clear for the ink jet printer ). The decal on the right was printed on a lazer printer onto white decal paper. This way was alot quicker. I still have to matt clear coat the seats to seal the decals. If you print on a ink jet printer you have to seal the decal before you put it into the water. 2 or 3 coats will do, but black ink on its own does not run as much as colours.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/seats.jpg

Also done some more to the rear terrets and roll cage.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/turrets5.jpg]

Everything so far is looking great! I love the attention to detail you have!

Love this WIP....hard job...but it will be great!! well done!

Thank you for all your kind words.
I still have lots to do.
I have lots of ideas for making extra details one using the top of a pack of butter and another one using a sandwich pack.
Please keep watching.
I have been painting the outside of my house so I may get some extra time for modelling for god behaviour.

I have been working on the carbs and coil.
Coil nearly finished just need to paint the control box and add some wires.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/coil.jpg

The carbs I have added some plastic rod to the top for the fuel inlets,I have also sanded the filter flat as when it comes in the model it is ribbed. Also added some metal strips with holes drilled to take home made springs across the filter when it has been painted. Will be making up some AN fittings and hoses to fit the inlets.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/carbs1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/carbs2.jpg

The more I have been looking at the model the more I can see that needs changing. Still learning but enjoying myself along the way.

A bit of an update. I have been waiting on some parts so I have started on the engine.
The model does not come with an alternator so I tried to make one. It’s not too bad I’m not happy with the fan so may do that again.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/escortalternator.jpg

Then I looked at the pulleys on the real engine the pulleys on the model look wrong so I will start to change them.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/bdaengine.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/escortpulleys.jpg

Thank you for looking

Your detail work is awesome. Keep up the great work.

looks like this will be interesting.Nice detail work.

Just a small up date.
I have been working on the door panels.
On the real car it had extra pockets added to the panels.
I made mine from the foil off the top of a pack of butter.
I also added a locking button to the top of the panel.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/doors1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/doors4.jpg

Still lots to do.

Just a small update.
Still working on the engine.
Added ribs to the block.
Also made a distributor, fan, oil pump, all the pulleys and a metal bracket for the alternator.
This is slow work, but some of the parts are quite small and I keep firing them around the room.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/pulleys2.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/lefthandside.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/righthandside.jpg

Keep watching, still having fun.

puffyrs,

fantastic work - a benchmark for the 1/24 Escort if you ask me. Your detail work is top notch, I have 3 of these and intend to do the Rothmans, Bastos & Castrol versions, hope I can do them justice as much as you are here - beatiful stuff, dont worry if its taking an eternity either - it will be worth it in the end Im sure.

Just one question, how did you create the pully wheels, turned plastic are they?

Sean
_______________________________

http://www.scalereproductions.co.uk (http://www.scalereproductions.co.uk/)
_______________________________

WIP: Lancia Stratos (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=639403)

Hi Sean
Thanks for the kind words.
All the pulleys are made with plastic rods and sheet plastic.
The large ones are cut to size then backed with a piece of plastic sheet and sanded round.
I will get a punch and die set one day.
You have to remember this is a kit from the 80's and details have moved on alot since then. I think it would have been made better these days.

Hi Sean
have to remember this is a kit from the 80's and details have moved on alot since then. I think it would have been made better these days.

your telling me, as i said I have 3 to do and I also built the 'British Airways' car quite a few years ago now. I remember that was an awful fit just about all the way through the build - I hope Revell have improved things but Im not holding my breath.

About 7 years ago now I used to own a MkII RS2000, boy I wish I had taken some detail pics of the car when I had it, back then I wasnt into modeling as I am now and I have a project in mind to build a production RS2000 from the Revell kit - maybe one day it will come to fruition.

In the meantime, keep on going with this Im thoroughly enjoying your work.

Sean
_______________________________

http://www.scalereproductions.co.uk (http://www.scalereproductions.co.uk/)
_______________________________

WIP: Lancia Stratos (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=639403)

Fantastic work, the detail you're adding is superb, I'm not sure that I'd have the patience. One of the all time great rally cars too!

Great subject and fantastic wip. Its really fun seeing how you change and modify these pieces. It sure will be a winner when you are done.

Bit of an update.
Still working on the engine.
Nearly finished but still lots to do with the carbs.
If you have this kit to build the FORD decals for the top of the engine are too big.
I’m no computer wizard but it took me about 1 minute to make on Excel.
I printed it at work on a laser printer as it can get the detail very small.
When the engine is finished they will nearly all be covered but I think it was worth making them.
This is also the first time that I have added a wash, I’m quite pleased with the result.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/engine2.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/engine1.jpg

Still having fun.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/engine3.jpg

great work. using butter foil for the pockets was a brilliant idea.

Been working on the carbs.
Had to make 22 different parts.
Have got to cut the silver bar to size and the springs
I will start painting the parts now.
May remake the springs for the filter.
Will do another photo when the carbs are all completed

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/carbs3.jpg


keep watching

Been working on the carbs.
Had to make 22 different parts.
Have got to cut the silver bar to size and the springs
I will start painting the parts now.
May remake the springs for the filter.
Will do another photo when the carbs are all completed

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/carbs3.jpg


keep watching

THat carb looks like it should be able to fire up that model!! LOL Very tedious work, but will be well worth it.

Great WIP!

Sorry I misse it till now but I'm glad I found it :)

Great Work :)

Carbs and engine are now together.
I still need to give the carbs and exhaust a paint wash.
I was not happy with the plug leads which were made out of wire, so I remade them out of fishing line and painted them.
I’m pleased with the way it has come out, but took a lot of time.
Now working on the base still lots to do.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/compengine.jpg

Been working on the engine bay.
I found that when I tried the engine in the exhaust hit the side.
So as you can see from the photos I had to start by removing all the extra plastic form the corners of the engine bay.
I do not know why this is there as it is not on the real car.
So after a lot of cutting, filing and sanding it has all done.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/susptop1.jpg

Also see photo which show you what the old mounts looked like.
I wanted to make the suspension top mounts look more like they should and also wanted a way to paint them with out them being on the car.
I made the outer ring out of ally tube, then two different size plastic rods for the inside.
These can know be painted off the car then fitted.
Also the real car has strengthening plates on top of the wings.
So these were made from plastic card and then drilled to take nuts and bolts.
I will also have to paints the nuts and bolts the right colours.
Then I had to make supports for the strut brace, making sure it did not hit the top of the engine.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/susptop2.jpg

I’m happy with it now and have a little more to do before I move onto the body.

I have been working on the mud flaps.
I wanted to drill all the holes before I painted the shell.
Made brackets up and glued them to the flaps.
Then I will use 0.5mm bolts to hold them on.
I wiil take them off now ready for painting
You can only fit them once the base is on.
I think they look ok.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/flaps2.jpg

I have also made the fluid bottles out of mouldable plastic.
It’s easy to use but hard to shape or sand.
Not to happy with the black wash so I will try again.
Also made the plastic tray for inside the car.
This was made from an old milk bottle, heated up with a hot air gun over a chop stick end.
Just got to work on the front lights as they do not look good, then ready for paint. See photos below.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/bottels.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/bottels3.jpg

still having fun.

still having fun.
Good! Me too :)
I like hour chopstick vacu-forming idea :lol:

Been working on the body so I can put it to one side while it dries.
Not the best photo, I will polish it and take a photo in the day light.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/body.jpg

I also thought I would show you these tools I just got.
Made by a company called Racing 43, they are in 1/24 scale.
I ordered them from Grand Prix models in the UK.
There is a tool box, jack, wheel brace and map light.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/wheelbrace.jpg

Started to put the decals on.
If you have any of the Rothmans cars to make, paint the dark blue stripe.
The decals are very hard to form around the arches and to make the red and yellow stripe match you do not cover all the arch.
So I have to do some touching up to make good.
But i'm please with it, still a few more decals to go on.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/2005_030507AVO0004.jpg

still having fun.

Looks really good.Nice work with the decals so far.I knew they would be tricky to apply onto those arches.Excellent job you have done though.

Decals all finished and clear coated.
I have just got to paint the window rubbers and door handles now.
Will carry on with the inside, still lots to do.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/paintedbody.jpg

Still having fun

Classic Rally Models

http://www.piczo.com/classicrallymodels?g=16453804&cr=1&rfm=y

Wow - this really takes me back, you gotta love those MKII Escorts. Great job applying those decals.

Great job :thumbsup:

Looks fabulous.Great job on the decals.One of my favorite schemes on the escort Mk II and especially when done so well.

This build is looking great!

Incredible amount of detail and superclean build. I like it a lot!

This is looking HOT! A great tribute to Ari Vatanen! He is the king of sideways!!

Been working on the spot lights, these are very different to the kit ones

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/lights3.jpg

I made them from plastic tube then added the lenses from the kit ones to get the light shape.
Then painted the front white.
I then cut foil from a packet of cigarettes and painted that black for the light covers.
When it was dry I glued it around the plastic tube.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/lights1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/lights2.jpg

I’m pleased with how they came out.
Now onto the wheels.

I must say this is a great build - and adds a lot to the otherwise "basic" Italeri kit. Keep it up!

Hi all
Been working on the inside, still bit to do then I can fit the engine and wire up the engine bay.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/inside1.jpg

Also completed the wheels.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/wheels.jpg

I'm getting there.

Car is getting form. Result is really good.

very good work!!

BorJacho

Sorry for the slow updates, been doing other things.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/fin1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/fin2.jpg

Still lots to do but want to get it finished now.

Oh wow, your attention to detail is staggering, I think I 'm in love!

I really like everything about this model. But that engine bay is truly fantastic. Great attention to details thru-out.

Great progress.One of the best liveries of all time in my opinion!!!!

It's worth the wait in my opinion.....fantastic to see a MKII done so well. And, yes that IS one of the all time best liveries.
I have the kit, decals and etch in my collection, so this is very inspiring.:)

Been adding wiring and other parts to the engine bay.
Also fitted mud flaps which do not come in the kit.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/engine4.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/mudflaps.jpg


Cheers

Looks fantastic, what a car!!!! I remember the distinctive sound of the Escort, nothing beats that sound of it racing sideways through the forests.Great days of rallying.

Looks fantastic, what a car!!!! I remember the distinctive sound of the Escort, nothing beats that sound of it racing sideways through the forests.Great days of rallying.
Totally agree.
Great job :thumbsup:

Totally agree with all the comments so far - this is an excellent rendition of on of the greatest rally cars of all time with one of the best colour-schemes of all time, especially considering the rather less-than-perfect kit you started with.

I too remember standing in forests at night listening to that BDA approaching from the darkness. <Revells in nostalgia...> Happy days indeed!

I have got some modelling done over the holidays.
Sorry it has been so long but I have been restoring my 1:1 scale escort.
A bit more wiring added and some details to the back.
Only a bit more to do and then I can move on to another model.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/escortback3.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/escortback.jpg

cheers.
Happy new year to you all.