60th - 360 CS

Well, here we go again. I am gonna start another Challenge Ferrari. Hopefully this one will be a lot less stressful than the F430 one I just completed. I actually got all the parts together in August of 2004. Back then the only option was to create your own or the MSM trans kit. So I acquired one from Ebay for quite a bit. It has been in the closet since then but now I am ready to start it over. Back then I only built the engine a little and cut the front bumper off. So, this is basically a new build. This time though, I have the right wheels from SAS as they are way more accurate and better to scale. So, here are the parts, and hopefully it will not take me 9 months?!

Tamiya 360 Modena
SAS CS Wheels
MSM Trans Kit
SMS Carbon Fiber
SMS Seat Belt Harness kit
Enzo Seats
Acu-Stion 360 Rotors
Acu-Stion Challenge Etch

All this, and a whole lot more. This car is going to receive real working plexi-glass windows. And the rear vent will be screened. So far I have only rounded up the parts for this entry.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/360Preliminary001.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/360Preliminary002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/360Preliminary003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/360Preliminary004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/360Preliminary005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/360Preliminary006.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/360Preliminary007.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/360Preliminary008.jpg
Here is the wonderful warping that resin apparently does after years of sitting:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/360Preliminary009.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/360Preliminary010.jpg
Bumper is still good though:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/360Preliminary011.jpg
Here is the whole MSM kit:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/360Preliminary012.jpg
So, here goes a build that shouldn't take as long. I know many CS's have popped up here, but rarely do they get completed. Hopefully I can complete this one before the anniversary ends.

Jon

Looks good, I'll certainly follow this.

Cool project. Should be good to watch.

Wow dude seems you have everything you need~:lol: It'll be interesting to watch~ Good luck!:thumbsup:

Great project. My MSN resin was a nightmare to work with but it was a later set. The earlier sets were apparently smooth but suffered some warpage. I'm not sure what's worse?
Co-incidentally my 'un-finished' CS will have the final update posted once I get the camera out.
Good luck with your build, I'll be following the progress closely!

Nice project. I always liked the 360 CS. Did one myself, so I tell you what I tell everybody doing the CS. Do not apply the decals in a mixed order :banghead: . This will make all the Italians mad...Keep red and green in one line :lol: :lol: :lol: . Just to show what I mean
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/4.jpg
I´m sure you will get it right. Good luck with the project and make sure to show us your work.

Cool project, I've considered this conversion myself too. Maybe after watching this one I'll actually do it!

MSM rear lid is not worth the resin it is made from... Easier to modify Tamiya part. Pretty much like the rest of the transkit actually. Front bumper is about the only thing that is useful in that transkit. Check my thread to see why! Good luck with the project.

Nice project. I always liked the 360 CS. Did one myself, so I tell you what I tell everybody doing the CS. Do not apply the decals in a mixed order :banghead: . This will make all the Italians mad...Keep red and green in one line :lol: :lol: :lol: . Just to show what I mean
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/4.jpg
I´m sure you will get it right. Good luck with the project and make sure to show us your work.

Oh wow, I somehow remember that a while back. :banghead: Were you able to resolve it or did they stay that way?

Alex, I have thankfully viewed what you had done and that will most certainly be my route. That whole kit is a turd IMO. At least I have the right wheels now - thanks again FOTW.

how different are those wheels to these (http://www.hlj.com/product/FUJ19284)?

Well, I actually got some time here to start this and I am glad. There is a bit of excitement starting to grow. Maybe I will want to complete this, lol.

So, I started by looking at all of my research photos I have. The MSM seats are as stated before a copy of a Subaru seat. They need heavy modification to look right. So I thought about the Enzo seats and then realized that they too would need modification to look right. Then it hit me. The MSM seats have the correct top portion but no side supports. The Enzo has the side supports but not the right top portion. So,...................
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build1001.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build1002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build1003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build1004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build1005.jpg
Here is kind of what they will look like. Obviously I need to putty a lot and shape more, but for the time put into them so far, they are almost accurate!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build1006.jpg
The etch set I have for the 360 is only the stock size and not larger for competing. So those will not work. As stated before the Enzo brakes are a better fit. Once again the Enzo was bashed:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build1010.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build1009.jpg
These will fit so much better inside of the new 19" wheels from SAS.

Speaking of the new wheels, I spent about an hour cleaning the flashing and sanding them up. They look incredible! But, the stock 360 tires are way to bulky for the new rims. Almost makes the rims look small again. Then it hit me that I have spare 19" tires from a Kranze set and tried them on. Needless to say, I think that I will be using these tires especially after I lower the car to the correct CS ride height. What do you all think?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build1007.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build1008.jpg

So, a small update, but like I said, I am getting the bug again!!!

C+C on the tires?!?!?!?!!?

Jon

how different are those wheels to these (http://www.hlj.com/product/FUJ19284)?
As far as I know those are particular to the F430 - not even the Challenge. I also think that they are called RE's and these are Challenges? Look at the pic above and you can see that the curve of the 360 rims is different on the spokes.

Enzo seat cushion is a lot wider than CS - check to see if they will fit in the standard 360 interior. The top of the Subaru seat also need some re-shaping, particularly at the very top and side bolsters too to look correct.

Kitbashing an Enzo? You've gone too far this time.... There is no way I can possibly watch. And yet I've subscribed.

how different are those wheels to these (http://www.hlj.com/product/FUJ19284)?

Have these ever actually been in stock? I registered for the back order email about 4 months ago and haven't heard a thing.

Back order e-mail?
dunno about that.
It was back-ordered and I just put in an order anyway.
Two weeks later, they came in and I got mine shipped.
Short story even shorter, if it's back-ordered, just put an order in and wait.

actually, the site says they're in low stock at the moment.

I think that is why I have so many Enzo's - I buy a few to build - bash em, then buy more. What can you do?!

The seats are far from complete. I need to reshape the top bolsters and thin the width. It shall be done, lol.

Any comments on the tires guys?! That I was really curious about.

Rear sidewall seems a little thick but the front looks good. Hard to tell just sitting there. Post a pic with the wheels mocked up in the wheel wells.

Rear sidewall seems a little thick but the front looks good. Hard to tell just sitting there. Post a pic with the wheels mocked up in the wheel wells.

I need to do that and will today. What I was showing was the Tamiya on the right and the Fujimi on the left. All 4 tires from each manufacturer are the same size. I guess I made it look like fronts and rears. It was one or the other type thing.

Well I'll comment on the tires...since I ran into the same issue with my CS, I think the new ones are far better! In every pic i've got of a 360 CS the tires are very low profile, just like the ones you are going use, so i'd say go with em! Thats the main reason I'm not using the CS rims that came with the msm kit on my build, they just looked too small, although I wasn't able to get a set of the sas rims either....so I've improvised. Great work so far..esp on the seats....this might inspire me to get on my build and try to make some headway on the bumper fitment since mine was nicely warped and was a bit of a pain to get it to stay glued. Good luck!

Gray

....so I've improvised.

I would be interested to see what you did.

Before I got a hold of the SAS rims I actually carefully cut the spokes out of 1 MSM rim, and then the spokes out of a set of Kranze's (thus the spare tires, lol) and was going to elongate the spokes to fit the new rim width. I got all the way to remounting the spokes and then ordered the SAS. I might still finish that idea one day.

I would be interested to see what you did.

Before I got a hold of the SAS rims I actually carefully cut the spokes out of 1 MSM rim, and then the spokes out of a set of Kranze's (thus the spare tires, lol) and was going to elongate the spokes to fit the new rim width. I got all the way to remounting the spokes and then ordered the SAS. I might still finish that idea one day.

I didn't do anything special, i'm just putting a set of custom wheels on my CS...you commented on them in my thread..lol. I ended up using the msm wheels on my 356 Daytona build.

Gray

I didn't do anything special, i'm just putting a set of custom wheels on my CS...you commented on them in my thread..lol. I ended up using the msm wheels on my 356 Daytona build.

Gray

Duh, I am stupid. I forgot that was yours and I even was looking at it earlier today, lol. I still love those wheels. How is that build coming?

I need to do that and will today. What I was showing was the Tamiya on the right and the Fujimi on the left. All 4 tires from each manufacturer are the same size. I guess I made it look like fronts and rears. It was one or the other type thing.

Oh, sorry. I thought it was front rear. Based on the pictures I've seen, I'd say go with the tires on the left (the ones with the shorter sidewall).

Duh, I am stupid. I forgot that was yours and I even was looking at it earlier today, lol. I still love those wheels. How is that build coming?

hmmm what you see in the thread is whats done..I suffer from extreme modelers ADD. I lost steam on it when -
1. I finally got the bumper and side skirts mounted and now needing a bit of body work.
2. the cool texture paint effect on the airbox went awry and had to be stripped(and removing the adhesive on the tamiya pe emblems).
3. trying to decide if I want to go mod the msm interior parts to more accurate parts.
4. being on an extreme budget at times, I refuse to pay 30 bucks for a sheet of PE just for 2 CS specific logos when I can spend the money on other supplies that i'll get more use out of....like some evercote putty for the body work...lol.

Plus I went full steam ahead on the 356 Daytona and the Fujimi 911 I just finished. The Daytona is close to being ready for paint, and to top it all off I'm moving into my new house(my first one!) in a month so none of my kits will get much work till thats over, then i'm focusing on the Mythos I have which will be a simple build to just get something done hopefully by the deadline. Anyway your CS build might get me to work on mine some more...just gotta find the time. Good luck with yours though...I know with how well you did on the 430 this one will look great.

Gray

I can completely understand modeling ADD. That F430 took me way off course. I also understand "Sally" and what you went through. I was gonna kid you about her tattoo - where is it? LOL

I can completely understand modeling ADD. That F430 took me way off course. I also understand "Sally" and what you went through. I was gonna kid you about her tattoo - where is it? LOL

lol.. I actually forgot it! I was so happy just to get her finished it totally skipped my mind when doing final assembly..I'll add it to her at some point, maybe tonight. So far as how different these kits are from your post in my finished thread. They are totally different than say a current tamiya or fujimi(from what everyone says...i've not built a new-gen fujimi yet) build. In a new kit from either you can build it with minimal fuss, you don't really have to test fit stuff, theres little clean up, and when you do want to mock stuff up for modification purposes its fairly easy.

The Em kits aren't horrible in that aspect, just more complicated in the fact that 75% of the parts need to be fitted before hand, and cleaned up, or assembled differently from the instructions. Plus sprue attachment locations on the kit parts can leave some nasty stuff that either cuts off some of the part, or leaves sprue on an area that it can't be cleaned up. The Porsche kits are like this, the 356 Daytona, isn't quite as bad, but its got its areas(most of which is suspension related). They are a different build that when you do finally finish them, whether they look awesome or not so awesome your still proud to be done...lol. I like them, just because they make you think about your subject more than say insert tab A into slot B, then paint with color C. I know there are some areas on Sally that didn't come out that great, but i'm still proud of it, and i've learned alot about the kit, so that when my next build happens some of the "tolerance stack" can be eliminated. hope this helps..and isn't too long winded

Gray

So far this has been a great build! I have had some time this week to play and no-one to bother me while doing so. But, she will be here in about 15 minutes. So, I need to get this update finished before hand.

Ok, the bottom of the Enzo seats were too deep and too wide. At first I thought about cutting them down the middle and pulling them together. Then I thought about taken about an 1/8th inch out of the depth, and about a 1/16th in the width:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build2001.jpg
Here you can see where they were until I did the removal:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build2002.jpg
And the new:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build2003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build2004.jpg
Next, the remainder of the side bolsters had to be cleaned up:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build2005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build2006.jpg
Here are the stock 360 just for comparison:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build2007.jpg
After this was complete, there was no proper way to fit the seats. I had to remove the rails for the stock seats and after the Dremmel, the pan looked like crap. So I added styrene to it all ( I emailed 360 Spider for acceptance of this - still waiting, lol):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build2008.jpg
I also cut out the stock console for the CS's:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build2009.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build2010.jpg
Now, I have seen some etch floor mats, and even some made out of real rubber. I have neither of those. So I spent about 3 hours making these:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build2011.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build2012.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build2013.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build2014.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build2015.jpg
These will be flat black like rubber to dull out the foot wells. The Cavallinos will be picked in titanium.
Just before I posted this I thought about what else I had done, and the rear trunk lid was modified with card and putty:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build2016.jpg

My steam is there for this one as I am not doing the body first. That is what I think my problem before was. I will feel more compelled if the body is painted last.

Jon

great work on the seats man, now cast em up and sell copies!..lol I'll be using your approach to the decklid on mine so i'll be following what else you do to it.
look forward to seeing more.

Gray

Where did the 'ponys' on the mats come from?
I like your mats, though I think they're a ton of work for something that will be hard to see at best.

Deja Vu.. :-)
Great work man!

Where did the 'ponys' on the mats come from?
I like your mats, though I think they're a ton of work for something that will be hard to see at best.

The Cavs were from th erest of my F430 stuff. I have tons left over!!

Deja Vu.. :-)
Great work man!

I did indeed use your expertise. I sent you a PM asking if you didn't mind. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!!!! :grinno:

I have to double post, but you will all love the update, I PROMISE!!!

I did indeed use your expertise. I sent you a PM asking if you didn't mind.

I guess he'll come crazy with all imitators he have, if he mind LOL :D

Holy crap I am booking on this build. I have never been so happy with my building skills as I have now. This was to be my first build after I got back into the hobby 4 years ago and I never built it. I am thinking now that I should have. Oh well, I am doing it now and loving it!

Adding the Enzo brakes to the 360 was kind of a bit of thinking. I ended up ruining a whole set of Enzo brakes to get these completed. I might need to get some more Enzo's I think, lol. The front hubs had to be removed from the 360 caliper sets. Then the Enzo calipers had to have that hub drilled out. When that was complete, the hub was glued with the wheel washer into the 360 hub assembly. The rears were a bit harder after I found out too late. I had assumed the same thing for the rear, but I was wrong. I had to hollow out the Enzo rear hub to accept the 360 hub. Then I again I glued the two together with the wheel spacer. As you can see later in this post it worked out great!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3002.jpg
The seats are looking flippin awesome. I was almost ready to prime when I noticed on the real car that there is extra cushioning under the drivers knees. So I added styrene and putty:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3016.jpg
Cutting out the rear light assembly was a complete pain. Patience and a lot of swearing and I got them out unhurt. Etch saws are the best thing ever. My only problem is that I cut the assembly to aid in removal where as I will need it complete to put in mesh. Oh well.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3004.jpg
Like the F430 Challenge there are no defrosters on the 360 CS. So,.......:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3008.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3009.jpg
Here is the interior so far after a ton of modding it:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3018.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3019.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3021.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3023.jpg
A dark one with the dash:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3024.jpg
The seats are completely finished. I wish I knew how to cast them as I know I would use them again. Oh well:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3026.jpg
The knee bolsters look awesome:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3028.jpg

Now, the moment I have been waiting for for 3 years - the dry fit!!!

Hope you all like it!!!!!!!

Jon

Here she is folks, my second favorite Ferrari of all time mocked up (Enzo will always be first, lol). Hope it is worth the looks!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3029.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3030.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3032.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3033.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3034.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3035-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3036-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3037-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3038-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3039-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3040-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3041-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3042-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3043.jpg

Well, what do you all think? Should I lower the ride height? Do you like the choice of tires? Aren't the SAS rims freakin way better to scale?! Do the seats look anything like they should? Should I light in on fire for fun (not in a million years, lol)? Tell me what you think.

Thanks for looking at the progress and sorry that I type so much.

Jon :evillol:

I did indeed use your expertise.

That is exactly why I share it. This build is just so nostalgic for me! Which reminds me that I need to get off my butt and finish mine!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3029.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build3030.jpg


Looks really good so far. These pictures make the front wheel look like it's pushed back in the wheel well, though. I'd lower it a little bit as well.

Those rims and seat look awesome! I wish those rims were still available!

Looks really good so far. These pictures make the front wheel look like it's pushed back in the wheel well, though. I'd lower it a little bit as well.

Those rims and seat look awesome! I wish those rims were still available!

It is all dry fit. The wheels are barely on, and the body doesn't have any support at all yet. That is why it is kind of askew at the moment. I do think it needs to be lowered also :wink: .

Not to gloat, but that is why I bought two sets of the rims. I knew they were going to be awesome.

Great work. You're working really quickly, too. Keep it up!

That is exactly why I share it. This build is just so nostalgic for me! Which reminds me that I need to get off my butt and finish mine!
I was lucky and bought another TK ;) I'm nostalgic too LOL

@enzoenvy, seem your TK fit right, I found troubles on sideskirts in mine, my advice is to paint those mounted on the body, like Alex done if I'm right. Now is a big problem to me.

looks like its coming together Jon, your thread made me break mine out last night, i've got a long road ahead of me, but yours has inspired me. Keep up the great work, I'm looking forward to seeing more on this one.

Gray

I was lucky and bought another TK ;) I'm nostalgic too LOL

@enzoenvy, seem your TK fit right, I found troubles on sideskirts in mine, my advice is to paint those mounted on the body, like Alex done if I'm right. Now is a big problem to me.

When I go the TK years ago it was not the best fit then. The side skirts are short on both ends, and the bumper edges near the wheel wells are short too. But I can easily fix that. I was going to paint them separately but now I will not. Thank you for the advice.

looks like its coming together Jon, your thread made me break mine out last night, i've got a long road ahead of me, but yours has inspired me. Keep up the great work, I'm looking forward to seeing more on this one.

Gray

LOL, build it damnit!!! LOL Surprisingly this is a quicker build then usual. I think it is because I am doing things other than body work first. You should get yours going though, we have a deadline, lol.

Thanks again for looking!

Jon

just so you know, the way you've filled in the "lip" around the seat cushioning isn't 100% correct. That area is more like a roll and doesn't blend/smooth into the carbon fibre seat tub.

just so you know, the way you've filled in the "lip" around the seat cushioning isn't 100% correct. That area is more like a roll and doesn't blend/smooth into the carbon fibre seat tub.

Huh, good call. I have so many pics that show it as a roll of padding, but indeed it is a lip. Glad I haven't gotten any further on them. THanks! :runaround:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/seatshit.jpg

not the suede seats but it's the CS/racing seat.
http://xc5.xanga.com/956d903524130138335143/w101689547.jpg

not in a CS but they're the same racing seats.
http://x33.xanga.com/e78c133537432138335277/w101689654.jpg

looking good so far :sunglasse

LOL, build it damnit!!! LOL Surprisingly this is a quicker build then usual. I think it is because I am doing things other than body work first. You should get yours going though, we have a deadline, lol.

Thanks again for looking!

Jon


I will, I will!....but I did just buy a house, and in the next month, I've got to paint the thing, put up a ramp for the dog, finish the fence, and move...so yeah model time is slightly scarce...lol I will get it done though, anyway i'll get some work done to it this week..good luck on yours

Later

Gray

This look very ambitious. You are putting a lot of effort in details I didn´t take care of, when I built mine. Keep up the great detailing and make sure to share your work.
The thing with my stripes came out well at the end. I was gifted with a spare set of decals...Proof:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/SIMG0065.jpg

Robert

looking good so far :grinyes:

back to the wheels.
how do the wheels from the Renaissance 360 Challenge transkits match (besides the centre lock that is)?

back to the wheels.
how do the wheels from the Renaissance 360 Challenge transkits match (besides the centre lock that is)?

Here is a post from a few weeks back:

Ok, I took them all out and got a chance to measure and photograph them. Here are all three together to give an idea of size. You can clearly see that the SAS wheels are really bigger:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/wheels001-1.jpg
Here are the Renaissance 360 LMGT wheels - they measure 21mm:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/wheels002-1.jpg
Here are the SAS CS wheels - they measure 22 mm:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/wheels003-1.jpg
Here are the MSM CS wheels - they measure 20 mm:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/wheels004-1.jpg

Clearly the SAS are the biggest and here is a photo of them next to the MSM wheels:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/wheels005-1.jpg

I would have never thought I had all three until you mentioned this post, lol. Hope this helps you out.

Jon

y'know, the actual rims in the Fujimi REs I linked to earlier don't actually match the ones on the box-pic and yup, the ones in the box are the ones from the 430 kit.

Not much accomplished because of tedious work. I have realized that the MSM kit is a complete waste of money. I am only using the front bumper as this is the only part that isn't shrunk and warped.

Here is the rear deck lid after hours of making it look like the MSM kit should have:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build4001.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build4007.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build4008.jpg
And the MSM side skirts were not used. They were short on both ends and warped more than I had though. So out came the Styrene and Epoxy putty. So what this did was allow me to lower the skirts a bit, and extend the arches into more of a circle like the real CS.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build4002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build4003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build4004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build4005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build4006.jpg
Now, the hardest part by far was getting the bumper on the front of the car. I looked for a while for a way to do this accurately and what I came up with was putting little tabs on the flush side of the interior of the bumper. That way the nose would be flush while giving me a little lip in between the two parts.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build4009.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build4010.jpg
Worked great as I have a nice lip with a little filling.
While that was drying I got to the rest of the rear. Where the exhaust exits there are little flanges that look like mesh. I wouldn't have touched them but I have mesh for them I was unaware of. So those came out. I also extended the lips on the rear fascia to go along with the rest of the edges on the car. Then I filled the angles where the license plate goes. But, I didn't take a pic.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build4011.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build4012.jpg
Slowly but steadily she is coming along great!!!

Jon

What a labor of love, huh? :lol:

What do you use to sand the epoxy? I've used 220 grit sandpaper as I've found the files tend to do more damage than they're worth.

Nice looking putty work there :thumbsup:

Looks good, now i'm officially re-doing the attachment of my front bumper...good idea on lining the front end up properly, my bumper was warped from side to side and made attachment a bit touchy, and mine needs alot of putty to fix....anyway good luck, keep us updated

y'know, the actual rims in the Fujimi REs I linked to earlier don't actually match the ones on the box-pic and yup, the ones in the box are the ones from the 430 kit.

Sounds like you ordered them then? That is a shame and a bad idea to mislabel the package if that is the case. :banghead:

What a labor of love, huh? :lol:

What do you use to sand the epoxy? I've used 220 grit sandpaper as I've found the files tend to do more damage than they're worth.

Well the Tamiya 2-part epoxy never really hardened to a state that was sufficient in my book. I mixed it properly but it is still soft. So I didn't go near a file as it would gum it up. I avoided my good sanding sticks as they would get gummed also. So I pulled out the old sheets of 220 and gummed the hell out of those.

Not much accomplished because of tedious work.

You are kidding right? This is where the real work is! that is the hardest part, even though it doesn't look like you've accomplished much..

I have realized that the MSM kit is a complete waste of money.

I told you! :-)

Well the build is losing steam unfortunately. I have so many parts being completed that none have came together yet. So, I am just chugging along. Yet, there is still great progress. Here is where I am with this beauty.

Once again, the MSM kit is a complete waste as many have pointed out. I was hoping that the rear diffusers would be added without too much work, but guess what, not gonna happen. I felt that I could make them work, but the fins on the diffusers were so off. The application of the parts were off as well. So, my good ol buddy Styrene came out to play again. After a few hours, I had what I wanted. Here is a comparison:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5001.jpg
Now, this little black piece that goes between the floor pan and the chassis is one that seems to be added to the diffusers of the CS. So, I added them:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5007.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5008.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5009.jpg
Next were the shocks. The Tamiya ones are actually quite nice, but the coils are molded in like every other application cast out there. So, I cut those out and made these:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5010.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5012.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5013.jpg
These are not finished, but the point is present:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5014.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5015.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5016.jpg

Well, here is where the chassis and body are when you join them together at the rear. The extensions on the rear flares are working great. And when you added the new diffusers with the chassis pan, well again, it works. Look carefully and you can see where I cut out the mesh in the tunnel and added the Acu Stion mesh in between. Still needs to be puttied, but so far so good:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5017.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5018.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5019.jpg
I also extended the side skirt intakes as the real car has more depth to it. Not the best picture, but again it works:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5020.jpg
Here is where the body is at to date:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5021.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5022.jpg
Now, I needed a roll bar for the rear hoop. Solder makes a great piece, but the covering needed some attention. I thought of tape and putty, but why not Shrink Wrap for solder?! Took a while, but I got it on and shrunk. Here is the before:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5023.jpg
Here is the after:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5024.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5026.jpg
The seats are final as of now. I do not desire to add the lip to them. Too much time has been spent, so............. Here they are primed and base coated:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5025.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5027.jpg
Last but not least, the wheels are about to get color. I needed to add valve stems to them. I grabbed my smallest pine vise bit and drilled the holes. Then I grabbed my smallest wire to see if it will fit. I think that it will work just fine:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bluej/Build5028.jpg

Well, more has happened, and much will come. School starts in less than two weeks and I need to complete this before the Senior year starts. Who knows, maybe I will?!

Thanks for looking everyone.

Jon :popcorn:

I disagree: I think you're making great progress! :grinyes:

Shocks look great and the body modifications you have done look excellent. It's tough when you want to be accurate!

I stick my head in the sand like an ostrich and pretend all my models are accurate representations of the real thing. Works great!!!:lol:

Keep it up! Can't wait for next update... :evillol:

:popcorn:

Great progress! All the hard work will pay off in the end, believe me!