WIP: '94 Supra Tamiya Kit

Hey there,
I've got this supra model that I've had for quite some time now, and I've just now got the inspiration to start working on it lately after seeing your all's work.
On to the problem I've got, here are the pics of my supra body, the problem you'll be able to pick up all by yourselves.....
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture001.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture002.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture003.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture004.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture005.jpg
How in the world would one go about fixing the A-pillars that I've messed up. Would a heat gun work? I would only be heating it up enough to press them back into place.
All in all, do I just need to buy another kit and use the exterior out of it? thanks for the opinions and critiques
ya'll have got some sweet cars on here.
EDIT here is what I was able to complete this evening. Hope it compares with what some of you all have been up to.
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture006.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture009.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture007.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture008.jpg


Modified by stockbee at 10:31 PM 2/16/2008

Make it a convertible, top down version. Scratchbuild the A-Pillars like Micheal Lambert did with his super warped and half melted body. Might not be the most beautiful thing, but at least you can't melt more of the body like you could do with a heatgun.

well, that would be a more feasible option if I knew what I was doing as far as cutting up a model kit.

If you can't tell this is the first one I've ever put together (I've done well so far minus the freaking A-pillars), so I'm not to keen on doing something like that.

Are you saying that there is no possible way to remedy this and return it to it's former position?

Thanks for the reply.. I didn't think anyone would be on this late....

come on guys, 90 views and not anymore advice on what I could do to fix this problem?

Keep it comin', thanks.

Bend them ever so slightly by hand back to their original position as best you can but not enough that you break them. Once you install the window pieceand completed chassis/interior combo, the pressure should help them stay in their original shape.

you think that it still has the possibility to look well done after I do that with it? Also, do I need to strip the paint off of it and redo the roof completely because I'm not pleased with it on the top portion.

Here are some updates, small ones admittedly but their updates. I'm trying to take my time on this while not taking too entirely long, because I am in school at the moment.

Nontheless here's the springs I've tried to make them look like, I don'tk now, let's just say something to the effect of stock dampers riding on Tein S Tech Springs or something. ( I used to have a set of Tein's on a Civic of mine a while back so I thought that would be a good incorporation of my own creativity).
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture011.jpg
And here are a couple of mockups for the engine, and then one with some of the surrounding components like the radiator, brake booster, and battery.
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture010.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture012.jpg

Other than what I've got done already I'm trying to bend the A-pillars back to their original position with my fingers every little while.
I'm having a difficult time using white on the fan belt, it seems like it doesn't wanna adhere to the plastic, and the accessory drive belts are hard to get two different colors, but that's just my opinion.

Any C&C are much appreciated still.

Ouch...how did that even happen? I'm thinking not not use hands to bend it. My experience tells me that I'll just inevitably snap the pillars thinking, "it'll bend just a bit more...." before the *snap* happens!

I suggest using heat to help make the A-pillars more pliable, either with heat-gun on low setting or putting it in a warm oven for a bit maybe...? Then place something under the roof of the model and stretch down the front of the car so that the A-pillars are stretched out straight, if you get me :confused: .

Don't forget to remove the mould lines on the body :biggrin:

Nice work thus far, looking forward to seeing how you fix the roof :)

DON"T USE HEAT!!!! if the a pillars are just bent out of whack, just leave it alone, and when you install the "GLASS" just use a very thin amount of 5 minute epoxy around the perimiter and clamp it in place with rubber bands, or clothes pins, or what ever you can find to apply pressure to the bent part to make it stick to the glass. If you use heat, being a novice, you are sure to melt your model.

That's what I was afraid of (the heat option anyway). Thanks for the replies I'm finally getting the responses I think I needed.

Nontheless, how do you recommend that I use rubber bands to get things to work right. Where would I attach them ?

Well, I worked on the front end this evening.

I was able to get the front sway bar in there (dinky little thing for my big hands), then I glued in the rest of the components. It seems to me that it's gonna be really hard to get the wheels to go on the front without popping the joints out of the steering knuckles (does anyone know what I'm talking about at all?)

Nontheless here is the finished product of my labor this evening. Some may notice the visible glue that lie in two spots across from one another. I will be painting that over later after everything has set for the appropriate amount of time.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture015.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture013.jpg

Well, I was bored tonight after studying so I decided to do more than the front suspension. I tacked on the drive belts/pulleys and the fan to the motor, dropped it in, and I also put the front wheels on and dropped the body on to see what the wheels would look like underneath the exterior.

I have to say I love the offset. I was worried they would be located more inward, but I am glad they're flush. here are the pics.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture018.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture020.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture022.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture023.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture024.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/blaneb16/Picture025.jpg

What aftermarket wheels would look good on this car fellas? I would appreciate some advice on that. How long does it take hlj to restock backordered items? Thanks for looking.

TE - 37's. :D

:iagree: That would be cool. But A pillar you can repair with hot water. Anyway you don´t have to buy a new kit. You can order only new body :smooch:

:iagree: That would be cool. But A pillar you can repair with hot water. Anyway you don´t have to buy a new kit. You can order only new body :smooch:

That is good to know, how would I go about doing that? I can't just call Tamiya, as they're located in Japan right. What must I do to get one of those bodies to rework, It might be nice to have one for a backup either way.

That is good to know, how would I go about doing that? I can't just call Tamiya, as they're located in Japan right. What must I do to get one of those bodies to rework, It might be nice to have one for a backup either way.

It´s simple. Go to your local deliver of models (or write an e-mail) and say that you need to order some part of the kit. You tell him the number of the part (the number is wrote on the end of making plan) and production number of the kit. For some money he can order you the parts that you need ( if they are in stock ). I ordered some decals on my ford focus wrc because I destroyed them and they are on the kit now :bananasmi

Heres a tip, cut the pillars near mid section, or top section "your choice", find a model you dont want cut the pillars off that one, place in position of the old ones, use a smidge of putty to touch up here and there, after that sand "lightly" to keep detail and see what needs to be done to blend in, after a few layers of misty coat with primer it should look fine, if you can manage, the end result will look near stock form. I've done this with a smashed porsche i recieved in the mail and you couldnt tell the defference in the end! Good luck!