Tamiya RX-7 R1 - attempted widebody *56k warning*

[KevHw]

Hey everyone. Hope you all had a nice time celebrating Christmas and the New Year. I haven't been doing much in the modelling world because I've been so caught up with work, but I've tried to following along with several wip's some of you have.

I've had this sitting on my shelf for not too long now and have been dying to do something with it ever since I bought it. I've always loved the smooth flowing lines of the RX-7 but since recently buying "Need For Speed: Carbon", I became inspired to do something different to my kit. I've always built them out of the box, occasionally adding aftermarket mufflers etc, but I've never tried bodywork before.

So, with the images of kalam2b's twin RX-7's in my head I tried to create my own version...






Already had the idea of using the GTR's front bumper for the FD but never thought it would work until I saw it done on kalam2b's.




Applied first layer of putty ontop of the styrene strips I glued to the arches.


Side skirt tapered to the front and putty sanded down.


Body's primered after second layer of putty to help fill some gaps. I've decided to use the wheels from my Mazdaspeed GT-C as I think they suit the RX-7 really well and help achieve the race-look I'm aiming for. Haven't figured out how to adjust the offset yet but shouldn't be too hard *fingers crossed*


Side profile kinda shows off the mistakes in my putty-work (it's so hard to work with!) but I'm hoping to get this ride height when completed. The exhaust supplied is pathetic so I've changed it using Fujimi GT-W Wing Set & Muffler Tune Set.

Hoping to add a spoiler to the back too. Rear bodykit at this moment in time is tricky with the exhaust being in the way but I haven't decided 100% not to have one. Oh and I know that the bottom of the door has kinda vanished and some other bodylines but I'm working on it.... Gonna be slow progress because of work. Will hopefully have some progress done on the chassis and engine by next week. Trying to get the putty smooth and asymmetric is really frustrating!! I know it's not perfect and it's not that much wider than stock, but I'm pretty proud of achieving what I've done so far and will hopefully improve as I do more and more. Comments are welcome and any advice is more than appreciated! Thanks, Kev.

[kalam2b]

wow! nice execution. the vanished panel lines are pain in the a**. it's hard to carve the line back to normal. anyway, good luck and enjoy the kit.

[rod_k2]

So you are doing a WBK too eh?
Nice nice...I will do my thread tomorrow! I'm looking forward to more progress!
EDIT: Ah,I don't know if you are doing this,but when molding the base,keep the fingers wet,and go rubbing the finger on the putty! Will be smoother and easier to apply! (Sorry if you are doing this!)

[KevHw]

Originally Posted by rod_k2

So you are doing a WBK too eh?
Nice nice...I will do my thread tomorrow! I'm looking forward to more progress!
EDIT: Ah,I don't know if you are doing this,but when molding the base,keep the fingers wet,and go rubbing the finger on the putty! Will be smoother and easier to apply! (Sorry if you are doing this!)

I heard about it and tried it for my third layer of putty...helped a bit, thanks for the tip! Will definitely remember it for the future because my putty (don't know if it's coherent with everyone) dries quite quickly.

Originally Posted by kalam2b

the vanished panel lines are pain in the a**. it's hard to carve the line back to normal.

Ye tell me bout it ! I'm thinking of puttying over the front bumper panel lines and rear bumper if poss....but the door I'm so tempted just to create one whole smooth body and putty over them too ! Got any good tips for re-doing panel lines? I'm thinking of making a small indent with my knife, then using my modelling saw blades to make them deeper....

Colour thoughts are white with pearl clear on top...possibly with carbon (gun metal) bonnet.

[kalam2b]

from my xperience, when puttying i used 2 type of putty plus 1 surfacer. to putty the major and large area of body i'll use tamiya epoxy putty, it is easy to conform to your desired shape.then i used tamiya putty to smooth-up the surface b4 sanding. 4 panel line, i'll tape the panel line first b4 puttying 2 avoid vanishing it. but if u're going 2 putty all over the body, there's no other way to do xcept carve it again. steady hands needed ! hihihi! my fd still pending, almost break the front fender yesterday while polishing it( small crack,but not physically visible.Thank God). any progress on yours?

[wrexink]

Thats Good!!!

[KevHw]

Painfully slow progress because of work etc. Managed to kinda finish the engine bay (minus roll bar) and sprayed body with first coat. Needs some dust bits sanded out and final coats of paint before I spray clear pearl on top. I really hate white now. I did mist coats first but I still sprayed it on a bit too thick in the end Hoping some sanding will remedy some slight drip marks.

One majorly annoying thing is that my hood vent is about 1-2mm too low and it's hitting against the engine, stopping the hood sitting properly....any ideas? If I sand down the underside, it'll start eating away at the shape of the vent. So I thought I'd leave the kit with bonnet open, show-room style....











My silver isn't contrasting well with the white so it looks really bland and empty. I might try and shadow some areas with some dry-brushed black.

Thanks for looking.

[rod_k2]

Looks terrific,but,wasn't the panel lines supposed to be made before painting?
Just my 2cents

[DjNightWolf]

very very cool!

[KevHw]

Lol don't know if people remember this now because I've been so slow with it! Have lost so much interest in this build and being caught up with work just meant that this was put on a long stand-by.

I've done the chassis and had to use PE saw blades to cut off 1mm from the bottom of the engine to re-glue into the engine bay. So now the hood finally sits onto the body without being obstructed.

The bodywork has been a nightmare and still is...I was hoping the addition of the side-skirts and front bumper would give the appearance of it being lowered but it hasn't really worked. Plus, I don't know how to put an offset to the wheels so they don't really sit flush with the body . Also meant a change back to the stock 18" wheels as the 19's didn't fit in the wells.









Changed the exhaust to bigger bore and single tip now which I think you'll agree is better than the stock exhaust. Oh and don't mention the panel lines

Can't wait to finish this off to make way for my better anticipated F430 .....it's just been a disaster really