Progress : Tamiya Focus WRC '01 1/24

[Sticky Fingers]

Hi All,

Well, it's called a progress thread but the only thing left to do is connect the body to chassis. I was too afraid to do one in real time incase there were disasters!! (like the one which almost occured when my one year old mog flipped my built chassis to the ground ) Anyway, here's the thread. I'm pretty pleased with the results. Hope you enjoy

This is my first Tamiya kit (and 3rd build after 2 Heller kits) and I have to say I was gobsmacked by the detail and parts count. All in all it was a pleasurable 6 month build(!) albeit with a few problems during decals (I really hope I get better at applying these someday!!). I learned new techniques along the way and applied aftermarket details & cf decals for the first time so it really was a beneficial build.

Before I upload the pics I'd like to thank some members who helped me during my build, namely Freakray, Mick Bench, FourtyFourpm, Sjelic, OkieModelBuilder, Gooey, SpiderEddie, GTMike400, Willimo, RobRex & Jay@AF


This is the kitbox. I love Tamiya artwork, especially this one as it's Colin McRae's model - which I'll attempt to replicate with this build.


I ordered my first P/E set for this build, SMS's Ford Focus WRC parts. I also ordered Crazy Modeller hoodpins towards the end of the build but forgot to take photo's of those.


In order to mask the body for the difficult swoop decal, I used photocopied decals to create the mask (thanks for the tip freakray!)


Here's the masking tape using the photocopied decals as guides. I stupidly had the tape stuck to corkboard and I'd advse anyone else to use glass instead. However I still managed to get my masks cut out and then stuck them to the body.


Here's the body with the masking. I did find this tricky, however I am a newbie so more able modellers will probably find this quite easy. The body had already received 3 mist coats of Racing White and 1 final wetcoat.


And here it is with the Telfonica Blue. 4 mist coats and 2 wet coats were required.


Here it is with the mask removed. As you can see, I had some 'leakage' though there were other more severe problems. I used 40mm Tamiya tape to mask the body and it left noticable residue on my lovely white body! I tried polishing it out but eventually just masked the blue, sanded the residue, the shot the body with 1 mist coat and 1 wet coat of Racing White.


With the body being left in a cupboard to cure I started on the rest of the car starting with the chassis, which called for more masking and also my first attempt at cf. I found the cf quite tricky but love the results.


Here's the front of the chassis with the Focus' semi-engine detail. Painted as per instruction sheet - didn't know how to dry-brush at this point.


Various chassis pieces


More chassis pieces


Here's the brakes/suspension set-ups. I applied the P/E parts from the SMS set. It may shock some of you but I left the discs unpainted they looked fine that way to me


Here's the chassis and various parts prior to assembly.


The fit of the kit is great! Thought I'd have problems here but it was a breeze!!


Here's the chassis starting to take shape.


Again, fit quailty is superb. I was starting to fall in love with Tamiya at this point


More parts fitted to chassis.


Starting to take shape nicely!


More cf detailing. This time on the footwells. It was a bit tricky with the fire extinguisher in the way but patience, perseverance and microsol won over in the end.


I don't have many photo's on interior progress as I was without the camera for a while. Here's the cockpit taking shape.


The wheels are excellent with nice low profile tyres and correct tread. Some decals gave me heart-stopping moments but I got through it eventually. I detailed by painting the centre circle and the wheel nuts.


Here's Colin & Nicky feeling a bit detached from the WRC! I had great fun painting, decalling & detailing these figures - one of my favourite parts of the build. By this point I knew what dry-brushing was and attempted it and came away with reasonable results. For me at least!!!


Once I put the figures inside I was really starting to enjoy this build - just makes the car more realistic I feel (in motorsport models at least).


Another view of the cockpit.


And another.


I have no progress pics of the body decalling because I didn't want to tempt fate! Here I have added mesh from the SMS P/E set and detailed the bottom mesh with Racing White shot through a mask by Renaissance (great buy as you get three Ford masks)


Another view of the body


Here's the completed chassis. The kit calls for the see-through chassis guards to be painted but as this was my first 'detailed' kit I left them 'as is' so I didn't hide my hard work!

Well, that's it. Next step is connecting chassis to body. I'll do that & take some shots outside for the completed thread soon.

Let me know what you think. Constructive criticism welcomed!

[Technoman]

Wow, looks very nice. Figures are awesome, and I agree they adda nice finishing touch for motorsport models. Looking good!!

[mickbench]

Ah ha.. The Sticky (Get it right this time) fingers Ford Focus build. Been waiting so see this for ages... And now I have.. It's great work, and I knew you would like a Tamiya kit. I build them all the time, and the detail and parts are good. You get a lot of mold lines, but I can handle that.

As for not painting P/E parts, sometimes you don't have to. I searched around only a few days ago to see how to work with them, and parts you want to look metal you can leave unpainted. i've YET..!! to get my P/E parts for my Honda 272 build, but I'm planning on leaving many parts un-painted from the set.. So I'm not shocked, and I think it looks very good...!! The mesh needed to be painted though, and I'm glad to see you did, and the ford mask looks great..!!

i've got the 2002 WRC kit, and I was planning on building it next. Do you think the P/E set you got would be OK? Looks a nice set to work with. And my next step is CF decals as well.. Just get this Honda I'm building out of the way..

All in all, VERY good work.. Nice to see you build a Tamiya kit and like it, and make a nice job of it..

[Sticky Fingers]

Thanks guys!

Mick, I assume it's a Tamiya kit you're building? I would think the same set would work - however as you know models change in WRC from year to year (even country to country) so I couldn't say for sure. Why not email scalemotorsports I believe their public relations are good.

[Asmenoth]

Looks great! One question, what is Crazy Modeller? An aftermarket company, hobby shop, or what?

[hrmodeler]

I think athat you done it nicely!
Attaching body to cahssis will not be problem.

[Sticky Fingers]

As far as I know it's a company. That's what is stamped onto the p/e part anyway. Got them on ebay 'buy now'.

[freakray]

To answer MickBench's question regarding the photo etch set, the SMS set will work fine on the 2002 Perf Blue kit.
In fact the 2002 Perf Blue kit is the same kit as the 2001 WRC kit, except for the decals in the kit.
It's a bad show on Tamiya really since Ford changed the headlights at Sanremo in 2001 and the 2002 kit still comes with the 2001 headlight assembly.
Scaleracecars.com has a replacement headlight set for sale to replace the kit headlights with the correct ones.

[RallyFanatic]

Looking excellent!
Nice clean build, and i have yet to see a car that looks bad in the Martini-livery! I really like your chassis work!
However, when i looked at it i saw just a very little detail missing, and i hate to be nitpicking here, but the surrounding of the upper grille on the front (with the ford oval on it) needs to be painted black, up to the headlights, and just a little bit on the bumper. if you picture-google you'll know what i mean. Otherwise, keep it up!

[mickbench]

Originally Posted by freakray

To answer MickBench's question regarding the photo etch set, the SMS set will work fine on the 2002 Perf Blue kit.
In fact the 2002 Perf Blue kit is the same kit as the 2001 WRC kit, except for the decals in the kit.
It's a bad show on Tamiya really since Ford changed the headlights at Sanremo in 2001 and the 2002 kit still comes with the 2001 headlight assembly.
Scaleracecars.com has a replacement headlight set for sale to replace the kit headlights with the correct ones.

Not to hijack sticky fingers build thread, as I'm sure he posted this not for me to discuss scale motorsports, "sorry sticky" it is the Ford Focus WRC 02 Tamiya kit I'm going to build next, and I will get the SMS P/E set, do you think the SMS CF templates for the focus will be fine as well?

Anyhow, back to Sticky Fingers superb focus build..

[Sticky Fingers]

Thanks RallyFanatic. As I said, constructive criticism welcome! With regards the mesh between headlights, this is a p/e part which has been painted in it's entirity and I dont want to paint the body at the edge of it as that would mean painting the body. Believe me the gap between headlight and grill is negligible - I think the contrast in the shot makes it seem otherwise. The bit immediately under the grill doesn't meet the decal due to my on-going problems with decals.

Or, do you mean the 'holes' need to be painted black?

[RallyFanatic]

I don't think you should paint the holes, just the 1mm around the PE grille part. Maybe painting it would also do away with that little withe edge around the decal you were talking about.
You'll only have to mask that edge, and brushpaint the sg black on, as the headlines are an easy border.
It's not a huge thing, but it is noticable (and besides, now you know I know everytime you look at it you'll notice too, I know i would )
The only thing i could think of is if you didn't clear over the decals, and the tape would pull them off.

[sjelic]

Great job Stuart, now give us the done deal As for the grill if I remember correctly there is panel line around that thin line that goes around the grill. Just put very deluted black wash in that panel (different then your overall paint, if body is Acrylic then use enemal wash or vice versa) and then make the reised line with permanent black marker.

[RallyFanatic]

or just use sasa's way, that could be better

[Sticky Fingers]

Thanks chaps, so nice to get good feedback from your peers. Anyway, yes I will do something with the grill and RallyFanatic, you're right I will notice it all the time now so has to be done!

Thanks for the tip Sasa, I'll have a look at the grill tonight when I get home.....and cook sausages! Sorry, just my attempt at a very bad joke.

And Mick, don't worry bout the hi-jacking of my thread. More people reading it the better - took me ages! Regarding the CF templates I wouldn't know as I made all mine by using tamiya tape as templates. If these tamplates aren't dear then you may aswell buy them to save the hassle but then again it's good to keep adding to your modelling skills so you may prefer to make your own