Subaru Impreza WRC - Argentina 1999 Kankkunen

[rallymaster]

Hello all,

Here start my new progress thread, which I will really try to complete this time ! (fabia's project and build is still sleeping while Ascona 400 is probably definitly dead as I got the new GASS model Ascona 400 kit...)

I have several Sub' in my to-do pile, even if I'm not a great fan of the car.
I recently started building the 2001 Achim Mörtl's "horse power" car as raced in the 2001 Deutschland rallye, but had some troubles with the paint. I took a second body but finally raised the first with brake fluid.

Then I chose to build an SWRT car at the same time. I thought about some original version. Having a 1998 safari kit, I chose to mix this one with the 1999 to get a 1999 gravel version.
I ordered a S27 Argentina rally TK and decided to celebrate Kankkunen victory in this rally.

Here starts the progress:

I drilled the chassis and glued the nuts under the seats which will attached the model to its box once finished.
Test with bolts concluding !





I painted the body, which was cleaned of its antennas bases due to the fact I firstly intend to use this body for a private car.
the Subaru logo support in the spoiler was cut off, too...
that all will need to be rebuild on the car.
2 light coats of Citadel primer, one coat of polyurethan primer (whiter effect than Citadel but less fixing power), and 3 light coats of Tamiya TS50 with sanding and polishing at each step.
Seems shiny enough not to be clear coated. (even if my pics don't really value the paint)





I did the same with the roll cage except I didn't primed it of course.



Paint work goes on with details under chassis.
Gearbox first, primed and painted in mat black, next in satin black, and finally brushed with Citadel boltgun metal to give a used effect.
other details which have to be painted on the part are painted in Citadel silver mithril.



that's all for today.

Thanks for reading, feedbacks welcomed !

Phil

[ales]

Wow, Phil, this is spooky! For the last couple of weeks I've been toying with the idea of building the same model!

I have to say that it definitely needs clearcoating, with metallics and pearls you just have to, and you wouldn't want to sand/polish the last coat of colour before clearcoating.

When you say Argentina '99 TK, do you mean just decals or some other parts as well? Additionaly, does anyone know of any decals ever made that would represent Juha's '99 Finland car (his last WRC victory)?

[deltableh]

Wow, that's great looking. Wonderful paint!

[rallymaster]

Hi guys,

thanks for your comments.

Originally Posted by ales

I have to say that it definitely needs clearcoating, with metallics and pearls you just have to,

Why would it "definitely need" clearcoating ?
metallics & pearl ? isn't it what make a metallic paint ??
on my opinion it's shiny enough, rallye cars aren't mirros !

Originally Posted by ales

and you wouldn't want to sand/polish the last coat of colour before clearcoating.

Well... Hmm... what's the problem with sanding and clearcoating the last paint coat ?
that has to be done anyway, putting and working on clear coat wouldn't be usefull if your last paint coat is not sanded and polished.
Moreover I don't understand why you said that because I don't want to clear coat !

I appreciate your advice but it's on the opposite of my way of building !
I'm not a clear coat fan, even under decals, sorry

I will try to take some better pics to show the real tone of the body, day light must be better for it.

Originally Posted by ales

When you say Argentina '99 TK, do you mean just decals or some other parts as well? Additionaly, does anyone know of any decals ever made that would represent Juha's '99 Finland car (his last WRC victory)?

It's a decal sheet with roof air intakes; I'm still waiting for the item.



thnaks again
Phil

[ales]

It's rather simple - if you sand/polish metallics that aren't clearcoated, you're disturbing the metal or pearl flakes. A clearcoat protects the particles and accentuates the metallic effect of the base coat and makes helps achieve the deep shine, but you don't sand the metallic, you sand and polish the clear. This is just the procedure for these paints, there isn't a metallic or pearl car on the road (or rally stage) that isn't clearcoated. Of course if your way works for you, go with that, but the general consensus is that metallics and pearls need clear.

[freakray]

Don't forget to lower the suspension, the Safari car sits higher than the Argentina car.

[stevenoble]

Nice start Phil.Juha Kankkunen is my favourite rally driver of all time.I'll follow your build closely.Keep the updates coming.

[rallymaster]

Originally Posted by ales

It's rather simple - if you sand/polish metallics that aren't clearcoated, you're disturbing the metal or pearl flakes. A clearcoat protects the particles and accentuates the metallic effect of the base coat and makes helps achieve the deep shine, but you don't sand the metallic, you sand and polish the clear. This is just the procedure for these paints, there isn't a metallic or pearl car on the road (or rally stage) that isn't clearcoated. Of course if your way works for you, go with that, but the general consensus is that metallics and pearls need clear.

Very strange what you say here... Your explanation seems sounding right to my ears, and I've seen it myself when sanding (very fine paper) and polishing, but that's precisely because of that fact that I can get the shiny effect on my car, the last step of polishing giving a lighter ton to the color sometimes a little bit too dark with the several coats of paint...
I've never seen metallic effect really been disturbed...

Same procedure on 2004 Japan rally's car:



Do you find it not shiny or metallic enough ? (even if it may be difficult to judge with a pic)

Ok but if you're right it works like that for me, I am here to learn, too !
I may try to clear coat the body, without convictions but i'll try.

Thanks for the advice and explanations.

Originally Posted by freakray

Don't forget to lower the suspension, the Safari car sits higher than the Argentina car.

Thanks for advice.
i thought to that too, but according to the pics I have and to Subaru's sets up which make suspensions seeming sitting not so higher than other cars (even if it was) and looking at Argentina's car I think I can keep the suspensions like they are...

suspensions fully slackened



and even suspensions working under a corner charge



I think I can keep the original height of the suspensions... Don't you ?

I really hope I don't go too quickly on this build as I usually take hours looking for the uncoming picture of the car...

Originally Posted by stevenoble

Nice start Phil.Juha Kankkunen is my favourite rally driver of all time.I'll follow your build closely.Keep the updates coming.

thanks Steve, I have a special feeling too about KKK and his performances !

Thanks all for your advices and comments (I swear I care about even if I don't let it be seen ! )


Phil

[rallymaster]

Ok update now.

I worked on the front suspensions and breaks.
everything primed in black, break disk painted in Citadel chainmail and brushed with Tamiya gun metal X10 while center of the part is painted in Citadel Mithril silver.
Calipers are painted in Citadel boltgun metal.



the bad pic increase the black effect of disk holes but they aren't that deep black !

Next, work on chassis goes on:







suspensions assembling is coming soon.

thanks for reading
comments & feedbacks welcomed
Phil

[stevenoble]

I think the Tamiya TS-50 is different to other metallics.Most of the auto metallics are basecoat/matt finish so you must use a clearcoat to provide gloss and protection.The TS-50 is different in that it produces a shine from the can and is not basecoat.I have built a few Subaru's with TS-50 and found it can be polished up very nicely with no clearcoating.You could however clearcoat it if you wanted the ultimate shine.Just my opinion.

[freakray]

The Safari car is a good bit higher than the Argentina car.

Looking at the suspension in a fully uncompressed state or under load while moving doesn't actually tell you anything. You need to look at photos of the car while it is stationary to get an idea of the suspension height.

[rallymaster]

Originally Posted by freakray

The Safari car is a good bit higher than the Argentina car.

Looking at the suspension in a fully uncompressed state or under load while moving doesn't actually tell you anything. You need to look at photos of the car while it is stationary to get an idea of the suspension height.

Of course but it gives a first idea of the maximum and minimum heights...
Humm ok ok

"good bit higher" ?
Hmm I wouldn't have said so but maybe I'm really wrong...
Argentina used to be with Acropolis and Safari the highest car used in the season.
I don't exactly know the settings differences but 3 cm between safari and Argentina on the real car would make me lower the suspension of 1,25 mm !
I didn't really want to start big modifications for such minor difference which didn't really appear clearly when fitting the part for first test.
(just by looking at the car it seemed ok for me...)
On the other hand for a guy having always said his first attention was accuracy...
I may lower it a bit, I think it's better...
or I would post a pic of the result if assembling the suspensions as they are in the safari kit and get some other opinions.

Thanks again for reading and advicing

Phil
(feeling like if it was my first kit !! )

[deltableh]

Originally Posted by stevenoble

I think the Tamiya TS-50 is different to other metallics.Most of the auto metallics are basecoat/matt finish so you must use a clearcoat to provide gloss and protection.The TS-50 is different in that it produces a shine from the can and is not basecoat.I have built a few Subaru's with TS-50 and found it can be polished up very nicely with no clearcoating.You could however clearcoat it if you wanted the ultimate shine.Just my opinion.

TS-51 also gives a great shine out of the can.

[rallymaster]

Well,
let's see what the majority think of it as I can't make a choice.
I have lust to listen to either freakray or myself...

here is the Tamiya safari version, with body height as I am gonna set on my Argentina car.



What do you think please ?
Shall I have to lower this height or not ?
(I now have my idea but want to be sure...)

Thanks for all opinions

Phil

[SeanyG]

Phil,

personally I think that the Safari version is too high for the Argentina rally, I know the teams run a much higher setting for the Safari rally and I dont think any of the other rally's come close.

If I were building it I would lower it.

Just my opinion, Im sure it will look great anyway.

... and when you gonna get back onto the Stratos ;-)

Sean
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