1986 ETCC Sierra XR4Ti

[Viccario]

Hi I've never posted anything before so I hope this works.

I have started converting an old Tamiya roadgoing Sierra XR4i that I built badly about 22 years ago when I was a youngster!

Following reading a number of articles on this forum I have been suitably encouraged to strip it and place the bodyshell in brake fluid so that it can be repainted properly.

My aim is to convert it to the 1986 ETCC Eggenberger Ford Merkur XR4Ti (South African Version of Sierra?, driven by Steve Soper and Klaus Niedsweidz among others) that was run by the Eggenberger team prior to them using the Sierra Cosworth in 1987. I actually went to see the Tourist Trophy in 1986 at Silverstone in the UK where the car was fast but unreliable. Another XR4Ti drven by BTCC regular driver Andy Rouse actually led the race before a front wheel fell off and he crashed!

It appears to be relatively straightforward to use the bodyshell from the roadgoing XR4Ti combined with the parts from the Tamiya RS500 Group A kit to create the car.

My only problem is a lack of decals for the car, it didn't actually have very many so at the moment it is looking as it will be in plain white (test car?) Unless anyone can tell me if it is possible to create some. I may be able to get hold of some 1:43s cale decals, enlarge them and then scan onto the PC.

But the problem is that after reading threads on here it looks very difficult to achieve and apparently a special printer is also required.

Any help/advice here would be appreciated.

If you want to see the car in action go to www.racingsportscars.com and look at either Donington or Tourist Trophy 1986. Pictures are also available on www.etcc-history.it4us.nl

I will post some photos when I have figured out how to do it!

Cheers

Photos of original model made in 1982ish added - very poor indeed!

[NissanSkylineGTR98]

Sounds interesting! Looking forward to seeing it, and welcome to AF!

[quadzero]

welcome to AF. that is lot better then the models i did 22 years ago! looking forward to this conversion.

[Technoman]

Great and interesting project. Your XR4i looks awesome, I was building glue bombs back then.

Looking forward to seeing progress on this,.

[gpz900ra7]

Hi and welcome, I might be able to help you out with some of the decals you need, I'm not promising anything mind, I'll have a scrounge through my decal stores and see what I've got spare then I'll let you know. Shaun aka gpz900ra7.

[Viccario]

Originally Posted by gpz900ra7

Hi and welcome, I might be able to help you out with some of the decals you need, I'm not promising anything mind, I'll have a scrounge through my decal stores and see what I've got spare then I'll let you know. Shaun aka gpz900ra7.

That would be great if you could find something, thanks for the help.

Darren

[Marco T]

I quite like the model as it is, has that sought of 'found in a barn, 20 years on, one careful owner' look to it.

Had a quick look at the Donnigton pics and the decals should be no problem if you have or have access to a scanner and a half decent ink jet or laser printer ( I used a 5 year old Epson, so any off the shelf newish printer will be fine). Just make sure you use decent branded ink cartridges.

I'm sure you could search around and collect the decals you need from other kits, but making your own adds a bit of fun.

I wanted to convert a kit for a while with some custom decals and after a quick search recently found a specialist paper supplier that does white and clear water slide transfer paper. They have a web site and you can order all you need on line. See www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk and ask for Bernie, who I have found to be very helpful.

I have just posted some pics of my finished kit under another thread, but here's one for you

All the decals you can see except the Subaru sunstrip were custom printed

I have promised to put together a 'How to do' article but need to get some photos of the process together, but basically you need to do the following:

1. Collect copies of all the logos you need and scan at full size and 300dpi.

2. Using photoshop or similar re-size the logos to suit you model by taking measurements from the kit and using reference datum lines from your photos.

3. Produce a print out on normal paper, cut these mock decals out and try for size/scale. Re-size where necessary.

4. When happy with sizes then print onto the waterslide paper. A tip here clear paper will not work on a dark car such as my Impreza above and you will need to use white paper with a printed border to suit your car body colour. In your case your kit is white so should be no problems with clear, but having never tried it I can't say for sure.

5. Once the print out has dried, give the decals three light coats of clear (also available from craftycomputerpaper) and then allow to dry for a day or so.

6. Cut out decals and apply in the normal way using water.

7. Leave to dry and the clear coat the whole body using light coats.

The Impreza was my first go at this and I have been pleased with the results but reckon I could make some small improvements based on the experience gained.

[Viccario]

Originally Posted by Marco T

I quite like the model as it is, has that sought of 'found in a barn, 20 years on, one careful owner' look to it.

Had a quick look at the Donnigton pics and the decals should be no problem if you have or have access to a scanner and a half decent ink jet or laser printer ( I used a 5 year old Epson, so any off the shelf newish printer will be fine). Just make sure you use decent branded ink cartridges.

I'm sure you could search around and collect the decals you need from other kits, but making your own adds a bit of fun.

I wanted to convert a kit for a while with some custom decals and after a quick search recently found a specialist paper supplier that does white and clear water slide transfer paper. They have a web site and you can order all you need on line. See www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk and ask for Bernie, who I have found to be very helpful.

I have just posted some pics of my finished kit under another thread, but here's one for you

All the decals you can see except the Subaru sunstrip were custom printed

I have promised to put together a 'How to do' article but need to get some photos of the process together, but basically you need to do the following:

1. Collect copies of all the logos you need and scan at full size and 300dpi.

2. Using photoshop or similar re-size the logos to suit you model by taking measurements from the kit and using reference datum lines from your photos.

3. Produce a print out on normal paper, cut these mock decals out and try for size/scale. Re-size where necessary.

4. When happy with sizes then print onto the waterslide paper. A tip here clear paper will not work on a dark car such as my Impreza above and you will need to use white paper with a printed border to suit your car body colour. In your case your kit is white so should be no problems with clear, but having never tried it I can't say for sure.

5. Once the print out has dried, give the decals three light coats of clear (also available from craftycomputerpaper) and then allow to dry for a day or so.

6. Cut out decals and apply in the normal way using water.

7. Leave to dry and the clear coat the whole body using light coats.

The Impreza was my first go at this and I have been pleased with the results but reckon I could make some small improvements based on the experience gained.

Thanks for the tips, I will definitely give it a try. I haven't got a decent printer or scanner but I'm sure I can organise borrowing somebody elses!

Your Impreza looks great, you wouldn't know the decals were home made! And it was a very nice and unusual design to do too.

Now you have completed the Impreza what livery are you going to try next. Now that the possibilities are endless!

[Marco T]

Originally Posted by Viccario

Thanks for the tips, I will definitely give it a try. I haven't got a decent printer or scanner but I'm sure I can organise borrowing somebody elses!

Your Impreza looks great, you wouldn't know the decals were home made! And it was a very nice and unusual design to do too.

Now you have completed the Impreza what livery are you going to try next. Now that the possibilities are endless!

Next decal project is one of these



Hope to get some spare time to make a start soon, as I aim to use this project in preparing the 'How to do' as promised.

[Viccario]

Originally Posted by Marco T

Next decal project is one of these

Hope to get some spare time to make a start soon, as I aim to use this project in preparing the 'How to do' as promised.

Looks good, how will you do the Rothmans stripes? Will they be painted or can you make those as decals too?

Darren

[digitalbanzai]

My mom had one just like that when i was a youngster, lol.

[Marco T]

Originally Posted by Viccario

Looks good, how will you do the Rothmans stripes? Will they be painted or can you make those as decals too?

Darren

Going for decals for the red & gold stripes. Just put a mist coat of white on the body today. Will add another top coat of white then leave that for a week or two and then mask and apply the blue. Then the decals probably next.

Because of the gold I am going to have a go a painting the stripes onto the water slide paper rather than risk messing it up painting direct onto the body. If that doesn't work then I will use gold decal paper.

[Viccario]

Sounds like a good idea. As long as the paint is flexible enough to follow the contours of the decal. Be interesting to see how it goes.

I did manage to find all the decals that I need from other kits in my 'to do' pile apart from the Motorcraft and Istel Tourist Trophy ones. The Motorcraft ones I have found on a Ford website (does anyone know if they were Fluorescent red, they look like they might be in some of the pictures I have seen) and I think I may actually have the 1986 TT race programme somewhere, just have to find it now......

Also don't know how I will do the Eggenberger windscreen one yet either.

Darren

[Technoman]

If you need any decals from the Tamiya Sierra models let me know, I have a few spare sets of both the Eggenberger and Piumino models.

[Marco T]

Originally Posted by Viccario

Sounds like a good idea. As long as the paint is flexible enough to follow the contours of the decal. Be interesting to see how it goes.

Also don't know how I will do the Eggenberger windscreen one yet either.

Darren

Paint flex - That's something I wont know until I try but hey that's why it's worth having a go.

I have the Tamiya Texaco 'Egg & Baconburger' kit unstarted so if there are any of the decals you would like scanning and e-mailing let me know.