Wide Body RX-7

[willimo]

I was wondering how that door was going to open, with the body work keeping it from being able to open like a normal car does. Interesting solution.

[Dying Fetus]

Originally Posted by KevHw

Great to see it take such beautiful shape. Can't wait to see the doors finished and the whole body painted. Nice choice of wheels. Are you going to add a spoiler to this monster?

Yes I actually have a spoiler that I was going to put on my R34 Skyline, but I think it looks better on the RX-7.

Originally Posted by i luv drift

WOW! This is an amazing RX7. It totally shits on mine! I wish i could do something like that. I like how the wide bodykit goes onto the door. Very cool! You have great skills! Sorry if this is a stupid question but that yellow putty, what is it and is it easy to use? Anyway great work! And good choice of wheels

The putty I use is Tamiya Epoxy Putty Quick Type, it is very cheap ($7.95 Canadian) and easy to use/sand, just cut off equal amounts of the white and orange epoxy (you don't need a lot) then mash them together until it is the yellowish colour, then spread it on with your fingers. Make sure your fingers are wet when spreading it on. The smoother you can get it, the less sanding you'll have to do after it dries.

Originally Posted by willimo

I was wondering how that door was going to open, with the body work keeping it from being able to open like a normal car does. Interesting solution.

Yeah the extra wide front fenders would restrict the normal movement of the doors, so I came up with the vertical door hinge idea. I actually just bought some brass and more aluminum tubing to make the hinges, I am still using styrene to get the exact design down first, rather than waste all the time/money on brass. Styrene is much easier and cheaper to work with! lol

I WILL HAVE AN UPDATE SOON!!!!

[Dying Fetus]

Here is a quick update. Still figuring out the door hinges, but progress on the new exhaust and rear diffuser are going well. I used a lighter to get the weathered look on the exhaust pipe & muffler.

Also building a single, larger turbo for the RX-7, along with intercooler piping and intercooler. I'll have some pics of that up soon.

[Fabbri_Guy]

Nice detail on that exhaust. Havent seen this car in a while. Keep it coming

[Dying Fetus]

Here is another small update. I got most of the turbo and the diffuser done, but both need to be touched up a bit. I have to trim the fins on the diffuser a bit and I'm going to remake the K&N air filter, it didn't turn out as nicely as I had hoped.

[Fabbri_Guy]

NICE! I like the detail your putting into the body. Nice turbo too. How are those doors coming along?

[Dying Fetus]

Ok here is a small update of the doors, still working on test fitting them. Still need to drill some holes and solder on the "hydraulics". I decided to use a flat piece of brass for the inside, its easier to mount and has a lot more working room on it.

I have honestly been working a bit more on getting the engine bay all test fitted and making the intercooler piping and turbo fit properly. Still need to add some details to the turbo and intercooler.

Progress is going fast on the engine bay then it'll be 100% on the vertical hinges, I promise. Hahaha

[Fabbri_Guy]

Nice curves you got there on that pipeing! Engine looks good. I cant wait to see those doors though!

[Dying Fetus]

OK here we go!!! I finally got a working version of my hinges going, now they aren't designed like the actual 1:1 hinges, I messed around with some aluminum tubing to make "hydraulics" but it was becoming extremely difficult to mock them up properly so I improvised.

I bent the end of a pin 110 degrees and attached the 2 pieces of brass (large flat piece & the hinge), I then soldered the pin to the large piece of brass. The friction between the pin and the hinge is enough so that it holds up the door. Thus solving my "hydraulic" dilemma.

I haven't put the hinges in permanently yet I'll do that after I paint the doors. The hinge is just taped in for now.

I still have a bunch of work to do on the door jams as you can see in the pics. I'll try to get some work done in the next day or so.

[Fabbri_Guy]

Nice to see it working! I couldnt wait to see it! Great job on that fabrication work! This is gonna look good once its all cleaned up.

[energon]

Freakin awesome man!! Now I gotta see this thing in person again, just to play with the doors! Looks like the hinges are turning out great!

[Dying Fetus]

Ok I got a lot of progress done the past day or so. Unfortunately the yellow paint I'm using is extremely thin (its in a spray can, so not much I can do about it). Even with light layers it won't stay on some areas, just runs. I did a base coat in silver, hoping to bring out the yellow a bit, didn't really work though.

Also when I painted the hood and doors it was in the evening and the humidity went up and the paint clouded a bit, so a little sanding and another coat and it should be good.

I'm thinking of doing a black interior, but tan has also crossed my mind.

some other things:
- wired up spark plugs
- scratch built an oil filter & oil filler
- scratch built battery posts & cables
- scratch built radiator fan housing

C & C welcome!!!

[ketje]

This is one awsome model.

opcorn: Waiting for the rest to come

[energon]

Originally Posted by Dying Fetus

Looking GOOOOD!!!! Looks like the front could use a little more smoothing. Also is the yellow that pale? Or is it just the lighting? A bolder Yellow would look awesome, especially if you're doing any c/f details. But it's really comming along and looks awesome!! I love how the doors turned out. You did a GREAT job on those. Keep it comming!!! Maybe if you're not doing anything tomorrow, I'll have to come by and take a look at it in person.

Edit - Looking at this thing again!! I really love the shape you've given this thing! It just looks sooo gooood!! You really should almost cast this thing and sell resin kits or something.

'nother edit - I think I actually like that yellow the more I look at it.

[Dying Fetus]

Energon - yeah I had to put 3-4 coats to get the yellow that dark, plus the clouding of the paint made the hood & doors look very pale. And yeah it looks like I have to smooth out the corners of the front bumper a bit, and the hood needs some work too now that I look at it more. Hopefully I have enough paint left to touch everything up and after the smoothing. lol