1996 Honda Integra Type R DC2 (LOW!)

[Marianitem]

Hi guys. Being really tired of having my projects on the bench for even more than a year, I decided to go for a quick build, a weekend build. Not succeded, but I managed to get the most of the kit to about 80-90% completed.

Kit is the famous Honda Integra Type R DC2 from Fujimi. Not a full review, but I ´ll mention that is a fun kit to learn about lowering and to experiment with, as it is very cheap. Pros of this one: Recaro seats, wheels are in scale, simple kit but almost everything fits and works properly. The down side of this one is the OOB ride height. IT SUCKS, looks like a SUV. And it is SO high that you have to actually cut some parts in order to make room. I had to cut the aux wheel compartment to make the rear lower arm get in place. Sorry for your purists of replica making; I try to make my models sit right with my lack of experience in modding.

I based this project on an everyday car/trackday racer. Mostly stock, with a low ride height. Almost OOB, with minor mods and typical add-ons.
Also, I decided to go Acrylics all the way, specially Tamiya. Only primer (Rust Oleum), gel markers and tail lights paints will be non acrylic.

Now the WIP

SUSPENSION work
It wasn´t a job made by a purist of replicas. But I managed to lower the ride without too much trouble, and this would help another modeller with about the same experience.

this is the OOB ride hegiht. Reminds me of a SUV or SAC.








So I cut front shocks 5mm. I removed the center part of it instead of shortening the spring section (i should have taken the full spring!)





And test fit


Looks nice for a drag strip night huh?


Same thing for the rear, just 4mm this time.




And test fit




This mods left me with a 5mm gap between front lower arm and the shocks, and 4mm gap on the rear.
Fixed the front problem by just bending those arms. They tend to crack if done very sharp, but they can handle it if you take good care of it. So I bent the arms so the piece should fit like if it were a stock part.



Note that I also had to trim the chassis for the steering link bar to fit. Again, cut 5mm of the chassis were the bar should fit and it was an easy fix. You can see a gap between the lower arm (closer wheel) and the central part of the chassis (to the right of the arm).

For the rear I just ripped off the pin holes´ pieces where the front end of the lower arms attach, and also had to thin that section of the arms (sorry, I don´t know the exact name of that real part, but I think you get the idea). The major issue was the rear part of that piece, that goes between gas tank and aux wheel. The aux wheel part was about 5mm longer and the arm should go over it. No way to fit the part lower. So I had to cut those 4-5 mm off the aux wheel compartment, and also the arm´s pins. That gave it a perfect fit to he whole thing. I didn´t even have to test fit anything here.



This is the final look of it with painted wheels and body.





Is this low enough for you? Front wheels ended up with a little camber which looks really good, and racey. BTW, wheels turn and steer properly!
Still have to add the front lip (black or CF). Also hood is going to be CF

BTW! I need a HOW TO for CF decals WITH pics! If you guys know of any I´ll be glad to read it.



INTERIOR
I followed some pics of the 96-spec Type R, with on-dash LCD screen (that #3 decal looked so much like a Nav screen so I put it there, hoping it´s not something else LOL)
Added floor mats and 3-point seatbelts. Still have to add some semigloss clear on the rear seats to make them stand out a bit from the rest.







Still have to get some window masks, window trim, panel lines, heads, tails and side lights, front grills, decals. Anyway I´m really pleased with what I´ve done this weekend.

Special thanks again to MPWR for the tips on body prep and painting, and FERRARI TR for the clear-before-masking tip.

Stay tuned, C&C welcome.

[willimo]

Looking great! It's too bad it's so necessary to lower these cars. If you take away the right height, the interior bucket, and the over simplified suspension, the Fujimi Civics and Integras are some of the best Hondas in scale, with really great proportions and easy to build. Looking forward to next weekend for you to finish it!

[white_R34]

it's a good clean build I'll keep watching!

[jaxson]

Im going to keep an eye on this. Looks awesome so far.