Le Mans Contest Entry: Toyota 88C Taka Q

[Spitfire7]

Finally, here is my entry for the Le Mans contest. I won it on eBay today and have paid for it, just waiting for it to arrive. It's a Hasegawa Toyota 88C Taka Q, from the 1988 Le Mans 24hrs. As soon as i get the kit i'll take some pics of the box contents. If anyone has any information about this kit i would appreciate it. As far as i can work out this is a curbside model, which is perfect for me because i think i stand a better chance in the 1/24 Curbside category because of the fewer entrants.

My plan is to make it OOB, with additional carbon fibre decals to be applied to the dashboard and anywhere else required. This is my first time using cf decal so wish me luck. Maybe some of you can work out the other cf parts of the car from the link ive posted at the end, bearing in mind it's a curbside kit.

Here are some pics of the real car, and the box:







This website has some excellent detailed pics of both 88Cs: http://public.fotki.com/scalecentral...es/toyota_88c/

[robrex]

Nice car. It'll look nice when finished!

[p9o1r1sche]

I have this kit. Its definitely Tamiya quality, but it is a curbside. The kit version is for an endurance series car that has two options for the headlights, a single lamp in each side or two lamps. There are some differences between the kit version and the LM version markings. The kit version doesnt have the Yusen Aircargo markings shown in the pics above. Fortunately, Studio 27 makes the LM version decals (DC377), which are simpler to apply - the kit version has separate white backgrounds for some markings and the ST27 decals are printed on the white backgrounds. May need both white backgrounds to prevent the colors underneath from showing through. My kit does not include the tire decals either. This should be a cool model. Looking forward to seeing it.

[Spitfire7]

Thank you p9o1r1sche, thats some very useful information to me. I will have to look out for the S27 decals. Thats a fair point about the white decals, i think that i'm going to mask and paint the white areas instead, because i found a picture of this model completed and the white decals were semi-trasnparent.

[Spitfire7]

OK guys i've had a major setback. I got the model today, and everything was there, but the windscreen has a crack right down it. I think there is some way of fixing it but i don't think i have the skills or the equipment to pull it off. The other option is to order a replacement part, but this is quite an old kit and there might not be a replacement available. Plus Hasegawa seem disinterested in any sort of customer service. Or i could just leave it as it is, since the windscreen wiper goes about where the crack is, and there will be a decal covering the top of the windscreen. Doubt i'll win a contest doing that though.

If i can't get this sorted out then i will have to put this project on hold or remove it from the contest.

[Tikiman]

Can't you get another version of the same kit and use the windscreen from that? That's about all i can think of. Or scratch build one, but that would be rather hard i think. I think you can still get them as i have seen some similar Le Mans kits in my local hobby store. They too were Hasegawa.

[Spitfire7]

I'm currently sorting out a replacement windscreen, don't think i could sctrach build one. Anyway, i finished the cockpit of the car and have primered the body. Will have to take some better pics.

[freakray]

If you could repair the kit one sufficiently to use it as a master to vacuum form a replacement, it may be your best solution.

[Spitfire7]

I don't think i'll need to make a new one now freakray, i'm currently sorting something out with an AF member for a replacement. Should be here soon so i can carry on with the build.

[Spitfire7]

Got the wheels done. The tire decals were a quite old and tricky to apply, but i got there in the end. Now i have to make the front wheel covers. The brake discs aren't exactly tamiya quality, see for yourself....

[Spitfire7]

A bit more progress. The chassis is done, the body still needs some work and the decals aswell. Sorry the pics are a bit dark, but the weather isn't so good here

[RallyRaider]

Excellent progress there Spitfire. How did you go with the windscreen replacement?

[Spitfire7]

The windscreen issue is now sorted. One kind (anonymous) AF member sent me a new one, so the build can go ahead.

[joeyko2000]

nice to knowing it fixed~

[godfather23]

Originally Posted by Spitfire7

The windscreen issue is now sorted. One kind (anonymous) AF member sent me a new one, so the build can go ahead.

Yeap, that good ol´ AF - coummunity helped me out once as well. There are a lot of decent guys in the forum.