New work in progress (something unusual)

[brashsassy007]

Hey there all,

I just purchased Tamiya's Team Cerumo EXIV kit. My project is to turn this JTCC car into a passenger vehicle.

I started by sanding the front end (bumper) down, eliminating the flares on the side of the bumper, then further eliminating the lower grille on the bumper, making it shorter (pics coming soon).

I won't work on it any further until I post a pic of my work on it. I figure it's only fair.

However, I do have a couple questions:

1) I plan on using the chassis that came with the kit and using felt for the carpeting, but regarding the interior itself, what would you suggest? I considered using Tamiya's Carina ED Autopista's interior, but that leaves the dashboard (I test fitted, and it fits). I could try to build the lower half of the dashboard, adding it to the dash that came with the kit though. But since I'm at a standstill on the interior, what would you guys suggest?

2) By the way, I just learned it's not a Toyota Cerumo at all. (The model doesn't exist!) It's actually a JDM 95 Toyota Corona Exiv.

So any suggestions, guys? Help me out here, please.

Oh, I did something similar with Tamiya's JACCS Accord kit, turned that into a passenger car. Pics coming soon!

I'm planning on doing the same with Tamiya's Castrol Primera kit as well.

[digitalbanzai]

What year is the Carina kit? The Toyota Carina ED and the Corona EXIV are basically the same car. Kind of like the difference between Levin and Trueno. (Cerumo is a racing team, for the record.)

[brashsassy007]

If I'm not mistaken, I believe it's an 86 (The Carina ED, that is). So what do you have to say about an interior for the EXIV?

[kaho]

Late 80's Corona/Carina:


Mid 90's Corona Exiv:


Mid 90's Celica:


Both the Exiv and Celica have the same chassis code (ST202) I think the dashboard of the Celica looks quite similar to the Exiv. From these pictures the panel that surrounds the gear stick is are the same on both cars.

I suppose you can combine the Carina ED top of the dashboard and the Celica dashboard (center section) to make an Exiv dashboard. If you get the Celica GT4 model kit, you will even have the 3S-GTE engine to put into your Exiv! Do it do it!

Some day I will attempt this project too, I have the model kit of both the Celica and Exiv~~

[brashsassy007]

Well, sorry guys. Couldn't help myself; just finished converting the Exiv into street use. It turned out very good.

Since I can't post pics yet, I'll describe what I did.

1. I sanded the front bumper to be level with the sideskirts.
2. I sanded the body all over to get rid of all racing items/imperfections.
3. Painted the body pure white (Tamiya).
4. Performed all the detailing as in window molding and lights with paint markers.
5. Added a rear wiper as well as two front wipers.

Note: Majority of parts come from Tamiya's Celica GT4.

Interior:

1. Used Tamiya's Carina ED interior bucket, cut out the floor gearshift console with xacto knife, then sanded it.
2. Used parts to detail up interior from Tamiya's celica kit.
3. Sanded and sanded some more.
4. Dashboard, I cut Celica's in half, used lower half to attach to Exiv dashboard, then used putty to fill in any imperfections.

Okay, when I get my cam up and running, pics will come, so stay tuned!

[brashsassy007]

For my next project, it will be Tamiya's Primera conversion.
Regarding the interior, I plan on using the A31 Cefiro (Aoshima) interior parts. I'm not sure if it's the same, but which kit would match up with Primera's interior?

[freakmech]

NNOOOOOOO, dont do that!!!! Sell me the Primera, dont destroy it please!

[brashsassy007]

You can buy the Primera on www.tamiya-direct.com for a pretty good price. They also have one on sale on eBay as well.

[91p10nizmo]

I dont think you could find an interior the same as the primera one. I think the cefiro ones are different.

[brashsassy007]

Well, I don't know about that. The dashboard is almost the same, but it shouldn't be too hard. I did it with the EXIV, because the Celica has the same chassis. Do you know of any cars that have the same chassis as the Primera? Doesn't have to be Tamiya, can be from Fujimi or Aoshima too.
The way I see it, anything's possible with sandpaper, putty, and a little determination, know what I mean? All it takes is that, plus a lot of paint. I've seen guys make parts from scratch, out of resin.