Colin McRae 1999 Ford Focus WRC tribute build

[CeeElle]

after a long hiatus, i'm back with a new build. i blame MPWR for this one because he turned me on to WRC a few weeks ago (as if i don't already watch enough motorsports. ). i owe a big thanks to MPWR and Klutz for doing more than they'll ever know to get me building again after nearly giving it up. i also have to give a big thank you to Freakray providing the McRace/Grist decals for the windows and seats.

build will be OOB with Scale Motorsports CF (i had some lying around from a previous project) and Scale Motorsport PE.

photos taken with my new Canon G9; i literally just took it out of the box this morning and am still figuring it out. so, without further ado:

the seats: as noted, driver / sparco decals courtesy of Freakray.


the wheels: i added PE lugnuts and valve stems made from wire and PE washers. the super macro feature of the camera makes the decals look like hell, but they look fine in person. i'm really happy with them.


the dash: i used SMS "pewter" CF for the dash and the "black" CF for the switch panels just for variety. i didn't use the SMS PE switch panel, as i thought tamiya's looked fine. Solvaset made the decals lay down nicely over the switches. silver switches were painted by dry-brushing with artists oil paint thinned with turpentine -- thanks to MPWR for the tip. the rest were painted by drybrushing with tamiya acrylics. i have no idea how that CF zit happened on the dash, but this is my first time using so much CF. clearly i've gotta do more practice. the macro on the camera magnifies the effect; it doesn't look so obvious in person.


i'm currently working on the floorpan, which had huge gaps in the wheel arches between the body and chassis. why does tamiya mold 'em like that?

more pix in a couple of days...

[MidMazar]

Nice progress, nice job on the cf.

[SeanyG]

Nice start CeeElle, your WIP is including in the Tribute thread, looks like this is going to be another beauty to add to the list!

[MPWR]

Good to see you building again. The seats, wheels and dash all look terrific. (And seriously, you'd have missed building if you hadn't picked it up again.)

When you drybrush with oils, try using them unthinned. What you did looks great- but for drybrushing, oils behave best uncut. Squeeze a tiny bit onto a palette, load your brush up, wipe it off a bit, and go to it. Save the turpentine for cleanup.

[OrangeR]

Great Start!
I like the wheels a lot.

[CeeElle]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Good to see you building again. The seats, wheels and dash all look terrific.

thank you! as i said, i'm not sure how i got that zit on the dash, but it looks better in person.

Originally Posted by MPWR

When you drybrush with oils, try using them unthinned. What you did looks great- but for drybrushing, oils behave best uncut. Squeeze a tiny bit onto a palette, load your brush up, wipe it off a bit, and go to it. Save the turpentine for cleanup.

will do! thanks for the tip...

[jaykay640]

CL

Didn't know you were "out" but good to see you're back on it.
Btw i remember you asking for reference on the Lotus78 while i was a bit "challenged" internet connection wise. Did you ever get anything?
If not and you're still after it let me know:-)

[CeeElle]

Originally Posted by jaykay640

CL

Didn't know you were "out" but good to see you're back on it.
Btw i remember you asking for reference on the Lotus78 while i was a bit "challenged" internet connection wise. Did you ever get anything?
If not and you're still after it let me know:-)

i haven't got much in the way of references for that project, which i've put on hold to do the Focus, so if you've got anything, i'd love to have it...

I'm working on the door panels and the floorplan/chassis and hope to post an update soon...

[CeeElle]

update...

finished the door panels. tamiya TS-26 with SMS "pewter" cf and SMS PE door pull latch thingies (which you can barely see, but i still used. ) and door nets. i didn't use the SMS PE window cranks because i thought the molded cranks were pretty good. details painted with tamiya XF-1. i'm not entirely happy with the cf job, but it was my first time trying cf on so complex a surface. clearly i need more practice. i'm trying not to obsess over the details, as i know the rollcage, seats and limited view through the windows will obscure a lot of the blunders. but if anyone's got tips for laying down cf smoothly, i'd love to hear 'em.



these rally kits are a lot of fun.

[jaykay640]

Did you use Microsol? If not that would be the first hint. Works great on these SMS decals. Then comes a hairdryer if you haven't used that.
You'll get the hang of it. First time is always tricky :-)

As for the 78 i'll have to do some scanning. Maybe not this week anymore but probably next. Should be with you before you finish this one :-)

[935k3]

Here's a tip for getting decals to lay down. Press them down with a hot damp cloth, they will conform instantly and without any wrinkling like you get with solvents.

[billypee]

Nice start. Love the wheels. If you have bubbles under the CF, use a sharp knife or a pin prick and coat again with MicroSol. Repeat about 3 or 4 times with about 30 mins between them and the CF will be flat. If you apply the decals over a good solid base of X-18 or similar, any minor gaps will not be noticeable. Tamiya Smoke can be used to tone down the CF if the pewter looks too vivid. A coat(s) with semi-gloss clear will level and shine.

Also, changing the direction of the weave on individual panels (even if they are moulded as one will make them look separate. A mixture of CF patterns might look like a patchwork but is in fact how many motorsports vehicles are... they get patched up and materials change over time.

Keep up the great work on a great subject.
Bill

[Luchato]

a great subject and great work!

i've build this one some time ago but i can't say it's finished because i still don`t get the drivers decals...

this is mine, i guess it's maybe too dirty but i like it this way...



keep going your great building

[CeeElle]

at last, an update. i've been working on and off on it over the holidays, but most of the work was cleaning and painting parts and nothing worth updating until i'd done some assembly.

here are the undercarriage parts. BMF for the tailpipe.


here's the status of the undercarriage. if you look too closely, you'll see some flaws, but i can live with 'em. i've been using this build (my fifth) to figure out my airbrush. i've got to do a better job of masking. i've also gotta figure out all the buttons and knobs on my camera so i can take better pics. maybe i'll even learn photoshop.


close up of the front of the chassis.


the middle. i considered using BMF for the heat shield but ended up masking and airbrushing. there's a chip in the paint in the middle, but i'm not gonna worry about it. it's a rally car.


the back end. the flaw in the paint at the very back came when i was test-fitting some parts; it'll be covered by suspension parts so i'm not worried.


next up - shocks and brakes. i wound some springs with a paperclip and have the Scale Motorsport for the PE and some braided line. i'll post pics soon!

[CeeElle]

thanks for the comments, everyone. any suggestions for building or photography appreciated.