Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6.5 WRC

[MetroRacing]

Ok so I've been working on this for a few months now. I haven't really posted stuff on here since the server update really. partly due to a dislike in the changes to the mobile version of the site, but mainly because I got more of a community feeling from the Modelling group I'd joined over what I got from the forum.

After an initial feeling of having to rush or build quick build kits to be able to make the weekly meetings, I have since mellowed into working on a number of kits at a time and are then able to take something to each meet without having to rush. Which leads into this kit. I initially started it in order to have something to do at a meet late last year and have been slowly working my way through it.

Unfortunately starting a WIP thread on here so late and of something that wasn't supposed to be a WIP means that there are some gaps in the photographical history of my build but I'll do my best to explain my way through.

 

First off as the Title suggests I'm building a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6.5 Rally car. Or more specifically Tommi Makinen's car from the 2001 Monte Carlo rally. 

Now this is where those of you that know your kits will be thinking, "Hang on. Nobody makes a 6.5 edition Evo." And yes you're right.

So here is what i've used to build mine.

1 Tamiya Lancer Evolution 5 kit.

Bodykit sprue from the Tamiya Evolution 6 kit.

ModellingMasters Evolution 6.5 Rally transkit (Bumper and rear lights)

Shunko Models Evolution 6.5 Decals for the 2001 Monte Carlo, and for something a bit different.

ModellingMasters Tamiya Lancer Evolution 5,6 Engine transkit.

 

so without furher ado. Here's some pics:

First off we have the bulk of the engine transkit. This actually glues to the lower half that tamiya provides in the kit.

Some slight modification's are needed to the kit chassis part in order to fit it. mainly the cutting off of the location pegs for the kits half engine.

Another modification thats needed when fitting the 6.5 transkit is to trim one of the front chassis corners. All this is shown in the transkit instructions.

 

Next just some painting of detail parts.

 

Here's we have the engine fitted to the chassis and some other parts.

The only thing I think could improve this engine trasnkit would be fuel injectors on the intake manifold. That way you could add a fuel rail and feed and return pipes, something to busy the rear if the engine bay up a bit. You'll see what i mean a bit further on.

 

Another session at Leicester Modellers had the chassis looking like this:

 

And because I got talked into it by a club member, here is a 4 hr build club meeting's worth of plumbing.

 

With the Chassis complete I have since turned my attention to the body.

Obvisouly the bonnet needs to be cut out and a resin spare is prodived in the engine transkit, however if you're carful with the cutting you can still use the plastic one which I have.

But before you cut out the bonnet i strongly recommend gluing the 6.5 bumper on first as the bonnet helps keep the wings in the right place.

 

Another thing that I noticed was that the 6.5 has a smoothed over number plate recess. This wasn't mentioned in the 6.5 transkit though it did tell you to fill some parts of the same area.

I'm pretty sure i'm right in my choice and it looks good now anyway lol.

 

This photo was taken with the body from the Evo 6 kit to show the changes i've made.

However whilst I had the body out it showed the mistake i'd made by using the Evo 5 body. See 2nd pic

Yep the spoiler mounting holes are different and whilst the Evo 6 body has flashed over holes for the 5 spoiler, the 5 body doesn't feature the same for the 6 one. It was no trouble to use some masking tape for a template and transfer the holes from one body to the next, but something to think about for anyone doing the same.

 

And the final pics show the painted body. I use Halfords Appliance white and VW Mars red for the main colour. I've read about it being a good match for Tamiya TS-49 and it is. i decided to use it instead of TS-49 because I thought it was a better representaion for Mitsubishi R71 Passion Red, the colour of the real cars that what Tamiya suggest.

 

There's no bonnet in the pics because I found out after painting them, that you need to paint the white square for the marlboro logo as the decals wont give a full coverage. So as i didn't really fancy painting white over red, there was really no choice but to strip them to redo it. I say them because I wanted to see which one, Resin or Plastic came out better. In the end I've been reduced to using the plastic one because after the paint stripping, I was scraping the paint from the panel lines around the bonnet vents and the blade went through the resin and ruined it.

 

So that's it for all the progress so far. I'm really impressing myself with this build and is only decals and clear away from being a perfect build. Famous last words there but as i'm taking my time with it, I feel confident in saying it lol.

 

Thanks for looking and any questions, comments etc always welcome.

 

TTFN Ashley.

[Hamden]

 

That is STUNNING you have captured the look of the EVO

Looking forward to seeing more of this build

 

   Roger

[MetroRacing]

Thanks mate 👍

 

Ashley

[shood23]

Great subject ashley I've always like the old marlboro rally cars, the mitsubishis and peugeots really looked great in the red and white. 

 

Shaun

[MetroRacing]

Thanks Shaun.

I agree about the later Marlboro sponsored teams, though I'm not too keen on the earlier white with Fluorescent Orange. I think a lot of the time that livery ruins the lines of the car lol.

 

Ashley

[Nick Belbin]

That's a helluva lot of plumbing inside there! 

[MetroRacing]

2 hours ago, Nick Belbin said:

That's a helluva lot of plumbing inside there! 

 

And that's without any electrical piping lol.

 

Working on the decals at the mo. Hopefully an update soon.

 

Ashley