Anteater previous builds part 2 - Toyota MR2, AE86, Celicas (x3)

[Anteater]

Hello again,

 

Here's part two of my previous builds and I've collected all the Toyotas together. These were all built in the past 12 months with the exception of a resurrection from over a quarter of a century ago.

 

First up is what I think must have been the second car I built upon my return  to model making, after the Mustang in the previous instalment. I always liked the Corolla AE86 and owned a 1:1 version about 15 years ago. I bought it for virtually nothing and sold it for virtually nothing, about 10 minutes before the values skyrocketed. I have form for that. After looking for available kits I settled on the Aoshima version as being the most accurate. I got hold of the version with the engine, which is completely hidden from view in my photos, not because I made a particular pig's ear of it but more because the bonnet is an exceptionally tight fit and doesn't open far! I originally painted it a burgundy colour before stripping it off and buying a rattle can of the correct Toyota red before assembly. It looked all the better for it. I added a road atlas on the back seat and a bit of extra interior detail, which you can't see so for all you know I could be making it up. Although if I was going to tell lies on the internet I'd be more ambitious than that.

 

 

 

 

 

Next up was a Fujimi AW11 MR2. I thought I 'd get really adventurous on this one and try to make a vague homage to the aborted Group B car. The kit is an old motorised one (without motor) so it's pretty primitive, but the body shape isn't bad. I cut away the complete rear of the chassis apart from the shock top mounts and constructed a framework from coffee stirrers and plastic rod. Into that I inserted the engine from a Tamiya Celica GT-4 and cobbled it together. I had to extend the B-pillar bodywork and fit a vented rear window over the engine, with a window divider to the cabin. Given it was my first attempt at major surgery I was happy to have proven the principle. The paintwork could be better and it really needs wide arches. The wheels are from a Fujimi 240z and do the job, but perhaps I would go for OZs or something were I to build it again. In fact, I might actually do that with a fresh one. That's the point of learning curves!

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

This left me with a Celica lacking an engine but rather than build it up as a curbside car I decided to build it as a breaker. I detailed the engine bay to bring some life to it, giving the bulkhead some shape. I planted the hubs on some wheel dollies and left the wheels off because they're awful 90s three spokes. I never liked this type of Celica to be frank, they're strange goggled eyed things and only came in front or four wheel drive. I was happier with the way the Celica donor came out though, happier than the MR2 in fact...

 

 

 

The whole Celica thing left me with unfinished business. Basically, a proper car has a longitudinal engine and rear wheel drive, whereas that generation of Celica had neither. But what if it did...? Well I had a spare Nissan engine from the Fujimi 240z 432, into which I had chosen to fit the standard L20 straight six rather than the S20 engine also offered in the kit (correct for the 432). That engine was the more powerful option and also found in the original Skyline GT-R. It's a rare and sought after engine these days so it would be highly unlikely for anyone to fit one into a 1990s Toyota, but that's the charm of model making. A Nissan-Toyota combo then...

 

The floorpan needed a bit of cutting and the motor only just fits on the cross member but was almost made for the job in comparison to the trouble I thought I would have. I painted the body Vauxhall Mustard Yellow and experimented until I got a yellow/black colour scheme I was happy with. I sourced some alloys from a Belkits Manta 400 to get the look I wanted, but little did I know Belkits tyres seem to be notorious for sticking to any surface they come into contact with. Despite sanding the top layer off and then trying to seal them with paint and dull coat, this one gets regularly moved around it's display garage, under much protest.

 

As a concept though, I was pleased this this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally for this instalment, a rescue job. I built a fourth generation Tamiya Celica 2000 when I was a mere child, and made a pretty poor job of it. Having recently rediscovered it, I thought I'd have a go at making it somewhat better, even though it was a total glue bomb with various damaged parts. I was pleasantly surprised that the mud effect paint basically polished off but there were a few parts that were unsalvageable, such as the seats which had to be replaced with the unused ones from the Fujimi MR2 above. There was a tense moment ungluing the wipers from the windscreen but after using about 100 litres of autoglym the plastic glass polished up to an acceptable standard. I had painted the shell so lightly over 25 years previously that it didn't take much work to get it back and refinish in Toyota Astral Black. Given that it was almost a lost cause I think I got it to a reasonable standard in a limited kind of way, but at least it's better than it was before...

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's all for now. I'll be back with Part 3 and some German cars. Bet you can't wait...

 

Edited December 10, 2019 by Anteater

[keefr22]

Great stuff! Another very entertaining post with some more very cool model cars! I particularly like the ''Group B'' MR2 - even if it isn't 100% accurate it certainly looks the part! And that's a very nice restoration on the Celica 2000! 

 

Good work all round again!

 

58 minutes ago, Anteater said:

sold it for virtually nothing, about 10 minutes before the values skyrocketed. I have form for that.

 

Me too, with certain Ford Escorts!

 

And you're right, I can't wait for the German cars...!!

 

Keith

[JeroenS]

More of the same please! You are certainly of the productive type. Takes me ages to just finish one model.

[Cooper645]

I love the AE86 and that MR2.  I recently considered doing the MR2 rally also, and thanks to your efforts I can see it’s certainly very achievable. If you do it again make sure you do a WIP, save me the headache of figuring it out 😂👍🏼

[MR2Don]

AW11 - very nice. Don't suppose they ever did an SW20, did they? Just a casual request, no real interest - ahem!

[keefr22]

4 minutes ago, MR2Don said:

AW11 - very nice. Don't suppose they ever did an SW20, did they? Just a casual request, no real interest - ahem!

 

Fujimi did;

 

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/fujimi-03370-toyota-mr2-gt-sw20--188635

 

Keith

[Anteater]

14 hours ago, JeroenS said:

More of the same please! You are certainly of the productive type. Takes me ages to just finish one model.

This is my back-catalogue from the past two years. After Part 3 of the Previous Builds I might not have anything new for a while!

 

I'm amused there's so much interest in the MR2 rally hybrid thing, considering it's the most amateurish of my creations 😀 

 

The real thing was known as the 222D and it was actually a proposal for Group S, the planned evolution of Group B. When the plug was pulled on Group B the car was shelved but one of the surviving prototypes is occasionally let out for demonstration runs. To replicate it more accurately in 1/24th scale the AW11 body needs to be made wider and the whole of the Fujimi floorpan probably needs to go in the bin. At the time it seemed ambitious enough to cut the rear end off and hope for the best... Someone with better skills would undoubtedly make a better job, but I will admit I am tempted to have another go. I'm not sure where I'd start with making the wide arches though and they're fundamental to the overall look. Here's a link to details of the real thing for inspiration, should anyone else fancy a crack! Mine was only ever intended to be "inspired by" rather than a serious attempt at a proper replica.  

 

https://rallygroupbshrine.org/group-s/toyota-mr2-222d-group-b-s-prototype/

[Anteater]

23 hours ago, keefr22 said:

 

Me too, with certain Ford Escorts!

 

 

Don't even get me started on the stage prepared RS2000 I turned down because I thought it was too expensive at £2k... and the pair of 2.8i Capris I had in succession and sold for no good reason. What was I thinking??? Oh well, you can't keep everything...

[Cooper645]

13 hours ago, MR2Don said:

AW11 - very nice. Don't suppose they ever did an SW20, did they? Just a casual request, no real interest - ahem!

I am just waiting for the paint for the body and i will post up a RFI on it. No WIP but I will get some photos of the interior before it gets closed up. Keep your eyes peeled on the RFI section.

Its a nice little kit that went together well.

[keefr22]

12 hours ago, Anteater said:

Oh well, you can't keep everything...

 

Few years back, long after I'd sold the last of my Escorts for peanuts, I'd bought the wife a lovely little Mk1 Fiesta XR2 from a friend who's deceased Father's car it had been. It was absolutely mint, had almost no miles and was living happily in our garage, until she decided it was too small and instead bought an absolutely hateful 1600 Sierra off her dad. Despite my protestations that as the Fiesta was 'too small' and was happy where it was, she decided it was taking up too much space and should be sold. So when the MOT became due I sold it to the garage for £300. Now much less nice examples are reaching close on £20K....!!! 

 

I would say we live and learn, but I obviously don't...!! 

 

Keith