Belkits Ford Fiesta Michelin Pilot

[Windy37]

22 minutes ago, Spiny said:

Good work going on here.

 

I know I wrote in another thread a few minutes ago about how things wrong in the interior can stand out if wrong, but in this instance I don't think the grey will matter. I've just had a close look at mine and the only way to see the back of the seats is to shine a torch through the rear window (you can't look though this due to the very heavy demister bars) and squint through the rear side windows past the driver names.

That goes for most of the interior detail I've added !  I painted the other seat back Humbrol satin black ( my preferred choice of carbon fibre black colour ) to compare and ponder whether to use the decal or not . Hopefully by next weekend I will have decided  !

Gary . 

[ceeb555]

Hi Gary

Loving the progress on the Fiesta. Super decalling and a really nice start to the interior. As ever the suspension on these Belkit models leave a lot to be desired but as always you overcome them and end with a more than acceptable solution. I will be referring back to this when I build the Fiesta.

Once complete this will look amazing next to the original  Cosworth Escort. Looking forward to your next instalment.

[Windy37]

2 hours ago, ceeb555 said:

Hi Gary

Loving the progress on the Fiesta. Super decalling and a really nice start to the interior. As ever the suspension on these Belkit models leave a lot to be desired but as always you overcome them and end with a more than acceptable solution. I will be referring back to this when I build the Fiesta.

Once complete this will look amazing next to the original  Cosworth Escort. Looking forward to your next instalment.

Thanks @ceeb555.  Mostly I find that Belkits strive to get modern sophisticated suspension set ups correct  , but the construction of it then gets far too complicated ! And their instructions are rubbish , especially the older kits . The easiest Belkits I have built is the Manta 400 , an old school simple car though  . 

Gary . 

[Windy37]

First update in a while on the Fiesta . I left it pondering on wether to use the provided carbon decals for the seat backs . Well as they seem too grey for me I have decided to paint the backs satin black . I used blue electricians tape and cut the Sparco decals off the provided decals to make up the seat harnesses . Then it was time to make up the rollcage . I know from previous posts that this is a big job , so I took my time with it . 

Rear section then sides . 

Steering column section , look now before it's covered by the dashboard !

Seats in and steering wheel fitted . I cut the co drivers seat base down a bit so it's sits lower than the drivers . 

All about to be topped off . Dashboard sides needed cutting to allow front bars to fit . 

Wrapped in masking tape and left to dry 

Result - all joined up and square . This is quite a substantial rollcage , the real cars must feel so strong and solid .

Bits of tidying up and securing the harnesses to do and the interior will be done . 

Thanks for looking 

Gary . 

 

[keefr22]

Nice work Gary, excellent interior detailing!

 

Keith

[Windy37]

Thanks Keith . I reckon this was one of the most complicated rollcages I've constructed . They build them proper in Cumbria !

Gary . 

[Bengalensis]

That's looking very good indeed!

[keefr22]

3 hours ago, Windy37 said:

Thanks Keith . I reckon this was one of the most complicated rollcages I've constructed . They build them proper in Cumbria !

Gary . 

 

Indeed! Makes the 6 point bolt in cage in our Mini (& every rally Escort I had) look positively puny (& a bit fragile....!! 🤣 )

 

Keith

[ceeb555]

Looking good Gary. Love the interior detailing. A good tip to lower the co drivers seat and a heads up about the dashboard.

Noticed the seatbelt cutter, nice touch. Looking forward to the build continuing.

[Windy37]

11 hours ago, ceeb555 said:

Looking good Gary. Love the interior detailing. A good tip to lower the co drivers seat and a heads up about the dashboard.

Noticed the seatbelt cutter, nice touch. Looking forward to the build continuing.

Thanks . Too often in rally car kits the seats aren't in the correct position ; co drivers usually sit lower and further back than their driver . Getting the seats right though usually depends on rollcage bars hampering positioning . The seat belt cutter idea was from a real Fiesta R5 I saw on the recent Malton rally . 

Gary. 

[galaxyg]

Nice looking interior. I notice you've painted the buckles onto the tape. I might steal that idea at some point

[Windy37]

5 hours ago, galaxyg said:

Nice looking interior. I notice you've painted the buckles onto the tape. I might steal that idea at some point

I have tried threading the buckles onto ribbon , but the amount of effort involved has turned me back to making the belts out of tape and painting the buckles silver . My eye sight and patience is not what it was !! I like to think I spend my attention to detail else wear !!

Gary.  

[keefr22]

If I'm too lazy to thread the belts through buckles I stick the latter onto the belts and stick a small piece of belt material into the middle of the buckle. Looks like the belt is threaded through it then...!!

 

K

[Windy37]

2 hours ago, keefr22 said:

If I'm too lazy to thread the belts through buckles I stick the latter onto the belts and stick a small piece of belt material into the middle of the buckle. Looks like the belt is threaded through it then...!!

 

K

Another good solution !  It's the fraying of the ribbon while threading that does my head in .... 

Gary

[keefr22]

15 minutes ago, Windy37 said:

It's the fraying of the ribbon while threading that does my head in .... 

 

Do you cut the corners off the end of the ribbon to 45 degree angles Gary? I do that and then put a very small dab of superglue on the cut ends and that usually makes it easier to thread them through - but tbh I just don't like the overscale texture of ribbon and prefer your idea of electrical tape.

 

K

[Windy37]

I cut them off at an angle for supposedly easier threading , but don't use the glue idea . I might try it , but to be honest I'm happy with my old favourite electricians tape . 

Gary .

[keefr22]

No reason not to be - it looks good!

 

K

[Spiny]

3 hours ago, Windy37 said:

Another good solution !  It's the fraying of the ribbon while threading that does my head in .... 

Gary

 

Like cotton, I usually end up sucking the ribbon or soaking it in water before threading as it reduces the fraying to some extent. I might have to try the glue technique next time one of those little pieces of ribbon starts attacking my patience though.

[Windy37]

Back to the bodyshell now the interior is finished .The bonnet air vents needed covering with mesh . On the real car the mesh is flush with the bonnet , but on this I pasted it under the vent then added the vent detail which is in one piece and also incorporates the headlight units . The mesh would have looked better flush but I struggled to find a way to do this without making a mess , especially as the vents are a complicated shape to follow . 

 

The Renaissance decal kit also included some resin parts , specifically for this RRC version of the Fiesta . One of these parts is the grille which is basically just a simpler version than the S2000 grille . It needed a bit of trimming to fit . Here’s a couple of shots of the nearly finished bodyshell . I’ve not glued the front wings on yet ; I remember the dramas @Spiny went through with his ! 

 

Thanks for looking 
Gary .

[Spiny]

Good move with the wings. The decalling tempts you to fit them early like I did, but trying to get the body attached proved near impossible.

 

I won't say I'm glad my experience helped you as I'd much rather not have made that mess with my model in the first place, but at least you avoiding that issue is one very thin silver lining on my front wing cloud. That colour scheme is really starting to look good now, it's going to be an eye-catcher when it gets finished.

[Windy37]

Thanks @Spiny l have always liked this shape Fiesta , which sadly seems is going to be the last . We have a 3 door Fiesta , like the kit and compared to all the identikit SUV 's around this mk7 Fiesta always stands out . The colour scheme is great , although i think the yellow stripes are spoiled a bit by sponsorship names . 

Gary . 

[keefr22]

That all looks very nice indeed Gary, terrific work!

 

Keith

[galaxyg]

This is a great looking livery and build especially now it's all coming together.

[Windy37]

A bit more time on the Fiesta today . Got the windows painted and fitted , not my favourite job , but a deep edge to mark and then paint to really helped . Unusually this is the first kit I have built with detailing on the clear window frame where it meets the roof . Just on a real rally car , all the frame work on the stripped out bodyshell is exposed , and I have detailed theses cut outs with a black fine line pen . Obviously , they will not be seen when the body is fitted , but I just had to spend time and get the detail right .

 

With the kit nearing completion it’s time to box in the interior by fitting the door cards . I always find it amusing that M Sport still use the production spec . doorpulls / arm rests when building these cars !  I’ve also prepared the wheels , needing a very steady hand and straining eyes for the decals . 


 

Thanks for all the positive comments everyone 

Gary . 

[keefr22]

Really looking the part now Gary, almost done! 

 

Keith