Tamiya Subaru Impreza WRC Belgacom

[Windy37]

22 hours ago, keefr22 said:

Nice work Gary! I was watching a video on the Belgian Motorsport channel other day and there was an Escort Cossie out in Belgacom livery and that looked really good too - they had some nice schemes!

 

Enjoy the Trackrod, hope you don't get too wet!!

 

Keith

The Belgacom colour scheme is yet another example of a straight to the point , easy to read livery. Unlike the current crop ..... Oops.  Brought it up again 🙄

Gary

[Windy37]

A bit of time off work has enabled me to push on with the Impreza. I'm really enjoying this build . The decals were challenging , which I seem to thrive on and the Tamiya build quality is a joy.  Everything just falls into place . It's still strange building a white Subaru ! 

  Here's some build pictures 

Underside complete . The rear yellow half shafts needed cutting off the kit parts and are wedged / glued into place on the transkit shock absorbers. 

I've not gone over the top with interior wiring,  but there's so many references online and in books for various Imprezas . All show just how tidy the interiors of Prodrive built Subarus were .

 

Amongst all the references available I noticed the rollcage side cross bars were different on later , 98 on , cars from the kit parts. So I set about rectifying this . Reference shot of a 99 spec car with tubing on show inside . The kit parts are hollow on the inside . 

I have altered rollcages before and find cocktail sticks are the exact size . So , after painting the flat surface semi gloss black , I raided Mrs Windy's cocktail stick supply and came up with this 

Then I used some thin plastic from a Costa lid to make the stiffener . 

This will all look much better when in the car , as can be seen here , painted and ready for fitting. 

 

Thanks for looking 

Gary .

[keefr22]

That's looking really good Gary, as with the real cars, very neat and tidy!

 

1 hour ago, Windy37 said:

It's still strange building a white Subaru ! 

 

I guess it'll feel the same to me when I finally get around to a blue and yellow one!!

 

Keith

[Windy37]

Quick update .

All of a sudden the seats , dashboard and rollcage are ready to be fitted . 

Threading the belts through 

Tape used to pull all the joints into place while the glue sets . 

 

Gary .

[ceeb555]

Good progress Gary. Starting to come together nicely

Chris

[Windy37]

34 minutes ago, ceeb555 said:

Good progress Gary. Starting to come together nicely

Chris

Looks rather like a badly wired socket atm 😂

Gary 

[ceeb555]

Haha, but once that tape comes off………

[Spiny]

Those weekends where it feels like you've achieved lots are always satisfying. That interior is really coming together well now.

[Windy37]

18 minutes ago, Spiny said:

Those weekends where it feels like you've achieved lots are always satisfying. That interior is really coming together well now.

It's certainly a pleasure to assemble all those parts that's taken countless weekends to prepare. 

Gary 

[Potsie]

This model is coming along very nicely indeed.

[Windy37]

The interior is all done and boxed in now . Here's plenty of photos of it as once the bodyshell is on its hidden away . The eagle eyed will notice the Prodrive decal on the rear bulkhead has been painted in slightly  - the sticky seatbelts managed to stick to it and remove the p and r whilst I was threading them .... I always seem to suffer a seat belt drama on every build 😕 

 

With door cards fitted

 

With body fitted 

 

Thanks for looking 

Gary .

[ceeb555]

Hey Gary

Wow, that is great progress and looking really good. Once the body with glass is on you will not notice the Prodrive decal on the parcel shelf

Good to see the body on the chassis giving the overall look, great to see it all coming together

Chris

 

[Windy37]

Thanks Chris . 

I'm really impressed with how it has just gone together so easily. The Prodrive mishap definitely won't be seen , but , as you know , I know it's there.... 🤫

Gary 

 

Edited October 12, 2024 by Windy37
Spelling mistake

[keefr22]

1 hour ago, ceeb555 said:

you will not notice the Prodrive decal on the parcel shelf

 

If he hadn't said anything I don't think I'd have noticed any problem now!

 

All looks good to me Gary, really do like that colour scheme!

 

Keith

[Windy37]

Mesh added to the front of the Impreza.  The plate above the badge should be removed, but I didn't fancy cutting it so I've painted it semi gloss black to " hide" it . All light recesses were painted Green Stuff chrome. 

 

Then onto window rubbers and trim painting , a job I hate , especially on a light base colour . Looking at my 90's built Impreza's my hand is getting gradually unsteady as back then the trim is painted very neatly. The camera does show it worse than it is though !! 

 

This morning while I had a session with the Subaru, Vernon Kay on BBC Radio 2 mentioned Hornby train sets so I took a picture of my bench , what's apped it to him and said modelling relaxes me and focuses my mind . Within 10 minutes he read it out live on his show !! I was Gary in North Lincolnshire if anyone heard or remembers it  !! Fame at last !!

Gary 

[Spiny]

I'm afraid I only listen to Radio 2 when I'm in the Focus (no DAB in that) so no fame here

 

This is coming together nicely now. I have to admit I wouldn't have known the black durround was meant to be cut out if you hadn't said, but adding that mesh has really added to the Subaruness somehow.

[Windy37]

44 minutes ago, Spiny said:

I'm afraid I only listen to Radio 2 when I'm in the Focus (no DAB in that) so no fame here

 

This is coming together nicely now. I have to admit I wouldn't have known the black durround was meant to be cut out if you hadn't said, but adding that mesh has really added to the Subaruness somehow.

It's good to here model making in general being spoken about on mainstream radio . I like Vernon,  he seems interested in all things mechanical. 

Gary.

[Potsie]

Looking great!

[Windy37]

The glass is now in , as per usual I cut the drivers window out . I used the masks for painting but used a Sharpie around the edge of the masks , then filled in with paint and a brush. This is the first time I have put body onto chassis with the Renaissance transkit wheels and tyres fitted too. RAC Rally gravel spec . ride height is about right - not Safari style high rider , but certainly higher than Corsica tarmac . The wheels look the business sprayed gold . They even have valves !

 

A comparison in ride heights with a Safari Impreza I built in the late 90's . 

 

Thanks for looking 

Gary. 

[Spiny]

Looking good now.

 

One question on the Sharpie - does it fade over time? I'm just asking because I've noticed that some of my Sharpie notes on brush covers and boxes are becoming more brown than black. That could be due to handling, so hopefully it won't affect your models.

[Windy37]

2 minutes ago, Spiny said:

Looking good now.

 

One question on the Sharpie - does it fade over time? I'm just asking because I've noticed that some of my Sharpie notes on brush covers and boxes are becoming more brown than black. That could be due to handling, so hopefully it won't affect your models.

Re : Sharpie.  Don't know if it fades tbh . I've never really noticed, but it's only since I got back into the hobby that I have used this method around the window masks. So maybe time will tell .... 

Gary .

[Spiny]

I'll cross my fingers it doesn't. As I said, I've noticed it mostly where it's been handled, so maybe that's a large part of it. Which shouldn't be a problem for a finished model.

[Windy37]

24 minutes ago, Spiny said:

I'll cross my fingers it doesn't. As I said, I've noticed it mostly where it's been handled, so maybe that's a large part of it. Which shouldn't be a problem for a finished model.

Should be okay . I use the Sharpie on the inside as well . I find it easier to follow the edge of the mask than I can with a brush . Bleed through is minimal too . As I have noted previously , my eyes don't seem to allow me to paint thin , straight lines like they did 30 years ago 🙄

Gar

[Potsie]

I certainly agree that the Renaissance tranksit look great. The ride height is about right and the wheels look nicely detailed.

[Windy37]

9 hours ago, Potsie said:

I certainly agree that the Renaissance tranksit look great. The ride height is about right and the wheels look nicely detailed.

I must admit I keep looking and thinking the wheels and tyres look slightly too small . Maybe because I'm too used to seeing Impreza's on larger tarmac wheels and tyres 🤔

Gary .