Italianhorses

Sounds good! I never really though painting after CF. Always did the other way around, but makes sense.

Really like the color. Great detailing too! That mold line on upper radiator hose is something I'd get rid of if I were you.

That looks like ink? Microscale makes clear adhesive that is similar to white glue, but stronger.

Thank you. The fans were actually not that bad, but kinda awkward to do such small detailed work practically one handed. Once you have a frame (which was larger wire circle and a X for the arch), its just adding little bits to it. I was actually pretty skeptical about the outcome at first, but they turned out ok. Fast drying super-glue is a must for this.

Well, that's entirely different question.

Looks like a good start!

Great start Ash, love the blue. Are you going to paint the seats after CF decalling?

Of course. Fat fingered an extra zero there.

Thanks guys, working hard to have this one completed this week! 0.05mm silver solder. I have various diameter of this thing and its a lifesaver for things like that - easy to bend, shiny, and holds the shape well.

Not sure if this is tutorial material really - there is not much to it to be hones and every car is different. Thanks guys!

Wow, that took some work!

This is fantastic. Absolutely love it.

Great looking model, but I'm not a fan of these wheels on it. Clash of style a bit IMO.

So, I was looking into lowering the back end a bit as I didn’t like the stock ride height and noticed something I didn’t like – if you build the kit according to Tamiya – you should block the front air dam by this plastic piece that has mesh imprinted on it. I thought – well, easy fix, just put some mesh there and done. But not so easy – the stuff that was behind it was not made to be seen – unfinished backside of the radiator and not much else. Not good to look at. I decided to scratch some of the components to make it look pretty, as there was no way I’d install that ugly block plate there. So, that escalated quickly, I might say. First, I needed an intercooler, which is what can be easily see in the lower part of that bumper. Used some old radiator piece cut to size, added some sheet plastic, putty, some kit sprue and made this: Lots of cursing to align these pipes to the motor and make the intercooler sit straight! Goodness. Once was all done, painted aluminum, added some elbows and clamps to make it look a bit more realistic – even though most of the stuff will be hidden from view: Well, next problem was that now I had this intercooler sitting in front on my radiator, that had nothing in the back of it, not even good imitation of the radiator mesh! Real car has two electric cooling fans sitting in front, but I couldn’t find anything in my spares box that would fit or look right. I found some on eBay that would work, but it was $10 and made to order, so I was not willing to wait 3 weeks. Soooo. Scratchbuild them? Yup. Lots of trial and error and solder and copper wire here folks. Shrouds are made, now I needed the fans themselves! Made from tiny plastic bits for blades and slice of aluminum tubing for the core. Sourced photoetched radiator face from my spares box, attached the fans and the intercooler – looks so much better and no I can leave that front dam open! Detailing bug bit me hard and started scratchbuilding stuff to spice it up here and there – on the pix below you see hydraulic and brake/fuel lines for the engine bay and chassis with appropriate pumps/units these attach to: This is how it all connects in the back: This is the front. I also added some oxygen sensors, and some gearbox lines as well: I think this is it for the chassis: And this is how the engine looked at this point: With chassis and interior completed, it was time to put these 3 together. But before I could do that, I needed to paint all the trim – masked off and ready for paint: Painted: Next were lights. Tamiya wanted me to paint the headlights silver and stick these, for the lack of better word, mushrooms (below in the picture next to the pack) as headlight high beam lenses. I guess that would have worked just fine, but I had these awesome convex lenses from HM for years and waited for the opportunity to use them! They are really nice: Taillights and side markers were painted clear red and orange respectively, and reflective backing for the taillights was punched out from BMF with the handy hole punch: Reflective backing in place: Taillights installed: Headlights assembled. Can’t really see the convex lens in the picture all that well, but it looks quite nice in person. Finally, the chassis and the body were married, and engine back got the last detailing bits – hydraulic lines, brake booster, various stickers and wiring, clamps, radiator cap, etc. Not a lot left at this point – I’m on a home stretch!

Beautiful paintjob!

Great color! Need to get this kit as well.

Looking excellent!

Oh I don't blame you! Its a tedious work!

Looks good. Real grille has 7 slats though, but I'm sure that would get crowded replicated in scale.

Outstanding!

Excellent model! I need to get one of these kits.

Thanks, appreciate it! I hear you. I always built only what I wanted to build. But I can see how this could be a drag. Just looked at that Cal Spyder build again - man, that was a long time ago. Few questionable bits on that model!

I still have one of them. The other one was built for a collector in Canada. I was building a lot of models for collectors and museums back then.

Haha, thanks.

Thanks you all!