Spottedlaurel

With the Corvette ZR-1 finished and various other slightly more detailed projects moving forwards I felt I was at liberty to start something else. Nothing too taxing, ideally something from the '70s as a contrast to what else I have on the go - this Celica fitted the bill nicely. I toyed with buying a nice exampe in the 1990s, but I think my daily driver use would have been a bit unkind to it. 1:24 Hasegawa Toyota Celica 1600GT kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr I also have an Aoshima version, but I think this Hasegawa kit looks more accurate with some nice separate mouldings for the hood and pillar vents. It'll be built as a sympathetically modifed road car, and I'll keep the arches for something else. No engine, as almost always the case with kits of older Japanese cars, but at least it's not compromised by a battery compartment for a motor or lights. Colour is currently planned as an automotive can of Citroen Mediterranean Blue, which I think was an '00s shade and reminds me of the pale blue/turquoise seen on some Celicas. A quick test shows that it needs to be built-up in thin layers, and might require a silver base over the grey primer. All important question, what wheels to use? 1:24 Hasegawa Toyota Celica 1600GT kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr The kit came with these Watanabe/Minilite-style rims as well as the wheels on the box art, and slick tyres to go with the "race configuration" parts. For some reason I am unable to use kit-supplied wheels on most of my builds, so they can go into the parts box. I had a rummage through the accessory sets and decided on these: 1:24 Hasegawa Toyota Celica 1600GT kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr Despite them saying they're narrow type the rears are still quite chunky, but with painted centres they should suit it well. 1:24 Hasegawa Toyota Celica 1600GT kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr 1:24 Hasegawa Toyota Celica 1600GT kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr I might have to do a bit of surgery on the rear inner arches to get it sitting how I'd like, and/or find some slightly narrower tyres. Since the photos I've shaved the badges and primed everything. Weather's not looking too good this weekend so I should find time to move it on a bit.

Thanks everyone for the kind words. Certainly went together nicely and worked out well for a quick, enjoyable build. Here's one I saw a couple of times in the town I used to work in: 1992 Chevrolet Corvette by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr 1992 Chevrolet Corvette by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

Another wonderful bit of lateral thinking, very well-executed.

Very effectively weathered, rust-stained wheels and all - has a great look to it.

I think it's the first time I've seen one of these built-up, looks good Gareth.

It's coming together very nicely Matt. Interesting to see such a different way of building a kit.

This simple kit continues to put up a fight. It was Tamiya Silver Leaf, but I felt it looked a bit plain and I had some issues when painting the window surrounds and applying BMF, so after a quick sanding-down I went for the Light Gunmetal which reminded me of a 1:1 I used to see. Got a few coats of TS13 clear onto it without any issue, looked like a good enough basis to polish out so I brought it into the house to spend a bit of time in the airing cupboard. Then I dropped it onto the floor..... There's also a chip on the rear bumper, but as that gets painted black it's not a problem. I'm hoping the front chips can be sanded down, and the back corner touched-up by brush, then it'll get another coat or two of clear. Thinking about it, I might have a rear spoiler that would partly conceal it. This is a kit that's already a replacement for one of those that melted in the sun, I can only be glad the shell didn't crack when it hit the deck......

Nice one Gareth. It'll make for a great companion to the Nova.

Thanks Michal. Thank you Craig. I don't think the version I had was too bad, although it looks to have been heavily retouched, but there's one with a red car that looks terrible. AMT 1993 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

That's very kind Les, thank you. I'll send you a message.

This Revell Camaro seems tidy enough, although the paint has an odd texture: But what did they do to the rear window?! Hopefully a bit of clear sheet will rectify that. No hurry though as I have a boxed, unstarted one to do first. I think this European Escort is probably beyond hope as a road car, but it could still make a short oval/grasstrack racer of some sort. Basically something that has no lights or windows and not too much interior.....

Well done! The finished result really doesn't look like it was started and finished in under a day.

Thanks all! And yes Mike, heresy I know but it was cheap on clearance and I knew it would look correct for the period ? I don't see too many of them at 1:1..... Have now added some outdoor photos "Under Glass".

That looks amazing, great attention to detail.

Well done for sticking with it, finished result looks great. I see this kit come up on eBay sometimes and I get tempted, then I remember what I've heard about how it goes together.....

Curbside build after I robbed the engine to go into a '67 Impala. Rather than put the box back on the shelf I thought I may as well chuck the rest together, as it seemed to assemble nicely and I need to reduce my unbuilt inventory. WIP thread here: Colour is Ford Caymen Blue by Halfords, a 1990s colour used on European cars, with their clearcoat. Wheels are Rays Volk C-Europe by Aoshima with staggered Fujimi tyres, Brembo brake discs by Fujimi at the front and Tamiya Nissan Silvia front discs on the rear. Now I see that preview image above I can see I got the calipers in wrong place! 1:25 AMT 1993 Corvette ZR-1 kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr 1:25 AMT 1993 Corvette ZR-1 kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr 1:25 AMT 1993 Corvette ZR-1 kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr 1:25 AMT 1993 Corvette ZR-1 kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr 1:25 AMT 1993 Corvette ZR-1 kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr Thanks for looking.

Please don't take this one too seriously! I started it back in the early-mid '90s as a loose replica of the '55 from Two Lane Blacktop, one of my favourite films. That was pre-internet so my ability to research it and find reference info was limited (I had a written set of notes taken from pausing my taped-off-TV VHS copy of the film) and of course I started with a less-than ideal base with the Monogram kit. Wheels are from the Monogram '57 with rear slicks from a Monogram NASCAR, I think some of the suspension came from the '57 too, and lots of other bits were from the parts box. After so long I struggle to remember the detail of it...... Fortunately I did most of the bodywork mod's when I was younger and had more time/enthusiasm. Front end cut-off and glued together, hood scoop scratchbuilt from sheet styrene, rear arches radiused, side trim shaved, central door posts added. Snake's Bring out Your Dead topic gave me the motivation I needed to finally get it finished. My WIP thread here: So here it is, fine for the back of the display cabinet and to give me the satisfaction of finally seeing it one piece, but not much more than that! 1:24 Monogram 1955 Chevy kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr 1:24 Monogram 1955 Chevy kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr 1:24 Monogram 1955 Chevy kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr 1:24 Monogram 1955 Chevy kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr 1:24 Monogram 1955 Chevy kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr Thanks for looking.

Last WIP update, as this one is now pretty much finished. As we have some sunshine I'll get some outdoor shots and put it Under Glass later. 1:25 AMT Corvette ZR-1 kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr Because I'd used different wheels it was difficult to accurately trial-fit them. However, it felt like it need to go lower and I couldn't see an easy way to do with the Corvette's suspension set-up (and this was just meant to be a quick, simple build), so I cheated by attaching the kit-supplied pieces off-centre. Crude, but it worked. I also had to space the rear wheels out slightly. 1:25 AMT 1993 Corvette ZR-1 kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr 1:25 AMT 1993 Corvette ZR-1 kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr I'm calling it done.

Nice work on the custom touches. I'm building one of these at present, it has a different engine but otherwise isn't as modified as yours.

Looking great so far. With the rollcage, decals etc I'd put this as quite a challenge to do in 24hrs, but you seem to be making very good progress.

Looks mean! Good work on the rear window.

Wow, that's very nice, and great photos too.

An interesting read. It reminded me that I have the 1990 version, it's on my bench as the V6 is going into a Ford Courier. I'm looking to take pity on the remnants at some point as a either a quick, clean curbside build with alternative wheels, or maybe I'll drop in a Mustang V8. Your review has made me ponder it a little more seriously.

Nice work from you and the original builder, looks really sharp.

Yay! Good start, I look forward to seeing it progress. Just enjoy it and don't get hung-up on the details. I found myself offering up wheels to my MPC version last night, I think that one might happen this year.