PatW

My inspiration......................................... The kit.............................................. The extra's............................... and.............................................. more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Nice work Tomo. I've used the old oven cleaner a few times now to strip the plating.

Brilliant photo's thanks for sharing.

Any photo's?

That's correct martinfan, the factory that build the racing Cruze is just up the road from here in the UK, They come in as road cars and are stripped out, seam welded bodies, rollcages etc right up to now customer race touring cars as Chevrolet have withdrawn support. They are mainly seen in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). Ray Mallock runs his family business from Wellingborough. His father built a range of lightweight sportsracers back in the 1960's. They built the Nissan Zeod, an arrow shaped endurance racer that races in Le Mans series worldwide. They do a lot of research work for many major vehicle manufacturers.

Thanks Gary, yes I like to 'change' or 'update' builds as I go along. There's another sports car on it's way but again it's 'different'! It's like the tyre decals, as large as possible, so I've bought (not the Potenza) 1/20th scale to see if they fit!

Yes Scott I certainly think so. I see so many people asking where they can buy extra bits, accessories etc. Well buy some plasticard sheets or tubes etc and make some. I wanted some time ago a model of a teardrop trailer and they were expensive to import from the states, so I bough treadplate plasticard and square rod and made one!

Well thanks you Scott, Michael & Tommy. I try to please...............myself and wait to see what other people think! And the reaction is pretty positive, so I know that I've done well. Scott, we've always got to try something new or different to keep the little grey cells working, thinking, if I do this, or that, what is the outcome and after a lot of thought it generally works. Ideas come around 3 or 4 in the morning. Now my next project is a famous sports car, a speedboat, a roof rack, a surfboard...............................oh just wait and see! On here in the next few days!

Hi again jb thanks for you critique. Yes I Googled hellaflush images and between different cars various online shops were advertising vinyl wraps for 1:1 cars. I copied these onto my pc and reduced or enlarged the images until I got the right size. I initially used clear decal paper and now use white backed paper for darker paint jobs. For example.......................................... I copy them onto a word document and move around so that I can also add different images and put a mix on each decal sheet. I put these onto an A4 size sheet and cut off as much as I need for each appliction. I'm not selling any of the decals so I'm not breaching their copyrights.

Thanks Matt & Bill.

Superb work being done here Angel! Aren't these kits expensive, well they are here in the UK?

I know I'm 'Old Skool' after 50+ years in the hobby, but I still use rattle cans, I've never gone 'up market' to an airbrush, so never had this type of problem, sorry.

Thanks also to o-man and slusher, I'm always trying something different. Yes my wife says 'Very Trying'

Thanks Tomo, yes that's what I attempt to do, research and constantly try new things and be even more satisfied with the outcome (sometimes). 50+ years of model building and I'm still as keen as mustard! Yes I hate masking and I need to improve each time. I'm doing the window masks and spraying on the windows of the Fujimi McLaren MP4-12 sportsracer today turning it into a road car! Sourcing an extra seat, building the rollcage around two seats instead of one etc.

Thank you very much Doctor, I put it down to lots of research, always wanting to know how things look, before and during a build, picking up more tips and info. Google has a lot to answer for!

Just finished on 'on the workbench' Nice kit, kit decals and my own printed bonnet decal (Hellaflush, Illest, Canibeat) and other 'tuner' decals from collection. 1st on the deck in the sun.................... 2nd, Staged on the kitchen worktop.................

Cheers Scott, I'm always trying even after 50 years building kits.

Cheers Shaun, yes I'm now looking forward to seeing yours!

The last two pics to finish off......................... You'll notice that the Advan tyre decals are missing as one was torn whilst laying up, so found Potenza ones from my own decal collection................ outside in the sun....... And the last one of many staged on the kitchen worktop! And that's it. Now I'm about to start a Fujimi, McLaren MP4-12 sports racer converting it to a roadcar!

And a few more................. And having seen this whilst researching on Google........................... I added a few of my own................................... So just prior to fitting bonnet and boot lid................................ And the last few to come.................

Cheers guys, yes it's a nice kit. And here are the final pics.......................... Hanging the wing and test fitting the boot lid again........................ My own printed decal, hellaflush / illset / canibeat all over the bonnet............................. I started the kit decals first....................................... and some others from the kit.....................

Yes I built one of the original Honda 750's as a flat tracker!

and a few more...................... Body on and test fit bonnet (had to shave the outside plastic from the 'hinges' for smooth fit raise and lower, and to close properly)................... Photo Etch filler cap (if you can see it on my old cutting board!)............... Stance with cambered hubs........a shot before the wings/fenders are fitted. Remember there are both standard and cambered hubs in the kit.............. And the wings/fenders fitted! More tomorrow........................

Thanks Brizio, yes they are cool! Here's today's work......... Nose with brake ducts fitted to body................ Rear bumper and undertray...................... Bumper unit fixed to body and test fit boot lid................... More in a moment.............

I've seen various resin based tuner engines for sale. Yes shaun I did send you a message through this site saying I was about to start, perhaps you didn't get it? Yes the CF was folded over on the edge of the fender and wouldn't stick it seems, and disintegrated the next day in minute flakes. As martinfan states with this one there's just the bottom/transmission shape and gearbox belhousing. Anyway more work to do tomorrow, and the subsequent pics to show! I'm now hunting down extra 'tuner' decals to put on plus the kit ones. In my google search into 'Images of Toyota 86 Rocket Bunny' I came across this, so hunting as above for more decals............. I'll have to see what I can find.