'74 Toyota Celica / '90 Lexus V8

[Dann Tier]

Sofar this is one of THE BEST custom jobs i've seen!!!....OUTSTANDING, Bud!!!!

[89AKurt]

On 5/4/2020 at 4:44 AM, Dann Tier said:

Sofar this is one of THE BEST custom jobs i've seen!!!....OUTSTANDING, Bud!!!!

Thanks Dann the man! ?  Custom, it ain't no Lead Sled. ?

Worked on the rear end.  The roof spoiler was in the parts box, cut the ends off (with the hot-wire), adjusted the angle and narrowed a bit; will refine the height.  The adjustable spoiler is Evergreen (cut out with the hot-wire), superglued the ends on to match the body profile.  The hinge is 100 year old fusee pocket watch chain.

I scribed a groove on the bottom and glued, drilled holes in the body, don't need to glue in.  I want to make a hydraulic strut, but can't figure out a good leverage angle and be able to realistically open the hatch, so just going to say the operating mechanism is inside.  Also added the Lexus mirrors, not doing the JDM units on the fender.

[cobraman]

Great project and your mods are looking fantastic !

[majel]

I'm trying to follow along in the instruction manual but I can't seem to find what page you are on let alone what step you're on!!  This is some amazing scratch building and kit bashing.

[89AKurt]

1 hour ago, cobraman said:

Great project and your mods are looking fantastic !

Thank you.

11 minutes ago, majel said:

I'm trying to follow along in the instruction manual but I can't seem to find what page you are on let alone what step you're on!!  This is some amazing scratch building and kit bashing.

You have both kit instructions ready?  Now get scissors out, cut out step 2 from Celica and stick the upper half on the Celsior step 6, now go back to step 5 lower left, and stick on step 9 top and bottom, then go back ...... ?  I only looked at the Celsior for assembling the chassis, and that's when I put them aside.  I drew all over those instructions, but have changed my mind a few times.  And thank you.

[Dann Tier]

Great idea with the operational wig, Bud!!!

[89AKurt]

1 hour ago, Dann Tier said:

Great idea with the operational wig, Bud!!!

Thanks!   It was one of the easiest working things I've done.

Finally got to the putty stage, used Squadron.  About done wrecking parts to change them too.

Found the last bit of copper wire in my clutter collection, need to stop by a construction site that's at the wiring stage.  Ditched the last mufflers, you know Lexus was proud of how quiet their cars were (still?), I'm sure it would sound much better without them.  Used the Dremel to make pins at the end of the copper wire, drilled into the part, and superglued on.  The stainless steel tubing is a little bigger than the wire, wrapped the end with aluminum tape for a tight fit.

This is a case of "why didn't I do that the first time?"  Wasn't happy with the photo-etch, so tried the bigger size hole of the fabulous Replicas & Miniatures of MD honeycomb, looks 100% better!

[89AKurt]

Since Brembo brake calipers will be red, *have to* do tow hooks.  Don't need no stinking' photo-etch for that!

Sat in the sun so I could see progress with the new emory cloth, to sand the putty.

[Dann Tier]

This is looking FANTASTIC!!!!!....and showing how a great custom job can look!!!!

[Mattilacken]

Great work! Looks great!

[Funkychiken]

Like others have said Kurt, this is amazing scratch building, it's looks US muscle car, or hoonigan! Love it!

[89AKurt]

8 hours ago, Dann Tier said:

This is looking FANTASTIC!!!!!....and showing how a great custom job can look!!!!

Appreciate you stepping in.

7 hours ago, Mattilacken said:

Great work! Looks great!

Thank you!

7 hours ago, Funkychiken said:

Like others have said Kurt, this is amazing scratch building, it's looks US muscle car, or hoonigan! Love it!

Thanks!  When I studied the Celica after getting it (years ago), thought so much was similar to the Mustang, Camero, etc. but it was just a little smaller.

Check out this Ken Block video, some great discussion about how their cars are designed.

 

[89AKurt]

Minor progress today, sanded the touchup putty, then washed really well, in fact soaked for a couple of hours to disolve any baking soda crumbs.  In certain light, could see the superglue.

Airbrushed Tamiya primer on the modified areas.  I can never get close to a finished surface when I do so much custom bodywork. ?  The paint shouts every imperfection. I was planning to wet-sand anyway, but looks like more filling than expected.

Now I'm debating about keeping the trim on the fender, or just take it off.  Need to pick a license plate:
1. Do kick others butt, before they kicks yours.

2. Burn up AZ highways.

[majel]

Can never go wrong with Arizona Highways, a true classic!

[Dann Tier]

On 5/7/2020 at 11:52 AM, 89AKurt said:

Appreciate you stepping in.

Thank you!

Thanks!  When I studied the Celica after getting it (years ago), thought so much was similar to the Mustang, Camero, etc. but it was just a little smaller.

Check out this Ken Block video, some great discussion about how their cars are designed.

 

I dont normally like this type of car, but this is freaking SICK!!!!

[Dann Tier]

Just a bit of tidying up, and you got yerself a winner here, Bud!!!

[89AKurt]

11 hours ago, Dann Tier said:

Just a bit of tidying up, and you got yerself a winner here, Bud!!!

Yep! ?

Got (almost) final details done.  Interior of the Lexus had to merge into the Celica dashboard, hot-wire cut the front of the Celica tunnel and reworked to make this transition.  The Lexus had no parking brake handle, they must have the electronic version like my Honda has, which I'm not a fan of, no more drifting handbrake turns.

Rear strut tower brace made from brass wire, smashed the ends on the anvil, punched aluminum mount plates.  Also made pedal arms from coffee can steel, will use photo-etch pedals (both kits have nice pedals, but Celica is 5 speed, Lexus is automatic).

Air filter made from left over part that came from the '72 Chevy pickup custom grill.

A modification that will be easily overlooked, the Celica hood has 3 slots that were opened up, added #4 to honor the V8.  Decided to blend in the bulge.

Here are the two kits.  I have someone wanting the Celsior body, so it will go to good use, there is a clear hood!  Lots of left over parts from the Celica (upper right).  The pile of cut up parts with the Celica wheels.

The Celica came with several audio components, the amp will definitely be put somewhere.  When I was laying this out, realized I had not worked on the steering wheel, and also discovered a part is missing, so have a task to do before painting.

[mrm]

Very cool project. Would love to see it finished. 

[streetmachine11]

kurt, this is a great project looking real nice so far never realized the 1UZ v8 was in a kit. may have to find one. looking forward to more 

[89AKurt]

7 hours ago, mrm said:

Very cool project. Would love to see it finished. 

Thanks.   No more than me!  I'm having to force myself to not touch freshly painted parts to mask and paint the other colors.

7 hours ago, streetmachine11 said:

kurt, this is a great project looking real nice so far never realized the 1UZ v8 was in a kit. may have to find one. looking forward to more 

It's one of the few Tamiya street car kits with an engine.  Good luck finding a decent price, eBay $ are of course ridiculous.

Painted most of today, some masking involved. ?  I really wanted to try the Tamiya lacquer that isn't sold in the USA, got via eBay from Hong Kong, titanium gold.  I noticed the design around the rim is a little different than the box art, not a big deal, just amusing.

Tricky to figure out what to paint first, so I know semi-gloss black and silver will be squirted again.  Still not happy with the body.

To avoid screwing up the paint, better weed whack the yard, it sort of needs it anyway. ?

[89AKurt]

Since Jason told me the designation of the engine, thought I better do some research before finishing the engine.  I wanted to use MSD decal and add a box, but apparently that would be incorrect, they sell spark plug coils (which you can't see), so ditched that idea.  I shouldn't be surprised, but there are some wild engines based on this, stuffed into Corrolas!  One could go nuts detailing this engine, I want to finish it.  One thing I am straying from the instructions, and what is popular for modification is painting red or blue, sprayed Alclad 'polished aluminum' on some parts.  Also painted the interior an off-white.

[Funkychiken]

That's a great video on teh fox body mustanf Kurt, great progress, and the body is looking cool!

[89AKurt]

8 hours ago, Funkychiken said:

That's a great video on teh fox body mustanf Kurt, great progress, and the body is looking cool!

Thanks!  I'm amazed what can be done with computers.

Keep seeing blemishes *after* painting primer.  At this rate, will sand the body into nothingness.

Third time for primer.  Good enough, can lightly wet-sand before continuing.

Masked for Alclad 'white aluminum'.

Assembling the engine, tiny decals, and punched an aluminum oil cap.

Engine in the chassis!  Instead of painting the heat shields, made bigger and better out of cigarette package foil, glued on with the Testors canopy glue.  Added photo-etch oil pan drain plugs.

[89AKurt]

At least the chassis got done this weekend.  Detailed the engine bay with photo-etch screw heads, and punched another aluminum cap.

Strut brace installed, more punched aluminum and photo-etch screw heads.

Exhaust installed, saving the tips for last.  Everything fit great when dry fitting, but when it came to gluing in, was such a klutz! ?

This kit had the American Satco resin LHD dashboard.  Didn't realize it was so crude until painting black.  The JDM kit has clear gauge faces, think the intent was for being able to light, the headlights and taillights seemed to be designed for bulbs.  The resin dash has the gauge faces included.  But since I have these awesome decals, used those, this time did not use as decals, but glued in on the paper still.

Masked to paint the interior.

Though the Tamiya instructions show interior is painted a mix for a dark green, I did what I wanted, including painting the seat backs semi-gloss black.

Will put black carpet in, and of course seatbelts.

[89AKurt]

Interior is done.  But first was the last coat of primer, trying out the white version of Tamiya.  Finally got a decent enough finish, with exception of tiny pits.

Detail painted the door panels.  Glued in the Model Car Garage pedals.  Black carpet installed, think it's Hiroboy, adhesive backed.

Studio 27 seatbelts, this time grey belts.  Made wire loops on the seats, because I couldn't see how to mount the belt at the ceiling.

Door panels glued on, the ugly side of such a kit bash.

Hobby Design carbon-fiber decals.  They are thick, tried the Scale Motorsport solvent which didn't seem to touch them.