Citroen Xsara WRC 2001 - Airfix

[Technics]

Citroen Xsara WRC 2001 Rally 

 

A budget auction purchase in order to accumulate hours of airbrush use.
 

This is my first Airfix kit…. It’s no Tamiya! But the subject is obscure and I’m attracted to it. A simpler era that I look fondly back on so it’s an exciting topic.
 

Quick colour tests to get used to pulling the trigger back. A Tamiya XF yellow and a Game Air red. Tamiya was thinned with lacquer thinner and the Game Air got served a dollop of retarder to slow down the needle tip drying and flow improver.
 

Both went on beautifully. 

Edited November 8, 2024 by Technics

[Technics]

A neat little hatch. Can’t say I’ve seen many of these on the street. I never lived in a country that they were sold in. Especially a dual cam / hot version.

[Technics]

Quick build, filled in a few gaps on the exterior ( tricky rear badges that would never look good ) Made holes for the jack points on the side skirts. And worked on the overall stance.

Interior is all black with a few decals.

Depending on the result on the exterior might do belts but I find everything is secondary to a nicely done exterior. It’s the largest room for improvement to my skillset I aim to develop.

 

[MarkJ]

Be watching with great anticipation. That Vallejo air brush paint looks like it goes on very smoothly. Did you have to thin it at all or was it premixed just right for use?  

[1959scudetto]

Interesting to see this one being built - it is (original) a Heller kit, reboxed by Airfix.

[Technics]

@MarkJ Straight out of the bottle, apart from a small drop of retarder to help aid tip drying. I am too amazed in the experience of how thin paint can go on. Definitely very rewarding. Very nice experience using both paints. 
 

@1959scudetto Thank you. I find all the Citroens to be really nice looking rally cars. I have the DS3 kit as well in the backed up pipeline. ?

Edited November 11, 2024 by Technics

[MarkJ]

Thank you, MM that is good, to know.

[Technics]

I made a 3-4 light passes in red and yellow.

I should have given some more thought about the order and layering of the colours. Nevertheless I am very happy with working with an airbrush and where it’s heading. Ultimately this is just a quick build to put miles on the skillset and tools. It’s so calm and composed compared to rattle can. 

I will blend the colours as best I can while keeping the roof white. I had it masked off not to foul the bright white with red paint.

 

Edited November 12, 2024 by Technics

[Mattilacken]

Nice build! That era of Rally is my favorite, guess since I was watching those when growing up. 
 

MJ hobby carry the new Ammo paint aimed at us car model makers if you want to try an other paint.

[Technics]

@Mattilacken Agree! I did I not realize you are local. MJ is my nearest shop. I am trying to utilize the paint I have bought throughout the years.... but interesting with new of course!  Is that "gen 3" AK ? 

[Mattilacken]

@Technics I am as local as Internet goes I live in Gällivare 1200km North of Stockholm but did a visit to MJ not long ago. Ulf is local if i remember correct. 

The new paint is the Cobra line. Cobra BIL färg - AMMO-MIG - Färg och Lim - MJ Hobby Experten AB, Stockholm

 

[Technics]

@Mattilacken Oh, these look fantastic.

[Technics]

All 3 colours were applied and re applied as I saw fit via airbrush. Far from perfect but I am content.

White Tamiya primer, red game air, XF Tamiya Yellow, re applied white in game air. 

 

Edited November 14, 2024 by Technics

[titino]

Hello MM, in the rear part as seen in the first photograph, you should correct the line that separates the body parts, it is irregular, it is time to do it because after varnishing it will be worse. Very good paint job.

[Technics]

New decals to the rescue. Great eBay find and resource. 

I applied the kit decals which were 25 years old… fragile hassle but managed to get it all applied and sealed it with clear.. unfortunately some peeled off with masking tape when I went to paint the black trim rather successfully. I’m blaming decal age / material reaction, but it could’ve been a number of things. I am simply continuing, should turn out ok, a stepping stone build.

Before some decals damaged with masking tape. 
 

 

[titino]

Beautiful!!!

[Bainford]

Nice work. The paint is looking good. Looks like you are getting a handle on that airbrush. 

[Technics]

Most decals are on, I matched from two separate decal sheets. I am content how it’s looking considering it’s the second build of my return and the obstacles with the decals, and missing pieces 😅 I will do a bit of detailing and light weathering I believe and calling it done after that! 

 

 

[MarkJ]

Looks outstanding, M.M. Looks like you took the real car and shrunk it down to scale. 

[titino]

Very good!!! it looks spectacular.

[Technics]

@titino @MarkJ Thank you, considering the setbacks I’m pleasantly surprised how it’s looking as well. I would have liked a more of a “glass” wet mirror finish for the roof and hood. I remain excited. 

 

@Bainford Thank you. It’s so much more controlled than a rattle can, a lifetime to master surely but I’m pleasantly surprised how relatively easy it is with the guidance of research and the great paints available today.  

Edited December 15, 2024 by Technics

[ZTony8]

I built one of these several years ago straight from the box.Not one of my best builds but then it's a Heller, not a Tamiya kit. It was interesting enough to Scale Auto magazine to photograph it at a show and then use the image on the inside back cover for several issues to encourage readers to subscribe to the magazine. We know how that turned out.

[PatW]

On 12/13/2024 at 2:35 AM, Technics said:

New decals to the rescue. Great eBay find and resource. 

I applied the kit decals which were 25 years old… fragile hassle but managed to get it all applied and sealed it with clear.. unfortunately some peeled off with masking tape when I went to paint the black trim rather successfully. I’m blaming decal age / material reaction, but it could’ve been a number of things. I am simply continuing, should turn out ok, a stepping stone build.

Before some decals damaged with masking tape. 
 

 

Looking so good!