Jump to content
Model Cars Magazine Forum

My First Build in Years (Weird Stuff Inside)


Cobrawannabe

Recommended Posts

I'm finally getting back on the horse several years after my last scale project, which was a dual-quad 454 swapped into a Revell '66 Chevelle wagon.

Please excuse the terrible pics...
1205091528a.jpg

1205091526b.jpg


And now my current project, the Revell "Escort Turbo Street Machine" kit, from all the way back in 1981.
161106-12135.jpg?nr=7316&company=revell&

Plans are to lower it significantly, add some Fujimi wheels, paint it root beer brown with textured trim, possibly kitbash with a Revell Escort XR-3, and possibly swap in the engine from the Revell SVT Focus with a pair of Weber carbs. If I do the engine swap, I'll save the super-cool "TURBO" decals for another build.

Here are the wheels I just ordered from "Tokyo Hobby" on eBay tonight.
4968728192956-thumb-460xauto-5542.jpg

I was thinking about sourcing the Webers from The Parts Box, part number 2053. I've seen that company mentioned several times here on MCM, and was wondering what everyone's general feeling towards the company are. Positive? Also, does anyone know where I can find a set of scale fender flares?

Also going in are a pair of Recaro Trophies or more modern Corbeau seats I have laying around, the brakes from the SVT Focus, and some sort of custom exhaust setup. If you've got any other ideas, I'd be glad to hear them! Thanks for reading, I hope to have the first progress pics up this weekend.

Here's a build that will be serving as my main inspiration:
DSC00051.JPG

Regards,
Matt

Edited by Cobrawannabe
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got a tiny bit done tonight. Got all the flash off of the engine parts and glued the block halves together. I also looked at mocking up the SVTF Zetec in the bay, but it was one helluva squeeze, I'll probably stock with the 1.6. Since that's the case, i'm contemplating picking up and intercooler and larger turbo from the parts box, then attempting to build my own turbo system.

Edited by Cobrawannabe
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I ordered the Webers from the Parts Box for a bug project. They're nice but it took me almost two months to get them. They apologized and seemed sincere. BUT- and I don't intend to bash them publicly, the two sets of sprint car tires and wheels I ordered are horrible. Darn it. I'll still use them, but they are really not very well done.

Dale

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I ordered the Webers from the Parts Box for a bug project. They're nice but it took me almost two months to get them. They apologized and seemed sincere. BUT- and I don't intend to bash them publicly, the two sets of sprint car tires and wheels I ordered are horrible. Darn it. I'll still use them, but they are really not very well done.

Dale

I appreciate your reply! Thanks so much for the tips.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That white Escort looks killer. I hope the one I'm working on turns out half as good as that. Show us what you have so far Cobrawannabe. We would love to see your progress.

It really does, one of the best 1:18 builds I've ever seen! I'm probably going to buy the kit of the stock XR-3 so I can use the grille and hood from it to tone down the nose a bit. I'm not 100% sold on the "rhinoplasty" done on this kit.

I'll post pics once I've got some painting done and the wheels are in. I'm trying to figure out how to lower it right now hahaha.

whats so wierd about an escort build ?? i'm busy working on one myself....

Most people tend to find my taste in cars a bit... Odd. :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are some progress pics...

I got the lump most of the way together, and will start detail painting it once I pick up another jar of thinner for my brushes and some more paint.
IMG_2616.jpg

IMG_2617.jpg

I also started body work, which involved the numerous but minor mold lines, and trimming the fenders to allow tighter wheel/tire fitment.
IMG_2618.jpg

IMG_2619.jpg

IMG_2621.jpg

IMG_2620.jpg

IMG_2622.jpg

Then I began lowering the rear of the car, a proposition that is proving much easier than I anticipated.

IMG_2624.jpg

IMG_2626.jpg

IMG_2625.jpg

Edited by Cobrawannabe
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Picked up the paint today, decided on Tamiya's "Red Brown". I also got a jar of copper enamel for the wheel centers, interior accents, and engine details. Finally, I replenished my gloss/flat black stocks, and added some white and a jar of thinner to the mix. I'm getting excited!

I am still waiting on my wheels, though :(

Edited by Cobrawannabe
Link to comment
Share on other sites

As easy as that -_-

LoOkin`cool

What wheels are those ;)

Yeah, the rear end was cake, and I don't think the front end will be too bad, either. It will be a tad tedious, though. Oh well, that'll keep me occupied while the wheels and resin trickle in. I'm going to order a pair of Recaro Trophy seats from TPB in the next couple of days, along with some turbo accessories and possibly a new exhaust exit/resonator.

The wheels I'm using in mock-up are stockers from an R34 GTR X-Mod, they're just there for fender clearance and suspension height reference. I'll be using 15" Fujimi Techno Racing TV-Rs for the final build. Polished lips with copper centers.

Edited by Cobrawannabe
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Took care of a bunch of progress tonight, got about three hours of work in. Lowering the car has been greatly expedited by the purchase of a file set, I can't believe I did anything without them! Here's what I got done:

-Finished painting and assembling drivetrain.

-Finished painting the interior, sans the front seats and steering wheel, which are being ordered from The Parts Bin.
-Set rear ride height

-Installed rear subframe and control arms.

-Set front ride height

-Mocked up overall ride height, may consider lowering the front more, but that depends on the tire size of the Fujimi wheels, which STILL haven't shown up.
-Detail painted engine bay with the exception of the tank and reservoir caps, which will be painted copper.

-Mocked up front and rear bumpers/valances, finalized fitment.

The pics!

Paint:

IMG_2657.jpg

Dialing in ride height, it wound up going lower.
IMG_2659.jpg

IMG_2660.jpg

Interior: Seats are flat brown, trim is copper, all else is flat black or the molded black plastic color because that matches the factory finish so well.

IMG_2662.jpg

Engine bay

IMG_2665.jpg

Engine and transmission together, detailing done.

IMG_2668.jpg

A better interior shot

IMG_2669.jpg

Rear suspension glued in

IMG_2670.jpg

Edited by Cobrawannabe
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cool build man.

I had a 12 year old ford escort exp as my first car. It was red trimmed in brown yellow and orange stripe down the side (chick magnet)

You should make you a modle room somewhere so you dont mess your house up. Best thing i did when we built our house

Thanks! I've always loved the EXP, such an awesome little oddball!

I really should do something, but I'm crashing at my parents' place for a short while until I get back on my feet after an apartment fire, so I'm probably just going to keep being EXTREMELY careful for the time being hahaha.

Not a huge amount of progress was made today, but I did lay down the color! This one's taking shape rather quickly.

IMG_2692.jpg

IMG_2689.jpg

IMG_2691.jpg

IMG_2690.jpg

Five coats of Tamiya TS-1, which I did not realize was flat until I sprayed it. Will a lot of color sanding and glossy clear change that? Also, I'd like to maybe find a tinted clear to darken it a touch, any suggestions?

Edited by Cobrawannabe
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, the Fujimi wheels showed up today. Uh, I had absolutely no idea how gigantic they'd be, so I guess things got a bit real. I've decided to hack the car up and box flare it to accommodate a full set of the front wheels, I'll be ordering a second set of complete it. Here are the pics:

Before I decided to flare the car, I tried stretching the stock Revell tires over the Fujimis just for kicks. There was way too much stretch, and the rears poked so far I didn't even bother taking pictures.
IMG_2711.jpg

So, I started hacking:
IMG_2712.jpg

And gluing:

IMG_2716.jpg

And trimming:
IMG_2722.jpg

IMG_2723.jpg

And gluing some more:
IMG_2729.jpg

Edited by Cobrawannabe
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...