Commissioned build - 1998 Monte Carlo Livery

This is my most important build to date, because it’s my first commissioned work. I hadn't intended to do another Impreza so soon but Tamiyaclub member Subaruhess contacted me about building a 1997 car, a price was agreed and work began.



This originally started out as a 1997 car but at Hess’ request was changed to 1998 shortly after. Tamiya don’t make an RC version of the 1998, just the 1997 and 1999, so the stickers are a mix of the the 97 Impreza, home made, and the Monte Carlo door numbers and badges from the Escort WRC which is also 1998 so the Monte stickers have the correct year.



I managed to properly screw up the big yellow crescents on the driver side - got creases and bubbles. I wasn’t sure what to do (as I had no spare stickers), but I then worked out that I could make the shapes from vinyl. For the blue shadow bit I could butt that up to the yellow so there was no “step” where the layers overlapped. I did this and they look great - even better than the stickers. No clear outline and as they are all separate pieces they follow the curve of the body better so no creases or bubbles. I did the same with the front and rear ones too. The yellow vinyl is more vibrant than the printed stickers too.



Making this for someone else made me really want to go further and do some things I’d not done before, like the washer jets, tiny O·Z stickers on the wheels, rear number plate light, and the tax disc. The co-drive now has proper printed pace notes rather than just a blank white clipboard. The exhausts I’ve used previously are too large a diameter tailpipe for this car but this one from the F-350 Hi-Lift is perfect. As this car has electrical switches for the fire extinguisher and electric cutoff I made some styrene discs which I painted orange and red.



For the lights I used Skyline R34 buckets for the front, but for the rear I couldn’t locate any that fitted. I tried to make my own but wasn’t getting anywhere so instead I painted the red section with PS transparent red, fitted silver square mesh inside to give the textured pattern, then used the aluminium glass tape that comes with some kits. Finally I made thin black trim lines to go around the outside edges.



As this is being sold as a complete car I built a new chassis for it. It’ll be a shelfer so didn’t need anything special so it’s just a TT-02. It is the TT-02 Type-S version though as that has the longer suspension arms for a more realistic looking steering angle, and the all important camber adjustment. As usual I removed the rear toe-in for a more realistic look and then spaced the rear wheels out. Rather than the usual plastic spacers this one got no-expense spared blue anodised TRF items!



Details:

• Bonnet vent struts added

• Electric cutoff and fire extinguisher switches

• Roof transponder dome

• Bonnet washer jets

• Rear number plate light

• Tax disc

• O·Z logos on wheels

• Rear light lenses tinted PS transparent red, mesh and reflective tape fitted

• Subaru crescent logos reproduced in vinyl

• 1998 Monte Carlo logos from Escort WRC

• Front splitter painted TS semi-gloss black

• Lexan rear number plate

• Front light buckets (Skyline R34)

• Grille and bonnet vents cut out and mesh fitted

• Matte window frames and roof trims

• Rear window heater elements

• Wheels painted TS gold

• MST black wheel nuts

• TT-02D Type-S wider track

• TRF blue aluminium rear wheel spacers

• Cockpit set

• Printed co-driver pace notes

• Styrene roll cage

• Exhaust (F-350 Hi-Lift)

• Brembo brake discs and callipers

• Windscreen wipers

• Roof aerials

• 3D bonnet catches (Wrap-Up Next)

• Camber adjustment

• Tyre lettering

• Intercooler

• Rear toe-in removed

• TLU-01 LED lights

• Stealth mounts