Tamiya new build willy's wheeler kit

[zomboided]

Brilliant build thread. So interesting to see a rare kit like this built up (and good on you for not leaving it NIB).

How did you attach the mesh? Did you just hot glue it? You might have said already, but I didn't notice as I was too busy drooling over the pictures

[Jamesssb]

Brilliant build thread.  So interesting to see a rare kit like this built up (and good on you for not leaving it NIB).

 

How did you attach the mesh?  Did you just hot glue it?  You might have said already, but I didn't notice as I was too busy drooling over the pictures

I glued it to the body with thick CA (superglue)

Thanks for the feedback. 8-)

[skip665]

Amazing job - sorry for all the "likes" on your posts - I was loving it so much I just had to!

[waterbok]

Found some more info on the Honda City Turbo.

General Honda City Turbo Information

Honda has only manufactured two models of turbocharged car (other than F1). One was a 2.5 litre V6 Legend needing a bit more go, the other, a tiny commuter car known as the City or Jazz. It's ironic that the car they choose to release as a special edition turbo was the least sportscar like vehicle in the Honda range. The Honda City Turbo was the brainchild of Hirotoshi Honda. Hirotoshi is the son of Honda's Founder. Hirotoshi’s company Mugen had already proven it’s worth making performance parts for motorcycles and some cars but was largely unheard of out of racing circles. Hirotoshi Honda took Honda's ugliest, most ungainly vehicle and turned it into an aggressive performer that was well ahead of its time (as with most Hondas) and Honda released a production version of it.

Honda City Turbos were manufactured in three guises. The City Turbo, basically a standard looking City with a turbo motor and a bonnet hump. In Japan, the second model City Turbo is affectionately known as the "Bulldog". This model had aggressively flared guards, spoilers and was adorned with wild graphics straight from the factory designating it a HYPER 11. Very few city turbos were also released as a cabriolet model (most cabriolets are not turbo charged but still have the flared guard body kit typical of the turbo 11).

The City Turbo

The City Turbo 1 was manufactured from 1981-83, the Turbo 11 was manufactured until 1987. Both models featured a digital speedo surrounded by a Tacho so that all relative information could be taken at a glance. The last run of Turbo 11s had a normal speedo/tacho assembly. The motors in both models were essentially the same. Both models were powered by an all alloy 1237cc motor with CVCC (we'll get to that), IHI RHB51 turbocharger, multipoint fuel injection and a magnesium rocker cover. Compression ratio was down to 7.5:1 and the boost was wound up to 12psi, fairly high for a factory turbo car. The Turbo 11's were intercooled, had a revised intake plenum, slightly larger throttle body, modified inlet manifold, higher AR turbo compressor and exhaust housings as well as a slightly raised (7.6:1) compression ratio. Both motors have the same sort of power potential.

CVCC

CVCC is a system used by honda to reduce emissions by stratifying the combustion charge. In the City Turbo the throttle body appears much like a 3 barrel downdraught carby. One barrel has a very small port size and actually houses a single injector. This port leads to a separate set of intake runners which provide fuel to each of the CVCC valves located within a combustion prechamber. The combustion pechamber is actually seperated from the main combustion chamber by a perforated collar. A rich mixture of fuel and air are added to the combustion prechamber which also houses the spark plug. This is ignited and creates a single flame front out of the prechamber. While this goes on the main combustion chamber is fed fuel via sequential multipoint injectors in the same manner as most modern EFI cars. The only difference is that in City turbo motor this is a relatively lean mixture, not easily ignited by a spark plug alone. The flame front from the prechamber is used to ignite this lean mixture. Apart from decreased emissions and increased fuel economy this stratified charge helps to ward off the killer of many turbo engines, DETONATION. Detonation occurs when two flame fronts (or shockwaves) collide in a standard combustion chamber. One is caused by the spark plug, the other is caused by the high pressures, friction and shockwaves on the other side of the cylinder igniting an easily combustible mixture. Detonation can also be caused by superheated carbon particles or sharp edges in the combustion chamber that can operate like a glow plug in a diesel engine. Stratified combustion such as the CVCC system makes this second front less likely to occur as the lean mixtures in the main combustion chambers are hard to ignite.

Performance of Honda City Turbos is really up to the individual owners. The standard Turbo 1 produces 100hp and has a top speed of 179km/hr, the Turbo 11 produces 110hp and has a top speed of 175km/hr (lower top speed due to spoilers and body flares). When you do get them going with a few modifications you will soon find the digital speedo maxes out at 180 while the revs continue to climb. The braking system is very capable for such a small car. Honda raided the parts bin and the front brakes are the vented disks and callipers straight of the Prelude from the same era, rear brakes are stock city items.

Honda City Turbo Racing

Mugen and Honda ran a single make racing series using the city turbos. The cars were based on the production vehicles as were the motors. The motors had larger exhaust, injectors, production type turbo (with 22psi), production type intercooler, and a modified camshaft. These cars did the standing 1/4 mile in 13.5 seconds (which isn’t bad for a frontwheel drive car set up for circuit racing). They ran very fat tyres (9” front and 7” rear). The official mugen figure for power output is 138+hp @ 5500rpm but the torque is around 22kgm @ 3500rpm (standard twin cam VTEC 1600 has 16kgm, NSX V6 has about 28kgm). It takes little work to produce these power figure in a street motor. The cars from the one make racing series were bought by an Australian entrepreneur with the view to continuing the series in Australia. Unfortunately all the vehicles were in a wharehouse in Osaka waiting to be shipped when an earthquake struck and buried the lot.

Modifications. Honda city Turbos can be easily modified for some good results. The filter can be replaced with a high flow item and cold air ducting is already present behind the passenger panel. The filter box can be removed completely and a high flow item put in it's place. A 2 1/2 inch exhaust straight off the turbo will liberate boost and provide a large increase in power. Honda cities have MAP sensed airflow so you don't need to muck about with high flow airflow meters. By the way the City turbo has twin map sensors, one for boost and one for vacuum (Map sensors did not appear in cars available in Australia until 1990). City Turbos have a boost cut at about 16psi boost. This must be disabled if you want to run high boost levels.

Raising boost. Because the City motor has a long stroke and small diameter bore there is a small surface area within the combustion chamber. This combined with the CVCC system and the factory flat top pistons and the inherent bottom end strength of Honda motors allow for large increases in power through boost increase. Sources within Honda say tuned correctly Honda motors will run double the factory output without self destructing. That's a big call. Just imagine a series 11 Turbo with a fresh motor, bigger turbo and high boost with 220hp on tap. That's more than a stock WRX with approximately half the weight. That being said these motors will take high boost levels.

Normal 110ps.(110ps/5,000rpm 16.3kg-m/3,000rpm)
Change camshaft and boost-increase(0.85 -> 1.63kg/cm2)
Up to 138ps.(138ps/5,000rpm 22kg-m/3,000rpm)
0 -> 400m in 13.5sec

(The following information originated from the RaceCraft homepage and was written by Charles. And be found at Cityturbo.com )

[Jamesssb]

Amazing info!! Well done and great find. It sounds like it was truly ahead of all others. The start of mugen!

Just so you all know I'm a huge Honda fan and drive a JDM Honda Integra DC5 fully mugen'd.

James.

[Grastens]

Nice car - with your brilliant Willy's Wheeler, I think it could use a Mugen stripe

[wolfdogstinkus]

I was going to ask what the number plate was on, don't need to now.

Thanks for sharing this build, it has been amazing to watch such a rare car being built from new.

[Jamesssb]

Nice car - with your brilliant Willy's Wheeler, I think it could use a Mugen stripe

I have thought about it, though I think it may be too much on a road car.

Thanks for the feedback.

J

[Madmat]

Loved this thread. Just as Honda City Turbo II stuff was popping up in it, I though this would be a nice link to share.

Introduction

http://www.build-threads.com/build-threads/project-honda-city-turbo-ii-introduction/

Teardown
http://www.build-threads.com/build-threads/project-honda-city-turbo-ii-teardown/

Engine Rebuild
http://www.build-threads.com/build-threads/project-honda-city-turbo-ii-engine-refresh/

[Wez-li]

Brilliant thread and a truly excellent build mate.

So glad you've built and run this as Tamiya intended, such a shame when collector's leave stuff like this in the box.

Nib? Nah, where's the fun in that?

[Jamesssb]

Loved this thread. Just as Honda City Turbo II stuff was popping up in it, I though this would be a nice link to share.

Introduction

http://www.build-threads.com/build-threads/project-honda-city-turbo-ii-introduction/

Teardown

http://www.build-threads.com/build-threads/project-honda-city-turbo-ii-teardown/

Engine Rebuild

http://www.build-threads.com/build-threads/project-honda-city-turbo-ii-engine-refresh/

I'm amazed by the real restoration links!!

I really would love to get one in the uk but as rare as gold eggs!

J

[redzone]

Whoever wrote that article got it wrong about map sensors in aus delivered cars, the Starion had one in 1982...

[Pintopower]

Looks great. I am not a box art fan of these at all but when I got mine, it was done that way already. I cannot bear to remove the decals the previous owner added, especially since he told me what he paid for the them. I did go nuts on the lights though.

I had to make styrene panels to prevent the light from saturating the adjoining colors. There are LED's per tail lamp (brake, driving, reverse and turn). I tell you, it was pretty scary making that many holes in a body that is impossible to find. I did the same as you in the front, though I added custom fog lights that I designed and 3D printed for the WW. They clamp onto the body without any damage. I also 3D printed head lamp lenses as mine were missing when I got it.

Next I am designing rims that will interface the stock hubs and offset with touring car tires. I also need to do what you did on all of the cut lines. Man that looks awesome! I didn't do this shell and I have been reluctant to change anything as the previous owner did a nice job on it. However, the cut lines you show will make this really pop!

[Jamesssb]

Looks great. I am not a box art fan of these at all but when I got mine, it was done that way already. I cannot bear to remove the decals the previous owner added, especially since he told me what he paid for the them. I did go nuts on the lights though.

I had to make styrene panels to prevent the light from saturating the adjoining colors. There are LED's per tail lamp (brake, driving, reverse and turn). I tell you, it was pretty scary making that many holes in a body that is impossible to find. I did the same as you in the front, though I added custom fog lights that I designed and 3D printed for the WW. They clamp onto the body without any damage. I also 3D printed head lamp lenses as mine were missing when I got it.

Next I am designing rims that will interface the stock hubs and offset with touring car tires. I also need to do what you did on all of the cut lines. Man that looks awesome! I didn't do this shell and I have been reluctant to change anything as the previous owner did a nice job on it. However, the cut lines you show will make this really pop!

You got any more off them lights you can sell me?

[waterbok]

+1 on those Front lights.

[Tizer]

Can I ask what make the wipers are? They look perfect for a couple of things I'm working on.

Cheers,

Rob

They are Tamiya wipers, or the clone version. It comes in a set with an exhaust, 2 sets of wipers (long & short), mirrors, plastic brakediscs, sharkfin antenna and an intercooler. Pretty nice set, but Tamiya hardly sells any because of all the clone sets out there.

@topicstarter: great build! Love the alternative colourscheme and the details put in. For me the ricer stickers below the door and the mirrors ruin it completely though Would love to see a more period correct option for it.

[Jamesssb]

They are Tamiya wipers, or the clone version. It comes in a set with an exhaust, 2 sets of wipers (long & short), mirrors, plastic brakediscs, sharkfin antenna and an intercooler. Pretty nice set, but Tamiya hardly sells any because of all the clone sets out there.

@topicstarter: great build! Love the alternative colourscheme and the details put in. For me the ricer stickers below the door and the mirrors ruin it completely though Would love to see a more period correct option for it.

I got the set of wipers and mirrors on eBay as "Tizer" has said they were a copy of the Tamiya set.

As said though, this is not a period model and the colour race scheme is reflecting a Honda race car. I can't please everyone but I'm glad you enjoyed the build up because I did for sure.

James.

[Pintopower]

@waterbok and Jamesssb: I don't want to commandeer the thread so if anyone has further questions about the Lenses for the Wheeler, please message me. They are here:

You will need to order two of the wheeler b2 head light lenses:

https://www.shapeways.com/shops/AmPro

[Jamesssb]

I thought I would bump this back to the top for those who are looking for it.

James.

[Grastens]

Bumped again, because with the re-release of the Willy's Wheeler as the Honda City Turbo this build seems relevant and interesting, especially as it was written in the context of no official re-release of this specific kit. Now that it is out, do you have any ambition of building one alongside this classic?

[Jamesssb]

I have a mo5 v2 chassis in the shop which is built and I have a new body on order which I am going to try and get to fit the body so what this space.... [emoji12][emoji106]

[lupogtiboy]

You said that you work in a model shop outside Epsom, which model shop? Mick Charles?

You have done an amazing job on this, that paint job wouldn't look out of place on a 1:1 car!

I recently got the rere of this and I'm loving it, its the one that has got my interest back in this hobby, so I'm taking my time and building it slowly.

[njmlondon]

You said that you work in a model shop outside Epsom, which model shop? Mick Charles?

That is my LHS too. Too many hours spent in there getting over-ambitious about buying one of the big planes hanging from the ceiling.

[lupogtiboy]

I work in Epsom for the Drift Bridge VW in the parts department, so its probably the closest one to here. I have been there many times, rarely come away empty handed!

[Jamesssb]

Hi, yes I have worked for Mick Charles models since I was 13 (now 29!) but I only work the afternoons on Saturday now as I work for McLaren and just go in to help out really.

Thanks for the support and kind words on the wheeler.

If your passing or need any help come say hi! 8-)

James.