Subaru Brat rere hard shell

[Problemchild]

Another lockdown purchase (sorry if I’m overloading everyone with builds haha)
 

Not gonna run through the chassis build as that’s what the instructions are for  but I’ll focus on the shell 

but here is the chassis done...

swapped the ESC position for the Rx as im using the flysky small one 

 

just try and keep it all tidy 

And just had to say the rear shocks on this are beautiful 

and v v strange the front has no dampers at all - just these springs embedded into the chassis

 

anyway - the only thing I did extra with the base chassis was fit one of my fake sport tuned 540s

 

and gave the 3 piece wheel rims a gold accent to match the body decals

 

JJ

[junkmunki]

2 hours ago, Problemchild said:

and v v strange the front has no dampers at all - just these springs embedded into the chassis

The ORV type chassis used on these and others such as the Frog and Lancia Rally, never had front dampers. Thats how they were. Worked well though.

I have seen a couple of conversions where people have constructed a frame and fitted coil overs on the front, but there really isn't any need.

J

[Problemchild]

3 coats of hycote plastic primer

there is a lot of weird bits of painting on this one. 
 

the rear wall of the cab is all clear plastic but the bottom half needs to be painted body colour 

the windscreen glass comes up over the top to form the sunroof - but because this is more of a targa top, the middle section on the sunroof needs to be painted body colour AND on the inside of the sunroof it needs spraying body but smaller than the sunroof is - strange 

 

 

Here are the parts finished - took lots of masking and prep 

And here you can see what I meant about the sunroof 

masked on the inside

 

and from the outside 

 

 Interesting

 

anyway - 2 cans of TS-8 and the shell is looking lovely 

 

just started to do a bit of work on the front and rear bumpers 

(Tried something different - sorry it’s not grey but...)

 

 

haha - god I’m a geek

JJ

[Re-Bugged]

The hard Brat body is a test of patience/endurance that’s for sure if you want all the details in.
Looking good 👍🏻

[Problemchild]

This might be the one that breaks me 

the front grill!!!!

JJ

[Re-Bugged]

I remember just about reaching the end of the rope when I’d got to the black trims along the bottom of the doors, as wanted to put the silver/chrome line on them. 3 attempts on one side before I got it to a point I was happy with 😬. At least it all came out good in the end (eventually 😂)

It’s a shame the hard shell headlights don’t get clear lenses though, that would be an extra nice touch. I did think of using the polycarb’s sticker headlights on them?, but just blacked them out in the end as I was going for a sort of moody urban truck vibe. Well if blacked out lights are good enough for the General Lee then it’s good enough for me 👍🏻

If they ever do a Black Edition Brat, then that would get polished, just polished, not painted, like my Blackfoot 😁 Bliss. 

[Problemchild]

agree - I was gonna go for the decals on the headlights and a hair dryer to try and get them to wrap a bit

anyway - here is a more polished version of the time lapse 

 

JJ

[Problemchild]

been masking up the exterior trim and painting - metallic for the brightwork, gloss black for the grill and side strips and matte black for the bumper corners 

 

 

 

 

 

and added gold lettering all round 

Interesting that this section on one side is raised yet on the other side it’s recessed - anyone know why??

 

JJ

[Re-Bugged]

No idea on the raised 4WD panel on one side? But I’m of the thinking that it was probably a crude way of activing the 4WD, having to stop, get out, push the button across and go. A bit like having to stop get out and lock the diff hubs on old 4WD’s? 🤔

Some of the later models (1:1) don’t even seem have that on the side?

[ChrisRx718]

I think it's just a quirk with the Tamiya mould for this particular body, recessed one side, protruding the other. Weird.

Looks really good!

I can highly recommend the Molotow chrome paint pens for doing the little raised bits like the badges on hard bodies. Chrome really pops and it's so easy to apply compared to using a brush.

[Problemchild]

Yeah I’ve got a few paint pens but those ones are super expensive haha

i find the pens have less “feel” and “give” than a slightly dry loaded brush 

I also use cocktail sticks

i did the gold using the gold paint pen BUT applied the gold from the pen to a paint tray then used the brush to apply it to the car

JJ

[Problemchild]

Few more little details over lunch 

(this is a steep learning curve doing detail - even the clod was pretty basic compared to this)

so drivers head (somehow I’ve made him into a 1970s project yew tree suspect)

 

this is the first time I’ve tried shading. I used a humbrol tan and gave the head a coat and then added a few cocktail stick pricks of black to a small drop and did some darker shades bits to give the hair texture.

the eyes were a cocktail stick with white on the end letting it flow a little around the eye ball (tidying them edges with flesh colour if needed) then another cocktail stick end with barely any tan until I had the brown iris the correct size. No pupil - too small!!!

JJ

[Problemchild]

And this evening done some work on the front and rear 

 

 

 

the orange Indicators was straight out of the tin

the red I darkened with a few drops of black

the white is actually painted white but with a single drop of black to make it an off white (as I read somewhere, nothing is ever actually bright white)

 

JJ

 

[Problemchild]

Getting close to finishing up now 

JJ

[toyolien]

That's a nice finished you've got there. Love it. Is it going to be a runner?

[Problemchild]

Wont be a runner 

most of my builds are for the wall

ive left the main chassis bumper off (might look at modifying it a bit)

JJ

[toyolien]

Just now, Problemchild said:

Want be a runner 

most of my builds are for the wall

ive left the main chassis bumper off (might look at modifying it a bit)

JJ

That's a shame. Runners are great. So are shelfers too though.

[Problemchild]

I have 2 runners 

1 x rere beetle brushless

1 x neo scorcher brushless with LiPo 

id be gutted if I rolled this

 

JJ

[toyolien]

I understand that. 

[Problemchild]

Done  

(apart from the driver)

 

dunno why Tamiya thought the roll bar was finished with massive gaps in it but I couldn’t leave it like that so some red tape just to finish it 

 

JJ

[Problemchild]

Thanks to @yogi-bear I now have a cool little numberplate for the Brat 

 

plus I have finished off the driver 

matte white with a few drops of pale blue for the shirt, and a dab of grey and thinners to add some depth (I’m learning)

same

With the hands, some darker flesh tones between the fingers and eye lids and ears.

 

 

 

and tried to give him a watch - @JennyMo please look away now...

 

 

and here he is fitted 

 

the driver that comes with the kit is actually pretty poor (well that’s my excuse anyway)

JJ

[ACCEL]

On 4/30/2020 at 7:43 AM, Problemchild said:

Few more little details over lunch 

(this is a steep learning curve doing detail - even the clod was pretty basic compared to this)

so drivers head (somehow I’ve made him into a 1970s project yew tree suspect)

 

this is the first time I’ve tried shading. I used a humbrol tan and gave the head a coat and then added a few cocktail stick pricks of black to a small drop and did some darker shades bits to give the hair texture.

the eyes were a cocktail stick with white on the end letting it flow a little around the eye ball (tidying them edges with flesh colour if needed) then another cocktail stick end with barely any tan until I had the brown iris the correct size. No pupil - too small!!!

JJ

i think you did a grand job, he looks alot like claymation.

kinda sorta reminds me of Stacey Keach.

[Problemchild]

@ACCEL think I need to thin down my paint a bit more

JJ

[Dreadwinds Johnsen]

On 4/29/2020 at 3:33 PM, Problemchild said:

Interesting that this section on one side is raised yet on the other side it’s recessed - anyone know why??

 

JJ

The 82-85 1:1 Brat had a passenger side step under that 4WD cover. Drivers side was just a dummy badge on top of bodywork with no cutout underneath. So props to Tamiya on a very faithful scale reproduction.

Awesome paint job on this build, love it.

[Problemchild]

That’s really interesting - thank you 

also on this body there are a number of holes and cut outs - anyone know that they are for?

JJ