58390: Impreza WRC Monte Carlo ^07 from Truck Norris showroom, TT-02R based box art with added TN touches

Model: (Click to see more) 58390: Impreza WRC Monte Carlo '07
Status: New built
Date: 9-Feb-2016
Comments: 20

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I've always liked the Impreza WRC and although the 1997/1999 car is better looking in real life, this 2007 is the better Tamiya model I think, for one big reason - light buckets! They just add so much to a model in terms of scale looks.

I bought this as a body set alongside a TT-02R chassis, for something a bit more special than the standard TT-01 kit. The TT-02R comes with a load of Hop-ups and alu parts. I added a few more bits but left off the 3 deg rear alu uprights as the toe in detracts from the realism.

Like I did with my Lancia Delta, I've gone box art but with changes and addtions to improve it. The shell comes with stickers for the wipers, exhaust and intercooler so I replaced these with actual accessories and added some extra bits like the roof scoop and aerials. I used the intercooler and brake discs from the Touring Car Accessory set but as these come in a chrome finish I painted them silver then did the bells for the discs in black.

Like almost every Tamiya car, the stance needed work - I spaced the wheels out 3mm per side front and rear, and used thin nuts rather than the nylock ones. I also painted the wheels gold as the gold plastic is a bit dull.

The black trim on the bottom of the front bumper is painted on the outside for a semi-gloss look. I cut the front out and fitted black painted mesh. Rather than stick the stickers straight on I cut lexan then stuck the stickers onto the lexan then the lexan onto the mesh. The exhaust is from ABC hobby and is slightly smaller in diameter than the Tamiya one that comes with the accessory set and is straight not slash cut. Finally I added the roof scoop - a bit of artistic licence as it's not on the real version of this actual car, but I have seen other '07 Impreza WRCs with them.

I like all my cars to have interiors so I trimmed the window tints and painted up a cockpit set in black with blue drivers and a gold spare wheel. I cut all the sponsor logos for the drivers from vinyl and decided to use full face helmets rather than the ones that came with the cockpit set as they look a bit dated. Full open face ones would be more technically accurate but I don't think anyone makes those. The roll cage is the third one I've built and the most complex yet. It's my least favorite part of the build and a reason I have many bodies stalled waiting for them. It takes ages and is incredibly fiddly. The end result really makes the car though I think. One thing I've seen when other people have built this is to fit the cockpit set too far forward. If you look at the real car the driver and navigator sit much further back than on a road car, with the seats past the B pillars.

The electrics are all Tamiya, including the servo and battery - it's all identical to the TT-02R box art, including the same Lightly Tuned motor as pictured. I went to town with LEDs, using the TLU-01 as well as the TLU-02 to add indicators, full beam and brake lights.

This is the furthest I've gone with detailing a lexan body and it's taken an absolute age, but I'm happy with the results!

Details:

• Wheels painted TS gold

• Front cut out and aluminium mesh fitted, plainted semi-gloss black

• Subaru badges and front plate stickers mounted on lexan backing

• Styrene roll cage

• GPS aerials made from styrene

• Radio aerials made from sprue ends and SRB wire antenna

• 3mm Wheel spacers front and rear

• Vinyl cut BF Goodrich tyre logos

• All driver sponsor logos and helmet stickers cut from vinyl

• Front bumper trim painted on outside

• Mirror glass painted instead of stickered

Hop-ups and other upgrades / additions / mods:

• Tamiya Aluminium Racing Steering Set

• Tamiya Aluminium Steering Bridge

• Lightly Tuned motor

• Tamiya TSU-03 servo

• Tamiya TRU-08 receiver

• Tamiya Custom Pack battery

• Full TLU-01 and TLU-02 LED set with brake lights and indicators

• Rally cockpit set with full face helmets from the LHD/RHD Touring Car cockpit

• Stealth body mounts

• Exhaust (ABC hobby)

• Roof scoop from the Suzuki SX4

• Wipers from the Touring Car Accessory set painted semi-gloss black

• Intercooler from the Touring Car Accessory set, painted matte silver

• Brake discs from the Touring Car Accessory set, painted matte silver and detailed black

• Thin wheel nuts instead of the standard nylock ones

• Semi Slick tyres