From citron to Citroën

This was one of those projects that began due to getting something cheap - In this case a body from Tamico for a bargain €15. As usual a cheap project soon turns into a more expensive one, and this was no exception as browsing eBay I discovered that buying the body as part of the bagged set meant it came without drilled post holes, unlike the one I had (probably from a split kit). Anyone who has been following my builds knows I'm a sucker for a hole-less body so I not such a bargain $88 later it was mine.


As is the norm for one of these TT-01 rally cars the windows and headlights are both stickers - ripe for improvement. I’ve now amassed a stack of light buckets so working through them I discovered the Nissan Fairlady Z with a little trimming were an almost perfect fit. For the rear the Golf Mk5 fit, but are of a different design. I’d rather they were technically wrong but looked good than right but a sticker.


I did my usual mesh for the grille, but there was an issue this time In the form of a complex Michelin logo printed on it. After creating and cutting out a mask I was able to paint this on. The upper grille with the Citroën badge has no detail and is is just one large sticker normally. Looking at the real car it’s quite a complex design so was probably deemed to difficult or expensive to mould.


This obviously wasn't going to fly for me so I cut it out, which was tricky without any defined line to follow, then meshed and made the badge and bar out of vinyl stuck to some thick foam tape to give it some depth. I added the other details and as usual checked for missing sponsor logos (these can be common - if Tamiya can’t secure a licence they simply omit them). I recall reading about someone saying there should be Nikko logos on the door mirrors, which obviously Tamiya would not want, but it transpires these are only on the 2003 car.


Each new car is a cumulation of things I’ve done previously along with some new things, so this one has the washer jets and O·Z wheel decals from my last Impreza, along with the newly added LHD wipers and cockpit improvements.


I'm very happy with how the interior turned out. The helmet stripes are vinyl, shrunk to the curve with a heat gun. I’ve upped the detail level more inside with O·Z and Michelin logos on the spare tyre, and again some printed pace notes.


This one tested my patience a little trying to get the interior to seat properly. I ended up having to cut slots in it for the rear shock towers. I also had problems trying to do the grille - my first attempt was styrene which didn’t work. It didn’t help too that the car didn’t seem to look right on the chassis - too long a wheelbase. I was about to shelve it and move on to something else but after fitting the interior and rear wing the proportions suddenly looked a lot better. It’s amazing how these seemed to fix everything!


Details:

• Michelin logo painted on front mesh

• Towing eyes and arrow stickers

• Jacking point stickers

• Deeper front splitter

• Door locks

• Matt black Door handles

• Roof gutter trim strips

• Quarter window studs

• Bonnet washer jets

• Front light buckets (Nissan Fairlady Z)

• Rear light buckets (Mk5 Golf)

• Grille and bonnet vents cut out and mesh fitted

• Correct matte and gloss window frames

• Rear window heater elements

• Wheels painted TS white

• O·Z logos on wheels

• MST black wheel nuts

• TT-02D Type-S wider track

• Cockpit set

• Michelin and O·Z logos on spare wheel

• Printed co-driver pace notes

• Styrene roll cage

• Exhaust (ABC Hobby)

• Brembo brake discs and callipers

• LHD Windscreen wipers (Ford F-350 Hi-Lift)

• Roof aerials

• 3D bonnet catches (Wrap-Up Next)

• Camber adjustment

• Tyre lettering

• Intercooler

• Rear toe-in removed

• TLU-01 LED lights

• Stealth mounts