Tamiya Morris Mini Cooper 1275S Rally

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Sat Feb 13, 2016 2:54 pm

This will be my entry for the Wheelie Good Build.
I choose this kit, a Tamiya Morris Mini Cooper 1275S Rally, 1:24 scale, because I'm a rally fan and this car was a winner in the middle of "big beasts" like the Lancia Fulvia and the Porsche 911. A trully statement of small doesn't quite mean slower!!!
I'll build this straight out the box, as it seems to me the kit is quite good and detailed (as Tamiya always do) and specially because I don't have much experience with after market parts!!!

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Sat Feb 13, 2016 3:05 pm

As I started this kit a couple of days ago, but only now decided to enter the sig, I'll leave here what I've done so far...

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Sat Feb 13, 2016 3:10 pm

More photos from the engine... There's a small decal going on top of the engine, I'll just assemble all the engine and chassis, clear coat it apply the decals and and seal everything with another clear coat.

I really enjoy the effect of the gun metal in the brakes callipers!!!

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Sat Feb 13, 2016 3:17 pm

Those are the seats provided with the kit. It seems this kit is a conversion from a regular Mini Morris and an extra sprue provides the extras to convert it into the rally version. Was a bit skeptic about the competition seat for the driver, but after consulting a friend of mine who knows a guy that was driving rally car during the seventies, he confirmed that during that period thos competition seats were used already. So, I'll use the competiton seat for the driver and the regular seats for the back and for the co-driver.

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Sat Feb 13, 2016 3:37 pm

Next, it's the chassi and fixed suspensions (front and rear) and engine placed inside the engine bay. I went a little bit free with the chassis painting scheme: the instructions indicated that all the chassis should be flat red (except the underside) but for what I've seen, usually the chassis floor was in black. So I decided to paint the floor black (x-18 semi gloss black), same colour underside. The rest of the chassis, including engine bay was paint in red (x7). Everything primed with the rest of a tamiya grey primer rattle can that I had here. For the body shell, I'll try the stynylrez and see what's the hype!!

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Sat Feb 13, 2016 3:44 pm

The seats are painted already and they look amazing!!! I'll work out on the wheels (let's see if I can get rid of that awfull seam lines in the middle of the rubber tyre threads) and hopefully finish the instrument pannel on the next days. I'll come with more updates when I finish to assemble all the interior!!! Feel free to comment and criticise!!

Homerlovesbeer · Post by **Homerlovesbeer** » Sun Feb 14, 2016 2:52 pm

Ric that looks awesome! Really nice job on the detaining. You are working MUCH faster than I am as I have a shed load of carbon decals to trace and cut out.

My build thread is in the group build thread.

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Sun Feb 14, 2016 4:51 pm

Homerlovesbeer wrote:Ric that looks awesome! Really nice job on the detaining. You are working MUCH faster than I am as I have a shed load of carbon decals to trace and cut out.

My build thread is in the group build thread.

Well, it's an easy kit and I'm really into it. I reckon it's not 100% perfect, but I'm enjoying doing it. What started as a break from the revell 1:32 Mk1 Spitfire is turning into a really fun and enjoyable build!!! Maybe that's why is getting done really fast!!!

I took a look on your McLaren, totally different from my build!!!

Your doing top job, I'm just a newbie still learning the hobby and all its perks!!!

Homerlovesbeer · Post by **Homerlovesbeer** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 12:22 am

Thanks Ric,

My first car build since I was a teen, my first time cutting out and applying carbon decals, my first time at spraying a body using an airbrush and my 4th build since returning to the hobby in the last year (Revell 1:48 FA-18E Super Hornet, Airfix 1:72 Spitfire and Zero)

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 4:30 am

Homerlovesbeer wrote:Thanks Ric,

My first car build since I was a teen, my first time cutting out and applying carbon decals, my first time at spraying a body using an airbrush and my 4th build since returning to the hobby in the last year (Revell 1:48 FA-18E Super Hornet, Airfix 1:72 Spitfire and Zero)

What confirms you're doing a top job!!!!

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 5:31 pm

A quick update!!! Primed the body shell with the stynylrez grey primer and I'm quite happy with the result!!! Plus, as this is an acrylic based primer, it doesn't stink!!!

As I said before the seats are painted and decided to dry fit them and see how it looks. They look amazing, and I the colours give a nice effect!!!

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 5:39 pm

Now, the wheels are done, primed with tamiya rattle can grey primer and painted with tamiya flat aluminium (xf16). After a coat of aqua gloss I realized they were supposed to be painted with Chrome Silver (x11)!!!

I'll later decide if I'll repaint it or leave like that...

And then there's the rubber tyres... they look really nice, with the exception of that flash line in the middle of the threads... Tried to sand it with no visible result... any ideias???

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Fri Feb 19, 2016 7:22 pm

I'm officially the king of tamiya masking tape!!!!

Or maybe not!!!

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Fri Feb 19, 2016 7:34 pm

Anyway, managed to finish all the interior. Not happy with the instruments pannel, specially those chrome lines, but well...

All the interior and engine bay just needs a clear coat and it's ready!!!

Some more work done on the body, masking (again!!!

) the windows lines and chromes, and hopefully, today I'll get the first coat of paint on the body!!!

PrivateMansoor · Post by **PrivateMansoor** » Sat Feb 27, 2016 1:46 pm

Looking great so far.

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Wed Mar 02, 2016 6:37 pm

PrivateMansoor wrote:Looking great so far.

Thanks, PrivateMansoor!!!

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Wed Mar 02, 2016 7:13 pm

A quick update: had to leave the Mini for a while, a family situation plus work didn't left much time for modeling. And, as we say in Portugal, when you're down even the birds will crap on you, I made a mess painting the hood and had to strip paint and primer!!!

So, for now, the hood is taking a bath in order to get rid of the awfull paintjob I did. Still, managed to take care of small bits and bobs and let's hope they survived away from the carpet monster until I finish the bodywork.
First, assembled the grill that will go on the roof with the spare tires.

I was tinking if I should paint it or leave it bare plastic white... I'll sort it out later... With the tires on, it doesn't look bad!

The windshields have some decals, de-icing system(?), or something like that. Those went really well on top of the clear parts.

Started aswell with lights. The auxiliary lights are attached to the front bumper which is cromed. Instead of striping the chrome, I left it and just touched it up where it was linked to the sprue. It's not perfect, but those are not too much visible, so I'm ok with that. Glued the clear parts with pva glue and it came out good.

The main lights are composed of three parts each, one chromed frame and two clear parts. It sounded like a huge pain, but it was ok to assemble! The same situation with the chromed frame, just touched up the black plastic from the sprue, and can be barely noticed.

The tail lights were tricky, all clear (tiny) parts that needed to be painted Chrome, Clear Orange and Clear Red! With a surprinsigly steady hand, managed to brush painted it without any problem!!!

The front indicators went well without any problem as well! For the Euro users, that's how tiny these parts are!!!

Finally, the side wheels race bumpers, primed, painted black and masked for the Chrome strip.

And that's all for now!!! Hopefully on the next few days, I'll managed to sort out the hood and finish painting all the body shell!!!

Smiffy · Post by **Smiffy** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 7:53 am

Great looking Mini so far

Looking so much nicer than the BMW Mini's too.

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 4:46 pm

Smiffy wrote:Great looking Mini so far

Looking so much nicer than the BMW Mini's too.

Original Mini is to the Cadbury chocolate egg as the BMW Mini is to the Cadbury chocolate egg made with Hershey's chocolate.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 5:28 pm

That is awesome

For your wheel seam, if you have a drill and can attach the wheel hub to say a wood stick (or some mandrel), can rotate the tire and hold against sanding stick. I did it here with a dremel to true up these round brake hubs and sand the tire

Hope that makes sense

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 5:52 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote:That is awesome

For your wheel seam, if you have a drill and can attach the wheel hub to say a wood stick (or some mandrel), can rotate the tire and hold against sanding stick. I did it here with a dremel to true up these round brake hubs and sand the tire

Hope that makes sense

Thanks!!! It makes all sense, but I just don't want to loose the thread pattern on the tires... I wouldn't had a problem to do that if it was a race track car that use "slick" tires, but a rally car usually uses deep thread tires. That's why I'm so reluctant to sand it. But anyway, thanks for the suggestion.

Honestly, I wish that was my biggest concern. As I tried to give a coat of paint to the body shell yesterday, I managed to do an huge mess with the paintwork!!!

So the body shell will follow the same path as the hood: strip the paint and start all over again!!!

Guess I should practice more using the airbrush!!!!
I'm almost tempted to start another kit just to get over this huge mess!!!

About the original Mini or the BMW Mini... My humble opinion is, the original, the classic has always its charm and charisma and no "updated version" will ever compared to the original. But it's always nice to see that the classic cars don't end up just as memories from the past, but are used as inspiration for the present and managed to prolong the magic and the charisma from their ancestors!!!

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:16 pm

These are rally cars, so muck it up and weather it and no one will see the paint problems

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:46 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote:These are rally cars, so muck it up and weather it and no one will see the paint problems

Hummm, I think there's no way to weather this!!!!

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 7:39 pm

Ahh, to that bad....That is just a quick putty repair from last week's accident...adds to the realism
Or how about a little rusting detail there, make it an older rally car
Or chuck it in the oven cleaner and start over

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 7:44 pm

I think I'll strip the paint and keep practising my airbrush skills! Try, try and try until I get a decent paint job! Or until melt the body shell with chemical stuff!!!

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 8:40 pm

RicRodrigues wrote:
Twokidsnosleep wrote:These are rally cars, so muck it up and weather it and no one will see the paint problems
Hummm, I think there's no way to weather this!!!!

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 8:56 pm

:

The solution for all problems, bad kits and bad paint jobs!!!

I'm more stubborn than this bad paint job, though! I won't give up on you, little Mini!!!

Smiffy · Post by **Smiffy** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:09 pm

Shame about the paint job, but its a Morris - true to real life its just one huge rust bubble

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:13 pm

RicRodrigues wrote::
The solution for all problems, bad kits and bad paint jobs!!! I'm more stubborn than this bad paint job, though! I won't give up on you, little Mini!!!

I have faith in you.

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:21 pm

Now I'm tempted! I have some Ultimate rust wash, I'll apply it and see the result. Just for the laugh!

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:23 pm

RicRodrigues wrote:Now I'm tempted! I have some Ultimate rust wash, I'll apply it and see the result. Just for the laugh!

Maybe a diorama?

In all seriousness I think you're doing great, I'm sure you can pull this out in the end!

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 10:57 pm

Tried the Ultimate rust wash... It might be a solution.

But, don't worry, little Mini! I won't let you down, I'll fight to restore you to all your glory!!!!

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Sat Mar 12, 2016 4:09 pm

So, finally the Mini body is back from the "Bath of Doom", back to the "bare metal" state!!! That dettol bath really striped all the paint and primer, but god, my bench stinks of pine oil!!!!

Time to start over again, priming and painting, hopefully this time without any issues!!!

Now, I was taking a closer look to the rooftop... Not very happy with it...

I won't be surprised if that rooftop follows the same path as the rest of the body!!!

Hang in there, little Mini, you'll turn up good!!! Don't fear the hammer!!!

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Mon Apr 11, 2016 6:07 pm

Hope all is well, I'm really rooting for this little guy!

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 11:04 am

Lysus wrote:Hope all is well, I'm really rooting for this little guy!

Thanks, Lysus, the small Mini is alive and well!!!

Just been busy the past few weeks, work and holidays (can holidays count as being busy???!!!

) and I had to move place in the begining of the month... But after settled down on my new place, I managed to do something with the Mini. After the "Bath of Doom" (which actually was extended to all the body, including bonnet and rooftop), the body was re-primed, again using Stynylrez grey, and started the paint job. First the interior.

The doors interiors are painted with Tamiya Sky Grey XF19, but I'll keep it masked until the outside paintjob is sorted.
From the outside part, I managed to spray aswell small details as the windshield rubbers (Tamiya semi-gloss black X18) and the side windows rims and bottom chrome details (Tamiya Chrome Silver X11).

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 11:13 am

Now, I'm just facing this dilemma...

The parts E4 and E9, the wheel bumpers (is it the right name???!!!), instructions call it to be glued after the body is painted, but I'm afraid I might screw the paint with the glue... The only option is to glue it before the paint the outside and mask it... Any thoughts or suggestions???!!!

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 7:52 pm

Just a quick update about the little Mini. Today managed to give the last coat of paint, it's not 100% perfect but I'm (almost) happy how it came out.

First the rooftop.

And the body.

There's some dust trapped in the paintjob which makes me seriously consider to get a proper spray booth.

And there's the 1% that went wrong, once again I oversprayed and ended up with a small paint bubble just beside the rear wheel bumper.

I'll try to sand it and see if it won't be that visible.

I'll just leave it to properly dry for a couple of days before the clear coat. Decalling should be a quick process as there's only 9 decals to go. Hopefully I'll finish the little Mini by the next weekend. And after all the drawbacks, for sure it feels amazing to see it almost done!!! As always, feedback is welcome!!!

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 11:36 am

The joy of unmasking!!! Unmasked the Little Mini this morning, just need some minor touch-ups. Dryfitted the rooftop and it's looking good!!!

Tried to sand that paint bubble which proved to be more stubborn than me, I'll just leave it, it's not that visible. Today I'll try to fix the clear parts, interior doors and a few more bits...

Icemannique · Post by **Icemannique** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 2:20 pm

Looking good so far !

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 5:42 pm

Nice! Great work, man. Starting over like that would kill my mojo but you soldiered on. It's going to feel so good once you've finished.

RicRodrigues · Post by **RicRodrigues** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 12:27 pm

Last update before the final reveal!!!! Yes, the Mighty Mini is done!!!

The final assembly didn't went as smooth as I wished... The left side windows, the back one was a little bit cracked while removing it from the sprue and the front one caught a bit of glue from the inside door and "fogged up" a little bit. The fog issue was extended to the right side main light, but with a bit of patience and sanding sponges, I managed to minimize the problem. There was a few more little issues with glue leaking into the paintjob (revell contact professional), but in the end they're not that visible (I should start to learn to go easy on the glue).
After finishing the final assembly, I got my bottle of Aqua Gloss and clear coated the chassis and interior and the body. One last look on the interior and engine before hiding everything under the body!!!!

Once the clear coat was dried, decalling went really quick: there was only 10 decals to go. For Tamiya decals, they went well really good, no problems at all, all applied using Micro Sol and Set.
A quick pin wash on the doors and boot to bring up the recessed lines, using Ultimate dark dirt.
And finally, I gave this morning one last coat of Aqua Gloss. I'll let it dry properly and start to improvise a photo booth for the photos of the final reveal!!!

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 3:22 pm

Sweet! I can't wait, been quite the journey for you and it looks great.

Liamcraven666 · Post by **Liamcraven666** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 4:06 pm

looks good,

Homerlovesbeer · Post by **Homerlovesbeer** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 10:27 pm

That looks fantastic! Great work