Group 5 Celica LiftBack [FINISHED]

Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Group 5 Celica LiftBack [FINISHED]

Posted by Scale-Master on Thursday, November 4, 2021 1:05 PM

I picked this kit up in Japan at Tamiya (on my second TamiyaCon tour). A good friend had asked me to snag it as it wasn't readily available in the U.S. at the time. It's been patiently sitting for over 18 years and is now on the bench for that friend's collection.

It's a reissue of the 1/24th scale '78 motorized kit; sans motor. It will be built out-of-the-box.

I'm amazed at how thin the wall thickness of the body is and delicate the molding is. While that is impressive, it is a concern due to the fact that the dark blue plastic is excessively brittle. (This I know firsthand…)

A few hours of scribing new and rescribing existing lines plus seam and sink mark removal resulted in this primer ready body.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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keavdog

Member since
April 2003
From: USA

Posted by keavdog on Thursday, November 4, 2021 7:48 PM

Cool project. Following along. I sure do miss those Tamiyacons. Never got to go to Japan but what fun we had in Aliso Viejo

Thanks,

John

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, November 5, 2021 10:27 AM

keavdog

Cool project. Following along. I sure do miss those Tamiyacons. Never got to go to Japan but what fun we had in Aliso Viejo

Me too. I was fortunate enough to attend every one of them.

Did demos at many of them too.

And the once a month Friday night meetings. Good group of people.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, November 5, 2021 10:28 AM

The wheels were painted and the tires hand-lettered with Tamiya acrylic colors.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Sunday, November 7, 2021 10:39 AM

The taillight panel is clean but the lights are a bit simplistic. Tamiya transparent colors over chrome.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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keavdog

Member since
April 2003
From: USA

Posted by keavdog on Sunday, November 7, 2021 5:39 PM

Looks sharp. BTW I attended one of your demos :)

Thanks,

John

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Monday, November 8, 2021 9:59 AM

keavdog

Looks sharp. BTW I attended one of your demos :)

Thanks!

Decaling or paint/polishing demo?

Those were the two most common I did there.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Monday, November 8, 2021 9:59 AM

The "battery cover" or rear section of the interior. It's just three pieces so I hand painted the details rather than mask anything.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 11:02 AM

I shot the body with some age appropriate Testors enamel, 1111 Blue. A fresh bottle from about 40 years ago; only a little younger than the tooling for the kit. It dried pretty nicely overnight, but this will have to set awhile to cure…

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, November 12, 2021 9:17 AM

This is Harald Ertl.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Saturday, November 13, 2021 12:34 PM

The instrument cluster has some detail molded into the gauges. Keeping with the theme of building it straight out of the box, I hand painted them; mostly dry-brushing silver over black. And a drop of clear for the gauge lenses.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Sunday, November 14, 2021 11:32 AM

It was easier to install Harald around the steering wheel, then slide the seat under him.

The interior is not overly detailed, but then it was a motorized model/toy. The gauges on the console received the same treatment as the dash.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 9:58 AM

The chassis/underside is no more detailed than the interior, but a little detail painting and mild weathering serves it well.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Monday, November 29, 2021 2:01 PM

The side window trim was done with Warbird Decals Chrome Stripes.

The windshield banner decal was the first one I applied to the exterior of the car, looks like they are on the brittle side. A small piece chipped out during application.

I filled it with a drop of acrylic black and sanded it smooth.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 10:32 AM

With that issue brought to light, and a little extra caution, the rest of the decals went on pretty well.

They are matte finish so clear coat (already planned) needs to be used.

I knocked down the blue paint with 1500 before decaling it.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Sunday, December 5, 2021 11:03 AM

The dull sheen of the decals absorbed the clear more than I expected so a little more clear was put down than originally planned. Sure does wake up the color. Plus being in direct sunlight…

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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keavdog

Member since
April 2003
From: USA

Posted by keavdog on Sunday, December 5, 2021 1:13 PM

Looks fantastic. What do you use for clear?

Thanks,

John

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leemitcheltree

Member since
January 2003
From: Washington State

Posted by leemitcheltree on Sunday, December 5, 2021 4:50 PM

Lovely work so far!
But I think that "battery cover" is a fuel cell/
Can't wait to see it finished!

Cheers, LeeTree
Remember, Safety Fast!!!

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Monday, December 6, 2021 11:11 AM

Thanks guys!

The clear is The Matrix urethane. It a two part automotive product.

The battery cover is what that part is.

The original kit was motorized and that panel with the fuel cell detail is the cover you would remove to change the AA batteries.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, December 10, 2021 10:35 AM

Once the clear had cured I was surprised how much die back it had on the white panel decals. Since they had to be sanded/polished out the whole car needed to be as well. Made for a much nicer overall finish.

I used Hasegawa Flat Black Finish for the windshield frame. It works a lot like BMF but is a vinyl material. A hair dryer is helpful getting it to conform.

The glass, headlights grille door panels etc. were installed too.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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TheMongoose

Member since
January 2015

Posted by TheMongoose on Friday, December 10, 2021 11:38 AM

Oh man that's a good looking car. You get a terrific reflection in the roof panel!

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!