discussion Tamiya Stratos

[Andy T]

A true rally legend, I was lucky enough to see one close up (and hear it in action ) whilst working on the Roger Albert Clark rally earlier this year, so figured I should build one.

This Tamiya kit hails from 1977, so there are very few parts. It even has the remnants of a battery compartment! Thankfully the decals are a 2023 print, so should be fine.









The first job was to clean up the mould parting lines



Then it was on with some Mr Primer Surfacer



Before a few coats of Mr Color GX1





The few parts that remain were sprayed in semi gloss black, with the wheels being finished in gloss red. The driver was primed at this stage too.

 

[Ian M]

Oh! A Stratos. One of the few cars that look fast even standing still. (And one of the even fewer cars that float my boat).

 

[Andy T]

It is a great looking car Ian. I know this isn't a rally version but I'm sure I'll be making one in the near future. Hopefully in safari trim.

 

[Andy T]

I've finished the driver. He has rather strange proportions, but I'm not going to body shame him





Umpty seven thousand decals next, now that the bodywork has cured sufficiently.

 

[Steven000]

Nice paintwork on the driver Andy goodluck with those decals! Cheers

 

[flyjoe180]

Driver looks good Andy. The car parts and body are looking fantastic

 

[Andy T]

Thanks Steven & Joe.

I've got the 3 largest decals on so far. They have a couple of small tears but I should be able to touch those up. I also decided to spray the black band around the bottom of the car before I got too many more decals on. The one for the front especially looked prime for splitting, so I saved myself the headache.





I've also sprayed the upper dash. Black flock is common in race & rally cars to reduce reflections so I mixed some flat black with Mr Color rough base additive and it seems to have replicated it fairly well.
It's a dust magnet though!

 

[Jim R]

Certainly a geriatric kit. Looking good. Driver looks the part.

 

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Very nice Andy.

 

[Andy T]

Thanks gents.

I'm still slowly working through the decals. Some need to be applied at this stage, then the spoilers and rear screen cover added before more can go on.

With the weekend nearly upon us I'm hoping to get this stage finished over the next couple of days.

 

[kacitgirl]

Nice work. I cannot paint figures so I don't even attempt it lol

 

[Steven000]

Nice work. I cannot paint figures so I don't even attempt it lol

Would be hilarious if you could add a Goth figure to one of your cars one day, you already are an expert at car-finishes so why not try adding another skill to your belt

The Stratos is looking great so far Andy have fun

 

[kacitgirl]

Would be hilarious if you could add a Goth figure to one of your cars one day, you already are an expert at car-finishes so why not try adding another skill to your belt

The Stratos is looking great so far Andy have fun

i do have a standing figure from the academy hyundai pony kit i may look at that

 

[Ian M]

Thanks gents.

I'm still slowly working through the decals. Some need to be applied at this stage, then the spoilers and rear screen cover added before more can go on.

With the weekend nearly upon us I'm hoping to get this stage finished over the next couple of days.

The decals are fun aren't they lol. Took a while when I built the Hasegawa version.

 

[kacitgirl]

decals are always fun lol

 

[Andy T]

Nice work. I cannot paint figures so I don't even attempt it lol

I wouldn't normally bother but it's in the kit so I'm getting my moneys worth

The decals are fun aren't they lol. Took a while when I built the Hasegawa version.

Yep, I really struggled with this one.

I managed to get them all on in a fashion though. However, I gave it all a gloss coat then in a freak accident the gales we're experiencing blew back down my booth extractor, threw out the filter, and sprinkled all kinds of cr@p all over the wet clear



Doesn't look bad at a distance but it's 'horrible close up

After a sand down I added a more satin coat to disguise the worst of it, and the wobbly decals.

There still won't be any close ups and it'll definitely be a back-of-the-shelf model, but at least I didn't bin it.

 

[kacitgirl]

looks great pity about that blowback

 

[Steven000]

Apart from the booth extractor issue it looks great from all the way over here, still a nice back-of-the-shelf model