Introducing: Subaru BRAT WRX STi

[Zoom Zoom]

Subaru BRAT. Subaru’s first cute-ute from the ‘70’s. For those keeping tab, this was my "secret project" :D

Kits used:
AMT Subaru BRAT
Revell Suburu WRX
Fujimi Subaru WRX STi

My desire in the beginning was to use the new Revell WRX engine/drivetrain in the BRAT kit. However none of the modern Subaru or aftermarket wheels would fit the model with it’s dinky wheel openings. I needed to flare the fenders to accommodate the new wheels so they wouldn’t stick out and look so huge on the model. I then looked at my crappy Fujimi STi and realized it did have a purpose in life, that would be to donate it’s fenders and wheels and emblems to the cause.

I carefully lined the bodies up, measured, and hacked away. In no time I had grafted the STi fenders to the BRAT body. I had some issues w/bodywork when the body flexed, worked out over time and helped w/the addition of epoxy putty under the fenders to prevent flex…it’s almost as stiff as a diecast now.

http://images15.fotki.com/v269/photos/1/10258/3349309/Graft1-vi.jpg
http://images1.fotki.com/v290/photos/1/10258/3349309/Primer1-vi.jpg
http://images16.fotki.com/v274/photos/1/10258/3349309/Primer2-vi.jpg

Most underhood items from the Revell WRX, suspension/chassis/driveshaft and rear differential is from AMT, interior is AMT bucket/dash combined w/Fujimi steering column/wheel and Revell seats and console.

I struck out finding Tamiya Mica Blue the other day @ the LHS, so I bought metallic blue and it looks close enough to WRC blue. I did use a very thin mid-coat of transparent blue because some of the metallic chips were too close to the surface. Wheels were repainted in Alclad pale burnt metal, I wanted them gold but toned down slightly. I drilled out the chrome headlights and used some craft store lenses that are similar to MV’s. Time to build: about 1 month. I still need to tweak a few items like wheel position and the turbo pipe to air cleaner intake before taking it to the NNL East next weekend.

http://images16.fotki.com/v276/photos/1/10258/3349309/FrontA-vi.jpg
http://images17.fotki.com/v294/photos/1/10258/3349309/FrontB-vi.jpg
http://images16.fotki.com/v285/photos/1/10258/3349309/RearA-vi.jpg
http://images16.fotki.com/v276/photos/1/10258/3349309/RearB-vi.jpg
http://images17.fotki.com/v297/photos/1/10258/3349309/RearC-vi.jpg
http://images15.fotki.com/v269/photos/1/10258/3349309/Engine-vi.jpg

[Dino Scuderia]

Very cool! More secret projects, please!

[GTmike400]

Very cool Bob! I guess you do modify from time to time.

Now put the Brat fenders on the WRX.

[crispy]

Wow! Very cool Bob!
Whoda' thunk it???
Looks modern yet retro.
Good Luck with it. I'm sure we'll see it in the mags.
Chris

[Eric Cole]

that's an awesom secret project. I would have never guessed that it was this.

It looks really cool. I like it a lot.

[Zoom Zoom]

that's an awesom secret project. I would have never guessed that it was this.

It looks really cool. I like it a lot.

Thanks, I'm pretty pleased w/it-just wish that AMT had done the later body style BRAT but oh well.

I pretty well knew nobody would guess it, Brian's known for years I've had a BRAT and was going to do a WRX engine in it (and Jay at A/F posted a link to a real conversion of one when he heard of my ideas a few years back), then it snowballed into body mods. Since I always blather on about models I figured Brian wouldn't guess it. Now you can see why I couldn't even mention color, it would have likely given away the brand at least. Especially "WR Blue w/gold wheels" would have been too easy to guess.

One person did know about the model--I told Gene a few weeks ago since he's a Subie STi owner and hasn't been building models for years, but I was wondering if he might let it slip last weekend at Amelia when we were all hanging out.

[Lug Nutzz]

A very good capture of the 1:1 Brat. It brought back memories of a few summers spent at the drive-in movies in a silver "Sport" Brat.
I bet you had a hard time keeping a lid on the secret project.

[dragfan]

Very cool! Nice worK.

John

[Pauley Sty Reen]

Great model, Bob. Those fenders really work well.

[Matt Wadlinger]

Cool secret project. It came out very good.

[Dennis]

That looks great Bob!! Very cool body mods!!

[Zoom Zoom]

Thanks for all the comments. Kevin/Strada Sports looked at it and said the headlights looked too big. I agreed, looked at some pics and realized I needed to paint the chrome bezels black. Also fixed the intake to make sense, lowered the leading edge of the scoop, and realigned a rear wheel/tire to sit better. The little improvements help it a lot. Now I need to figure how to fit the AMT front axle shafts to the Revell tranny.

http://images16.fotki.com/v3/photos/1/10258/3349309/FrontC-vi.jpg
http://images1.fotki.com/v291/photos/1/10258/3349309/FrontD-vi.jpg

[slammd454SS]

awesome job....guess this is what would be a *baja on steroids*..lol, nice job on such a secretive project.