Progress: Mitsubishi FTO (newbie)

Alright. I'm new at this so I'll just tell you what I'm planning to do.
I'm just planning to put a veilside bodykit on my FTO might change little bits of the rear bumper though because it doesn't look right to me. Scratch build some exhausts. It's going to be curbside so no engine detail.
Interior I'm going to make it different from most, I'm going to try to go all out on my first so I can make a BUNCH of mistakes and learn more and do better on my second bodykit.

Anyways. I'm under-skilled and under-budget so this model won't be the best but I'll try.

Progress. Trying to convert
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/uploads/100148/Jul16095.JPG

To this

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/uploads/100148/475628_1_full.jpg

Quick update.

I only have a modeling knife. No dremel bits or whatever. While I was cutting I was stupid and used a sprue cutter to cut some of it and I cracked the front you can't see it cause of my bad quality pictures but it's circled in green.

The white is where I still have to cut off.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/uploads/100148/Jul16096.JPG

take it nice and slow to prevent things like cracking. so far so good! i'll be keeping my eye on this thread, could be a good build.

And dont forget to fill that big gap with a nice FMIC. Mmmm...turbo FTO. lol.

FMIC?

Yeah, this is probably going to be a really long build. I don't have that much time to constantly work on it or the place. New house is still a mess and have to clean out the garage so I can work in there. I also don't have all the materials yet and I have a lot of plans like a custom interior. And I'm going to be trying something different (secret). I'm probably going to make a ton of mistakes on this build. It's more like a TEST build. To test out different techniques and to be more creative.

looks like a cool project!
good luck!

Nice subject. Looks pretty cool. Good luck with it.

this projet will be hard to do, but it's a cool idea !

Take your time, learn from your mistakes, and have fun!! It will be fabulous regardless of th eoutcome!!:sunglasse

Take your time, learn from your mistakes, and have fun!! It will be fabulous regardless of th eoutcome!!:sunglasse
Very well said Tonio. I really cant wait to see more of this build. The veilside kit is going to look great.

This is my first time working with putty. It's a little wierd. I'll post some updates when I finish a bit of the bodywork.

Also.. what do you do with unused putty. I didn't knead it together yet. It's just an open package and I don't want it to dry out. What do I do?

i try to fold the bag over and kinda melt it closed again w/ a lighter or something. good question!

Good luck w/ your customization, looks just fine so far. ;)

Cool thanks.

Quick question.

You know the thing that is supposed to clip onto the bottom part of the car? The one in the front is sort of in the way. What should I do? I don't have a pick at the moment but hopefully you understand what I mean.

Quick Update

I tried to putty the front .. I found out that putty is sticky :p but water on the fingers fixed that.. I cut out a slot for the other exhaust I'm planning to put with my trusty pen knife.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/uploads/100148/Jul17097.JPG


Rear

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/uploads/100148/Jul17099.JPG

I still have to do work on the back.

And again sorry for the bad picture quality. The pictures were taken with my $20 CND webcam.

Sweet build so far man, remember go slooooooow, patience is a virtue, hey ur in Canada? where exactly?

In Montreal.. I think I'll have to re-do the side skirts though cause I made a mistake..

I just noticed what a crap job I'm doing on the front .. it's hard to get the curves the same. I noticed that I'm cutting into the plastic a lot.. How do I fix that?

nice project, and a good attitude!

I think the veilside is too hard for me.. I don't have the right tools.
But I'll give it one last try for the front bumper and the sideskirts.

Need to buy more styrene sheets. Update won't come too soon.

Dont give up on this one, it may be hard now but if you are doing it wrong you have learned something :p
Maybe this could help.
The way i did the bodykit :
First grind, sand and cut it in a rough looking shape (keep everyting symetric) kinda bold looking.
Then you make the lines come out (make every corner correct). The last thing is to make every detail like intakes and so forth. (maybe for some insperation you could check my thread ;) :p . Hope this will help and goodluck.

you may need to go buy a sheet of styrene plastic. its basically a flat piece of plastic about the size of a piece of paper but thicker. not too thick. you can use this to form some of the front facia/bumper. and a sheet of styrene is cheap, like $1. source sheet styrene at your LHS (local hobby shop)

Yeah.. I have styrene but it's too think. So I just try sticking 2 or 3 pieces together. I didn't give up yet. I took off all the putty and puttied it again.
Also. I have a question, I noticed when I try carving out the shape I cut into the plastic (alot of times) do I fix this when I do the primer?

Also. I am not sure which tools I need, all I have now is a modeling knife and some finishing abrasives which I think are too fine to sand the putty I have 600 and above. I have to stop by the hobbyshop to buy some more styrene and some sand paper maybe? So which tools do I need besides the modeling knife?

Yeah.. I have styrene but it's too think. So I just try sticking 2 or 3 pieces together. I didn't give up yet. I took off all the putty and puttied it again.
Also. I have a question, I noticed when I try carving out the shape I cut into the plastic (alot of times) do I fix this when I do the primer?

Also. I am not sure which tools I need, all I have now is a modeling knife and some finishing abrasives which I think are too fine to sand the putty I have 600 and above. I have to stop by the hobbyshop to buy some more styrene and some sand paper maybe? So which tools do I need besides the modeling knife?

You will need some files
http://www.childofmecha.com/Modeling/Tool_Box/Files.jpg
You need some 300 or 400 grit sand paper to sand the large flat areas smooth. It is also advisable to have different formed knife bits for your hobby knife (does this sentence make any sense :p )
And i would advice you to buy a dremel :naughty: cause with some fine engraving bits you could make some good looking intakes and so forth.
And you can putty the cuts in the plastic cause primer wont make those nasty cuts dissapear. But don't cut to much, use needle files and use the knife to "scrape" the putty into form.

Alright thanks dread_darven. I'll make a trip to my hobbyshop and try again

Sound like a cool project, FTO looks sweet with the Veilside kit on them. If you want more ref pics look at my FTO website here : http://www.mitsubishi-fto.org/aero/veilside/index.html