Updated: 17th October 2007

Scale 1/24 Kit Manufacturer Tamiya Grade-up Parts Studio 27 Acu-Stion Scale Motorsport M&A Miniatures Year 1998 Driver Colin McRae (GB) Event Monte Carlo Rally

The Subaru Imprezza began its international rallying career in 1993 taking over from the Subaru Legacy and made Subaru into one of the top teams competing in the WRC ever since.

The '98 Imprezza has extended wheel arches, a re-designed front spoiler to allow great cooling into the front radiator and was the first Subaru to feature the oversize rear wing to increase downforce on the rear wheels. It was powered by a 4 cylinder Turbo charged engine which delivered over 300 bhp.

The car I have built is that driven by the late Colin McRae and co-driven by Nicky Grist at the '98 Monte Carlo Rally. This is part of a Tribute which can be seen at Automotive Forums, to three British Rallying heroes who have sadly been lost over the last two years, also featured is the Peugeot 206 driven by the late Richard Burns.

As with the majority of Tamiya 1/24 scale offerings there is no engine detail included in the kit apart from some underside detail. I have built the 'night stage' version which features the striking spotlights on the front of the car. The area where most detail was added was the interior where I removed the moulded plastic part from behind the seats and replaced this with scratch built eletrical boxes and wiring. Etch sets from Scale Motorsport, M&A Miniautres, Studio 27 and Acu-Stion were also used.

Details added:

• Replaced plastic parts/decals with photo-etch as follows;
  Windscreen Wipers
  Mirror (internal and external) lenses
  Bodyshell & Spotlights fastners and rivet heads
  Bonnet and Front Grills
  Seatbelts
  Subaru front badge
  Bonnet & Book fasteners
  Roof Vents
• Added photo-etch & decals as follows;
  Front and rear towing hooks
  Brake disks front and rear
  Driver Pedals & footrest
  Co-driver footrest
  Rear number plate
  Bonnet Rally plate & number
  Tyre Valves
  Radiator Grill
• Scratch built add ons;
  Handbrake Assembly
  All interior electrical boxes and wiring
  Suspension struts and springs
  Heat Insulation around exhaust
  Antenna & Aerials
  Driver & Passenger side windows

Progress & Completed pics