Background:

In my opinion, the best looking version of the best looking rally car ever, and from the best period in WRC history. Given the current state of rally cars appearance, I don't see this being challenged any time soon. Couple that with it being a cheap and easy to find kit, and with easy to find reference photos (some of which I'd taken myself of the very similar '98 version) and there was every reason for me to build this one.

Kit review:

Pros:

Everything. Usual high Tamiya quality of moulding. Lots and lots of detail. Fits together like a dream and not an especially complex build - no masking, nothing fiddly, only two large decals, only one colour really, blue.

Cons:

The front radiator is quite visible through the mesh and don't match the real car's cooling layout and level of detail. And that's it really.

Verdict:

An enjoyable and easy build, and an ideal entry point into rally car modelling.

Build notes:

Built over the course of about 3 weeks in July-August 2024. The biggest change to what was in the box is that I've changed it from the Tour De Corse version into the Rally Catalunya version - I find the RACC/Movistar decals look better with the base Impreza Livery, and I wanted to do something a little different. The door, bonnet and roof Catalunya decals were sourced from a spare Tamiya Corolla decal sheet, and the decal on the front windscreen sun shield is from a spare duplicate of the one on the rear windscreen, as the original sunscreen decal is Tour De Corse specific. In addition to this I've scratch built the correct radiator assembly behind the front mesh, added seatbelts with photoetch buckles, added various cables, wires, wiring harnesses and other details to the interior, and sanded off the bonnet pins and replaced them with photoetch versions.

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