Jaguar XJR-9 IMSA

[galaxyg]

Background:

I do like the look of Group C racers generally and the XJR-9 in particular - once it's got those horrible-looking side skirts off. The Castrol livery on this Jag is at least as striking to me as the Silk Cut one.

Pros:

It all fits together mostly well and the moulding is crisp. Aside from being the correct body insofar as louvres, mirrors etc for the IMSA spec XJR-9, there's little else good to say about this kit noting that the (non-IMSA spec) Tamiya kit does it all ten times better.

Cons:

No engine, low detail interior - in fact low detail overall, the body has no positive fitments to hold it to the chassis, the brake discs have no calipers, some of the parts do need a little work to fit and some are annoyingly fiddly. No suspension detail either and the wheels don't steer. Some of the decals are a little large to fit into the spaces intended. The instructions are a bit vague in places and the painting instructions are certainly wrong in places. There's a few areas with sink marks and quite a few ejector pin marks too.

Verdict:

Super average. Buy only if you really want the IMSA spec car.

Build notes:

I've added a P/E tow hook, opened up a few holes in the body, added an aerial and wheel nuts and fabricated some brake calipers. Additionally I added electrical shut-off lever and some wires to the box on the dashboard. I've also removed the rear wheel covers - there is photo evidence included in the kit's instructions of the car running without them at some point. Painted overall in Tamiya Pure White, and the rear wing is painted not decalled. The old decals are a little scruffy down the sides and yellowing in places so it's not exactly a super-clean build which is a little annoying. However it's still a great looking car/livery despite having black wheels which I don't normally care for. I didn't want to stray too far from the real car by making them silver. With hindsight I should have painted the green down the sides, not used decals.

 

[TonyK]

Oh yeah! Loved this car and you did a great job on it. Thanks for bringing back the memory.

[1959scudetto]

Very nice, Michael - esopecially in this livery! These Group C sportsracers were the last really good looking ones (at least for my taste) - we would need the engine sound, too ! 

[Rich Chernosky]

The Hasegawa IMSA kits were pretty basic. I think you did a very good job on this one.  I made the wheels steer on all of mine. Its a personal pet peeve of  mine. 

[Nacho Z]

Love it!!  I agree with you about the side skirts, never cared for them.  I also agree with you about the livery.  Your photos really do the model justice.  Thanks for sharing!

[Hans1971]

Group C cars, my favourites !

[Gramps46]

Very well done indeed.  The Group C subjects are super subjects for modeling.

 

[bbowser]

I agree about the Hasegawa kits, very simple with vague instructions.  Castrol livery is outstanding, well done.

[Phildaupho]

Great looking Jag. Very crisp photos.

[drodg]

Great job on that.  TWR was based out of my home town of Valparaiso In and I did go visit once.  I saw the Silk Cut XJR14 that Teo Fabi raced and won the championship in 1991.  You are right about this car and the side skirts.  Again great job.  

[Venom]

Very nice! ... I can’t imagine the decal work being easy on these cars.

[galaxyg]

On 2/8/2022 at 6:07 PM, Venom said:

Very nice! ... I can’t imagine the decal work being easy on these cars.

Thanks. It's not, especially when they're old like these were. The ones down the left side of the car are a bit scruffy as they tore.

[PappyD340]

Very nice build!

[ZTony8]

I've got that kit in my stash. I also have a set of the Studio 27 decals for it which are a distinctly different shade of green than the kit decals. Anyone have an idea which has the correct shade of  green? Or are they both wrong?

[Mattilacken]

Such a good looking old racer!! Love that era of race cars, even though I was to young to live it.

[galaxyg]

On 2/18/2022 at 8:53 PM, ZTony8 said:

I've got that kit in my stash. I also have a set of the Studio 27 decals for it which are a distinctly different shade of green than the kit decals. Anyone have an idea which has the correct shade of  green? Or are they both wrong?

I've not seen the studio27 ones but the Haswgawa green is what I'd describe as "quite dark" and the real car photos look about the same to me.

[Lobo2me]

Well done on a strong trio!

[ZTony8]

On 2/21/2022 at 9:53 AM, galaxyg said:

I've not seen the studio27 ones but the Haswgawa green is what I'd describe as "quite dark" and the real car photos look about the same to me.

The Studio set is definitely lighter that the Hasegawa kit decals. Not enough to look extremely off but in trying to compare photos each one looks like it could be correct.

 

[Beurlys]

Beautiful !

Nice job on the decals.

I hope that some day Revell will re-box all the Group C kits from Hasegawa. Then we would get excellent decals with these kits.

Sincerely

Pascal

 

[8915civicnut]

Nicely done!  The decals on these kits are a nightmare but they look good if you can manage to get them on.  I actually like the wheel cover but yes the box art shows an in race photo of the car without them and I have seen other photos to confirm it.