R5 Turbo

[Brudda]

A Tamiya R5 Renault. It’s a very simple kit. As I’m waiting for parts on the big scale cars. And waiting on a 1/8 Mercedes F1car. So I have a little breathing room for a simple build. Modified the suspension. Lowered the car a lot. The paint is a toner from bmw paint system. Kind of a copper, bronze color. Next is the masking of the black trim , which is quite a bit. I like the Renault R5 turbo . Have a soft spot for the real car. When I was vintage racing my Shelby at laguna seca, in practice this little car would give my Shelby fits. I would pull it in the straight but in the corners, this car was incredible. Meaning kick my rear. I won this kit at the Fremont IPMS raffle. So I’m giving it a try. Wish I had a real one. Here goes. 

[Spottedlaurel]

Looks good so far!

I built one a few years ago, also just changed the wheels and lowered it (not as much as you though). Went together really well and still looks good in the cabinet.

[Ulf]

Small but mean car, they sit very low. In the late 80s earls 90s I lived in the same neighbourhood as Michele Mouton, she drove an R5 Turbo as her everyday car.I just looked at the car and found out later who she was. According to Volvo's engineers who worked with Renault, these cars were very well built (unlike the others?) and a pure prestige project which was allowed to be a loss-making business.

[SpikeSchumacher]

This is looking really cool Bruce!

[Zippi]

That is one striking color.  Very easy on the eyes.  Going to look Great with the black accents.

[slusher]

Beautiful paint Bruce!

[Blueprint]

I will be bringing one to a bringatrailer auction this year if my client agrees on the reserve. Saw the car in his warehouse - wonderful little red thing. I still get goosebumps seeing one, after watching them in FIA rallies on TV.

[Brudda]

On 1/1/2024 at 4:11 AM, Spottedlaurel said:

Looks good so far!

I built one a few years ago, also just changed the wheels and lowered it (not as much as you though). Went together really well and still looks good in the cabinet.

Thank you Spottedlaurel.

[Brudda]

On 1/1/2024 at 8:23 AM, Ulf said:

Small but mean car, they sit very low. In the late 80s earls 90s I lived in the same neighbourhood as Michele Mouton, she drove an R5 Turbo as her everyday car.I just looked at the car and found out later who she was. According to Volvo's engineers who worked with Renault, these cars were very well built (unlike the others?) and a pure prestige project which was allowed to be a loss-making business.

Hello Ulf. I am now looking at a real one to import. We get a one time exemption here in Nevada for cars over 25 years old. But a friend said it’s the whole USA. The car is in Italy. But looking at several others also. I also found a bmw 3.0 cs. And then there’s the Japanese market. Hard to pick just one car. 

[Brudda]

On 1/1/2024 at 8:25 AM, SpikeSchumacher said:

This is looking really cool Bruce!

Thank you SpikeSchumacher 

[Brudda]

8 hours ago, slusher said:

Beautiful paint Bruce!

Thank you Carl. How have you been? Hope all is well for you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family. 

[Brudda]

6 hours ago, Blueprint said:

I will be bringing one to a bringatrailer auction this year if my client agrees on the reserve. Saw the car in his warehouse - wonderful little red thing. I still get goosebumps seeing one, after watching them in FIA rallies on TV.

Hello Blueprint, hmmmmm can you send me a pic? 

[Brudda]

On 12/31/2023 at 10:18 PM, Brudda said:

A Tamiya R5 Renault. It’s a very simple kit. As I’m waiting for parts on the big scale cars. And waiting on a 1/8 Mercedes F1car. So I have a little breathing room for a simple build. Modified the suspension. Lowered the car a lot. The paint is a toner from bmw paint system. Kind of a copper, bronze color. Next is the masking of the black trim , which is quite a bit. I like the Renault R5 turbo . Have a soft spot for the real car. When I was vintage racing my Shelby at laguna seca, in practice this little car would give my Shelby fits. I would pull it in the straight but in the corners, this car was incredible. Meaning kick my rear. I won this kit at the Fremont IPMS raffle. So I’m giving it a try. Wish I had a real one. Here goes. 

 

[OldNYJim]

This is a great looking build - I need to pick one of these up myself!  Great color you mixed up too!

[Brudda]

10 hours ago, CabDriver said:

This is a great looking build - I need to pick one of these up myself!  Great color you mixed up too!

Thank you CabDriver. 

[Brudda]

Something did not look correct. The kit did not have disc brakes. I added the brakes from the parts box. Needed to modify again to get them to fit. Looks more complete. 

[Brudda]

Painted the black. 

[SpikeSchumacher]

Coming along nicely!

[OldNYJim]

Hours of masking fun, to get to do minutes of painting fun - don’t you just love it?

Turned out great though!  Super clean!  

[Brudda]

Wrapping her up. Needs license plates, clean up but it’s just about there. Nothing hard about this build but somehow I made it hard. For some reason , problem after problem. Not the kit but me. First problem was the first paint job was rushed with a heat gun and melted the whole roof. Fixed that, then a string of super glue was on the glass. So I rubbed her out and then the windshield cracked. Etc , etc. I was ready to put her into the trash but just kept building. Here she is so far. 

[rrb124@sbcglobal.net]

Have only seen a 1:1 once back years ago. It was black and fast and sounded mean. Didn't know that a kit existed. Sharp!!

[Brudda]

16 minutes ago, rrb124@sbcglobal.net said:

Have only seen a 1:1 once back years ago. It was black and fast and sounded mean. Didn't know that a kit existed. Sharp!!

Thank you sir. I did not either. Won this at a raffle. Cool kit but it’s curbside. Which is ok as the engine is in the rear and buried. 

[Brudda]

Completed! Actually amazing with my problems, my problems not the kit. 

[Spottedlaurel]

Great to see that you persevered, it was worthwhile as the finished result looks really good.

[SpikeSchumacher]

Very nicely done Bruce! Sharp looking little car.