It's January 1st , and what's a better way to start of the year of 2005 with a decent model build.

For this particular build, I've chosen the Mazda 787B, winner of the Le Mans 24 hour Endurance Race in 1991 with 362 laps and the unique rotary engine. This was the first ever Japanese victory, and a good one at that.

For this build, I have amassed some additional parts from some great model suppliers. These are:

• Scale Motorsports 787B photoetched kit (part #8115)
• Scale Motorsports 787B Composite Fibre decals  (#7115)
• Varios reference pictures from here: http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/787B/index.html#GEN
• A wing and a prayer 

I've started on the engine of the Mazda, and it's coming along nicely. I'm using reference pictures from here: http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/787B/index.html#MOD

Modifications so far:

p/e pulley wheels

p/e radiator and cross member

Spark plugs and wiring completed

With the engine waiting in the wings once more, I've turned my attention to the cockpit area. I've started to use Scale motorsports CF decal set to bring life to the seating area and bulkhead. The CF decals are very fine and as a consequence , very brittle. Great care is taken to get the decals onto each section without breaking them. A feat in itself, as I haven't managed it yet 

As you can see from the unfinished example pictures below, each panel is getting either a carbon fibre or kevlar finish added

Silver panel is simply metal foil cut to shape, stuck in place (It's got a sticky backing to it) and trimmed to match the contours of the piece.

The fuel filler caps are p/e parts added to the tamiya part

Body shell:

I've started on the painting of the body shell. Paint is Tamiya TS-31 Bright Orange over Halfords White Primer. There are 6 coats of orange on the parts and these will be rubbed out and clear coated at a later stage.

After a night or two of endless decalling of all the major chassis parts with 1/20th scale and 1/24th scale CF, this is the result... ( note that these pics were taken when the decals were either still wet or just settling into shape ( as you can see in the rear of the picture below)

This picture below shows one of the side panels in place as a test fit, the top of which was CF'd as well.

Once all the CF was dry and the chassis was workable, I put in the engine. I have been pottering about with the engine, drilling holes and attaching wiring and tubes in all the right(ish) places. I then fitted this to the chassis.

Cross members and struts were painted in Alclad's "Duraluminium" I have plumbed some of the wiring as you can see in the pictures... stll a load more to go!!! I have kevlar decalled the rear radiator housing.

Taking shape... onwards and upwards!

I've started , albeit very slowly on the decalling for the car. I have had nothing but problems with the old Tamiya decals and i've got 2 decal sets to assist me!

The silver is painted, after the original decal reaced badly to the micro sol setting solution, so I've had to put the liquid to one side and rely soly on hot water and a hairdryer to set the decals in the shapes I want.

The brake sets are from SRC's excellent photoetched kit.

The engine is all but finished, with the chassis starting to be built up