Rocket Bunny V2 x Arise Sport

Finally a photoshoot! Man, it’s been a crazy summer – 1.5 weeks to go before baby comes, so I mean – it could happen 30 minutes from now or it could be another 2 weeks before we’re +1 in the family. Personally, I’m hoping it’s 30 minutes from now but you can’t rush a good thing, I suppose…

Anyway, I recently just spoke with Steve at Sunday School and we got talking about his build. We’ve chatted on and off over the last year or so and he’s been saying his RB FRS is coming together but slowly… At Sunday School, he was stoked to tell me that it was done! Fast forward a few days and he suggests that we should do a photoshoot together. I’m down as long as Diana isn’t in labour or baby isn’t already here.

Some background information – Steve is also a photographer, but he doesn’t shoot cars. He shoots people and weddings – the complete opposite of what I like to shoot. The fun begins when my good friend Steve suggests that we should do a photoshoot during the golden hours of the morning to get some good light. In my defense, “golden hours” means 8 or 9 AM. To a “people” photographer, I guess that means 5 or 6 AM, on a Sunday, the day after a late wedding we were just at.

Whatever – I’m game – I’ve stayed out for late photoshoots, I’ve done harsh-lighting mid-day photoshoots, I’ve done my definition of “golden hour” photoshoots at 9 AM but I’ve never done true golden hour photoshoots… And I’m always up for something new. So this post begins at 5AM…

IMG_9993 copy

We agreed to meet at a gas station near Cross Iron at 6AM. The roads were dead, my eyes were burning, and the clerk was looking at me like I was crazy. The sky was beautiful though.

IMG_9991 copy

So I couldn’t resist taking some snaps while the car was still super clean.

IMG_0025 copy

We double-teamed the shoot with no usual help and that was fine. The roads were dead on the way out to the location so I attempted rolling shots on my own. I couldn’t miss the opportunity to capture the sunrise behind us.

IMG_0031 copy

I’ll admit, if I could get up this early all the time for photoshoots – I would. This is the type of light you can’t get no matter what and it’s just so calming. The roads are so empty that it becomes more of a relaxing drive at this time. Although my eyes were dry as hell, it’s hard to deny it was a good time.

IMG_0042 copy

We got to the first spot but didn’t stay there long. I think I took this one shot and that was it. Mainly because we got up this early but we weren’t taking advantage of the sunrise. Everything around us was blocking it… So we moved on quick.

IMG_0049 copy

We found a road with some nice S curves and the sunrise right behind it so we parked right in the middle and did our thing. The nice thing about shooting at 6 AM is that no one is even going to be on that road to bother you.

IMG_0061 copy

Two of the same cars, two different styles. It’s nice to shoot them together because you see how different they can actually be built.

IMG_0072 copy

IMG_0078 copy

Steve’s car on Rotiforms and mine on Volks. Differences in approach are evident all the way around the car.

IMG_0080 copy

IMG_0087 copy

I will say this – Rocket Bunny has some wicked looking body kits that genuinely compliment the shape of the car and its’ lines. I enjoy every car they have a kit for. Steve’s FRS just has an aggressive stance and it just looks good. It’s one thing to see RB in pictures and another to see it in person.

IMG_0102 copy

Nose to nose.

IMG_0105 copy

Only at a few points in my life of owning the FRS have I wanted to put a widebody on my car. I like the stock lines too much and I honestly dread the day that I decide I don’t want them anymore – what I would do with cut up rear quarters LOL. This shot in particular makes me want it real bad.

IMG_0107 copy

Out back, Steve got custom blast pipes made.

IMG_0110 copy

Wide load.

IMG_0114 copy

By this time, the sun was coming up but the sky was still pale and the sun wasn’t harsh. Absolutely awesome light.

IMG_0115 copy

Shot of Steve doing this thing… Which by the way, I hope to share when he’s done editing.

IMG_0125 copy

IMG_0133 copy

On the other hand, like I mentioned – I enjoy the stock curves a little more. One of the reasons I absolutely love the Arise kit is that it accentuates the lines nicely. Not that no other kit does, but the Arise bumper does a good job of taking all the stock body lines and pulling them down and towards the middle.

That’s one of my pet peeves about all the kits that are available – it looks like companies just put something together and basically disrespected the body lines altogether. FRS kits are not the only ones – there are plenty out there…

IMG_0136 copy

Ass shot. I love the wide look.

IMG_0156 copy

One of my favourite shots… Bunny in the wild

IMG_0164 copy

IMG_0173 copy

On the way back – the sun was getting a bit harsh and was against me but still nice shots nonetheless.

IMG_0193 copy

IMG_0198 copy

Look at that rear quarter. DAMN!

IMG_0290 copy

Well, we parted ways here. I decided to take one last shot of before taking my exit. *Cue Wiz Khalifa – See you again*

Would I ever wake up at 5 AM again? Yes. Under these conditions: I slept early the night before, and it isn’t on a Sunday or weekday. I’m still catching up on rest as I write this.

The Day The Swan Was Born

This is an overdue post – but I wanted to get the auto show stuff out of the way before it was older news than it already was by the time I posted it.

I dropped the parts off with Nick Prah two weeks ago so he could prep and paint them, then I dropped the car off to him last week and finally picked it up on Sunday. I had been anxious all week to get it back because this has been in the works for over a year now. I knew what kit I wanted and I knew how I wanted it to all come together but I had to play the waiting game – like most of you know.

I did a lot of brainstorming, playing around in photoshop and scouring the internet for ideas before I came to a decision on how I wanted the car to look. I’ve mentioned it before, but having a popular platform means that it’s quite difficult to be unique. There are a lot parts floating around and there will always be a handful of popular pieces that get done over and over. I have nothing against this – but I really wanted to stay away from the “cookie cutter” look as much as I could. Of course, the only way to truly do so is to do custom work. With that off my list – the next best thing is to try and put pieces together that you didn’t generally see all the time, and that doesn’t happen easily. The key things that I wanted (and still want) my build to have was quality parts. I told myself that I wouldn’t cut corners to save a few bucks and if it took me another year to get something better – I would wait the year.

Anyway, going back and forth between kits like the oh-so-popular Rocket Bunny and the increasingly popular Varis – I didn’t know how else I could create something that I loved enough that didn’t look like the vision of someone else. Again, I stress that it’s not because I’m trying to be the cool kid by going off the road less traveled… I just wanted to build a car that I could love driving and looking at without being reminded that my car “kind of looks like that guys car on the internet”. A lot of my inspiration did in fact come from all these guys from the internet – it helped me decide what I liked, and what I really didn’t like. At the end of the day, this is the result and I am 110% satisfied with the result thus far… And I’m stoked as hell to share pics and drive the hell out of it this year!

IMG_5596 copy

When we rolled up to Nick’s place, it was sitting out front with the sun beaming on it… Right here as you see. The paint shining like it just rolled off the showroom floor.

IMG_5601 copy

I seriously could not have asked Nick to do a better job on this. The paint is wet and matches OEM right down to the last metallic sparkle that Raven Black has. No photoshop on the finish – it’s just straight talent and sick workmanship from Nick.

IMG_5690 copy

Right after the auto show, I met up with Ricky to take some quick pictures because he had been anxious to see it as well. I snapped some behind the scene shots as well as took my own as you saw in a previous post…

IMG_5697 copy

We originally wanted to try rig shots but it was way too bright to attempt it. Instead, we just messed around with the GoPro and took some stills.

IMG_5701 copy

Look at the finish of that paint!!

IMG_5705 copy

This was not meant to be an official photoshoot. I just wanted to take some quick snaps to show off.

IMG_5708 copy

The wingggggggg

IMG_5710 copy

TRD x Craft Square

IMG_5715 copy

IMG_5722 copy

IMG_5724 copy

It’s now aggressive and clean looking – the exact look I was aiming for. Everything balances out so well.

IMG_5729 copy

A rear shot. The only thing I was not able to acquire this year was a diffuser. I was a little late to the bandwagon before our dollar plummeted and I wasn’t about to pay double for a piece…

IMG_5731 copy

IMG_9111 copy

Some shots from Ricky’s camera that I edited quickly for him.

IMG_9115 copy

I love when other people take pictures of my car – not because I’m conceited or anything – but because I love to see my car in a different perspective. There are always angles that I would never think of and it’s refreshing to see. Being the photographer most of the time means no one shoots my car LOL

IMG_9120 copy

Like this angle. Obnoxious as f*** but cool as hell.

IMG_9126 copy

As if the wing wasn’t big enough haha

IMG_9139 copy

Shots of the fin and mirrors

IMG_9144 copy

OEM is best. Just say no to Winjet.

IMG_9146 copy

IMG_9153 copy

A shot from the passenger seat…

IMG_5750 copy

Later that night, we met up again at that same spot and decided to try rig shots again. Here Ricky is setting up while Diana sits in the car. Being preggo and standing outside in the cold isn’t the best combination when you always have to pee, I guess…

IMG_5752 copy

IMG_5753 copy

IMG_5757 copy

Suction cups on… Boom on…

IMG_5758 copy

Diana looking bored as hell. Meanwhile, I’m geeking out cause this is cool as shit hahaha

IMG_5759 copy

Ricky finishing up the set up…

IMG_5763 copy

The set up. So rad! This is the first time I’ve had a rig shot so I’m just standing there amazing the whole time haha

IMG_9175 copy

Here’s a few shots that turned out that night. We were kind of rushed since the sun was leaving quick and it was getting cold.

IMG_9210 copy

Here’s one dubbed “Ghost Rider”. LOL I was pushing from the other side.

IMG_5764 copy

The next day we decided to try one more time LOL… Setting up again…

IMG_5767 copy

This time set up on the roof.

IMG_5768 copy

It was significantly colder yesterday and we were on top of this big as hill, so it was windy as hell. Tough to stay steady when your hands are shaking and the boom is blowing with the wind.

IMG_5769 copy

A shot of the set up…

IMG_5779 copy

Ending it here because this was the last set up we tried. I don’t have the pictures from this attempt yet, but once I do I’ll post them for sure!

We’re thinking of trying again next weekend provided the weather cooperates with us. Stay tuned!

Out of Hibernation

She’s bacccccccccckkkkkk!!!!!

Finally – after a long awaited 6 months, the car is put back together and complete. It’s been a grueling wait this winter but the time has finally come. It all started in August when I placed the order for the Voltex wing. September was when I ordered the Arise kit and they just kind of sat in the house until it was time to put them on.

I want to give a huge thanks to Nick Prah who is responsible for the paint and install of the kit. I’ve seen his work through other forms and it is impeccable. He is a perfectionist and a detailed craftsman, and it shows through his work. The Raven black colour that the FRS comes in has a slight metallic blue hint to it and Nick recreated that to make it look like it came from factory. In fact, it’s better than factory. I’m scared to drive it because I worry about ruining the finish he produced but it’s too good to leave sitting in the garage LOL. Anyway, I’ll detail it all in another post… I just couldn’t wait to post these up to share.

Ricky and I went out in the afternoon yesterday to try and take some pics but it ended up being too bright to get nice shots, so we met up in the evening again to do some rig shots. I’ll have those up when Ricky gets editing on them… I only edited two last night just so I could have one to post. I’ll have a bunch more in the coming days.

IMG_5742 copy

This was the one at sunset. I am absolutely in love with this car all over again. The stance and aggressiveness is just perfect to me.

IMG_5698 copy

One more shot with the wheels…