galaxyg Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 I build quite a few model car kits so this is not new to me. Fortunately my own 350Z is Kuro black, so this is going to be a straightforward build. I've chosen the "track" version of Tamiya's 350z as it comes with the small boot spoiler that UK spec Zs have. Unfortunately this particular kit does not steer but in most other ways it's the same as a European spec 350z - closer than I could find in kits by other manufacturers. My own 350Z is entirely unmodified also so that helps too. The two areas of my car I'm not going to duplicate are the rust on the nearside wings, and the fact that despite being solidly fixed to the car, my exhaust is not quite straight. I think a mounting hangar is a bit bent. Where the Tamiya kit does differ from a European Spec car is the number plate areas. There's no front mount and the rear enclosure is JDM plate sized. This is where I'll address the bodywork first, as below. Now I'm cleaning up the few mould lines across the front. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattross1313 Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 (edited) This is great mate, good work. I've always fancied getting one of these to keep me occupied in the man-cave. Really like the attention to detail. Look forward to the next update. Edited February 12, 2018 by mattross1313 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galaxyg Posted February 18, 2018 Author Share Posted February 18, 2018 A load more pics. First, cutting some plasticard and gluing into place for the front bumper number plate mounting. Then sanding off so it makes a flat surface for the number plate to sit on. Drilling a hole for the rear spoiler mounting nub. Body is ready for undercoat In this instance I find matt black works just as well as an undercoat as regular primer. Car looks pretty cool Matt black. Here's the first top coat of black. It's a bit orange-peely at the moment but I'll be sanding this later. Also at the side are some shots of the 1:1 car, my 350z. A lot of smaller parts prepared and ready for spray painting. By drawing on the underside of the boot storage area with a red marker, I can use it as a stamp to plan out the carpet template. As I usually do, the carpets are made from spray painted sandpaper which gives a realistic enough scale finish to the roughness of the material once double-sided taped down inside. I do the same for the driver and passenger floor mats too. Drilling a pilot hole for the door handle. There are both sides available in the kit, as the kit includes steering wheels,wipers etc for both US and Japan/UK configurations. Tamyia handily includes window masks for most of the windows. But never the main side windows. I have spare making material for these however. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AW11mike Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Nice work, I built the same kit. Shame it didn’t come with the Rays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marzman Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 This has made my day, this is awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galaxyg Posted February 25, 2018 Author Share Posted February 25, 2018 Drilling some holds and using a cut-up clothing tag for the air valves, to be painted black. Might as well paint the inside of the exhaust tips as well since I have the black paint open. Some cables and wires on the underbody, with ref from my own car. Not sure what the white ones do - they look terribly exposed to weather/damage but they appear to be electrical in nature and go into the Y-pipe, I guess some kind of exhaust sensor. The clothing tag is again useful and I'm not done with it yet either, the thicker part will make a suitable stubby aerial. 6 shots of the underside from start to finish. I've tried to aproximate the incredible amount of surface rust on the underside of my car. Those familiar with the underbody of the 350Z will notice there is no W brace here - it's not moulded in or included in the kit. Polishing the body Test fitting floor pan to body. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EcoFriendlyAL Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 I've made a few models myself and am very impressed with the skill and detail on this. Look forward to an update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marzman Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 Excellent work. Keep the updates coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsexr Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 Great attention to detail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galaxyg Posted March 4, 2018 Author Share Posted March 4, 2018 Further work to complete the interior. I find it easier in most cases to just cut out the decal and leave it on it's card backing , then use a dab of white glue to stick it into the "tunnel" formed by the dials/dashboard area rather than to get the flimsy and easily tearable decal to go down there and sit right. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sipar69 Posted March 4, 2018 Share Posted March 4, 2018 Great work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted March 4, 2018 Share Posted March 4, 2018 Very enjoyable reading this and looking at your pictures galaxyg of your Tamiya. I've built loads of these kits and like you enjoy going the extra mile to add authentic details whenever possible. I have to admit though that when I did my 350Z I didn't think to go as far as adding the wheel valves. Kudos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galaxyg Posted March 11, 2018 Author Share Posted March 11, 2018 (edited) Further progress all the way to completion. I will take a lot more/better photos of the completed car in the next few days. The polished body is as much of a pain to keep clean as the real car. Why did I buy a black one? I should have learned after the black Honda Prelude. Photographed my own number plates and printed some 1/24 scale versions to fit here. My own B Pillars are wrapped in carbon fibre stickers as one of the was scratched when I got the car, so I've duplicated this effect into the model. Various finishing details. The Honda S2000 stubby aerial I fitted is made from the last of the clothing tag, (Blue arrow) and borrowed from other kits are the Nismo stickers I have on my B Pillars and the joke Japanese emissions sticker on the back window. Completed model, to be photographed better later. Edited March 11, 2018 by galaxyg 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galaxyg Posted March 13, 2018 Author Share Posted March 13, 2018 All done. Most of the photographs are taken on top of the real car. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Very impressive and good photos too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marzman Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 That is stunning, what a brilliant job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veeg33 Posted March 14, 2018 Share Posted March 14, 2018 Fantastic job!! Attention to details was superb!!! You'll have to sell the model as well if you were to sell your zed......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galaxyg Posted March 14, 2018 Author Share Posted March 14, 2018 2 hours ago, veeg33 said: You'll have to sell the model as well if you were to sell your zed......... Thanks. I'm hoping to not have to contemplate selling the Z for quite a long time but I have considered whether or not to chuck in the model with the sale. Last time, I sold my RX-8, I kept the model as a reminder - partly because the "helper-car-expert" person that came with the buyer was such an obnoxious character. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 On 3/14/2018 at 11:15, galaxyg said: Thanks. I'm hoping to not have to contemplate selling the Z for quite a long time but I have considered whether or not to chuck in the model with the sale. I'd say definitely don't. No one will appreciate the time and effort that's gone into making that model like yourself. I've got a nice glass display case from Ikea which I display my 1/24th scale and other model kits I've built in so I'd suggest you do the same so that you can keep them in good condition to enjoy in the future. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sipar69 Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Awesome work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeJayDready Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 I've been looking for a model like this for years... Unreal effort mate. I just wish they were available to buy like that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 I have this for sale: 1/10th Scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeJayDready Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Nice! I wonder if the bodywork would take to being sprayed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 1 hour ago, DeeJayDready said: Nice! I wonder if the bodywork would take to being sprayed. Easily painted and the paint sticks like glue if you use an etch primer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pintopete58 Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 How much alex . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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