Tamiya 1/24 Mazda RX-7 FD-3S

All right, let's keep the ball rolling. Pandemic build #7 will be RX-7. Coincidence? Umm, yes.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49943184932_b7b55c7c29_b.jpg

Last iteration of the "rotary rocket" and most beautiful of the RXs (in my opinion). Will be building JDM version of the car (FD3S) and as such I got this re-issue of the*24110 kit from Tamiya.*

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Many of you are familiar with the kit - its a simple curbside vs their R1 kit that has full engine detail.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49943185157_a2851255bd_b.jpg

The color will be Innocent Blue Mica.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49942378298_b5477d5e89_b.jpg

Painted the body. Must say, I have never seen a Tamiya plastic that was THIS soft. Was quite a job to re-scribe these panel lines - the blade kept slipping out or digging into the line. Don't know if its the problem with the re-issue of the kit. In any case - body was cleaned, re-scribed, and primered:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49956758772_2b20d2511e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2j7vrV7)IMG_1829 (https://flic.kr/p/2j7vrV7) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

I had glued the hood shut, and it also took some work to make sure the panel is aligned properly on the sides and shut lines are even - Tamiya didnt' do a good job there.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49955972258_7a4a5a7c59_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2j7rq7w)IMG_1830 (https://flic.kr/p/2j7rq7w) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

All body color parts in primer ready for paint:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49955972223_cd1f95c8b8_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2j7rq6V)IMG_1833 (https://flic.kr/p/2j7rq6V) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Innocent Blue Mica is a two stage paint, so first coat was done and left to cure:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49956758627_30b1a50422_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2j7vrSB)IMG_1834 (https://flic.kr/p/2j7vrSB) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Then second color coat was sprayed for this deep, vibrant blue:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49956758557_291c55328d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2j7vrRp)IMG_1838 (https://flic.kr/p/2j7vrRp) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49956758907_742a62ea58_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2j7vrXr)IMG_1837 (https://flic.kr/p/2j7vrXr) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

And then clearcoated with 2K clear - the paint turned out fantastic, if I say so myself

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49956472376_bbee3cd3db_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2j7tYMf)IMG_1856 (https://flic.kr/p/2j7tYMf) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49955971918_575c2eae39_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2j7rq1E)IMG_1854 (https://flic.kr/p/2j7rq1E) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49956758342_a9e388bb1f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2j7vrMG)IMG_1859 (https://flic.kr/p/2j7vrMG) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49956758447_fabce05af9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2j7vrPv)IMG_1850 (https://flic.kr/p/2j7vrPv) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Can't argue; the paint looks sensational! Another box-stock Tamiya?

Can't argue; the paint looks sensational! Another box-stock Tamiya?

Thank you! Yes, another box-stocker - all these builds are for box-stock contest on another website - I just got carried away cause they are so fun to do, and these are the kits that I don't really want to spend time detailing anyway.

Agreed, that paintwork and also the colour choice came out awesome!

the paint turned out fantastic, if I say so myself

It did indeed!

Thanks guys!

All right, continuing with this one after a short break. Painted chassis parts in base colors:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49997095971_c6f00c2343_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jb5bL4)IMG_1919 (https://flic.kr/p/2jb5bL4) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Then I detail painted the chassis and suspension bits:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49997349262_0df58c55a6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jb6u49)IMG_1933 (https://flic.kr/p/2jb6u49) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49997095891_0fe8216ab8_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jb5bJF)IMG_1932 (https://flic.kr/p/2jb5bJF) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Front suspension completed:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49997096341_5fffe0091e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jb5bSr)DSC_0100 (https://flic.kr/p/2jb5bSr) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Rear too:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49997349782_18328ef502_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jb6ud7)DSC_0097 (https://flic.kr/p/2jb6ud7) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Finished chassis:*

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49996576228_0e42fbc01b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jb2wfY)DSC_0096 (https://flic.kr/p/2jb2wfY) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49997349897_4da55cb51b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jb6uf6)DSC_0094 (https://flic.kr/p/2jb6uf6) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Painted, decaled and assembled the wheels:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49997096286_498b3e0e65_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jb5bRu)DSC_0110 (https://flic.kr/p/2jb5bRu) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Mocked up overall to check the stance and fit. I think the front track is a bit too wide, I'll see what I can do about that later.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49997349382_514888ce57_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jb6u6d)DSC_0120 (https://flic.kr/p/2jb6u6d) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49997096041_4096c9ae00_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jb5bMg)DSC_0118 (https://flic.kr/p/2jb5bMg) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49997349517_24b1a39a05_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jb6u8x)DSC_0115 (https://flic.kr/p/2jb6u8x) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49997096211_ee5446fa8f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jb5bQc)DSC_0114 (https://flic.kr/p/2jb5bQc) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Beautiful. I like subtle weathering and highlighting of fine details of chassis

Beautiful. I like subtle weathering and highlighting of fine details of chassis

Thanks!

OK, I have finished the interior. Long time ago, I saw an RX-7 with a bright red interior.*Decided this one will have that! Painted all parts in their base colors:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50013976853_45b44476c7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jcyGRK)IMG_1923 (https://flic.kr/p/2jcyGRK) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Then detail painted all the little bits, masked and painted interior tub black, and assembled the dash:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50014769427_82868daedc_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jcCLsP)IMG_1987 (https://flic.kr/p/2jcCLsP) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50014769167_3e95b90b58_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jcCLok)IMG_2896 (https://flic.kr/p/2jcCLok) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50014507016_e4c09df685_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jcBqsu)IMG_1995 (https://flic.kr/p/2jcBqsu) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Aaaand the interior is done:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50014769362_8c8e587c71_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jcCLrG)IMG_2006 (https://flic.kr/p/2jcCLrG) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50013976703_5d50a632a5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jcyGPa)IMG_2007 (https://flic.kr/p/2jcyGPa) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50014769307_c51262ece1_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jcCLqK)IMG_2009 (https://flic.kr/p/2jcCLqK) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50013976598_a79ca0c540_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jcyGMm)IMG_2011 (https://flic.kr/p/2jcyGMm) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50013976543_743cda02a6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jcyGLp)IMG_2012 (https://flic.kr/p/2jcyGLp) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

I feel I'm slowing down, but I'm on a home stretch!

Time to finish up this one as well.

Most tedious work was to paint the taillights - Tamiya gives very vague outline of the lights and it was nightmare of masking, color separation, and making sure the colors don't bleed over each other. Turned out ok in the end, but what a cluster..k!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50051923106_623785bd31_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jfVbXu)IMG_8712 (https://flic.kr/p/2jfVbXu) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Painted reflectors with chrome marker:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50051923166_dd3c95a798_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jfVbYw)IMG_2092 (https://flic.kr/p/2jfVbYw) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Tail end all assembled:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50052169657_696739808c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jfWsfn)DSC_0139 (https://flic.kr/p/2jfWsfn) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Windows, wipers, wing:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50051923211_2ef2cb6198_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jfVbZi)DSC_0144 (https://flic.kr/p/2jfVbZi) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Chassis glued to the body:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50051923331_546cab419a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jfVc2n)DSC_0141 (https://flic.kr/p/2jfVc2n) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

Done!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50051923451_e61456ea53_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jfVc4r)DSC_0126 (https://flic.kr/p/2jfVc4r) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50052169862_f9bdc705a6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jfWsiU)DSC_0124 (https://flic.kr/p/2jfWsiU) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50051349858_9a41a0afcd_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jfSfxU)DSC_0133 (https://flic.kr/p/2jfSfxU) by Italian Horses (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110335038@N06/), on Flickr