Tamiya 1/24 Mazda Savanna RX-7 - 1st Generation Rotary Rocket

[360spider]

Originally Posted by potsie

Yes!! So glad you installed the motor.

I really doubt I will ever run it, though! It works, but...you know.

[360spider]

Headlights assembled, installed into the body:



Checking clearance - looks good:



Tops attached:





And they are alive!

[Martini Man]

AWSOME ! real box stock, will the driver be behind the wheel?

Paul

[360spider]

Originally Posted by Martini Man

AWSOME ! real box stock, will the driver be behind the wheel?

Paul

Still debating this. Likely.

[Kjenjak]

The motor is so realistic, it totally looks like a real one!

[360spider]

Originally Posted by Kjenjak

The motor is so realistic, it totally looks like a real one!

I know you were only joking, but honestly, the real thing looks not much different!

[360spider]

Its been a while, huh? Finally, an update on this one…

As some of you remember, this was started as strictly box-stock project for a contest but wasn’t finished in time. Since box stock was no longer a requirement, I decided to spice it up a bit.

Originally interior was supposed to be plain tan, so the tub was carefully masked and painted base color.



The rest of the interior panels was cleaned up and painted as well:



Real car had some sort of plaid pattern on the seats, but replicating that would have been next to impossible with paint and I didn’t want to mess with designing and printing my own for a project that started as a simple box-stock build:



So, I cheated. Looked high and low for some similar pattern decals but couldn’t find any. So, I bought this plaid pattern decals for nails, it was a nice design and a similar color-scheme:



When they showed up, they were super glossy, self-made decals – I almost threw them in the trash as I wasn’t sure I could use them. They were also too small, and that meant I had to piece them up to cover both real and front seats. But decided to give it a try:





It turned out ok with lots of setting solution, and several coats of dull-coat to get rid of the shine. Here are couple more pictures with different lighting:





Dashboard was also painted, detailed, and assembled:



Since original kit does not provide any gauge cluster decals, I decided to see what could be done about it. I knew that Revell did a RX7 kit, so I found a decal sheet from that kit on ebay and bought it. I figured I could also use decals for the badges, and wheel centers from it. Side not – Revell makes terrible decals.



But it worked fine for the gauges, and I also painted and detailed the rest of the interior panels:





Toyed around with flocking the carpet, but I could not find proper color flocking to match the paint, and after mocking the interior realized that zero of that flocking job will be seen after assembly, so passed on that.
Assembled interior looks good. Wiring for the headlights is hidden under the seat and front floor panel. Door cards actually mount inside the body shell. I really feel bad for the rear passenger’s legs!

[fafnir]

The decals really make that interior pop!!

[360spider]

Originally Posted by fafnir

The decals really make that interior pop!!

Yup, they sure do!

Painted the wheels and exhaust parts in metallics, front suspension parts in black:



Assembled the wheels, tires are narrower than the rims, and I suspect the rims are also a bit oversized – but they look fine:



Soldered the wires for the headlights to the power source, put the wheels on, and married the body to the chassis:



Didn’t want to spend much time with the underside, just dry brushed here and there – its mostly incorrect anyway so decided this should do just fine.







Everything seemed to be in its place after assembly, but somehow the headlights do not sit flush with the body anymore!



I’ll have to figure this one out and see what needs to be adjusted. But they work just fine, so does the motor!



Overall, its taking shape, good stance too!

[Kjenjak]

Looking good so far! It’s a shame with the head lights, but I’m sure you can still fix something.

[360spider]

Originally Posted by Kjenjak

Looking good so far! It’s a shame with the head lights, but I’m sure you can still fix something.

Oh, no worries, I have already fixed it. The problem was partially because of the wiring, which I adjusted slightly, and then wheel liners that needed a bit of trimming - it all sits nice and flush now.

[360spider]

All right, I think its time to wrap this project up.
Headlights and inner fenders were adjusted slightly to allow for the light to go down flush with the bonnet again:



Works in the raised/lit up position as well!



Badges and license plate was taken from Revell decal sheet. Taillights painted with Tamiya clears and foil backing:



One interesting part is that there is a hole under the orange part of the taillight where the latch would go. Had to stick the foil right behind that piece:



Wipers, badges, wheel caps, mirrors:



And its all done! Full photoset in the gallery soon!

[quadzero]

What a fantastic and enjoyable build. I also am glad you made the effort to install the motor. The interior and seat patterns make me want to spend extra time to my own details. This is a beautiful car and model.

[360spider]

Thank you!