adding an engine and working hood to a model

Right now, I have put a project together that is extensive. and quite expensive so far. Lets put it this way, I will list the ish.

PLAN: to build a silvia that looks amazing and has a working hood with a skyline engine swap with full engine bay detail. (skyline engine chosen due to lack of SR20DET available in 1/24)

THE LIST:

-Tamiya R32 GTR which I have to say, the kit looks so amazing I will be contacting tamiya to order the parts trees I use so I can build the rest of the kit.

-2 Fujimi Silvias from HLJ
1 is a S15 the other a S14.5 (shark eye) (2 kits in case I butcher the first)

-Misc stuff like glue, putty, styrene sheets, paint galore etc..

-a dremel

-2 sets of aftermarket rims and a set of aftermarket spoilers/wings from HLJ (seperate order)



right now I used the dremel to cut out the hood and modify the body to accept the RB26 engine from the skyline. Thats done. Problem is, after the dremel and sanding the hood and quarter panels down, there is more space between the hood and other surrounding areas than needed. I was considering using styrine sheets to modify the hood but wanted some other opinions on ways to go about this. should I split the hood in half and make it wider? or lay styrene down on each side and leave the middle the same, only extending the sides. With the second option (which I am leaning twards) the hood would come out looking like a NSX, with the middle portion being lower than the sides. I will borrow my friends digital camera and snap pics tuesday or wednesday but I wanted to put this out there asap. Have any of you masterminds done something like this before?

I think you should be able to use putty to fill the gaps. or add onto the hood so that it is big enough.

Do u know a easy and cost efficient way u can do it is using a exacto knife.

Originally posted by Shorty4859
Do u know a easy and cost efficient way u can do it is using a exacto knife.

A slightly Harder, more involved but more cost efficient way is to use sewing thread, hold the thread tightly in your hands, and then hold the body between your knees, then use the string like a saw to cut into the plastic. The string breaks quite easily, so try and use the full length of the string.

Originally posted by Jonno


A slightly Harder, more involved but more cost efficient way is to use sewing thread, hold the thread tightly in your hands, and then hold the body between your knees, then use the string like a saw to cut into the plastic. The string breaks quite easily, so try and use the full length of the string.

Exacto knife method(EKM) in my opinion would give a more accurate cut, but takes much much longer time to cut than the sewing thread method(STM).
Also EKM if done patiently and correctly will need very little or no puttying at all.
STM will defintely take off more plastics.
Because of the way its done, the rubbing between the plastics creates heat and hardens the thread and make the threads act like saw blades thus more plastic will be taken off.
With STM, try to get a partner to hold the kit while you direct your thread thru the lines. This way you achieve:
1)A more accurate cut
2)Prevents the kit from shaking while you cut thus less prone to damage.

I have tried using the EKM but it was way too time consuming.
But with STM, I can achieve a cut much faster.

All in all, the main balance would be, do you want to spend time puttying?

Do correct me if I am wrong on the above.


should I split the hood in half and make it wider? or lay styrene down on each side and leave the middle the same, only extending the sides. With the second option (which I am leaning twards) the hood would come out looking like a NSX, with the middle portion being lower than the sides.
Oops sorry to have gone off-topic blueboost.
I would go for the 2nd option and lay styrene down on each side. I think it would be faster this way and takes less work.

Back side of hobby knife takes only 15 minutes to remove the hood. (although some might think 15 min is too long)
Or, you can buy a set of photo etched saws from Hasegawa/TriMaster, and it cuts the hood so easily.