Auster racer project

This is a bit of an odd model but it's been fun building it so far so thought I'd share what I've been up to. I better start at the beginning.

While paint and filler was drying on my current project I started looking through some of the other kits I have. I eyeballed this old Fujimi Nissan Auster coupe kit and had an examine of the contents. The Nissan Auster is otherwise known as a Datsun Violet (Stanza in Australia and HL510 in the States)

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_001.jpg

Although it's an interesting and unusual car to build the kit was really crappy. For a start it's motorised so has no underside detail at all and only half an interior as the batteries are supposed to be under the floor. Secondly the molding is appaling...check out the pic with of the hood!

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_005.jpg

The model is kind of uninspiring to look at too...a neat little coupe shape but just not very interesting. The only thing I could do with this is make a custom or drag car or something.

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_003.jpg http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_004.jpg

Then I turned my attension to another duff kit I have, this awful Revell Skyline. This is also a motorised kit devoid of any chassis detail but worse still this car is just plain ugly. Also it's a four door with the rear door fixed shut because of the body kit..one of my pet hates on real cars.

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_002.JPG

Then the stupid idea hit me :naughty: :screwy: Put the body kit on the Auster! Sure it's loads smaller but I have a saw and glue :iceslolan :iceslolan
So I pulled some parts from the Skyline kit including the wheels and put it back on the shelf and got to work with the Auster.
I have so far got quite a long way with the body (first prime is now done) and made up a new chassis so it can have full engine and suspension detail too. I'll post some pics of the work I've done so far. The chassis in particular has taken a fair bit of scratch building to get it to work. More details in a bit :iceslolan

dude this is gonna be a sweet and unique build cant wait to see more :naughty: can you post some more pics?

First off I had to trial fit the parts to see if it was possible. It looked good so I just went ahead and got the glue out. These are the main panels from the Skyline kit...

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_007.jpg http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_006.jpg

The front arches were a reasonable fit right from the off. I just had to trim and clearance the front bumper and trim the body molding off the side.

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_008.jpg http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_009.jpg

The rears were a bit to long so I simply cut a bit of the end :iceslolan Then glued them in place with some liquid poly.

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_011.jpg http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_012.jpg

The side skirts were way too long so I cut about 9mm out of the center to shorten them then glued them on too. So far so good. It seems to fit together quite well and certainly makes for a more interesting car! Next it needed the front and rear lower spoilers.

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_013.jpg http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_014.jpg

Both of these were of course, way to wide so they had to be cut down by about 7mm and trimmed where they protuded into the wheel arch appeture. Here the rear one has been glued on and the front is taped on for trial fitting. Now it's beginning to take shape. I still have the rear spoiler at the back of the tailgate to sort...that's next. :iceslolan

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_015.jpg

dude this is gonna be a sweet and unique build cant wait to see more :naughty: can you post some more pics?

Stay tuned...I'm bringing the story up to date as we speak :evillol:

The rear spoiler was made up from a couple of strips of plastic sheet. I considered using the one that came in the Skyline kit but it was just too hard to make it fit.

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_016.jpg

The non-existance of the shut lines on the hood was bugging me so I got the panel scriber out and started cutting some but ended up going mad and cutting the hood open instead! :screwy: Now I'd really made some work for myself since this kit has no detail underneath whatsoever. Any how to cut a long story short I went through some other kits until I found a chassis that was close... here you can see it in place and the now opened hood...

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_017.jpg

The chassis comes out of a Revell BRE Datsun 510 kit and with a little trimming at the rear slotted right in. Here you can see the fit at the rear. The suspension there is from a Tamiya KPGC10 Skyline kit. It's actually the same suspension more or less as the 510 on the Tamiya kit is more detailed...

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_018.jpg

However, while the rear end is all sweet the front end is totally wrong :banghead: Not only it the chassis way too short but the strut towers are too far back to align the suspension with the wheel arches AND the inner wings aren't tall enough to reach the tops of the fenders... more plastic sheet coming up :iceslolan

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_019.jpg http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_020.jpg

First step in sorting the front end out is cutting the inner wings off but leaving the chassis legs in place.

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_022.jpg

I shaped a 5mm strip of plastic sheet and aytached it to the rear of the inner wings then glued them back in. This sorted the front/rear alignment but they were still way to short and more importantly not tall enough.

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_021.jpg http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_020a.jpg

So... there's nothing for it but to extend the height of the inner wings using plastic sheet. Shaping some of the bits was a bit tricky but here it's coming together...

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_023.jpg http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_026.jpg

Here I have got the lower part of the firewall cut away from the upper part (from the Revell 510 kit) and fitted it in place ...the upper part was not tall enough, was the wrong shape to fit and didn't look anything like a real Nissan Auster firewall ...so I'll have to make it!

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_027.jpg

I used several pieces of sheet laminated together to extend the chassis and form a front crossmember. The method of attaching the chassis in this model require me to make it out of layers like this. Here it is from the underside. Notice that the chassis legs on the Revell kit are hollow..these will be filled in. Still needs filing and shaping in these shots...

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_024.jpg http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_028.jpg

After getting the chassis extended I cut more plastic sheet to extend the inner wings to the front panel then filled all the joins and rough bits. Here it had some shaping and is beginning to look decent. The chassis is beginning to look like it's meant to fit there :iceslolan ..

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_029.jpg

I made the upper part of the firewall from some sheet plastic and shaped it to fit the scuttle and the curve of the hood apeture as best I could while keeping it looking something like the real car. After some more filler and sanding the engine bay is starting to look good!...

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_030.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_031.jpg

Different, interesting, i like it!

Finally I get to start whacking the filler in the body :iceslolan ...there's a fair bit of sculpture to be done at the rear! I decide to fill in the Testarossa style vents..I want to make this an authentic looking race car and those vents just don't cut it :lol:
Notice the roll cage... that's from a the Revell 510 kit (albiet one I'd already built) Apart from all the legs being too short and the rea braces being wrong it's really not far off fitting. I'll use it as a pattern to make a new one up. This ones going to have a full on multi point cage!

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_025.jpg http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_032.jpg

Right, that brings it up to date pretty much. I just put the first coat of primer on it this evening so I could get an idea of how much work there is to do on the body still. I have yet to gut the panel lines too.

I've been trying to sort and engine for it. The first idea was to use a Nissan 3.0L V6 from a Nissan King Cab truck but it was 1/20 scale and although i could have probably got away with it ...well, it's just not right is it? :iceslolan

Next up was the idea of scratch building a Nissan FJ20ET (2.0L DOHC 16V Turbo from the old Gazelle RS-X and Skyline DR30) from a cut down Skyline S20...that might still happen. I've cut it down but it will take some work to make it look like an FJ20ET.

Third and most likely at the moment is an L series. I have one from a Datsun pickup model I could use. The nice thing about this option is that this is the engine these cars came with... however to make it more worthy I'm thinking of scratch building EFI and a turbo setup on it...

What do you guys think? What ever goes in it has to be a Nissan motor ..and no, an RB26DET wont fit! :grinno: :grinno:

Looks like a very interesting and extensive project. Your doing a great job though. Keep it up man.

`RG

Very cool idea dude. Keep us posted.

Here's some pics of it after a quick coat of primer. There's still a lot of sanding, filling, filing and smoothing to be done before it sees paint! So far I've butchered three kits to make it but I think it'll be worth it :iceslolan :iceslolan

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_033.jpg

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_034.jpg http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_035.jpg

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_037.jpg http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_038.jpg

I'm going to leave it for a day or so to make sure that primer has fully hardened then I'll do some more. In the meantime I might get on with making the engine and front suspension for it. I'll post some more pics as it progresses.

What does everyone think so far..am I wasting my time :screwy: or am I on to a winner? :naughty:

Winner! First words I said was THATS NICE

Lot of work went into this I can tell. I'm feeling that nissan 3.0v6, big motor, it would fit? Put it in, bigger IS better, in my opinion anyway.

Intertesting Car, Intereting Shape, Inmteresting Body kit, Very Interesting. :)

looks AWESOME... killer... amazing imo... best slaughter job i've ever seen :)

:bigthumb::bigthumb::bigthumb::bigthumb::bigthumb: :bigthumb::bigthumb::bigthumb::bigthumb::bigthumb: :bigthumb::bigthumb:

That's one helluva project! :naughty: Can't wait to see it done! :iceslolan

The V6 will fit in no probem ..well apart from the stock intake. Here it is in there without the intake...

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_0478.jpg

And here it is with the truck intake...it touches the strut tower so it's no good...

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_0479.jpg

Even though the car is 1/24 and the engine 1/20 it somehow doesn't look out of scale. I guess that's because in real life the Nissan V6 is very compact. I would have to make a plenum for the engine so the choices are...

A 300ZX style intake like this...

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/vg30_001.jpg

or a 200SX (US spec S12) intake like this one...

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/dietzv6.jpg

Or a modified 300ZX one like this... (this just has the top plate removed but it looks pretty cool)...

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/vg_05.jpg

I guess the 200SX one would be the easiest to make. What do you think?

Does anybody make a resin SR20DET kit or something? I've heard of RB engine kits but there's no way a straight six will go in there (I've tried it :iceslolan )

Wow that is some amazing body work! For the engine, hmm im not really sure, have you tried the engine out of a 240Z? although its a six, its a lil smaller... Keep up the good work! :iceslolan This makes me want to finish the chassis work on my street 69mustang, and now i wanna redo my 510 which is a primer autocrosser! :smile: Cant wait to see this one done!

keep the 1/20 v6m it looks damn huge, and I might suggest, the easiest way to do the intake: .030 styrene card, make the plenum to fit atop the intak from the truck plenum. If you gotta, cut off the intake from the truck. Then, using trees, or whatever you have around make the 200sx intake, come from the right, left, or front sides, that would be sweet.

Wow that is some amazing body work! For the engine, hmm im not really sure, have you tried the engine out of a 240Z? although its a six, its a lil smaller... Keep up the good work! :iceslolan This makes me want to finish the chassis work on my street 69mustang, and now i wanna redo my 510 which is a primer autocrosser! :smile: Cant wait to see this one done!

In 1/24 the 240Z motor would be the same length as the S20 Skyline engine I tried (from a '72 Skyline) and it's way to big...the Auster has a really short engine bay.

What 510 did you do? The Revell one? Hehe..I'll have a lot of spare parts for one of those now I've stolen the chassis for this kit :iceslolan One day I'll do a proper BRE 510 but the thought of all those decals and that paintjob puts me off...it'd be so easy to mess up on that one :iceslolan

keep the 1/20 v6m it looks damn huge, and I might suggest, the easiest way to do the intake: .030 styrene card, make the plenum to fit atop the intak from the truck plenum. If you gotta, cut off the intake from the truck. Then, using trees, or whatever you have around make the 200sx intake, come from the right, left, or front sides, that would be sweet.

I should be able to fabricate a plenum on top of the intake manifold directly... the position of the throttle body would probably be at the front as it'd look neat...either that or go crazy and fit a couple of turbos and make a really wild install :evillol: That's so tempting. :naughty:

I did a little more work on the beast today. Mainly filling. I found a great filler mixture. I use Humbrol filler thinned to a thick liquid with cellulose thinners...you can apply it with a brush and it dries in about 10 seconds... well, enough to put another layer on. The thinners binds it very well to plastic or primer too. You can really control how thick and where you put the filler...excellent for engine bays. It rubs down easily with 600 too as I found out on my 720 truck which also got the filler treatment today. I also cut the center out of the front panel to fit the radiator. I have yet to fabricate a slam panel for it.

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_040.jpg http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_041.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_042.jpg http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_043.jpg

I'm beginning to like the look of the black hood... but I think it'll have to go carbon fiber. Where can I get really good CF decals? Not decided 100% on color but it could do with a proper race livery so I might start by painting it white. That's a bit of a way off yet though... still more mods to do as well as heaps of prep. I'm also considering wether to hinge the hood or leave it lift off style. The latter would be more race car oriented but I need to find a way of locating it securely when it's on. I don't think I'm up to making 1/24 bonnet pins :iceslolan :iceslolan

keeps looking better! :bigthumb: and yes it is the revell 510, i think when i go home this weekend im gonna begin redoing it! i'll let you know when i begin! I also began the 240z revell kit ,but that was a mess and i duno what i'm doing with it now! Keep up the good work! Can't wait to see what you've accomplished by sunday night!

Sweeet, Turbo's sounds interesting, but how about a NA 450hp v6, with some custom fabbed headers??

beautifull project!! It has the same body kit pieces as my Fujimi 345 Tuning R-32 Skyline!! Keep up the great work!! :sunglasse Check www.scaleautostyle.com for some excellent CF decals

keeps looking better! :bigthumb: and yes it is the revell 510, i think when i go home this weekend im gonna begin redoing it! i'll let you know when i begin! I also began the 240z revell kit ,but that was a mess and i duno what i'm doing with it now! Keep up the good work! Can't wait to see what you've accomplished by sunday night!

If you need any replacement bits for that 510 let me know.. I got plenty of spares :iceslolan
I've got the original issue of the Revell 240Z which I've never got round to building because I don't want to mess it up. When my skills improve enough I'll tackle it :lol:
I've also got a 1/16 scale 1972 Nissan Skyline kit that I paid silly money for a few years ago and that's the same..I daren't touch it until I can be 100% sure I can do it. Neat kit, it had opening doors, trunk and hood. It's motorised but everything is hidden. The motor is actually inside the engine and the drive and gears are inside the tailshaft and axle ! :eek7:

Cheers for all the encouragement and comments, everyone..it's much appreciated (and needed sometimes!)

Thanks for that link, tonioseven ..thay're out of stock at the moment but by the time I'm ready for it I guess they'll have them again.

Sweeet, Turbo's sounds interesting, but how about a NA 450hp v6, with some custom fabbed headers??

Headers would be cool. I've never tried my hand at haking headers so that could be fun :naughty: I'll have a go and see what I can come up with.

Absolutely stunning! And what comes to the color: bright red or lime green would be cool... And imo there are way too many cf hoods around here...

Absolutely stunning! And what comes to the color: bright red or lime green would be cool... And imo there are way too many cf hoods around here...

Actually, you're right...bright red would look good. I like the black hood and a CF hood on an old car like this would be unusual but then again like you say they are a bit common now. Maybe I should just do it body color first and see how it looks first... I might like it:sly:

It's just so wicked looking. I mean, seriously. This thing looks like it'd be waiting in a dark alley, ready to jump out at you and suck out your soul.

And that's a good thing. :devil:

It's just so wicked looking. I mean, seriously. This thing looks like it'd be waiting in a dark alley, ready to jump out at you and suck out your soul.

And that's a good thing. :devil:
No, your thinking of the clown on Spawn. BTW, RATDAT, I'll have a how To build tutorial on custom headers up tomorrow if you care to wait for it, plenty of pics for everyone:)

RATDAT, I'll have a how To build tutorial on custom headers up tomorrow if you care to wait for it, plenty of pics for everyone:)

Cool, I'll look forward to it :sunglasse

well, I've done half of 1 v8 header, but you can do it with a v6 too, at latest it'll be up 6-7:50pm central US

Hey ratdat any new updates? I'm really looking forward to this project! You inspired me so much i'm now rebuilding my datsun 510! So any updates on this crazy Auster?:smile:

Hey ratdat any new updates? I'm really looking forward to this project! You inspired me so much i'm now rebuilding my datsun 510! So any updates on this crazy Auster?:smile:

I'm still getting the body and chassis finished at the moment. Lots of filling and sanding. I have pretty much got the chassis sorted. The Datsun 510 chassis now fits like it was made for this model. I added a couple of millimeters to the rear inner arches to extend them closer to the body and made a new trunk floor. I've also filled the hollow chassis rails. A little more sanding to get it all straight and smooth and I'm there. :iceslolan

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_051.jpg

Here's a comparison of a stock Revell Datsun 510 chassis and the modified one...

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_058.jpg

I have still got the filling to do on the body between the arches and the body kit on the rear as you can see above. I have done the front and along the rockers so far. On the front a carefiully carved away the original arches from inside the body kit but that would look wrong on the rear.

The other task has been to re-cut the door shut lines. They were non existant on the original model in places and now some are covered by the body kit too. I did the tailgate no problem. I just had to extend the lines over the new rear spoiler and back under it to the tailight panel. In this shot I haven't done the rounded corners at the top yet...

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_048.jpg

The bad bit is the door shut lines. What a nightmare! :banghead: Trying to cut them at the rear where they pass over the arches was near impossible. That area of the arch had Testarossa style vents so I'm having to cut across soft filler then with harder plastic repeatedly. In the end I gouged out some pretty wide lines, the idea being that I can fill them and subsequently only have to cut them into the filler rather than plastic. Since then I have had another idea and that's to cheat a bit and alter the door shut line so it's in front of the arch...check out the modified pic at the bottom...I think this actually looks nicer anyway...looks more natural, what do you think?

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_049.jpg http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_050_mod.jpg

I should get the body ready for paint this week but the chassis may be a little longer while I sort out the suspension and fit an engine. I also have to fabricate a rear firewall and the rollcage..what fun! :jump3: :iceslolan

so rare. Nice mod. It must be tons of work on this. Keep up the good work! :icon16:

Cool looks good! I def. would go with the second option of "cheating" on the door lines it looks more natural, and will be easier. The chassis work is stunning as well! Keep up the good work! :iceslolan

Cool looks good! I def. would go with the second option of "cheating" on the door lines it looks more natural, and will be easier. The chassis work is stunning as well! Keep up the good work! :iceslolan
I agree, cheat with it. So, ratdat, you gona make the intake for that truck v6 to put in here or what?

I still haven't made my mind up with the engine yet..although the V6 is looking ever more likely. I really want to do something trick with it though. :naughty: :naughty:

I've reworked the shut lines now and rubbed the whole thing down. Just had to re-fill a couple of areas and when that's sanded down then it's time for final primer. :biggrin:

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_063.jpg

I've also started doing the interior paneling. First was the rear fire wall and shelf for which i used the firewall from the Revell 510 kit plus sone styrene sheet. Now I'm haking the insides of the doors and rear quarters. These will have all the holes in them where they should be and the door opener and rods. This one is the test piece. Once I have the design perfected I'll make a new pair from two layers of thin sheet laminated together to get the contours of the inner panels right. I wan't to get it looking like a stripped race car so this is the best way I think.

The test panel in the shot below is only held in with masking tape...the finished item will be bonded to the chassis assembly. When these are done I'll do the roll cage :evillol:

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_060.jpg http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_059.jpg

niiice. how about a supercharger with headers, or possibly two small turbos or 1 very large one?

Now this is a great and interesting project :) Different and innovative :smokin:

About the paint scheme, how about taking some hints from the touring cars of the seventies? Flat black hood (in my humble opinion carbon fibre looks too modern and hitech for a classic racer like this) and some colorful two tone body or something like that?

Here are some photos for inspiration: http://www.research-racing.de/tw-d01.htm

-Mikko

cool, i love mad touring cars! the mad arches kinda remind me of the old BMW csl "batmobile" white with red and blue martini stripes. that colour scheme would look awesome if you were up to painting it.
This is the kinda thread that really makes me want to go home and get my modelling stuff and start building . . . well only 4 weeks till end of uni term!

That two tone colour scheme would be great too.

yellow and black.......mmmmmmm.......

You takin it back huh, old school style!

Thanks for the link Mikko, you're are absolutley right... that's the sort of paint it needs! I've been taking a look at some old Nissan works race cars to get a few ideas. The traditional colors for the track and later rally cars cars is red, white and blue there have been some others.

The Auster kind of fits right in with the Group 5 Silhouette cars from the early 80's, well maybe not quite as wild :grinno: I can't really use the exact color scheme of any of these because I have a kit of eack of these three cars to build but it gives an idea of what they were like in the day...

The R30 Skyline colors are a bit dull I think....

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/105911g_slet.jpg http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/105911skylineG5.jpg

This is the coolest looking S12 Silvia (200SX in the states) I have ever seen. Wild :eek7: Check out those rims!!...

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/105911025.jpg http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/105911022.jpg

This is one of my favorites..the Bluebird. I have a model kit of this to build one day :iceslolan I like this design but maybe in another color...

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/105911sil91013.jpg http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/105911sil91015.jpg

Some of the early seventies colors were pretty cool too.... like these...

Datsun Sunny 1200 coupe and Datsun Cherry X1 Coupe. I have kits waiting to make models of both of these cars so again, I can't copy them exactly. The orange sunny's color scheme would be pretty cool. The cherry is just crazy :iceslolan ..... but the black and gold scheme on the Nissan March next to it might be a good one...

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/105911127-2775_img.jpg http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/105911127-2774_img.jpg

What do you'll think? :feedback: :iceslolan

I think mica red, black hood, basic lightning bolts and some numbers would pull it all together.

Oh, man, that black and gold paint scheme would be so perfect! I think anyway. Oh, man, I can see it in my head and it looks awesome. Black and gold... yum!

That S12 is awesome! I can't wait to see what you decide on for the color of the auster! :biggrin:

I like the Cherry's color combo. Ivory white with simple fire red graphics. I think that's the route you should take. Especially if you mask it well enough to compliment the flow of the bodywork.

Yup! Gold and black it is! And don`t put any stickers on it.

Any Update on this project?

Any Update on this project?

I just got back today from a 5 day trip to Norway (to collect a new 1:1 toy :iceslolan ) so I didn't do any during the week but I did make some progress before I went.

First, I figured that the transmission tunnel was too small for any decent engine to fit correctly so I set about altering it. I cut the tunnel from an old Revell Datsun 510 model I'd made before. I trimmed the top from the Auster tunnel and reshaped it a little then fitted the new piece into the top, raising the top of the tunnel by about 4mm at the front. I still have to cut a couple of bits of plastic to fill the two rectangular gaps on the sides yet but it's made the tunnel the correct size now...
http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_067.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_064.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_068.jpg

I've also taken a new route with the engine. I've ditched the idea of a V6 as the intention is to make this some kind of period race car. So, I decided to go for a period correct engine... something that could have been used at the time. I decided on a Nissan FJ20ET (1990cc 4cyl, DOHC 16V turbo). This engine was derived from the n/a FJ24E used in the Nissan 240RS rally car and was used in Nissan Silvia's, Gazelles and Skylines in the early 80's. They are awesome engines...the lowest powered stock one is 190hp and tuned ones are capable of 600hp plus so it's ideal for an outragious track car :iceslolan Check out THIS (http://www.turbocreations.com/fj20/fj200sx/) and THIS (http://www.turbocreations.com/fj20/drwatson/) ! They look like this...

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/intake2b.jpg

Now comes the problem. I haven't got a 1/24 one :cwm27: So, I've started making one using an S20 six cylinder from a KPGC10 Skyline. So far I've shortened it by 2 cylinders and filled the gaps as well as add some plastic to areas of the cam cover that need re-shaping. The intake, exhaust manifold, turbo, disributor etc etc will have to be scratch built. There used to be an FJ20ET in Aoshimas "high power unit" R30 Skyline (http://www.1999.co.jp/asp/GoodsDetails_e.asp?Bno=&Typ1_c=102&Typ2_c=106&Typ3_c=118&SPage=1&SC=4&SN=Search+result+Search+for+%3A+high+power+unit&It_c=10013359&andor=0&scope=0&scope2=0&thumb=1&sortID=1&urikire=1&sort_sort=0&ItKey=high power unit&app_url=KeyReference_right_e.asp) but nobody seems list it :disappoin so I think this is the only way to go (unless someone knows where I can get that kit?)

http://www.ratdat.com/auster/0910_069.jpg

I'm not 100% happy with this approach but I'll see how it shapes up. It might come out looking okay. I actually have a real 1:1 FJ20ET engine outside in my shed to use for reference so hopefully I can get it right. :iceslolan

Next job is finishing the tunnel and the sanding on the body. All the filler is done so by Sunday evening it should be in final primer!

Ahh, I wanted to see the V6, but that engine is looking damn hot.

Ahh, I wanted to see the V6, but that engine is looking damn hot.

Hehe.. It just wasn't right. The engine being out of scale seemed wrong plus I had the feeling all along I'd regret taking it from my Nissan truck kit as it's a very nice kit which I'd like to make some day.

I'll see how it progresses over the next few days before I make any final descisions though.

Well, the engine does look right, and honestly, if I owned this car for real, I'd register it for a weekend racer/cruiser, imagine the head turn's I'd get, btw this is an Auster? Who makes/owns Auster?

Who makes/owns Auster?

The Auster was built by Nissan only for the domestic market in Japan. The same basic car was also used for the Nissan Violet and Stanza in Japan too but these cars was sold elsewhere around the world in various guises under the Datsun brand name. In the US it was sold as a Datsun 510 (often refered to as an HL510) from about 1977 to 1981. In Australia the car was called a Datsun Stanza, although the coupe version like this model is very rare there. In the UK and Europe it was sold as a Datsun 160J SSS and later as a Datsun Violet. All models sold in all markets recieved a facelift during their lifespan. The different versions all have different headlights, grilles and often different tail lights. :eek7: It's a large and very confusing range of cars! :screwy:

This is a stock late model JDM Nissan Auster like the one I'm building...

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/105911yellow_auster_coupe.jpg

oh, ok thanks for clearing that up, looks similar to a 240Z

How did I miss this thread, very nice and very interesting, your attention to detail is awesome. Looking forward to more of this one.

This progress is coming along quite well. Engne is looking good so far.


[QUOTE=ratdat]I just got back today from a 5 day trip to Norway (to collect a new 1:1 toy :iceslolan )QUOTE]

What kind of 1:1 toy did you pick up?