Progress: 350Z - Porsche inspired!

This car kind of came about by accident.

I was digging through my parts box looking for a rear wing that may add a little different look to my Z. I came across the whale tail from an old 911 slant nose. I found my inspiration and ran with it.

The front end has been modified with the 911 Carrera nose. That piece was an extra front end in the 911 GT3 kit. The front end is about 2mm lower now and really has a nice agressive look I think.

The targa top just added to the overall "Porsche" look.

I have some surprises in store with this one so stay tuned.

Comments welcome! Enjoy!

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WOW !

I like it , it's very original, and the mods look very good too!

Now a porsche-esque colour to it, and it ll be a stunner!
Olivier

Hey Matt, I really like how this is coming along. I like what's going on w/the front, but one thing hit me that could improve the appearance-sorry, that's the designer-talk in me coming through! :naughty:

The remaining "slot" from the original grille, above the Porsche part, needs some attention. The proportion of it's width vs. the slots below needs to be addressed. Right now the width looks kind of random, not congruent w/the slots below.

You could lengthen the entire slot horizontally to match the width of the lower openings. Then to break up that width, you could have inset rectangular fog lamps/turn signals that match the width of the headlight opening. I'd also think that removing the two verticle bars in the lower section would improve the look. You'd still have a Porsche appearance, but one customized for best visual punch.

Best idea would be to print out one of your front end pics and pencil in various ideas for modifying the slots. Or photoshop 'em. The mods that look the best probably won't be all that difficult. That time taken will really pay off in the final appearance.

I think I've got an extra C-West rear bumper if you want it. I really wish someone modeled the very cool exhaust tips that you see on a lot of current 911's. It kills me to see so many good 911 variations on the street, and Tamiya seemingly ignoring them.

it looks very good.

You could lengthen the entire slot horizontally to match the width of the lower openings. Then to break up that width, you could have inset rectangular fog lamps/turn signals that match the width of the headlight opening. I'd also think that removing the two verticle bars in the lower section would improve the look. You'd still have a Porsche appearance, but one customized for best visual punch.

Best idea would be to print out one of your front end pics and pencil in various ideas for modifying the slots. Or photoshop 'em. The mods that look the best probably won't be all that difficult. That time taken will really pay off in the final appearance.

The only problem with legnthening the slot is this. It is the structural member holding on the Porsche grill. About 3mm on each side. The second attachment points are the styrene bits I added to legnthen the wheel arches about 1mm. So it's pretty fragile as is. The original Z turn signal holes were filled in with putty.

Using the computer is a great idea, and I urge everyone to try it!

Before cutting any styrene I scanned the front views off of the instruction sheets from both kits. I used a raster trace program in AutoCAD "<--hence CADguy" to get the outline for each. Then did all the modifications on screen before pulling out the blade. This helped greatly. I knew EXACTLY how much to remove/add. This made for very little use of putty. The 2nd pic shows how little putty was used.

I do have to tell everyone now, that seeing yours and Veyrons 350Z's in person inspired me to pick up this kit. It took me less than an hour to have one in hand.

ohhh!! very nice!!:worshippy:

911+350= C:sunglasse:sunglasselness!!

That looks very cool. Very original. Great job. Keep us posted on how the build goes.

911+350= C:sunglasse:sunglasselness!!

I like your math. :smile:
Thanks!

That is just white primer, right? What color are you going to be painting it?

Not too sure about this, but I reserve judgement till it's done.

Looks good as it goos... Look forward to seeing in complete.

looks awsome cant wait to see it finished!!!

Very original. Cleanly put together.

Looks good, man. I kinda of agree with Layla's keeper but just about the top slot, it probably could get lengthened. Maybe not the full width, but a little more. And since you can't cut it through, perhaps you can just file a groove for turn signals. Just a thought, I mean what am saying? This thing already looks sweet. I can't wait to see it come out. What is it about 350Z's, though, that lend themselves so handily to front ends from other cars?

It looks very, very cool. I love how that wing fits on the rear.
More pics, please. :D

Very nice work.Can't wait to see more.

What is it about 350Z's, though, that lend themselves so handily to front ends from other cars?

yeah, seems like 350Z's tend to get the most outer appearance mods than any other car... i'm pretty satisfied with my stock 350Z...

Not too sure about this, but I reserve judgement till it's done :screwy:

Looks good, man. I kinda of agree with Layla's keeper but just about the top slot, it probably could get lengthened.

Wish I could take credit for pointing that out, willimo, but that was MX-5's work.

Honestly, though, I'd fill the slot rather than lengthen it. It'd clean things up very nicely in my opinion. Otherwise the nose looks incredibly tasteful on the car.

Lookin good, nice mods. I agree with Bob on that larger slot though.

Thanks for all the comments guys!

My origingal thought was to fill in the slot. But it would have been too much of nothing in the front. So leaving it open is at least something. I'm gonna leave as is now that its all assembled though.

After cutting the roof off, I figured the interior on this one should be top notch. Interiors aren't my favorite, but I'm really liking this one. I picked up a couple sheets of blue carbon fiber from Scale Motorsports, to use on my Enzo, and thought I'd try it out on this car first. This stuff is great. With a bottle of microsol, a hairdryer, and some strait pins to pop the air bubbles, this went on nicely. It took about 7 hours to get the templates made, and to get the decals to lay down into all the recesses but WOW!! does it make a difference.

This is shown unfinished. More to come.

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I LIKE! even though that front end looks strange somehow :D Very nice though!!! Interior looks top notch!

PS: how do people get such a nice and even primer coat?!?! mine always looks really botched :\

Wow! Nice interior man! great work with the Cf decals. they can be a pain sometimes!

The CF really helped the inside "my 2 cents"

Wow. It's looking really good.

Have you decided what rims to go with?

Looking good so far. The interior is sweet!

check out this months Edge maazine it has some nice custom Z shots of the interior.

The chassis is done.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/61680350z10-med.jpg

I thought some BBS Rims would help with the Porsche theme. The front sits really low with the new grill added.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/61680350z11.jpg

Finished interior. The CF decals were coated with 3 coats of Future floor wax. The blue decals did not react with the Future. I've heard other Scale Motorsports decals have a reaction with Future. Test a small area before using Future.

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Man I'm falling in love with this thing. That front end is as good as it gets. The top slit is growin' on me, I take back anything I said ill toward it before. Good call on that. Great work smoothing the front end out, it looks like it belongs there. The wing looks fantastic, too. Great car. Looking forward to this one with intense interest.

It looks very C :sunglasse :sunglasse l but dont put those BBS rims. Just my opinion! :naughty:

Lookin' good! I agree that filling the upper horizontal slot would have left too large of a blunt area up front.

I love those BBS rims, just not so much on this car. I've spent a lot of time looking at various rims on Z cars, and it's hard to find anything custom under 19" that fits the style of the car...the wheel openings and flares are massive. For a very similar look that you've got w/the Fujimi BBS rims, you could use Pegasus BBS style and use their 23" aluminum sleeves. Otherwise, if you stick w/the Fujimi rims, try to get the rear wheels a bit further out by widening the track. The stance is so important on this car. You've done a masterful job on the interior and the body so far (chassis pretty cool too). :smokin:

For a very similar look that you've got w/the Fujimi BBS rims, you could use Pegasus BBS style and use their 23" aluminum sleeves. Otherwise, if you stick w/the Fujimi rims, try to get the rear wheels a bit further out by widening the track.

I have been looking for a set of those 23" sleeves. They are out of stock everywhere I look. Using those was my origninal intent, but have had no luck getting my hands on a set.

Anyone know where they are in stock and I can order a set?

My other choices were these:

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/61680Wheels01.jpg

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/61680Wheels02.jpg

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Every one of those looks better on the Z than the BBS rims. Especially the AVS 5's, though the ones on the bottom look like modern interpretations of vintage Porsche rims. I'll PM you w/a possibility of finding those sleeves.

I would use the second set, although they would look way better if they had an extra 1-2 scale inches.

Great project, by the way. The only one I am watching...I just finished a 350Z custom, so what you're doing is very interesting.

Though overly popular, the AVS model 5s look really nice imo. :D

this is gonna be one nice z, one of the most original z builds i have seen compared with po9rs1ch1e is (i think thats his name) and veyrons!

I would use the second set, although they would look way better if they had an extra 1-2 scale inches.

Great project, by the way. The only one I am watching...I just finished a 350Z custom, so what you're doing is very interesting.

Thanks! I'll take that as a compliment.

I waited to post progress on mine 'til you had posted yours as finished. I followed your build closely. I didn't get a chance to post a reply before your thread was locked so here it is. I liked your Z. Awesome interior, and a unique style we've not seen til yours was built.

It generated lots of talk. This build isn't getting the response I thought it would, but hopefully people are enjoying it. I have been.

Thanks for the suggestion on the wheels. I like all of 'em. Decisions, decisions.

Now in color!

I sprayed this in Tamiya Light Blue Metallic TS-54? This color is awesome, I really like the depth and color. This has not been clearcoated and polished yet. Pretty decent shine, I'm not sure if I will clear it.

And I've got more good news, I've found a set of Pegasus sleeves. Thanks Bob! So now It will get some nice big shoes. Probably the AVS Model 5's. The BBS's will have to find a new home. Maybe on a Porsche. :lol2:

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looks nice and the color goes well with the theme of the car!

Oh wow! That things looks great in paint. I can't express how much I like this project. It really looking beautiful. The second wheels out of the set of three above would probably work the best, they look like something Porsche would use, plus it looks like they'd lend themselves well to the sleeve? Though not sure, I don't know exactly how that works. Anyway, great work! Can't wait for it to be done.

I not like the sound of a 350+911 but after your do the primer and the paint I like your work

I think the blue CF interior and this exterior blue will work well together. I do like the blue CF interior accents.

I saw the comment about Future and SMS decals. My experience is that the decals need to dry completely (at least two days), or the Future will re-soften them and cause them to wrinkle. You also have to wait at least 24 hrs before recoating with Future or the same thing will happen. I put SMS CF on the bottom of a Toyota TS020 and put a second coat of Future on too soon and the wrinkles appeared. I left it that way because it was on the bottom of the car and the wrinkles disappeared about two months later! Dont know what was going on there, but I'm more patient about waiting for stuff to dry.

looks good so far. nice choice in color

I say keep the BBS wheels as those Pegasus sleeves are way overdone and, quite frankly, tacky.

But, I realize that I'm too late to have influenced you on this. Ah well, the bodywork speaks for itself. It's still a good-looking model.

I reckon the BBS look perfect on the car!! They aren't too bling bling :D

Nice job on the paint, way better than mine...I wonder what I did wrong, lol. Not my type of spolier, but the reast looks great. Going to put any decals on it?

I say keep the BBS wheels as those Pegasus sleeves are way overdone and, quite frankly, tacky.

But, I realize that I'm too late to have influenced you on this. Ah well, the bodywork speaks for itself. It's still a good-looking model.
I reckon the BBS look perfect on the car!! They aren't too bling bling

You guys have influenced me, along with the recommendation of my old lady, to leave the wheels alone. I think the 23's may Ghetto-ize an otherwise classy car. I stripped the BBS's of the chrome, and resprayed them with flat aluminum. I also gave them a wash with some smoke, and put the center BBS stickers on. They look much better now.

Nice job on the paint, way better than mine...I wonder what I did wrong, lol. Not my type of spolier, but the reast looks great. Going to put any decals on it?

The paint took a week to get right. Paint, sand, paint, sand. Patience is the key. No decals on this one. I am going to pick up another 350Z kit and do a race/tuner version, so that will get some. And it will get bling-bling 23's. I really liked this kit.

FINAL UPDATE!
Well I'm glad to announce that this is pretty much FINISHED. WHOO HOOO! I am adding a custom license plate, and it'll be complete. I dare say this is my best street car yet.

I'll post pics tonight. I'll try to get some decent daylight photos this afternoon.

Thanks to everyone for their comments/criticisms.
I'd like to send a big thanks to Willimo, who seems to be a big fan of this build.
Also, ZoomZoom and Veyron for thier inspiration to take on something like this in the first place, and also for all the help along the way! Thanks.

The paint looks good. It has a nice mix of German and Japanese.
Can't wait for the pics.