Skyline (KPGC10) and 240Z kit questions.

I just watched an option DVD (October '04, number 126) which had the most amazing L28 powered GC10 Skyline coupe in it. I've wanted to do one for a while, but this has convinced me.
However, I am wondering about what kits to get and how to go about a couple of things....
-The body. I'd like to start with a fujimi kit, but am wondering:
*the road GT-R kits appear to only have the rear flares. I will need to have "bolt on" 240ZG front flares as well, and would like to avoid having to build them myself. Do the race GT-R kits have the wheelarch flares moulded in?
*if the race GT-R's have the flares, do they come with the roadcar bumpers? the car I want to model has the full complement of chrome bits, yet the racecar box art shows no bumpers.

-The chassis/an engine bay:
*obviously the fujimi kit is kerbside. What is the chassis/suspension detail like?
*Is there scope to build an engine bay? or would the chassis not accomodate it? Could I perhaps use the engine bay and suspension of a Revell 240z kit or the Fujimi 240z kit (with some mods of course).
* Is the Fujimi 240z engine bay usable or crap?
*Which 240z chassis would have better suspension detail to transfer, Revell or Fujimi?
* Do the race GT-R kits come with a rollcage, and is it at all accurate?

-An engine:
* I think the L series in Fujimi's 240z is very poor. Its out of proportion (cam cover too narrow, carburettors etc too small) and sits vertical in the bay, not slanted like it should (oil pan etc are designed to suit, making this hard to rectify).
Is the Revell 240Z motor better? How will it scale in 1:24 ?

That is all :p

I'd appreciate any help guys and girls,
cheers,
Mark.

On my Fujimi 240z, it had engine. Still engine bay is closed. Have to cut open. Chassis is very easy to lower.

Check pics from my signature. 240z engine is on a 510, but you can see how it look like. And you can see engine bay of the 240z.

i have an aoshima works series pgc10 gt-r 4-door kit. it comes with the chrome bumper set and has both front and rear flares as separate pieces. on my model the bumpers are used. as far as i can tell, interior detail is pretty accurate when i compare my interior to reference shots. it has the roll cage and an old school race bucket. chassis detail is pretty much non-existent, being a very old kit. the front suspension looks like a rolling pin with a hole in the middle for the front wheels to mount to. here's a pic of the box photo:

http://members.cox.net/elkrammito/images/Models003.jpg

Skyline Tsukuba100km Winner (http://www.1999.co.jp/asp/GoodsDetails_e.asp?Bno=&Typ1_c=102&Typ2_c=106&Typ3_c=118&SPage=4&SC=211&SN=Search+result+Search+for+%3A+Skyline&It_c=10031214&andor=0&scope=0&scope2=0&thumb=1&sortID=1&urikire=0&sort_sort=0&ItKey=Skyline&app_url=KeyReference_right_e.asp) - This one comes with the bumpers, and overfenders but it's an Aoshima.

The Revell 240Z has a very very good L24 with a good (if chromed) pair of SU carbs. Its only real weak spot is that the distributor shaft is molded to the chromed front engine cover.

However, if you can find it, AMT/Ertl did a 280ZX Turbo with a well turned out L28. The intake setup is a little suspect, but the block, head, and cam cover are all just about the best representation of the engine out there.

Also, If you want a KPGC10 coupe with detail, consider the Tamiya full detail kit. It may be a little sacrilegeous to kit bash the best Hakosuka out there to drop in an L28 in place of the vaunted S20, but there's no better it for doing that kind of work.

Thanks for the info so far guys!
Hmm, engine choice will be difficult. I suppose the best shot is the revell 240z motor with some sakatsu triple mikuni/solex carbs and a custom header, I doubt many people would quibble whether a motor is an L28 or L24 in 1:24 scale, so that would save tracking down the 280zx kit to butcher. The Fujimi 240z motor is just not particularly good IMHO so I'm not even really considering it.

That Aoshima kit looks great, just a shame its a sedan and not a coupe!

Layla's Keeper, I think you're right about the Tamiya kit. Honestly, the only reason I discounted it is that I feel I could modify an engine bay, fabricate chassis parts etc for the other kits, however I feel underqualified to produce an acceptable set of front "bolt-on" fender flares... But that may have to be the way I go I think, being an easily procured and high quality kit.

Flares then... I see HLJ have some fender flares to suit a RA40 celica, I might consider using them:
http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljpage.cgi?S27FP2475

Unless anyone else has some good ideas on obtaining or making some, which will be relatively painless and hard to screw up?

Since you're looking at HLJ, consider the Studio 27 conversion kits for the KPGC-10 intended to convert the Tamiya kit into a circuit car.

http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljpage.cgi?S27TK2406

Also, for a good header for an L series engine, plus triple Webers, track down the Revell BRE Datsun 240Z kit. It has the Webers plus a BRE "bundle of snakes" header. Very good stuff. The kit was re-issued in 1996 and is pretty easy to come by.

Since you're looking at HLJ, consider the Studio 27 conversion kits for the KPGC-10 intended to convert the Tamiya kit into a circuit car.

http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljpage.cgi?S27TK2406

Also, for a good header for an L series engine, plus triple Webers, track down the Revell BRE Datsun 240Z kit. It has the Webers plus a BRE "bundle of snakes" header. Very good stuff. The kit was re-issued in 1996 and is pretty easy to come by.


WOW, how did I miss that conversion kit!!! That would cover quite a few bases...
Ok so I need a Tamiya GT-R, a Revell BRE 240Z, the conversion kit for the tamiya, and a set of RS-Watanabes (the Fujimi 17" or 345 set will probably do)...
Won't be as hard as I thought, while not easy by any stretch...

You might want to try this:
http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljpage.cgi?FUJ12167
It included 2 set of engines.

As for the KPGC10 with chrome and wide fender, try Fujimi 50wins GT-R or any of those racing version. It usually included most stock parts too.

Rtuned :)

Thanks for that Rtuned, but I'm pretty sold on the Revell BRE 240Z motor for this project I reckon, because the Fujimi L24 is crap - I had a 240Z fujimi kit a while back and all I remember was that the motor sucked big time (out of proportion, and vertical not slanted)...

Is there any engine bay detail (apart from the motor) in the Fujimi 240z kit?

I'll consider the 50 wins GT-R.

Have you seen my thread on the Fujimi 240z I'm doing for a friend?
It has no engine bay detail(hood molded shut!). The inner fenders and strut towers are totally different from the Skyline's.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=281951&highlight=240z+datsun
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/133284progress1.jpg
I think the Fujimi engine is better than the Revell in some areas. First, it's 1/24 scale!
You can make 6-2-1 header from solder, It sort of worked for me!
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/133284190973172UcBlbq_ph.jpg
Can't you mount the engine at any angle if you desired?
Using the suspension detail from the Revell on the 1/24 Fujimi would look very awkward. With some minor mods the Fujimi suspension can look sweet!
Wait I'm an idiot, you're not building a 240z, you're a building the Skyline right?
I'm :confused:
Hopefully the engine bay pic will help you decide if the Fuji kit is appropriate and keep us updated!

PS here's a L-series powered Skyline:
http://www.kpgc10-skyline.com/hara's.htm

Yeah, I'm trying to build an L28 powered KPGC10 skyline.... Given that the S20 is so fragile and rare, it seems to be a common setup, and far more indicative of a traditionally tuned GC10 Skyline than the S20 motor is.
Thanks for that link to the 240z engine bay pic, 675datsun, that was very useful! The main reason I don't like the Fujimi L-motor is that the cam cover is too square and thin, and the oilpan is moulded on in such a way that the motor needs to sit vertical for it to be horizontal.

Slight update....

Got the Tamiya GT-R kit, and am using the Fujimi 240z motor as I now have a number of them (got a "Nostalgic racer tuning parts" set with the L and S20). Still not sure how I'll tackle the front blister fenders, maybe scratchbuild. Using the 345 RS-watanabe wheels, so rear flares in kit are being extended about 3mm each side too...

I'm practising my fender construction skills by building an N2 AE86 Levin coupe, which is sliced up for action now...

About the front fender blisters: Fujimi´s PGC10 racer version ("Skyline 4 door 1st victory") has a set of separate racing fenders, both front and rear.

The Fujimi´s KPGC10 racing version, namely the Skyline "50th victory" has the fenders molded in and, no stock parts. Roll-bar looks simple but accurate, according to references: a simple hoop with a central rear reinforcement following the shape of the rear roof (did these cars had a front hoop?).

Wattanabes are all around on these kits, plus the metal set from Fujimi acessories.
z

I wondered where to post this, but since we're talking about kitbashing Gt-R and 240Z, I thought this would be a good place.

I just read a description on the upcoming Hasegawa's 240ZG on the Hasegawa website, and it seems that the kit will include some engine parts, like Fujimi's Lambo kits. This means that we'll probably have a brand-new L24 cam cover. :)

There're already so many 240Z kits out there, so I've been wondering why Hasegawa is releasing an all-new 240ZG, but I guess this explains it. (and that convinced me to buy one, too)

Other features are fewer parts-count for easy assembly, ZG wheels, optional rear spoiler and metal transfer. Priced at 2310 yen, and due out sometime this month.

Won't care until somebody besides Revell kits a DATSUN 240Z.

See, I have no love for the longnose 240ZG Fairlady bodywork. It's ungainly. The closest thing in 1:24th to a Datsun 240Z is Fujimi's Z432R kit, and the Z432R nosework is not dead on to the USDM Datsun nose.

Then add in how badly Fujimi botched the windshield contours, the undercarriage, and the shape of the tail and all of a sudden Revell's nearly 30 year old Datsun kit looks pretty damn good even with two inch mold lines bisecting the c-pillar trim and a front fascia that won't line up no matter how much you swear at it.

I do think Hasegawa will do a fine job of kitting the 240ZG. Their Toyota 2000GT, Lamborghini Miura, and Lancia Stratos have been nearly without reproach. However, I feel that a 240ZG kit is a good way to ignore the fact that the Datsun 240Z is the real history maker of the Z car set, and not kitting it is a slap in the face to the rest of the world, whose acceptance and delight in the 240Z legitimized the Japanese auto industry.

Just a few days more till the ZG is released. I wonder how it'll stack up against the Fujimi releases. Will they come with carpet flocking? photoetched parts?