Miata

Its been a while since I picked up a kit due to work and such. But I finally found some time in the past month or two to start on what I considered a neglected kit... the Tamiya Miata. I saw something like this on the street once and I thought... pretty damn cool!! So here's my version of it by memory. I wanted a bolt on look for the flares. It was a bit tedious to go back and forth with the putty to get them rounded to the shape I wanted. So far I think I finally won the battle between me and the putty on those flares :icon16:

The wheels are courtesy of Tonio! Thanks!

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/39429miata01.jpg

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/39429miata02.jpg

a.

Thats looking very cool. awesome wheel and fender choice . this should be sweet

Oh nice kit man and sweetass widebody! Keep up the sick progress!

Kick-Ass!

I love those flares, and the wheels are absolutely great. It looks so much more muscular, like it's ready to race Trans-Am or something.

Any thoughts on color yet?

A friend of mine modeled (3d) something like your version a while back. http://www.deviantart.com/view/11325718/

And i must say your car looks damn nice. Good job mate.

Well what do you know, appleseed is back!

The body kit looks magnificent. I especially like where the overfenders wrap over the front bumper. :sunglasse

A friend of mine modeled (3d) something like your version a while back. http://www.deviantart.com/view/11325718/

And i must say your car looks damn nice. Good job mate.

Your friend did a really good job on those! Maybe I should have did a bit of internet 'research' before I made the kit purchase.

Well... late than never... I just did a search on the internet and came up with these... wish I had checked before I bought the kit back then but... next project anyone??

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/39429huh01.jpg

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/39429huh02.jpg

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/39429huh03.jpg

and for the drift fans...

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/39429drift01.jpg

I'm planning on putting a mild hood vent in place before I spray primer on it. The color plan so far is to have it white with a black top. For the wheels, the plan is to spray them either gunmetal or maybe even a red (the color of the plasitc is growing on me :p )

Thanks for looking!

a.

looks sick man i like it...........

What a cool looking MX5! I'll be watching this closely as I am building the same kit

OMG, thats sooo nice its makes me want to cry :crying:

You saw it on the street? Was it on its way to a race? This think is cool, man. Like Honoturtle said - dig the detail yummyness!

Awesome fender flares! Very sweet!

AppleSeed dose it again. That MX5 looks very Mean!

You saw it on the street? Was it on its way to a race? This think is cool, man. Like Honoturtle said - dig the detail yummyness!

Okay you caught me... it was on a strech of California highway 101 somewhere near San Francisco. All I can say was that it was something that I don't normally see out on the street/freeway over here so it definitely caught my eye.

It was probably either coming back from Sears Point Raceway or going to some night race somewhere. Who knows. All I knew at that point was that there was inspiration rolling next to me. Wish I had a camera at that point!

It had a pretty cool cage in that thing as well. I doubt the driver appreciated me staring at him driving home that day though :redface:

Anyone have any good race interior shots of a Miata? Perferably one with a roll cage and not just the roll bars behind the seats?

a.

You made a miata look almost like a manly car. hehehe. Looks really cool man! I like it alot. Keep up the great work.

Frank X.

A Friend Of Mine Is Building A 1/1 Pro-Street Miata
With A 13B And A Tube Frame Set-Up
I'll Try To Get By There And Get Some Pics
I Think It's Prety Close To What You're Looking For

Looking at those new pics you posted, I came up with a little suggestion. How about doing a slight "sleepy eye" effect with the headlight covers?

Anyways, I found this several race prepped Miatas w/ a lot of interior shots: Advanced Autosports (http://advanced-autosports.com/pictures.htm) (click on car names).

Your friend did a really good job on those! Maybe I should have did a bit of internet 'research' before I made the kit purchase.

Well... late than never... I just did a search on the internet and came up with these... wish I had checked before I bought the kit back then but... next project anyone??

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/39429huh01.jpg

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/39429huh02.jpg

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/39429huh03.jpg

and for the drift fans...

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/39429drift01.jpg

I'm planning on putting a mild hood vent in place before I spray primer on it. The color plan so far is to have it white with a black top. For the wheels, the plan is to spray them either gunmetal or maybe even a red (the color of the plasitc is growing on me :p )

Thanks for looking!

a.

I was the one that built the black miata that stefaan posted... thanks for your comment, but actually, the look of your fender flares was the actual one i was looking for :P I'll probably redo the model sometime in the future, i got better blueprints of it now...

anyway, bout your model, have you considered what type of looke you're going for? like drift or speed? cus mine was kind of a mix of both, mostly for streett racing... it's a shame the the tamiya kit doesn't have pop-up lights... so you could rise they a bi pr replace they for custom model. but still your model is great, very inspiring ;)

Looking at those new pics you posted, I came up with a little suggestion. How about doing a slight "sleepy eye" effect with the headlight covers?

Anyways, I found this several race prepped Miatas w/ a lot of interior shots: Advanced Autosports (http://advanced-autosports.com/pictures.htm) (click on car names).

That's exactly what I was looking for! Thanks Honturtle! I'm actually going for a headlight look similar to that of what I've done on my NSX.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/39429lights.jpg

I'm still trying to figure out the right profile for the lights before I go any further with that. But those interior shots of the track Miatas will definitely come in handy!

I finished up the hood vent but I'm a bit disappointed that there are some join marks that I'll have to putty up. They're just in the hardest to reach places so I'm leaning towards putting it off. Just a bit more work on this before I can say I finished the hood.

I'm contemplating one last detail to the hood. I'll see if it materializes or not (depending on how lazy I am :uhoh: ). Anyway, here are some pics.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/39429miata15.jpg

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/39429miata14.jpg

a.

p.s. I just realized that the white Miata picture I put up has the same color scheme I was thinking of! Go figure!

Sweet putty work :sunglasse Looking forward to seeing it with some color!

oh shizzle appleseed's back...

(that's a good thing).

The hood vent looks really good!

Dude! I always love your work :)

Insane project! Keep it commin'!!

Thanks for the interest guys! Its hard for me to stay motivated on a project and the interest generated really helps! Considering I've got quite a few kits started and lying around, motivation and free time escapes me. Its been a long while since I've been excited about a project.

I've been fooling around with the headlights but I don't know if they look right or not just yet. I'm itching to cut out the plastic support for the window frame to see how it looks with the top on. I think it might be safer to profile the headlights with the top on just so that I don't have to do any guesswork as to how the completed mods look. I'm just afraid that if I cut that piece off, I might damage the window frame while handling and modifying the body.

What do you guys think of the front bumper? The more I look at it, the more I think it is lacking in something... just can't put my finger on it...

a.

That's exactly what I was looking for! Thanks Honturtle! I'm actually going for a headlight look similar to that of what I've done on my NSX.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/39429lights.jpg


OMG, That NSX is just, wow. Can we expect any completed pictures of that NSX soon? :naughty:

What do you guys think of the front bumper? The more I look at it, the more I think it is lacking in something... just can't put my finger on it...


An intercooler...

In all honesty though...I think it looks great just as it is!

Its great to see you back in action Appleseed! your builds are always a great inspiration. now where did i put my putty.... :lol:

There use to be a company in Escondido, California that made what is called a Monster Miata. Ford 302 V-8 motor, Turbo thunderbird rear end and even had a logo on them resembling a comic version of Godzilla. That may have been what you saw. Nothing like having a Miata roll up at a light and hearing the rumble of a V-8 :smokin:

There use to be a company in Escondido, California that made what is called a Monster Miata. Ford 302 V-8 motor, Turbo thunderbird rear end and even had a logo on them resembling a comic version of Godzilla. That may have been what you saw. Nothing like having a Miata roll up at a light and hearing the rumble of a V-8 :smokin:

That would have been a sight to see! I don't know if it was the same one. The fender flares were the same but the bumper was quite different. I don't really remember it so I kinda *flubbed* it by throwing putty at it and voila... new bumper!

Joham- unfortunately, that NSX has been in that same state for about a year now. Sadly I'm too lazy to modify the suspension to lower the car and make some aftermarket wheels fit (the inside wheel wells attached to the undercarriage need to be cut but that would mean messing with the engine compartment area... too messy for me to deal with at the moment :disappoin )

I'll post some more pix this weekend when I hope to put the top on to check the profile.

a.

a.

Well a buddy of mine came over and I decided to show him my new project. He's just as eager to see how the kit looked with the top on so here it is. I just couldn't wait for the weekend can I?

I really like the profile its taking. I don't know if I want to do the headlights modification anymore as the current look is beginning to grow on me.

The latter is one with a black top and a white top. I'm still leaning for the black top. Preferences?

I still haven't decided on the front bumper just yet. Maybe with a bit of primer on there I might be able see the lines better and make up my mind.

Anyway...

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/39429miata16.jpg

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/39429miata17.jpg

a.

looks good so far. i can't decide which top i like better after i look at it for a bit...

hum... although i agree about the black top, i think my choice would depend on what collor you would paint it and the final look of it... it's all white and green like the miata you posted, i would go for white, but if you use other color combo like white and blue or red, i would go for black ;)

Mold the top onto the body and make it a hard top. :) I've been wanting to do that for awhile, but I'll never get the kit.

pretty nice bodywork!
MX-5 is not beautiful,but u make it great.

Awesome bodywork, can't wait to see it finished!

Stunning work! How about making the top CF?

Stunning work! How about making the top CF?

:iagree:

Trying to get this thing ready for paint. I have the grey primer on now. I have to touch up a bit of the front bumper before i apply the white primer and paint. Haven't started on the interior yet as I've become a bit busy entertaining my newphews during their summer break.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/appleseed415/miata%20and%20rx7/primer-2.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/appleseed415/miata%20and%20rx7/primer-1.jpg

I actually thought about making the top carbon fiber as well but I don't think I'm good enough with the decals to tackle that one yet. Especially with the rear glass attached to the top. It makes it especially risky for me. I think the black would work out... at least at this stage.

a.

Looking perfect :sunglasse What color is it going to be?

this >Modell looks so Amazimg...COOL man Realy COOL.....i like this kind of Scratch building Modells.....i do an simplye same kit:
http://www.arcor.de/palb/alben/38/2113738/3036373334306632.jpg
but its looks not so COOL as yours!!!!!!!
casper

Here's a couple shots with the wheels on and with the top. It has probably three coats of white primer on top of the gray primer at this point. I've wetsanded it down some and am just waiting to get my hands on a compressor. I might just start on the interior in the meantime.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/appleseed415/miata%20and%20rx7/wprimer02.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/appleseed415/miata%20and%20rx7/wprimer01.jpg

a.

This thing looks sooooooooooooo cool! :naughty:

:thumbsup:! I especially like the connection between the front bumper and the front wheel blisters.

Great work! Just SWEET!

Outstanding ! I have a question. What primer do you use?

Looks really nice:)

Hey nice Mazda, anyways i remember an article in modified mag of a awesome Miata so i scanned it in for you. Sorry for the big pics but you have to be able to read the text :) .

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/8559/img1vf.jpg

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/5765/img29qx.jpg

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/4236/img31ue.jpg

http://img344.imageshack.us/img344/9915/img50sz.jpg

http://img344.imageshack.us/img344/5345/img69zm.jpg

Thanks for the article Transam1111. Its a cool read!

I've finally got around to working with the suspension. The first pic is of the body on the undercarriage with the suspension modified and wheels fitted. This is the final ride height. The brake disks are from the second set that came with the Raybrig NSX kit. It worked out pretty darn good! I had to thin down the rotors on the front disks to make the wheels fit but I think I'll have to file down part of the wheel from the inside to have it fit comfortably inside the wheel arches (it sticks out ever so slightly). I put in styrene rods instead of converting the wheels from female to male. I used a rotary tool to adjust the styrene rods to the proper diameter. The results are what you see here. The last shots are of the undercarriage with all the 'surgery' that I've put it through to get the wheels in there to fit as well as to have it lowered. The front end was a pain in the butt to get right but I finally got it to work out in my favor. I just have to clean it up before I can put primer on the undercarriage. Next step is to put in that race interior and roll cage. I'm sure that'll be fun!

ps. The wheels in these pictures are the Aoshima Materasse with the wider lips from the previous wheels. I think they look kinda cool but I think I'll stick with the other ones painted in gunmetal.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/appleseed415/miata%20and%20rx7/finalheight.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/appleseed415/miata%20and%20rx7/suspension02.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/appleseed415/miata%20and%20rx7/suspension03.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/appleseed415/miata%20and%20rx7/suspension01.jpg

a.

Hope you can find some time to finish this awesome Miata soon!

I love it. The undercarriage is well done!

Excellent! The chassis is as beautiful as the body. So often I just hack up the underside and make it fit - to hell with making it correct. Thanks for showing me how it's done.

The more I look at this, the more I like it. Very ambitious and well done.

Murray

show winning quality as always. Keep it up. :)

the stance looks killer