Tamiya Ztune verdict:

Is officially "eh."

Well, the body is great. Very well molded, though the seemed to use the old mold for the back upper part because the mold lines were bad back there. The rear flares are well molded, as are the molded in sideskirts and rear bumper. The front bumper is a seperate piece and is well molded. The front bumper has runners in odd places, and so does the leading edge of the hood that it attaches too. It's almost tough to cut these off cleanly. The wheels and tires are awesome. The tires are so realistic they even stink! The provide CF decal for the spoiler but their pattern isn't very good. I would have like CF decal for the underside, too, but there's none of that.

The frontmost vent does not go through the hood (molded shut) and the pinched fenders aren't open, either, which is disappointing and they will be difficult to cut open. Tamiya includes decals for these vent holes but that's just not gonna cut it for me. The exhaust system is the same as the old R34, and it's wrong, it will need two pipes from the motor all the way back almost to the cannister, including a different pair of silencers and probably two cats. The front parking lamps (or whatever, the ones in the bumper) aren't called out to be painted but they could probably use a bit of smoke over them.

The PE detail up set is nice. The Nismo stencil is hot and is probably gonna get used a billion times. The PE face for the intercooler is oddly enough 1/16" bigger than the plastic one in the kit. The rest of the PE is nice, but they've not included vent material for the pinched up fenders since that's not open anyway. This irks me to no end. The metal muffler tip is cool, too, though I am unlikely to use it. The muffler on the 1:1 is a satin silver with a little heat staining, and this includes the tip, so a shiny metal tip would be unprototypical. The set also includes floor mats (!) and little sticker Nismo emblems for said floor mats (!) which I am unsure how to use.

Overall, worth it to me. This might be a full detail buld since it's pretty much the ultimate "factory" R34 and since it's going to take some modification anyway.

Anyone else just get this kit? Have any issues with my assessment or anything to add? Sorry if this is a boring post beatind a dead horse, but I'm bored and tired and excited to get these in the mail yesterday.

Oh yeah, what are parts G1 supposed to be?!

hi
do you have any pics? that sounds a bit disapointing about the exhaust and vents. other than that is it a good kit altogether?

Nathan

Thanks for that hondaman. Now hand me over that Z Tune!! :iceslolan

:useless:
Come on Will, show us some photos.

Also, would you say this model is prototypically correct sir? :wink:

Yeah, post some pics already! I'm dying to get my hands on one of these kits :iceslolan

Yeah, the exhaust is wrong but I kinda like it that way. It gives me something to customize without looking customized in the end. A little something we all can pat oursleves on the back for. LOL.

Good write-up.

some pics please? I am still trying to decide if I want this kit and P/E set. Is the kit well worth the price? And doing all the things to make this kit correct wouldnt be that hard.

Not wishing to hijack your thread Willimo but here's some mock up pics
- sorry about the poor quality but it's dark here !
http://members.aol.com/jonesandy898/ztune.jpg
http://members.aol.com/jonesandy898/ztune1.jpg
http://members.aol.com/jonesandy898/ztune2.jpg

Nice, now I got to get one!

The wheels and tires are awesome. The tires are so realistic they even stink!

.

:lol: That's hot.

wow thats nice, hmm the only difference i see between this one and the Aoshima version is the special fenders. But iam sure the tamiya one has better detail.

wow thats nice, hmm the only difference i see between this one and the Aoshima version is the special fenders........

Which Aoshima version? If you mean the first Nimso R34 there are more differences such as...


..... front bumper, rear fender flares, rear-differential cooler and bigger brakes.

Which Aoshima version? If you mean the first Nimso R34 there are more differences such as...


..... front bumper, rear fender flares, rear-differential cooler and bigger brakes.
ahh ic, i kinda see what you mean by the bumper, but i dont quite see all the other things, a well i never had an eye for those things anyway, thanks for pointing them out, ill keep an eye out in the future

Which Aoshima version? If you mean the first Nimso R34 there are more differences such as...


..... front bumper, rear fender flares, rear-differential cooler and bigger brakes.

I think he might mean
http://www.hlj.com/product/AOS03620

I bought the Tamiya one at my LHS, but the Aoshima one was tempting, if only for the big brakes that they included (no more chrome brakes on this one).

Ladies & Gentlemen,I Give You The Aoshima
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=500/25668310044472.jpg
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=500/25668310044472n.jpg
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=500/25668310044472n2.jpg
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=500/25668310044472n3.jpg
And Yes It Has The "Right" Pinch On The Fenders!

I think he might mean
http://www.hlj.com/product/AOS03620

I bought the Tamiya one at my LHS, but the Aoshima one was tempting, if only for the big brakes that they included (no more chrome brakes on this one).

That's why I asked which one he was referring too.

I got my Tamiya version with the p/e set from HLJ yesterday. All I can say is that Tamiya produce the best kits!! I thought they have captured the Z-Tuned's line perfectly in 1/24. Also the p/e is well thought out, what with the carpets and 'Nismo' stickers.

Sure there are some minor points that could have been done better, but Tamiya have 'revised' one of their existing models. It is also a way that they can keep their development costs as low as possible and for us modellers to be able to purchase their product at a reasonable price. It also allows more money to be put into future products.

Another way of looking at it is there is a beautiful set of standard R34 GT-R wheels and a handful of GT-R skirts, bumpers, etc. for your spares box :naughty:

I think he might mean
http://www.hlj.com/product/AOS03620
I actually meant this one LOL
http://www.hlj.com/product/AOS03278
BLAH i guess i shoulda waited for the tamiya one and the PE parts, makes me want to get it now. The only reason i have this one is cuz i got it when it FIRST came out.

Just a couple of better pics
http://members.aol.com/jonesandy898/ztune5.jpg
http://members.aol.com/jonesandy898/ztune6.jpg
I'm not sure if the detail set is really necessary (especially as it's over 1/2 the price of the kit) but I'm just a kid in a toy shop ! :naughty:
Cheers
Andy

so..what one is gonna be the more correct version and what one is more worth the buying. I see a z-tune(TAM) vs. z-tune(AOS) thread coming up. Besides the PE set with the TAM one which makes the tamiya one better, whats better about the aoshima one?

I am still holding fast to my opinion that Aoshima R34 kits all look a little squished - too short from the belt line to the roof and the detail seems soft. I've not seen the Aoshima effort in person, and I would like to, because the front bumper would make or break this model. The brakes in the Tamiya kit are smooth (odd, since the car has slotted disks and their PE discs are slotted) and Aoshima looks to include drilled rotors. I just sort of trust Tamiya to do a better job of it, however, I've noticed they've been slacking and Aoshima has been stellar of late. Anyone have both kits?

so..what one is gonna be the more correct version and what one is more worth the buying. I see a z-tune(TAM) vs. z-tune(AOS) thread coming up. Besides the PE set with the TAM one which makes the tamiya one better, whats better about the aoshima one?
Well i dont think there is a choice here. The better version HAS to be tamiya. Its just Tamiya standard to have real good quality right? Plus the PE set just adds to it.

Wow!!.. i´m very impressed!!.. despite all those things that can be ... not wrong.. but.. a little bit difference.. both are great models from a great car!!.. i bought mine two weeks ago..Tamiya of course!!!... but.. i´m in Brazil.. and it takes a while to come here..

About the vents.. come on.. i don´t think that can be so hard to open.. .. what about an Aoshima RB26 engine... can be used??

Cris
www.scaleimportracer.com