WIP - 1979 SA22C Mazda RX7

Hey everyone! I have not been posting much on the forums for the past year or so, but today I started working on a new project. I don't recognize all of the users, and a lot of them that I remember don't seem to post any longer.

Anyways the kit I have is a Aoshima Savanna RX-7 Daytona 24 hours race car going to be built as a street car. Purchased at one of the local hobby shops, it's a big disappointment. :disappoin
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP01/1.jpg

The body is actually very crisp, and has very nice details. A few sink marks, no big deal. I fell in love when I saw the body.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP01/2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP01/3.jpg

BUT after looking at the chassis I felt like I wasted my money. This is absolutely the most horrible looking model car chassis I have laid my eyes on! The interior is just horrible!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP01/4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP01/5.jpg

On a better note, I like the rims a lot SSR MKIIIs. Their later release of this rims are a lot more accurate.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP01/6.jpg

Just for size, I'm using Aoshima's Longchamp XR4 rims.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP01/7.jpg

And yes, the spoiler will be on the completed model!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP01/8.jpg

To solve my chassis problem, I had the idea of butchering my Tamiya Savanna RX-7 GT-Limited model. It was a hard decision, but it's too late now. :icon16:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP01/9.jpg

Just compare those chassis!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP01/10.jpg

Just for some progress I cut out the front "mesh" grill.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP01/11.jpg

10x better
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP01/12.jpg

Out goes the hood.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP01/13.jpg

In goes the chassis.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP01/14.jpg

4AGE!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP01/15.jpg
Yah right!!

13B Rotary
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP01/16.jpg

Well that's it for now. I'm shooting for the AFMOTY 2007 contest. Hopefully I'll be done by then. Progress will be slow, considering I'll only work on the car on the weekends once school starts.

The remaining plans are to have a "bolt-in" type roll cage with the full interior. Fully decked out engine bay, and for color I'm looking at a dark red.

Haven't had a chance to work on models lately, been working on my 1:1. Here's a photo just for an idea of my car. Just got her running right before Christmas. Working on getting the A/C working now. =D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/Meet3/03.jpg
Looking to build a scale model later this year... I hope.

This is going to be a really cool build. I like where you are going with the motor and the chassis swap. I'm also glad you turned on the lights.

Hi,

I often had the idea getting this kit :eek7: - still I didn´t buy it.

You are right, body looks good :grinyes: , chassis is made to fix a motor + batteries :uhoh: .

Great idea to use a good Tamiya chassis :thumbsup: , so it will come detailed

Very cool idea here! My lhs had that kit for months and I always wanted to pick it up, but never got around to it...
Best of luck to you getting the Tamiya chassis to fit, it looks pretty good already.

PS - nice 1:1 :)

looks cool..

not to fond of the fc chassis on the SA, the suspension is totally different and not too believable as a full swap on a real car in my opinion. But i guess you dont have much choice..

But good luck! I like the body. You gotta put fender mirrors!!! =D

Welcome back Malcom. I look forward to watching this progress.

Welcome back, Turtle.

You're well on your way with the swap, but quite honestly you would save yourself a LOT of head-aches by tracking down the Monogram SA22C RX-7 kit. Full detail, more accurate, and if you find the Cafe Racer issue, it has IMSA GTU style fender flares (like the Aoshima kit) and great Racing Beat decals.

Hey Malcolm, great to see you're building again :)

Thanks for the comments.

You're well on your way with the swap, but quite honestly you would save yourself a LOT of head-aches by tracking down the Monogram SA22C RX-7 kit. Full detail, more accurate, and if you find the Cafe Racer issue, it has IMSA GTU style fender flares (like the Aoshima kit) and great Racing Beat decals.
Goodness!!
Interior would be accurate and all. It's a bit too late now, I'll just build this kit as is. Thanks for the heads up. Originally I wanted to build this kit as a race car, but seeing how much work it would take to build an accurate model with literally no reference photos isn't a good idea.

lnot to fond of the fc chassis on the SA, the suspension is totally different and not too believable as a full swap on a real car in my opinion. But i guess you dont have much choice..

I realize the difference in suspension, but there are people who swap in complete S13 rear suspension and rearends into AE86 Corollas. :icon16:

Anyways, I see how much unfinished projects I have!! I'll make sure not to throw this one into the back burner. Currently looking for reference photos for the engine and engine bay, just for some wiring details.

I'm also not so sure what to do with the hood or intercooler. I like the look of the top-mounted intercooler, but need a hood scoop of some sort. Maybe I'll end up mounting it up front. I don't know much about rotaries, and don't want to "mis-detail" the engine.

This should be a good modeling year!
I'll keep you guys posted.

Some progress out of my dorm:
Got an image online from a RX7 forum, skewed and transformed it to be 2D:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP02/WIP0202-1.jpg

Traced:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP02/WIP0201-1.jpg

Cut and pasted on two sheets of card.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP02/WIP0208.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP02/WIP0207.jpg

6-pt. Roll-cage
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP02/WIP0204.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP02/WIP0206.jpg

Overall shot.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hachirokudesu/SA22C/WIP02/WIP0205.jpg

Next up is to hinge the hood.

Looking good.
I like the treatment on the hood, however I believe that the areas around the "holes" (gray areas on your 2D pic) are actually supposed to be raised, not recessed. But, I think what you've done brings out the right "feel". Good job.

Nice build! I like the rim choice. Are those the ones that came in the box? Sorry if you mentioned that already, when i see something that catches my eyes, i go through it quickly.

I don't know anything about this car or the details so I can't offer any criticisms but I do like the ambitious way you are dealing with this kit. Very nice work on the hood and cage. I will be following along on this one.

Thanks for comments.
Looking good.
I like the treatment on the hood, however I believe that the areas around the "holes" (gray areas on your 2D pic) are actually supposed to be raised, not recessed. But, I think what you've done brings out the right "feel". Good job.
Actually there aren't any scoops on the top side, so it is recessed. Plus I have a few other reference photos.

Nice build! I like the rim choice. Are those the ones that came in the box? Sorry if you mentioned that already, when i see something that catches my eyes, i go through it quickly.
The rims I'm using are Longchamp XR4s. But the rims that came with the kit are SSR MKIIIs.

hay m8t iv got a 1979 SA22C Mazda RX7 and a s6 wth 13b tubo i want to put the chassie and motor into the sa22c can you halp me

thaks ryan taylor

mmmm im going to follow this one.