Tamiya 240ZG 1/12

I got this kit a while back for $35 when a local store closed. Bittersweet.. So since it's such a big project, I thought making a wip thread would motivate me to start it.

http://www.bhop73.com/models/240zg_112/box.jpg


This is my inspiration. (found pic while searching for reference)
http://www.bhop73.com/models/240zg_112/200104.jpg

I ordered some 1/12 carbon fiber decals from SMS for the hood. There is a major lack of detail parts for 1/12 kits, and I can't afford to buy an OOP Fujimi Skyline to scavenge parts from, which means i'm going to have to try to scratch build everything, so this is going to be a tough project for me. By everything, I mean sport steering wheel, racing seats, and the wheels and tires (Watanabes), exhaust. I have searched for 1/12 tires to use, but can't find anything suitable.. it's pretty annoying. I haven't made tires before, so it should be interesting if I can figure it out.

So here is a pic of the contents...lots of parts
http://www.bhop73.com/models/240zg_112/240z_contents.jpg

And here is a scale comparison. The black car is my Tamiya 1/24 350z
http://www.bhop73.com/models/240zg_112/240z_size.jpg

looks pretty sweet. I can't wait for more progress.

I love your works bhop! The white girl looks pretty sweet! Look forward to this~~ Do you have same wheels as the white one? The wheels look very cool and perfectly suit the style!

I love your works bhop! The white girl looks pretty sweet! Look forward to this~~ Do you have same wheels as the white one? The wheels look very cool and perfectly suit the style!

I am going to attempt to make them since I can't find any aftermarket 1/12 wheels/tires at all..

bhop, I would really love to see this one gets finished! This is one of my favourite cars of all time.

$35? That's a steal! Good luck to your build and all the scratch buiild ideas, I will definitely be following this one.

Winston

Well, i've been looking around the web, it looks like the Revell 1/12 Testarossa's front tires might work for me. I wish I had one to check out though.. or at least some measurements or something. It seems to be fairly inexpensive, plus I kinda wouldn't mind having the kit anyways.

Ok.. things are moving pretty slowly, but here's the basic engine parts. The block represents the factory color. I put a wash on it. I haven't decided if I want to keep that oil stain near the filter hole.. i can remove it with some paint thinner.. hmm.. I messed up the valve cover trying to paint the center part white and had to strip it and repaint the whole thing, which kinda sucks because it had a nice matte/chrome finish on it already.. oh well, mistakes happen. I salvaged it as best I could but it still makes me mad. The springs are painted red to represent aftermarket parts. You can also see the bumpers which have been stripped of chrome and puttied on the joints.. That's about it for now.

http://www.bhop73.com/models/240zg_112/engine1.jpg

wow, that engine looks real!

Wow engine is looking fine.
Take your time, I don't mind waiting if the updates are this amazing! :wink:

Is it just me, or do those coils look too close together? The gaps should be further apart...don't you think?

I'd leave the stain, it looks fantastic!

Is it just me, or do those coils look too close together? The gaps should be further apart...don't you think?

I'd leave the stain, it looks fantastic!

You are probably right about the coils.. they don't seem very accurate in that way, but i'll see how they look on the car I guess..

Wow, the finish on that engine is gorgeous. Leave the streak, it looks great. Man, I really need to stay away from this thread- I do not need the temptation to a 1/12 Z. :grinno:

The gaps between the coils is a bit narrow- they couldn't flex much without bottoming out. When I'm winding springs, the rule of thumb I use is that the gap between each coil should be about 2 times the diameter of the wire. Often when I'm winding springs, I will cut three separate wires, and wind them all around a brass tube so there's no space between the wires. Then slide out the tubing, untwist the springs from each other, and there you have even and properly spaced windings

Often when I'm winding springs, I will cut three separate wires, and wind them all around a brass tube so there's no space between the wires. Then slide out the tubing, untwist the springs from each other, and there you have even and properly spaced windings

Wow what a great tip, I hadn't thought of that. Now I just need to find a kit that only needs three springs :grinyes:.

Oh, and not that I have any knowledge of the real thing, but the engine looks spot on to me bhop. I love the way those arches look on your inspirational picture too.

Now I just need to find a kit that only needs three springs.

Build a Testarossa- it needs six springs. :grinyes:

I keep looking at the finish on that engine- simply stunning. What paint did you use?

Build a Testarossa- it needs six springs. :grinyes:

I keep looking at the finish on that engine- simply stunning. What paint did you use?

It's mostly Tamiya acrylics. The metal looking parts are a mix of 'metallic grey' and 'silver', the blue is a mix of royal blue and white, and the valve cover is Model Master enamel 'chrome silver'. Testors gold was used for those little round things and I did a wash with Model Master black enamel. I think it's the wash that brings out the realism the most.

This looks really cool! I love this car and that engine looks really good and real. This is going to be great. Dont mean to change any ideas but did you ever think about adding a front bumper like this?

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f229/gangsta_tok/tokis%20album/Z.jpg?t=1169767803

Alot of Zs in Japan have these and I think they look cool. But it is just a idea. Anyway cool car! :bigthumb:

beautiful work so far. The stain looks fine.

This looks really cool! I love this car and that engine looks really good and real. This is going to be great. Dont mean to change any ideas but did you ever think about adding a front bumper like this?

-image-

Alot of Zs in Japan have these and I think they look cool. But it is just a idea. Anyway cool car! :bigthumb:

That's a sweet pic. Do you mean the front air dam or the regular spec nose? I actually prefer the non-G nose, but it's not an option for this kit. It's only got parts for the G-Nose only. I think that'd be a lot of work to change.

Couple small things tonight.. Even though the kit is nicely detailed, it doesn't have a few small things, like a dipstick to check the oil level, so I made one from styrene rod and wire.

http://www.bhop73.com/models/240zg_112/dipstick.jpg


The oil cap is pretty plain and even has a sinkhole in the middle .. *doh* So I made the word "oil" with some wire so it would be raised.. (that's a toothpick next to it for scale) Looking at this pic.. I might repaint it since it looks rough..

http://www.bhop73.com/models/240zg_112/oil_cap.jpg

Your progress is amazing!:sunglasse

Keep the updates coming, that engine is looking great so far.

:eek: Your work is wonderful!

Love the stains and different looks on materials you have achieved. Those letters are just :screwy: LOL

Keep the updates coming :popcorn:

oh, stop taking pictures of your neighbor's L28 and posting them up on A/F!! haha, that's fantastic! I actually thought I was looking at areal motor for a second there, and the oil cap! wow, I'd say leave it rough, makes it look used, and abused, kinda like your motor.

That engine looks real! Very nice weathering!

WOW................:1:
Awesome work mate.
I love the detail on the motor....It does look very convincing..:smokin:
I don't know how you go, getting/buying spare parts from Tamiya, but one of the Caterham (?) cars had the similar rims....
Might be worth an email...

Look forwrd to more progress mate.
cheers
Greg :aus:

I don't know how you go, getting/buying spare parts from Tamiya, but one of the Caterham (?) cars had the similar rims....
Might be worth an email...

Thanks..

Yeah, I actually have already sent them an email about it. They replied a few days later with a number to call. I'll probably give them a ring on Monday and see what the deal is. Hopefully it'll be good news about availability.

As Andy said, also I have to stay away from this threat, temptation is extremely strong :D. Well those engine is real, great job and weathering too.

The engine looks great, good job on the weathering!

Wow, the finish on that engine is gorgeous. Leave the streak, it looks great. Man, I really need to stay away from this thread- I do not need the temptation to a 1/12 Z. :grinno:


My first thought too, it's a cool looking car :grinno:

awesome job - the washed and engine work is spot on!

i'll weigh in and say leave the oil stain and the battered filler cap. they look great. the engine is gorgeous.

i love the 240... i drove a '73 through my senior year of high school. 20 years later, it's still one of my top 4 favorite cars. hell... i've even forgiven it for that bad habit it had of vapor locking on really hot days. :lol:

Not much progress (again) mostly due to me starting on another kit (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=4597875#post4597875)

But here is a couple things..
Exhaust manifold.. this guy needs to upgrade this old stocker for some nice racing headers or somethin.. heh, heh..

http://www.bhop73.com/models/240zg_112/ex_manifold.jpg

And the kit wires are WAY too big, so I used some thinner styrene rod since I didn't have any other wire laying around and didn't feel like buying anything. I made some uhh.. i dunno what you call 'em, but the part that sticks onto the spark plug, out of styrene rod. Also made the parts that go into the distributor cap, but they're not shown.

http://www.bhop73.com/models/240zg_112/spark_plugs.jpg

That engine looks terrific. Top notch! how did you do that rough effect on the exhaust system? That looks awesome!

how did you do that rough effect on the exhaust system? That looks awesome!

The texture is made with Mr Surfacer 500 and a stiff brush. Basically just paint some on and smash the brush up and down on it as it dries. (lacquer based = dries fast) This will give you a texture. Repeat for the whole thing. I learned this technique from my armor and mecha models.

note the exhaust on the back.. done the same way:
http://www.bhop73.com/models/mak/heinrich/DSC_5616.jpg

I would love to see more of your mecha models - this one looks awesome! I was in my Battlemech phase many...MANY years ago - but I still remember it fondly.

BTW - the engine detailing is very nice.

Engine detail looks perfect so far, great work!

This is brilliant. I want more!

Winston

I would love to see more of your mecha models - this one looks awesome! I was in my Battlemech phase many...MANY years ago - but I still remember it fondly.

Check my website. http://www.bhop73.com/main/models.shtml

Ok. I barely have any progress lately, i've been consumed by my 1/43 Ferrari.. but here is a little. I have the wires on finally. As I mentioned before, the kit wires were way too thick, so I used some styrene rod and just painted it black. I made some wire brackets with styrene strips and drilled out some grooves for the wires to slip into... The ends that fit into the distributor cap were made similar to Kunta's (sorry Kunta, I borrowed your idea) only I used styrene tube instead of brass.. well, that's about it for now.

http://www.bhop73.com/models/240zg_112/wires1.jpg
http://www.bhop73.com/models/240zg_112/distributor.jpg

:eek: Damn... That's awesome!

The ends that fit into the distributor cap were made similar to Kunta's (sorry Kunta, I borrowed your idea)

Hey, it's OK. :wink:
it looks great, keep it up!:thumbsup:

[QUOTE=bhop73]I got this kit a while back for $35 when a local store closed. Bittersweet.. So since it's such a big project, I thought making a wip thread would motivate me to start it.

I've just discovered this thread. Nice work.
BTW, was it Best1Hobby? Man, I miss those guys. I live 10 min. away from them.

I've just discovered this thread. Nice work.
BTW, was it Best1Hobby? Man, I miss those guys. I live 10 min. away from them.

Yep, it was them. I miss 'em too. I'm still a little pissed at myself for not getting the 1/16 Tiger they offered me for half of retail.. *grumble*

This is looking VERY nice! I'm looking forward to more on this one!