WIP: Fujimi Nissan Fairlady Z (REBUILD)

Here I have a model that is roughly 5 years old from my collection. It was originally sprayed Tamiya Mica Blue...no primer, no clear, no technique LOL Anyways, since I was building my Z432R model, I thought about this one and pulled it from the shelf. I thought to myself, "The Z432R puts this one to shame in terms of quality" so I decided I should rebuild it. Since there isn't much paint I decided to just wetsand the body as is and go from there.

Here it is from the start...still dusty and missing the front left wheel/suspension:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE01.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE02.jpg

Here it is washed, stripped, and wetsanded:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE03.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE04.jpg

First coat of primer:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE05.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE06.jpg

Wetsand after primer, mainly to remove the mold lines:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE07.jpg

And painted with Tamiya Maroon:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE08.jpg

Should have it masked to paint the front/rear/flares later tonight. Hope to have more progress in the next few days.

Masked off the front bumper and flares:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE09.jpg

Sprayed Tamiya Light Gun Metal:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE10.jpg

And broke a mirror LOL

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE11.jpg

Snapped on the chassis with one missing one wheel:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE14.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE13.jpg

Picture with the orange Z432R I'm building:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE12.jpg

niiiice. i haven't been working on my models for a while. humidity kinda kills the mood. i think i might just have to break down and buy a spray booth so i can spray indoors.

great restauration
do you know wich kit that is'? widefenders look much better then on the fujimi kit

Actually the one with the flares is made by Fujimi, the orange one without the flares is made by Hasegawa (the Hasegawa kit actually included the flares as separate pieces but I thought I could make some molds of them and add them later if I felt like it).

Actually the one with the flares is made by Fujimi, the orange one without the flares is made by Hasegawa (the Hasegawa kit actually included the flares as separate pieces but I thought I could make some molds of them and add them later if I felt like it).

that is strange cause the flares of my fujimi kit, the one from wangan midnight, don't have those detailled bolts

that is strange cause the flares of my fujimi kit, the one from wangan midnight, don't have those detailled bolts

Really? That sucks, I think the bolts/rivets are what add to the realism. Can you post a pic of your model? Maybe it's the difference between having the G-Nose front and not having it?


Got some new progress. I redid the paintjob as I was not completely satisfied with the previous one. It's cleared and partially polished in some areas. I have begun to do the window trim in BMF and have found the missing wheel/suspension pieces:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE17.jpg

I pulled out the original box (which coincidently was at the very bottom, very corner of the garage surrounded by many many other boxes) and found the OEM hubcap wheel assemblies inside. The kit came with these and a set of watanabes but only one set of tires (made for the OEM hubcap wheels). I think the tires on there right now are from some old club lineas (first accessory wheels I ever bought back in 1997) but I was considering using the OEM wheels since this is turning into a box stock build. It might look cool with the other 240Z since that one is sitting on some skinny stock wheels:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE15.jpg

Since it's hard to see the wheels because they're not painted, I searched on line for a pic of the real car with the real wheels and came across this:

http://www.hasegawa-model.co.jp/05.6/images/HC17.jpg

Man now that I know Hasegawa offers the same kit, I'm going to be on the look out for that one LOL.

Another option (which I'm strongly leaning on) is using a set of Hayashi Street wheels. I love the look of the Watanabes on there but you've got to admit that it gets rather common since the majority of all old school Fujimi kits came with them (the ones included with the model aren't the rod/screw on type, they actually have a polycap):

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE16.jpg

I also have a set of Long Champ XR4 wheels I could use but I'm reluctant to because they aren't staggered RWD style. Any other suggestions would definitely be considered as far as wheels and any/all constructive criticism would be appreciated.

i like your first wheels most

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/77/2037577/6233353431303165.jpg

pic is a bit blurry, just shot with my cellular

Flares look great.

Whoa, you weren't kidding. Are those flares seperate pieces or part of the body? Does the manga have it drawn with riveted flares?

Here's the original box art for mine:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/Box%20Art/FujimiNissanFairlady240ZGBoxCover.jpg

Mounted the Longchamp XR4 wheels and I think I've found a winning combination!!

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE18.jpg

Despite the absence of a staggered offset, the wheels are deep enough to make the look work well. A couple more pics, more polishing, more BMF, and bumper lenses are installed.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE20.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE19.jpg

Yeah, I agree. The dish on those rims look great.

Thank you for the comment!! I'm going to be redoing the suspension now so that the tires tuck ever so slightly. Also I'll be installing the front and rear lights soon.

pic shows smmoth flares, too ;-)
http://i18.ebayimg.com/02/i/06/e9/1f/1e_1_b.JPG
those were separate pieces and i will add those bolts/rivets

btw, my kit also had those hubcaps and the watanabes i mounted 14in with nice advans

Probably the exact same kit minus the body. Man if you were local I'd let you have the flares that came with my Z432R (Hasegawa), they were seperate pieces and had the rivets too.

Headlights and taillights are installed on the body now, pics up later this afternoon...

try those long champs in front with the watanabe's in back (have to alclad chrome the watanabes first) THAT is true drifter style! haha

the car looks great with all of the wheels except the hub caps.

I'll snap some pics with the wats on the back just for you =)

I was able to finish the majority of the BMF on the window trim. I must admit, without a nice sharp blade it becomes very difficult at times. I might even go back and redo some of it. Well, here are the pics that I was able to snap as the sun was going down (I had to reposition 3 times because the surrounding shadows kept extending to where I was taking the pictures):

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE28.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE27.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE22.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE29.jpg

And a couple of pics with the Z432R:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE21.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k212/mrceej/Scale%20Model%20Cars/NISSAN/Maroon%20Fairlady%20GNOSE/Fairlady240ZGNOSE25.jpg

You can see that the Hasegawa model has much better detailed taillight assemblies. There's still some work to do on the rear end of the 240ZG but basically that's how it will look. Next up will be the suspension. I've decided to rip out everything since it's mostly broken already and I'll be replacing with stock components from other models...OR I just might use the parts from my other unbuilt 240ZG, but then I'll have nothing for that when I'm ready to build it LOL

thats looking very sharp! Job well done on the paint, polish and bmf and the longchamps look great! good to see something other than the usual wats on one of these(and I love wats too)

Gray

very nice!