First Time Buying a Hasagawa Kit

Was walking through my LHS today (they kinda frown on running) and decided to buy the Hasagawa Toyota Corolla WRC 1998 New Zealand Rally Winner car. I have been eyeballing this kit, and the other Corollas for a while now, been on the shelf for a while, and was put off by the price...$33.00. After all, i have never built a Hasagawa kit and the Tamiya kits generally run a bit cheaper.

I'm glad I bought it! Material for seat belts and mud flaps. Etched metal details and a bit of wire for the antennas on the roof, not to mention the carbon fiber decals for the dash. I've never bought a kit where most, if not all, of the after market parts are included. Can hardly wait to start it.

You sure it was hasegawa? The hasegawa galant vr-4 I buaght had a couple of flaws, which... honestly... I did'nt mind fixing. Have you built the tamiya one? if so, tell us how it compares.

Yeah, I ment Hasegawa. Havn't built the Tamiya one, though they have one in the shop. hmmmmm

which hobby shop did you go you in orlando?

Colonial Photo and Hobby. They have others there. They look to have been sitting on the shelf for a while. Even though it's called Colonial Photo and Hobby, it's actually off of Colonial on Mills (17-92).

My Lancia Delta HF Integrale kit also comes with all the good stuff like that Corolla does, the older Hasegawa kits do come like that.
Unfortunately the new releases don't come with all the extra stuff, which is disappointing in a way, but since they are the Lancia kits, I don't mind for the sake of getting a model of the car:)

Ray

After studing the instructions, I've noticed something....it's the first I've built where you assemble the suspension last. This will be an interesting build. I will post pics if you all wish. I am starting this project tomorrow setting aside my other projects (not much choice there, Tamiya spray paint won't arrive 'til late next week :( ).

Oh yeah, I will keep it in this thread. :D

yes hasegawa rally kits are really good in terms of different media... I've built the Focus Safari Rally and it's really detailed, also got a Corolla on the shelf. Just a tip about hasegawa kits... the decals are really thick.... use a strong decal solution

Hasegawa WRC car are awersome.. better than Tamiya

and you cand them for cheap there : http://www.modelexpress.net

They are 16$-24$ each.... cheaper than HLJ !!

Originally posted by Vric
Hasegawa WRC car are awersome.. better than Tamiya

and you cand them for cheap there : http://www.modelexpress.net

They are 16$-24$ each.... cheaper than HLJ !!

Wow, I wish I had know about that place yesterday. That's half the price I paid. :eek:

As far as stronger decal solution, what kind do you recommend? I have a bottle of Micro Sol, is that strong enough?

Originally posted by Asmenoth


Wow, I wish I had know about that place yesterday. That's half the price I paid. :eek:

As far as stronger decal solution, what kind do you recommend? I have a bottle of Micro Sol, is that strong enough?

The shipping is also very cheap

I have made the exact same kit as you, and didn't use any solution... but I have microsol right now, I think it would be great

Sounds good. I just got back from the hobby shop with some paint. I will be starting the build up momentarily.

OK, question....To those that use Gunze Aquieous Color...After finishing the dash I've noticed that the semi-gloss turned out a bit glossier that I would have thought. More so than Tamiya's semi-gloss but not nearly as glossy as regular glossy paint. I am wondering if I should leave it the way it is, as te instructions did call for those colors, or spray it with a matt clear coat?

Oh yeah, I'm working on the seatbelts now and will try to post pics later tonight or tomorrow.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!! Going blind!! 1hr 30mins and I am not even done with doing half the seatbelts on one seat! THis is the first time I have done actual seat belts and not decals. This things are driving me nuts!:bloated:

Any suggestions? Sorry about lack of pics, havn't been working on the kit as much as I would like.:rolleyes:

Tips about fitting seatbelts?
On your first ones, patience, after you have done a couple it becomes easier with experience.
I can't think of any tips other than that.

Ray

hehehe I figured as much:cool: sigh....back to the front!! er, um kit.

Aoshima has a Galant ??
nice.... need to make it for my friend!!.... one of her favourite cars!!

Originally posted by endlesskev86
Aoshima has a Galant ??
nice.... need to make it for my friend!!.... one of her favourite cars!!

If you're reffering to what I siad earlier, it was Hasegawa who has the kit.

opps my bad... i mean Hasagawa!
is the detail good

the detail on the galant vr-4 kit is awfull
havent seen crap like that since ive made amt kits ( or it might just be the vr-4 thats crap and not the others :) )

tip about seatbelts: cut them slightly thinner than they suggest, i think they suggest 2mm? cut them about 1.9mm thick so you can fit them thru the PE parts easier. most importantly you need a pair of very good pointy nosed tweezers otherwise you're in for some frustration! :bloated:

post some progress pics when you're done!:D

Originally posted by zangief
the detail on the galant vr-4 kit is awfull
havent seen crap like that since ive made amt kits ( or it might just be the vr-4 thats crap and not the others :) )

:finger4:

J/K :D , I'm tryin my best to make that hasegawa galnt look nice. I just can't figure out how to make the door panels look more real

ahhh....ok. One seat with belts is done, half way through the other one. Also decaled most of the body. Don't know which is more frustraiting, the seat belts or the decals. It's almost as if they don't want to stick. After liberal use of micro sol, they finally stick and smooth down. Will post pics later after I finish the other seat and assemble the role cage.

dont worrie.. It took me 7 hours to make the 2 seat :D

:D :D

I almost at the 7 hour mark on mine if I only count the time I've been working on 'em.

Here are some pics...finally. :D

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/792328castrol1.jpg


http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/482812castrol2.jpg


http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/634676castrol3.jpg

The shoulder straps are a bit long, but that's the length the instructions told me to cut them to.

I think it's looking really good right now, aside from the dash being a little on the glossy side, I don't see anything wrong.

Good work!

Originally posted by freakray
I think it's looking really good right now, aside from the dash being a little on the glossy side, I don't see anything wrong.

Good work!

Agreed....very nice other than the dash looking like a mirror finish.
Brian

Yeah, I know. I used Gunze Mr Aqueous color, per the instructions, and it came out a bit glossy...even though the bottle says semi-gloss. Might have to find some semi gloss or flat clear coat to brush on.

hehe usual Hasegawa WRC kit.. AWERSOME detail so far ! perfect job

I'm just happy I am finally finished with the seatbelts...:sun:

That is a nice looking kit. I've built the Tamiya Kit, and this one does have more detail. But not too much more. Can't wait to see the finished result.

Originally posted by SpoonMan Dos
That is a nice looking kit. I've built the Tamiya Kit, and this one does have more detail. But not too much more. Can't wait to see the finished result.

If you're reffuring to the harnesses, I think he made them himself....
I think the tamiya Corrolla has a little more detail than this one.
Brian

Originally posted by k_dog


If you're reffuring to the harnesses, I think he made them himself....
I think the tamiya Corrolla has a little more detail than this one.
Brian

The Hasegawa kits include the P/E harnesses with the kit.....
Between the Hasegawa kits and Tamiya kits, I think it is personal preference, I like both.

Originally posted by freakray


The Hasegawa kits include the P/E harnesses with the kit.....
Between the Hasegawa kits and Tamiya kits, I think it is personal preference, I like both.
I'd have to agree. The Tamiya kit did have a spare tire and more interior detail, the Hasegawa kit has a few extras photo etched peices.
Good job overall!

Originally posted by SpoonMan Dos

I'd have to agree. The Tamiya kit did have a spare tire and more interior detail, the Hasegawa kit has a few extras photo etched peices.
Good job overall!

The one thing this kit is missing....a spare tire. I'm going to have to get a resin casting kit if I keep getting rally kits with out 'em.