In Progress - Hasegawa Dastun 240Z Rally Winner

[mickbench]

OK, due to pressures from a certain member, who will remain nameless (MPWR, oops sorry – who said that LOL) here is another WIP from me, and this time I promise not to throw my toys out the pram if I get a fitment issue. Anyhow, I’ve learnt from that, and I’m doing a more thorough test fitting this time around – LOL

This is the Hasegawa 1971 Datsun Safari Rally Winner. Always had a soft spot for the old skool cars, so when I spotted this on HLJ I just had to have it. The model is based on the Datsun 240Z that placed first and second in the safari Rally in 1971, erm obviously, but not only that the rally car was in fact based on what I feel to be one of the most beautiful cars ever produced by Datsun, before they changed over to Nissan.

The plan for this model is to basically build from the box, as it appears to be well detailed but the seat belts appear to be a bad idea, instead Hasegawa have instructed you to cut the belts from the decal sheet and use white glue to attach them. I’ve ordered new S27 belts with buckles from www.hiroboy.com and I’m currently hoping modelcolourworx, again from www.hiroboy.com can find a match for the red used when this was raced.

I did find a P/E set from acu stion, but it was outrageously overpriced, and didn’t appear to add a lot so thought, it ain’t worth the money.

This is the box art and some of the contents





The decals do look to be very good, and the glass is nice, not too thick but I’d preferred it to be a little thinner but workable.



This is the body, WITHOUT the front attached at the moment. Mould line is present, but it’s very faint. I’m concerned about the panel lines, they appear to be a little weak. I’ll prime, and dig the primer out of them I think



Chrome tree. I’m still thinking on what to do with this, strip off the chrome plating, or leave.



Additional sprue provided, as this is basically a 240Z kit with rally spec, or so I’m told



And front bumper.

[mickbench]

Right, not got a lot done so far. Cleaned up the front bumper and attached, as I checked the clearance, and you can easily attach the front bumper and still fit all the lights and grill afterwards, and I’m glad I did, as the front bumper has a LOT of flex to it, and takes a bit of lining up. The glue also seeped out, so I had to sand and re-scribe the panel line. Not a problem but would have been if I’d painted it all first.



Also, you need to drill around 10 holes in the body. And yep, I miss calculated one, and had to fill it back in and try again. Oops..!! I decided to drill them now, for that very reason, as I can remake the holes once paint if they get a little paint in them.

And some test fitting for the ride height. It was sitting just right, and then I went to get my camera, and it collapsed. So, not in the exact position anymore, but its not bad. No modification needed that I can see, it all looks good.

[RallyRaider]

Good luck with this, nice to see one being built here. Also good to see you are doing lots of test fiting to minimise headaches later.

[D_LaMz]

waiting for more pics!

[MPWR]

Who, me?

Finally, we get to see it! Cool old Datsun- should be an interesting build. Say what you will about Fujimi quality, I've found that Hasegawa's recent offerings have been spectacular. I expect it'll fit together just fine, have plenty of detail, and a beautiful Cartograf sheet to go with it. I doubt it would benefit much from additional PE.

But I see you've learned your lesson about test fitting. Good man!

What are all the holes for? I figure some would need to be done for the light pods, but there's other external detail as well? Yeah, better to get them drilled out now before painting. If external parts will cover the holes, I'd even consider drilling them out a touch oversize- to lessen the risk of chipping paint if you have to reopen them.

The ride height on the box pic looks really high- but a nice thing about real rally cars is with the easily adjustable ride hight, it's almost guarenteed that however the kit builds up the real car ride height could have been set up in that configuration.

I say strip all the chrome, and paint it back in your favorite flavor of silver. To my eye, even Tamiya X11 looks better in scale than kit chrome.

So, what's next?

[mickbench]

The ride height of the model is a little higher then some road cars, as obviously this one is set for off road,, and not tarmac configuration. BEFORE my white glue gave up, the front was sitting just the same as the back, and I liked it. Looked very accurate I felt.

The holes are for external attachments, such as rear grab handles on the boot, tow bar hook for the rear, pod lights on the bonnet, a wing mirror and two additional wing lights. And yes, I did make them slightly larger then required, as they will certainly get filled in with paint.

I am going to remove most, if not all the chrome. The light pods need painting black anyhow, and we all know how well paint sticks to chrome.

As for what’s next, I’m currently cleaning up parts, and doing a dry run of fitting up the interior, uderchassis to best gauge what I can and cannot glue up before hand.

More pictures coming very soon.

[klutz_100]

Mickbench, looking at the ref pic you posted in another thread ( http://www.hasegawa-model.co.jp/45aj/thumbnails/HR8.jpg ) and the photos of the kit parts here, it seems that the hood is somehow different.

It looks in the ref pic as if either the hood is held open (for ventilation?) or that it maybe has some kind of second "skin" fixed over it...? What's your take on that? Is that the case? I don't know this car at all so maybe I'm just looking at things wrong

[cinqster]

Nope, it's because it hit something rather substantial at speed on the rally. It's not been touched since '72!

John S.

Originally Posted by klutz_100

Mickbench, looking at the ref pic you posted in another thread ( http://www.hasegawa-model.co.jp/45aj/thumbnails/HR8.jpg ) and the photos of the kit parts here, it seems that the hood is somehow different.

It looks in the ref pic as if either the hood is held open (for ventilation?) or that it maybe has some kind of second "skin" fixed over it...? What's your take on that? Is that the case? I don't know this car at all so maybe I'm just looking at things wrong

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by cinqster

Nope, it's because it hit something rather substantial at speed on the rally. It's not been touched since '72!

John S.

well, that'll explain it then!!

A bit prosaic though, I was kind of hoping for something rather more technical

[mickbench]

Started to clean up some of the parts. The wheels are attached to the sprue so that when you remove them, you have nibs hanging off. Need to be sanded off, otherwise it looks all wrong.



I’ve also test fitted the interior, not a lot to it really. Seats have headrests that I’ve not attached yet. The new seat belt hardware arrived, and it’s S27 and its wrong… The buckles aren’t right. The set is really good, but the buckles are too modern, so I’ll have to look for something, but I can still use the S27 pre cut fabric belts. So not all lost.



you also need to make a lot of holes in the chassis and rear interior floor. For spare wheels, and foot holds etc.. If you do not have a pin vise, do not build this model. You really do need a selection of drill bits etc..

I’ve also built the exhaust, it’s so thin… Test fitted the chassis subframes etc, and also had to drill two holes in the tank to allow the exhaust to be mounted. My exhaust was a fraction too long so had to sand a bit off. It fits well now, so all sorted.

The tips of the exhaust are drilled, but you'd not noticed. I just did it anyhow, as they needed to be glued to the main pipes so didn't take long.



And I’ve built the rollcage, and glued up the dashboard options. The rollcage was very flimsy; I secured it onto the interior floor using white glue, as the plastic cement set to the three joins, meaning I can now remove from the floor when set as one whole piece and paint. Just wash the white glue away.



Dashboard was built to the build guide, and is to re-present the rally dashboard.




And modelcolourworx is sending me Nissan Cherry Red Code 905 that "should" match the real colour for the body. I'll be using TS Flat Spray for the bonnet.

[winstona]

I'll definitely be following this one, as I have bought this kit as well.

Winston

[sportracer02]

Originally Posted by winstona

I'll definitely be following this one, as I have bought this kit as well.

Winston

btw, nice to see you back "at work", mickbench

[Jamme]

Originally Posted by sportracer02

btw, nice to see you back !at work", mickbench

It's a nice kit.
I also have it in my stock.......
great work.

Jamme

[Hiroboy]

Coming along great

[Hiroboy]

Anymore progress or is the Ducati Desmosedici keeping you busy ?