WIP: R35 GT-R Showdown: Tamiya vs Aoshima vs Fujimi

[Entau]

this is very informative, btw, u mention aoshima only include decal for emblems, how bout fujimi gt-r, is it decal or metal transfer for the emblem?

[hirofkd]

Originally Posted by Entau

this is very informative, btw, u mention aoshima only include decal for emblems, how bout fujimi gt-r, is it decal or metal transfer for the emblem?

Good question. I added a couple of sections for the decals and metal transfers.
I feel like I'm spoiling too many people by showing so many surprises Fujimi has packed in the kit. But trust me, there are plenty more, and they are all good ones.

Here's a little tip for the Fujimi kit. I've seen some Japanese modelers reporting that the front ride height is too high. When I dry fit the kit, I encountered the same problem, only to find later that the knuckles were upside down!

Aoshima's rear bumper is badly deformed. It's not that the bumper was incorrectly designed, but the outside must have shrunk faster than the inside during demolding. To correct this, carefully bend the entire back side, with a little more strength applied to just below the inner taillight circles. Bending the corners won't make it fit.

[sjelic]

Don't worry Hiroaki, for spoilers I mean, I love this kind of threads, yesterday I have had same thoughts about Fujimi and their quality with last few kits, they are my number one at the moment.
I know I will get Fujimi, despite big and powerful Tamiya.

[klutz_100]

I am not interested in these particular kits but I can appreciate teh outstanding review!

I hope you will do this more often

I don't think you are "spoiling" anything. You are giving people the opportunity to make an informed choice very easily. Thanks

[Entau]

fantastic, im going for fujimi gt-r, only the front bumper mold with plate bothers me, but fixing that wont be hard

i'm not confident at fujimi's kit last time as i bought few that , with your review, im sure fujimi are really getting better and better, hope they continue this way

[reppana]

How about the engines. If im right, at least Tamiya has somekind of molded engine detail, how about others?

[nugundam93]

aside from the tamiya engine detail, looks like i'll go for the fujimi after getting overdosed on the tuning evo (lancer) series and swearing off fujimi for a while. too bad we only have the tamiya locally, and it's even out of stock at the moment

nice writeup hiro!

[sinoguy]

i 'll translate this article into Chinese,it will help us to make the right decision.though my english is not good,but i have say thank you for your sharing.

[hirofkd]

My GT-R models have progressed a bit, but nothing significant to show in photos just yet(like basic body prep and priming etc).

In the mean time, Aoshima has announced two new R35 variations what will satisfy many budget-conscious builders.
R35 GT-R w/ Engine (3360 yen) Due out October
R35 GT-R w/ PE (3990 yen) Due out December

This puts the Aoshima's "R35 w/engine" kit almost comparable to Tamiya's in terms of value, although the Aoshima still lacks metal-transfer badges and a left hand dashboard, and also tires are too small. (But Aoshima's interior is the best of all, and it's way better than Tamiya's.)

If you buy both variations from Aoshima, you can make one of each detailed R35 with engine and PE, and a simple curbside.

Also, Fujimi will release R35 PE parts in October for 1260 yen.

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

I've finished a Tamiya GTR and was impressed. I just got my Fujimi GTR and am blown away by it. It seems more "Tamiya" than the Tamiya kit. The body is gorgeous, the design of the separate body parts is superior (less masking), the interior/chassis are more detailed (aside from the odd instrument cluster), wheels are slightly larger...I can live w/curbside no problem. In the US the Fujimi GTR is $47.98 vs. Tamiya's $66.00; I don't know how Tamiya justifies that premium. Building will be the next step...Tamiya better watch their back, Fujimi is not going to back off.

[360spider]

Terrific comparo, thanks a bunch. I have already ordered my tamiya kit for a quick build one of these days.

[tonioseven]

Cool, my two Aoshima kits should be here any day now. Perhaps I'll get in on the Fujimi version as well.

[godfather23]

Nothing to add from my side - really. Just wanting to express my thanks for making this effort to compare the kits for the crowd. In my eyes this is really something worth to mention.

Robert

[hirofkd]

I've made some progress. Tamiya is ahead of the others because it's going to be a box stock. Fujimi has to wait, because I'm getting a PE set. Aoshima will involve a bit of modification, so it's gonna take a bit more time to prep the body.

Tamiya's body was painted with Tamiya gloss black spray can, and it was left for a few weeks before I applied clear coat.
Usually, I use Tamiya TS-13 clear spray, but this time, I wanted to experiment with Gaianotes EX Clear, which is synthetic lacquer-based acrylic. Here's how the roof looked like after the clear was airbrushed.

It looked just like any other clear. The surface texture was much finer than the spray can's, making the finishing work a little easier.

I sanded and polished the hood with my usual sanding and polishing materials, like Micro-Mesh, Tamiya, Modeler's, Hasegawa, Zymol wax etc.


What I learned was that this EX Clear dries very fast (ready to sand & polish in 24 hrs), and the paint film is very hard. It almost feels like Finisher's Urethane Clear, though EX Clear still retains flexibility.

I think I'm gonna like this clear for its faster drying time than TS-13.

[AustinMartin]

Nice work!