Meeeouw! (Gunze Sangyo Jaguar e-type review and progress)

[bigfrit]

When somebody thinks of the classic British car, the Jaguar E-type quickly arises out of ones mind. Luckily for the European sports car enthusiasts, Gunze Sangyo produced and still produces a kit of this piece of automotive history. The model it represents is the ’65 Jaguar XK-E, more commonly referred to as the Jaguar E-type.
The car is the open two-seater model from the e-type range, sporting a 4.2 litres engine.

1. The contents of the box:





First of all, the pièce de résistance, the body of the car itself. Composed out of three pieces (bonnet, backside and underside) this model kit is an extremely accurate depiction of the real bulky, but oh-so-sexy e-type roadster.
Suspension, underside and mechanical bits have been authentically reproduced, but the car is lacking an actual engine.
All of the moulded pieces are of very good moulding quality, except for one parts tree, probably the most important in a roadster… the interior parts. These parts have been made out of this flexible, cheap looking and badly detailed black plastic.




For a nice looking model, the least one can do is replace the ugly seats and try to sand those pieces very well, so the paint that comes on these parts doesn’t crack.
This is also bad news for Enamel paint users, because as you might know, that sort of paint doesn’t dry well on this kind of plastic.

The glass bits are correct, no more, no less.


Furthermore, the chromed bits look really nice, except for the rims. With real-life wire rims, you should be able to see through them, but here instead Gunze preferred to go the cheap way and mould them without that effect, which, IMO, makes them look terrible. Terrible because instead of making the whole rims chromed, inside the spokes, where the holes should be, they are just beige-coloured; ugly.
Compared to the Tamiya Jaguar pictured, these really have to admit defeat.
Some pictures showing the Gunze-Tamiya comparison. Can you guess which is which?




The conclusion:

Pros:
Unique subject of a unique car;
Well moulded plastic bits;
No flash;
No obvious sink-holes;
Correct replica of the real car;
Nice chassis.

Cons:
Tacky rubber pieces that go in interior;
No engine detail;
Poorly detailed seats;
Left hand drive;
Really bad tyres and rims;
Not many pieces.

Conclusion

Don’t expect a Tamiya-quality model kit, (easy to make a nice model out of a nice kit, without having to do many things). You should see this kit as a model that will look outstanding and that will be easy to assemble box-stock, but nice to learn some skills like scratch-building and to get to know the car better.
If you’ve been desperately looking for a nice, car that is easy to modify, and you think you have proper rims in your parts box go for it!



2. The building itself.

To build this car, there are two possibilities. Either you build it “stock out of the box”, making an average model look like it’s supposed to (average that is). Another solution is to build it, taking care of the little details that might have been missed or that are completely wrongly moulded.


Some of those details include the front grille, which is moulded into the plastic; which IMO made the car look toy-ish. The solution to this problem (yes I m using the second sort of build up J ) is to section the little winglets and to cut out the vent using a fresh exacto knife. This made it look more realistic and the fact that I have achieved this, gives me satisfaction.





The other thing which bothered me, were the rims, which soon were replaced by the Tamiya Jaguar ones, as were with the hideous Gunze tyres, which had no markings or even thread!
Same thing was done with the seats.


Then, when looking at the parts, I realised something… Isn’t a Jag supposed to be right hand drive? Well I know the real Jaguar E-type was a car built for the American market, but that’s no reason to deny its roots!
Shame on you, Gunze!

That dashboard was taken care of, cutting the angles off and replacing them and putting some putty in the seams that were made. Also a little glove compartment was made where it should look like a box; I think it’s a nice touch.


With these modifications, I can start the painting and gluing part and will be hoping for the best!

I’ll keep you updated.

Peace and copyright


PS, thanks to Alex, for taking all the writing errors out of this text. This is the way to improve your language skills, so I wanna see some reviews!
Olivier

[ales]

Excellent review, Olivier, just the way I like seing them!

Keep it up.

[stubacca]

Nice review of a gorgeous car! Can't wait to see it complete. :coolguy:

[hirofkd]

Great review.
E-Type is one of the most favorite cars of mine, and I have 1/25 Revell in progress, as well as 3 1/24 Heller FHC and 3 1/24 Gunze Roadster with engine still in the box.
As you commented, tires suck, so I'll use Tamiya customer service to get the ones in the Mk.II as well.

[irupp33]

man why is it some companys cheap out on te wheels? thats like one of the top things you look at!

[fullbloodchop01]

Originally posted by ales
Excellent review, Olivier, just the way I like seing them!

Keep it up.

same here

[Veyron]

Nice review! Hope I didn't mislead you on those rims, they are decent for non see through, but I see you are going for max effect.

[Guido]

Hey Olivier, that is one nice build up. Some time ago when I was at the local hobby shop, I looked at this kit and didn't bother taking it, because it lacked some details like you said. Now that I see yuo do this, I'm regretting it, not taken it.

Ah well, I'll keep an eye on your progress

[Group C Fan]

Hi Olivier,

good job so far. Which color do you want to paint it? Maybe british racing green (my favourite), or red???

Greetings, Sascha:bandit:

[zerrocool]

GREAT REVIEW,
very nice to read and nice quality pictures.
CWTF

[Ayala]

great review!!! can't wait to see it done and btw, nice dash conversion.

[Blowncivic1320]

Lookin pretty good....Cant expect tamiya quality from anything BUT tamiya

[Layla's Keeper]

Lovely car, okay kit, great work.

It's just as I expected. If I were to build one, though, I'd just locate a Gunze Sangyo Ferrari with the phot-etch wire wheels.

[64 Chevy]

If you really are throwing the wheels out I would like to have them????

Good luck on this model.

[bigfrit]

The wheels in the trash-can were a metaphore...

but actually like veyron said , they are not THAT bad, but I just want it BETTER !

also, thanks everybody for the kind comments.
The paint isn't decided yet...

I thought dong a classy bordeaux or a nice little British Racing green.

Olivier