Scarelady Z

[CrewDawg15]

Time for a new one from me. Yeah, I know...I still have a few unfinished projects, but the Levin is in storage back in the States, my SR20 powered 180SX is back in Japan, and right now, I'm somewhere in between

I was sitting in my hotel room, and thinking about new projects...something for me for a change, and not for someone else...and I came to the conclusion that my TC-16 MAII OS Giken powered Fairlady needed a little company . I'm a bit of a Z freak and figured that the next logical step would be a S30 Z , and the TC-16's bigger brother...the TC24 BII would be the perfect fit for it's engine bay

I have quite a few references for this one...so I started hacking away at some styrene. I started off with a fresh engine block. While Fujimi's L24 is not bad, I wanted something bigger, and a bit more detailed...how about a F54 casting L28 bigger All of Nissan's L block 6's look alike, but there are subtle differences between them, and it would drive me crazy if I didn't start off with what I wanted from the beginning. The head, and valve cover followed...here's what I have so far (about 50% complete)



...and how she'll fit in the Fujimi S30 Z:



That's it for now, thanks for looking.

Jimmy

[kaho]

Wow...you should make a how-to on engine block building. You amaze me every time!

[hirofkd]

You have a very interesting project with a unique choice of engine. The original OS Giken engines are extremely rare.
Coincidentally, I'm building a few S30 and KPGC10 models for a contest in October, and Z432 and Skylines need a new S20 cam cover because Fujimi part looks too wide. I'm also making a special L24 engine for a custom S30.
Looking forward to your progress.

[CrewDawg15]

Thanks Kaho! Its really hard for me to post up a how-to because I fabricate each and every block differently. I build through trial and error...I fact, this block is version 3. The two before this one didn't make the grade, so they were scrapped...just like I did when I was fabricating my SR20 block. I try not to settle for good enough

Hiro...yeah the Fujimi S20 is a big letdown...Tamiya's version is so much better. Good luck with the fabrication. Also remember that hte S30's S20 engine has a mid-rear sumped oil pan, and not a front one like the hakosuka's...a detail that Fujimi compensated with by making an extra front cross member in their 432 kit so the front sump oil pan would work. You could modify the L24 oil pan that's already included to fit the S20's block

I also have a couple of more custom Lblock heads to make: a LY28 head and valve cover, and a custom one off head and valve cover made to resemble a LY28 that I got from a Japanese blog site.

Jimmy

[MidMazar]

Beauty, looking forward for more progress!!

[CrewDawg15]

Thanks!

Time for a bit of an update from me. I took a break from the engine and started to focus on the engine bay. As you guys know...I'm up for a challenge, and Fujimi gave me a bit of a fight on this one It took a lot of experimental cuts, and at one point, I almost gave up after making a few bad cuts. So I slept on it and re-attacked it the next day...reconstructing some parts that I had destroyed the day before Here's how she turned out (about 50% complete):




I cut away about 50% of the kit's wheel well detail, and added in the S30 unique angled, split interior side detail, and built up a corrected shock tower detail. I'm not gonna mess too much with the kit's suspension, so I'll keep the original strut mounting points, and cover it up with the rest of the engine bay structural components.

Now...she's really starting to look like a proper S30 engine bay



Now, off to finish the bay...

Jimmy

[tonioseven]

THIS guy! I can't even get a primer coat applied to a body and he's making full-on engines!! I LOVE it!!!

[Fabbri_Guy]

I think the engine is the coolest part and most important part of a model. Looking great by the way! Keep it up.

[CrewDawg15]

Thanks guys.

This one will be put on hold because my body developed stress cracks from constant removal, and installation. I prepared a crack, but it wouldn't hold up. I also found 2 others that were about ready to break. Now, I have to wait until I get a replacement body.

[CrewDawg15]

Time to an update. I finished fabricating the engine bay and got it shot in primer. Luckily, I only have to fix few flaws.



I've already seen a few details I omitted, but I'm going to let them slide. I've got about 8 more of these kits to build, so plenty of opportunities to make amends

Thanks for looking!

Jimmy

[petesy]

Great to see you back. Looking forward to your 180SX as well.

[mrceej]

Sweet!

[Scale-Master]

As usual, gorgeous workmanship. I really like the style and overall look at which you make your parts.

[NOMADGAMER]

wow, blast from the past!

Car looks great! I recognize a lot of OG names in this thread.

[hirg]

Very nice on bay!