In Progress - Tamiya 300ZX convertible

[mickbench]

OK. My new project is an oldie, but still a great car. Actually not seen any 300ZX convertibles on the road before, seen a few of the hardtop, so when I saw this kit for a good price I picked it up.

I’ve started to clean the parts up, test fit etc.. Fitment of the parts appears OK, but the parts are in a right mess. Mold lines, flash, even holes /sink marks in some parts. It’s taken me hours to get this far.. This is an old kit, dated 1992 but even for Tamiya this is a pretty bad kit.

Also the hood is clear..!! I have no idea why Tamiya thought that was a good idea. If I want to show the engine in the display case, I’ll just take the hood off or hinge it up somehow.. Stupid.. Anyhow, I’ll just prime and paint it.











Not a lot of progress due to the poor parts taking a while to clean, but this will be the progress thread for my new build, I’m building this OOB. I think I might actually paint it Maroon, (I’ve got a few cans of maroon from another failed model) so will use it up plus the build guide asks for maroon if going for the same look as the box art, and that looks pretty cool, and I will do the interior buff, with various blacks. Flock the carpets with a mix of ivory and buff flocking, paint the engine with various Alcad II paints, etc Should look OK, just a shame about the cleanliness of the parts, as the details are all there..

[rsxse240]

I am suprised to hear such a review of the tamiya Z. the coupe I have of the same car is beautiful!! though it is very simplified but greatly detailed. as for the clear hood, I think it is a good idea, you could put flames on it so that you see the engine bay through the flame licks or something hahaha.

again, I thought it was a great kit, so I guess each one is different.

[Apexi_N1]

looks like another great project!!! Maroon might not be my personal choice but this definitely a great convertiable to built.

btw, mickbench, do you only built convertiable? let me guess, Z3, Miata are on there way eh?

[mickbench]

Hmm.. Could be just me, but there are a lot of mold lines, and I've sanded off a lot of flash so far..

As for the colour.. Hmm... Perhaps another colour? Not sure though. I don't want to do another yellow (too much pain from last time on the S2000), I'm saving RED for all my Ferrari kits I've yet to build, I did think of Maroon base coat, and then Mica Red. But its red again..!! I thought about white, as I know the 300ZX looks cool in white. I'll have a think about this some more..

Oh, and yeah, I like my convertible cars..

[Apexi_N1]

white is nice:

some images off google, not my built




Actually, gun metal would not be a bad choice neither.

[mickbench]

OK. Been searching for hours now, but I like this colour -



That is Charcoal Pearl Metallic. Trouble is, I need a UK paint code so as I can order a 400ml can from my local auto supplier (Halfords).

Or is there a close match with Tamiya TS sprays.. Hmm, best study the TS paint chart..!!

Gone of the idea of Maroon. I'm never going to use those cans of maroon up.. Also, that might look best with just a mix of satin, semi gloss and gloss black interior then buff..!! This build is changing faster then I change my underwear..!!

[mikemechanic]

I have never sprayed Tamiya gunmetal but from the pictures I've seen it looks close to that color. I have always liked 300's but have yet to pick up a kit of one. I will watch this thread. You sure are banging them out Mick.

[minidreams_n_scale]

now aalot of my paint work is wild but for a car like this it needs to be subtile and clam i would be thinking the gun metal color on top and the pearl white at the bottom with the Nismo strip between the 2 ????

[eph2]

Nice start.. It´s a great kit!

[99civichic]

That's a cool car. I've never seen a convertible either, in person, but I've seen pictures. Will built his Coupe in silver and it came out very nice. A friend of ours has a pearl white one, I was never a fan of the pearl white that's on the 300's, seemed a bit brown to me. If you go with maroon that'd be awesome, since it's an Aggie color!

[Jeep_Rubicon]

Great kit, the charcoal color would look good.

[alakai]

Originally Posted by mickbench

That is Charcoal Pearl Metallic. Trouble is, I need a UK paint code so as I can order a 400ml can from my local auto supplier (Halfords).

The only matching Nissan paint code I've seen is KH2. Although Tamiya's Gunmetal is close. Hope that helps.

[mickbench]

Not done a lot since I posted these pics. Still wasn't sure what colour to go for...

I toyed with Maroon, then I thought about white, then it was going to be Graphite, but then I found this -



And just check out the engine...!! http://tere.net/t-z/300zx.htm

This is Cherry Red Pearl, and I have the paint code to order this colour, and so my build is going to be red, even thought it was the colour I wasn't so keen on... But it looks so darn hot in red, it just has to be this.. Interior will now be a mix of satin and semi gloss blacks, with dark gray seats, dark gray and light gray mixed flocking for the carpets.

Need to order some paint, some clear and a bottle of high polish alloy for some of the engine parts..

Keep reading this thread, I'll keep updating, and I've also got a spare 300ZX kit - just in case I need decals, or some part or another..

[pre98zetec]

If you have access to dupli-color sprays, they make a OEM Nissan Cherry Red Pearl spray in a can.

[mickbench]

THis is slow going. After building the S2000 I now know how far these kits have come along. The S2000 had no flash, I hardly had any REAL sanding work to do, and it fell together easy..

The 300ZX I'm working on, sadly is not this way. Now, the fitment is perfect. The parts fit fine, but they do need some cleaning up. I'm getting there, and I think I'm almost at the stage where I can get some primer laid down.



Just need to give the body I quick rub with 1000 grit to give the primer something to bite into..