model convention in the city (7 months)

[Mister_S13_2]

there is a modeling convention on in the city (sydney, Australia) in 7 months, and i was panning to build something a little diffeent from the norm for the competition, i eventually decided to go for a retro approuch and take old skool japanese and mix it with new skool, ive narrowed it down to 2 ideas, but im afraid many will concider what im doing as butchering a classic car so i would like your opinion on which would create more impact at a model show/

1: a KPGC110 1970 skyline 2000GT-r with a single turbo RB26 conversion
or
2:a Toyota 2000GT with a single/bi turbo 2JZ

the only pikle i find myself in is that the skyline and the RB26 are readily available from tamiya, with the skyline having an open engine bay to begin with, making conversion quite easy, however, the 2000GT would be a hasagawa kit, the 2JZ would be tamiya, and im unsure how i would go about fabricating a firewall, strut towers etc.

any suggestions/help critsiscm would be much appreciated

[rsxse240]

SEVEN months...

Work your arse off, for the toyota, or simple (yeah right) motor swap for the nissan/datsun.

If I am picking up on what you are saying, it will be an old car with modern motor, drivetrain, suspension, interior, etc., right? so either way, it won't be an EASY project.

I'll say this though, I've seen a LOT more '70s Skylines than the YOTA 2000GT.

[Mister_S13_2]

Originally Posted by rsxse240

SEVEN months...

Work your arse off, for the toyota, or simple (yeah right) motor swap for the nissan/datsun.

If I am picking up on what you are saying, it will be an old car with modern motor, drivetrain, suspension, interior, etc., right? so either way, it won't be an EASY project.

I'll say this though, I've seen a LOT more '70s Skylines than the YOTA 2000GT.

ok, maybe i should have said "easier than the other option"

but yes, ur right, it will be an old car with moden engine,drivetrain,suspension, but ill keep the interior and bodywork original.

hrmmmm, good point, the toyota would be alot more unusual, like i said though, both these ars are somewhat iconic, and i feel alot of people would think of this as an insult or butchery, as oposed to putting a 4AGE in a KE70 corolla, of which there are millions.

i think i may give the toyota a go,
anyone know the easiest way to make a firewall and strut towers??
wish me luck

and thanks rsxe240

[Mister_S13_2]

ive been loking for referance pics(to no success) of the 2000gt's engine bay, the only slightly useful one i came across, was of an example of a 1:16 model someone had built, i noted that in the engine there were no strut towers, was this how the real car was?? the suspension must have been upright, for a car of that era, buyt as far as this model depicts, it must have been more horizontal like a race-car, any help?? so i know what i need to make.
thanks

[evo8owner]

Maybe this will help?

[Mister_S13_2]

Originally Posted by evo8owner

Maybe this will help?

that bottom picture shows me exactly what i think i need, thanks!!
the picture of the 1:16 kit i was looking at for referance was wrong, thank you

[drunken monkey]

there have been to my knowledge, at least two released full detail kits of the 2000gt. Both are from airfix way back when and well, they are essentially the same kit but in convertible and coupe versions.

I've got a couple of these knocking about in boxes somewhere and when I find them, I'll see about getting some scans of the parts and instructions.

I've also got a 1:20 kit that also has full detail so I'll also get some shots of that for kit references. Somewhere in my magazine and book collection, I also have the occasional 2000 GT article that I'll see about scanning.

In case you haven't guessed, I am indicating a preference for the toyota.
One thing though, the engine bay of the 2000gt is quite narrow and it would be quite a trick to squeeze the plumbing of a turbo'd 2jz in there. As it is, the carb'd 3M is a tight enough fit.

Edit:
just had a quick look.
The engine bay in the model kits I mentioned aren't all that great.
In the Airfix kit, the engine bay is incorrectly boxed in.
In the 1/20 kit, there is no real strut detail.

Off to check my magazines to see what's in there.

[rsxse240]

Fire wall is easy, just use the "Stackin' Plastic" method. Cut out the largest area that is the flattest, then stack thin, thick,wide, narrow strips/shapes until you have your desired effect. I've done this with interior panels, engine bays, trunks, chassis, aircraft, etc., It works great.

[Mister_S13_2]

drunken monkey:haahaaa, it seems everyone ive asked (on af or not) has a preferance for the toyota, and yes your right, i havent figured out how exactly im going to get all the piping in there, i figured id cross that bridge when i come to it, but, hahaa, thats when u get problems,
aah well, thanks for having a look for me anyway, i wonder if that kit i was using as referance was one of those airfax kits? probably, as it had no "struts" to speak of.i wonder if putting in a 3S-GTE from a tamiya celica GT-four model would be easier? as it would allow more room(of course converted to north-south)
of course, worse comes to worse, as this is probably going to be beyond my skills, i could just be a boring and build the 1970 GT-R

rsxse40- stackin plastic method?? ok, hrmm, that ssounds diffiult, u mean strips of styrene sheet?? hrmm, thats interesting, il have to think about that, if im understanding what you are saying, you vary the shapes of the strips to give it a cerain shape? like, if the firewall had a bulge in it, you would use a series of strips with a larger section, so that it looked like it
was protruding?? thanks for you help guys!

[rsxse240]

a quick paint program rendering should explain it easily.

[Mister_S13_2]

oh i get it!!!!! yesn, that might work, ill seei f the LHS has some plastic card,
thanks for that!

[rsxse240]

Shoot, you probably have some plastic stuff laying around your house. old credit cards, DVD/CD cases, CDs... It doesn't even have to be plastic, use cardboard, metal, wood, anything. It's all going to get painted anyway, right? Why spend the extra money on scratch building supplies? Buy some photo etch stuff, or a set of wheels, stuff that you can't make.

[Mister_S13_2]

i feel really bad now, since you guys have put a lot of thought into your advice to me here, but i was reading the flyer for the convention which said 7 months, and i realised it was printewd at the beginnning of the month! i have 4 months now, or 3months 3 weeks, i dont think ill be able to work that fast for this, i may have to do something else.
but thatnk you anyway for all your exellant advice and help, along the track il will build a 2JZ 2000GT, so it wont be wasted

[rsxse240]

you'd better build it! I spent FOR EVARRR on that paint drawing! haha j/k I'm glad I can be of assistance. Seriously though, I'd like to see a full detail 2000GT, and judging from your past works, it will turn out great.

[Mister_S13_2]

Originally Posted by rsxse240

you'd better build it! I spent FOR EVARRR on that paint drawing! haha j/k I'm glad I can be of assistance. Seriously though, I'd like to see a full detail 2000GT, and judging from your past works, it will turn out great.

haaahaaa, had me for second, i tohught "oh no..." ,heh heh heh.
well, im going to build the nissan for this convention, to cut my work load in half, and then i think on to the 2000gt.