Monogram Datsun 280Z 'Rolling Restoration'

[Spottedlaurel]

Started off with this basic old Monogram kit:

1:24 Monogram Datsun 280Z Road Racer kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

WIP thread and backstory here:

Finished it today, after having to repaint the RH wing twice due to paint peeling issues. My masking skills have at least improved a bit.....

1:24 Monogram Datsun 280Z kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1:24 Monogram Datsun 280Z kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1:24 Monogram Datsun 280Z kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1:24 Monogram Datsun 280Z kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1:24 Monogram Datsun 280Z kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1:24 Monogram Datsun 280Z kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1:24 Monogram Datsun 280Z kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

Various Tamiya TS and automotive rattle cans used, Fujimi wheels, tyres and aluminium exhaust, Hasegawa arch flares, Monogram Corvette America door mirrors, Tamiya Audi Quattro Recaro seats and oil cooler from the Fujimi Datsun Fairlady I finished recently.

Bumpers removed, rear valance cut and bent inwards to make it look a bit more realistic, plastic axles replaced with metal to suit the wheels and lowered as much as possible.

These basic kits build-up really nicely, I have the red moulding road car version to do someday.

Thanks for looking.

Edited August 17, 2020 by Spottedlaurel

[zakdoggi]

Nice job. I like the mismatched panels. They certainly do give it that resto in the making look.

Cheers....Geoff

[RAMBENNA]

cool car looks awesome, love it great job

[afx]

I like it!

[Modlbldr]

Looks good Nigel with the variety of panels. Great idea.

Later-

[Spottedlaurel]

Thanks guys, it was a slightly silly concept but it worked out OK and I have other Zs if I want to build something a bit more sensible.

I got some ideas for future builds, also I'd always avoided masking before but I'm more confident with it now......

[Plowboy]

That is one cool little Datsun Nigel! I really like the mismatched panels and especially the gold door with the stripe! Very cool touch!

[doorsovdoon]

That's cool. I really like that! Reminds me of an old Ford Cortina that drove around here in the 90's advertising a paint shop. All the panels were different colours.

[Funkychiken]

Inventive, and great looking build!

[Spottedlaurel]

Thanks all ?

Maybe one day I'll build the other Monogram Z I have as the finished example of this car. In my mind I see it as gunmetal grey and dechromed to keep it purposeful but subtle, maybe even semi-gloss finish?

I already have ideas for another Datsun Z/ZX build which has come about from this project, might even make a start on it this weekend.

15 hours ago, doorsovdoon said:

Reminds me of an old Ford Cortina that drove around here in the 90's advertising a paint shop. All the panels were different colours.

Sounds like a budget version of a Polo Harlequin!

I think the most extreme example that can be conjured up from odd panels is the Rover P6, as pretty much all of the external panels are bolt-on.

I've gone through it several times at 1:1 due to rust/accident damage. I had a white Nissan 300C with two black doors (so looked a bit like a US police car), maroon Datsun 240K with green bonnet and currently a dark green Toyota Camry estate with a light blue tailgate (and door that was painted, but it's now flaking off).

[Jonathan]

So very well done - somebody has spent a lot of time going through this car to address the rust issues.

 

[doorsovdoon]

There's a video on YouTube, or there used to be, about the Rover P6. A club member who supplies spares for the car had a demo P6 with all different colour bolt on panels.

[Jantrix]

Very clever and well done. 

[unclescott58]

Very cool. I like it.

[Spottedlaurel]

Thanks guys!

6 hours ago, Jonathan said:

So very well done - somebody has spent a lot of time going through this car to address the rust issues.

They spent quite a bit of effort sourcing all those rust-free panels too! Looks like the owner found an ex-race car bonnet.....

[PappyD340]

Very nice!

[slusher]

Well done!

[ChrisR]

Looks great!

[ZRider]

Nice work. I had a secondhand ‘78 Z as my first car. At the time I built the Monogram kit to the best of my abilities using my 1:1 example as a template. I finished it using such exotic materials as rose bush thorns to make the side mirror supports, made the non-stock hood vents out of card, gave it an exhaust system, and even scratch built the rear hatch louver out of heavy gauge aluminum foil. I gave it my matching license plates, proudly put it in one of those clear plastic display boxes and drove it in the real thing out to show it off to my girlfriend. It was summer and after the long drive, I left it in the car for a bit as I went inside. When I came back out to get it, I found that the sun had shown though the window and turned the clear box into a little oven melting the model into a warped mess. Needless to say I was most disappointed. I still have the remains (nothing salvageable but the license plates, wheels and possibly the nose cone) and two more unbuilt kits if I ever feel the need to try again.

[bisc63]

Nice build, and a different sort of concept that paid off! Makes for an interesting and fun display, after all not all cars are show cars. Well done.

[Spottedlaurel]

Surprised to see this one resurface! It was an enjoyable build that looks good in the cabinet.

11 hours ago, bisc63 said:

Nice build, and a different sort of concept that paid off! Makes for an interesting and fun display, after all not all cars are show cars. Well done.

Thanks Rusty.

15 hours ago, ZRider said:

Nice work. I had a secondhand ‘78 Z as my first car. At the time I built the Monogram kit to the best of my abilities using my 1:1 example as a template. I finished it using such exotic materials as rose bush thorns to make the side mirror supports, made the non-stock hood vents out of card, gave it an exhaust system, and even scratch built the rear hatch louver out of heavy gauge aluminum foil. I gave it my matching license plates, proudly put it in one of those clear plastic display boxes and drove it in the real thing out to show it off to my girlfriend. It was summer and after the long drive, I left it in the car for a bit as I went inside. When I came back out to get it, I found that the sun had shown though the window and turned the clear box into a little oven melting the model into a warped mess. Needless to say I was most disappointed. I still have the remains (nothing salvageable but the license plates, wheels and possibly the nose cone) and two more unbuilt kits if I ever feel the need to try again.

Ouch. I feel your pain, I had the same happen to five nice kits that I stupidly left on my dashboard at a 1:1 car show.

Never heard of rose thorns being used on a build before! There's some ingenuity.

[Oldcarfan27]

Looks like you found used panels in every color the car originally came in.

Colors look pretty accurate too!

[rightrudder]

Awesome concept and execution! Sort of Datsun's low rent version of BMW's art cars, to my eye.

Bravo!!