[Johan ‘70 Cadillac pro touring]

What a beast, well done Steve! You put a lot of thought and effort into this, it's really paid-off.

[2024 Cannonball Run theme ideas thread?]

1 hour ago, Beans said:

I look at the cannonball as a chance to do things I don't normally do on my builds.  I know I am pushing my limits in skill level and never really think about taking home the prize.  I just have fun with it.

Sounds like the perfect description of what it should be about, it's certainly how I approach it, I've definitely built things that I wouldn't have done otherwise.

 

I guess the trick with the resto-mod category is to get the right base vehicle. Something old enough that needs to be restored, perhaps raced or rallied back in the day or at least with good aftermarket tuning parts supply. I'll be looking out for something that's not immediately obvious but shares its DNA with something commonly upgraded, to make use of the parts sharing possibilities. Recent comments from @disconovaman elsewhere on this forum about the Nova and Camaro come to mind, the same principle can be applied to plenty of other things. Hmmmm.......

[The Straight Six Community Build Rides Again]

2 hours ago, Camaro lover said:

I'm already in for the 2024 cannonball run build. I might as well put my name in for this one too. Should help me stay motivated and get creative too.

Ditto.

I have a few Japanese straight-sixes in my various kits, and there's a 2.4-litre lump in my 1:1 Datsun so they are definitely something I appreciate and it's probably something I'd be building anyway, but to challenge myself a little maybe it's time to do something with the Maserati 'six' I have spare from the Monogram 3500GT?.....

[What did you get today? (Model Car Related Items)]

2 hours ago, Brudda said:

Been playing with the R5. I’m going to build it. It’s simple but it looks cool. Here is a mock up

Looks good! I built the road car version a few years ago, went together nicely and a wheel swap worked well on it.

I don't remember anything particularly odd about the interior - the rear was boxed-out to house the MR engine set-up, and Tamiya made use of it for the motor. It loses a bit of detail in not having the rear suspension detail, with just a metal rod axle, but it still looks fine on the shelf.

Saw one in action at a French hillclimb we were lucky to attend when on holiday last year:

 

[Holden HJ Panelvan]

Looks stunning Luke! And it's not black 🙂 The gold suits it really well.

[Let’s see your oldest surviving builds]

On 12/14/2023 at 5:53 PM, Phildaupho said:

This is a very interesting thread and got me thinking of all my starts and stops in the hobby. The only thing I have remaining from my first era of model car building in the early 1960's is a grainy Brownie camera black and white photo of a '62 Thunderbird AMT Styline custom. My oldest surviving model car is this 1/12 Tamiya Wolf F-1 built after attending the 1979 Spanish Grand Prix and wanted to learn about the construction of the current F-1 cars. I eventually got back into the hobby on an ongoing basis around 1994 and have most of the models I have built since then.

Nice coincidence on the Wolf, Tamiya's 1:20 version is one of my oldest, unrestored survivors:

For some reason I brush-painted it with yellow Humbrol enamel, which looks slightly better than it sounds.

I think this one is from a year or two before the Wolf:

Didn't paint the bodywork back then, but looks like I had the patience to apply the decals.

Anything else from my teenage years in the '80s has either been restored/rebuilt, or is stashed away awaiting future TLC.

[2023 Cannonball Run "Run-What-You-Brung" Voting Poll]

A well-deserved win!

I'm very happy to come in 3rd. The variety of entries certainly shows that we made good use of the RWYB category this time around.

[What about Nissan Hardbody pickups?]

2 hours ago, Daddyfink said:

Is it the same as the American SATCO issue?

Ooh, didn't know about that one. However I'd imagine it may well be, I have heard of another SATCO reboxing of an Aoshima kit. They also include a LHD dashboard which isn't in the original Japanese kit.

[AMT '70 Chevy Impala Lowrider]

Wow, that's rather impressive! Very neat how you carried the paintwork through onto the dashboard.

[What did you get today? (Model Car Related Items)]

4 minutes ago, stitchdup said:

isn't the amt 1/25 scale and the tamiya 1/24?

Yup, but even allowing for that there's a fair difference. A bit like how some Monograms are on the 'generous' side of 1/24.

[What did you get today? (Model Car Related Items)]

22 hours ago, oldcarfan said:

Do you know how this kit compares to the old AMT 280ZX? I have one of those somewhere and didn't know Tamiya made one as well.

Luckily I was able to dig out my T-top version to compare it with the '90s issue AMT that I have. Both are old kits, the difference in scale between them is very noticeable but I don't know if it's that the Tamiya is a bit big or the AMT is on the small side. Tamiya was intended to be motorized so has a metal rod back axle, also the engine detail is top half only with sump/gearbox detail moulded into the floorpan, whereas the AMT has more detailed suspension and a full engine/transmission. Tamiya has separate wipers front and rear, on the AMT they're moulded-in and a bit delicate. Tamiya has nicer OE wheels, but the AMT has an accessory set of mesh wheels and bigger tires (albeit the wheels are 5-stud). Given that I'd probably change them that doesn't bother me. AMT is LHD, Tamiya RHD.

With a bit of care and attention I think both will build-up to give a decent appearance, I've certainly got plans for each of them.

And both are far better than Fujimi's attempt at a 280ZX - I have one of them too, but luckily my plans for that one don't require much more than the top half of the bodyshell...

[What did you get today? (Model Car Related Items)]

Technically I won't have this one until the 25th, but I got a sneaky glimpse when it arrived at work today before being whisked away when I got home....

I have a couple of examples of Tamiya's T-top version (original plus recent reissue), but I was lucky to successfully bid on this fixed-head model. Came with the motor and a separate sheet translating the instructions into French.

I wonder if this one came first, then they modified the tool to create the T-top? The latter was released later (and recently reissued), as was the Pace Car version which also had the removable panes. I am not aware of the fixed-head ever having been reissued.

This fixed-head 2-seater might be good for a more performance-oriented build, perhaps even enjoying an engine transpant as it has an opening bonnet (then I can use the top part of the ZX's engine in a special Datsun project I have in mind).

[AMT 66 Chevelle SS]

Glad you persevered with it, the end result looks excellent!

[2024 Cannonball Run theme ideas thread?]

I'd be very happy with the Radwood theme. I have loads of suitable subjects in the stash, and cars from that era represent three quarters of my 1:1 car fleet (1980 Datsun, 1993 Lexus and 1996 Toyota).

To take me out of my comfort zone a little perhaps it's time to do something with those Thunderbirds and Fox Mustangs I've picked-up, or maybe even the Citation X or Ford EXP?!

[December launches from Tamiya]

13 hours ago, charlie8575 said:

I've toyed somewhat seriously with an LS 400/430/460 after driving an LS 460 while doing some portering for used cars. What has your experience been with it overall?

I now own a '93 Mk1, and I've previously had a '96 Mk3. My daughter's boyfriend has two '98-ish Mk4 models, so all my experience is of the 400s. I think they're great! Even mine, bought very cheaply and maintaind to a far lower standard than it deserves, is a lovely thing to drive. So smooth.

The impression I've got about later 430s and 460s is that they're not built/designed to quite the same standard, so despite being newer they can suffer issues that don't affect the 400s.

I personally prefer the look of the Mk1/2 models, especially the Mk1 on its 15" wheels, and happily it's an early one that Tamiya represent with their very nice kit.

Great news that the Lexus version will also be reissued!

[1996 Honda Accord Wagon / NSX Mutation]

11 hours ago, Phildaupho said:

Excellent concept and build. Someone needs to make a full scale version. 

Thanks, would be way beyond my 1:1 mechanical skills sadly!

3 hours ago, ncbuckeye67 said:

That's amazing! I wish the engine was visible through the back glass though. That would look awesome!

I did contemplate that, with a dividing screen behind the front seats, no internal cover and the clear rear glass. Would be good for a show/go car, my concept for the Cannonball Run was something that looked like nothing more than a tidy Accord, not one with the heart of a supercar 🙂

[1992 Land Rover Range Rover]

That's very nice, you've captured the look of the real thing very well.

[Revell 32 Ford Custom Woody]

A super-clean build, what a tribute.

[Gold Leaf Lotus Europa]

I admired your work on this in the WIP thread, the finished result looks excellent.

[1996 Honda Accord Wagon / NSX Mutation]

My entry for this year's CBR Community Build on here, merging these two kits:

Not really sure why, at some point mention was made of the theme possibly being wagons or mid-engined, and I decided to do something that would tick both boxes. In the end it was RWYB, and it certainly qualifies as that.

Quick check with a previously-built NSX. It confirmed that around 8mm needed to be added to the NSX's floorpan, which tallied with the 8" difference at 1:1.

Found the easiest place to make the cut and used graph paper to keep it square. Front overhang was about right, rear needed extending and I had to narrow it slightly - the NSX has a distinct taper out towards the back wheels.

Completed chassis, with the NSX interior and dashboard, rollcage from a Tamiya Toyota Corolla rally car, approximation of an engine cover and rear loadbay salvaged from the Accord's original interior tub. NOS bottle from a Scale Production set.

Bride seats from a Hobby Design set, belt decals from a Belkits rally car. Brake discs with Brembo calipers came with the Fujimi wheel set.

Luckily the NSX came with the LHD dashboard option.

Stock NSX suspension front and rear, and the stretched portion of floorpan pretty obvious.

Finished result:

 

Basically stock bodywork,with Monogram Chevy Citation side vents and front lip spoiler being the remnant left over from the Mazda RX7 kit I built earlier in the year. Colour is BMW Boston Green, quite similar to the Honda Sherwood Green, straight from a Halfords automotive can complete with their clearcoat. Went through Micromesh polishing sheets then a fine compound, but I wish I hadn't bothered with that and I'd gone straight to the resin polish after the Micromesh.

Wheels are 18" BRS M10 from a Fujimi accessory set, trimmed to suit the staggered tyres which came with another set from a different maker. The kit came with tinted glass for the rear end, which saved messing around with smoke paint. Rear exhaust outlets are from another Fujimi accessory pack.

Back in the studio:

 

 

 

 

Not entirely sure how feasible it would be in real life, but Renault managed to convert a couple of small FWD hatchbacks to mid-engined configuration and I thought this would be a more sophisticated version of that. Would hopefully make for a good sleeper with 350-400BHP in a much more reliable, docile package than a FWD screamer with the same power output.

Thanks for looking!

[What about Nissan Hardbody pickups?]

3 minutes ago, stitchdup said:

you could possibly use the bed from the aoshima datsun 720, or graft the front from this on it. the datsun is a very basic kit though

I was wondering about their 1990s Hilux bed, that would also give the smaller headlamps seen on the 1:1 in the original post.

[What about Nissan Hardbody pickups?]

I don't believe they ever offered a pickup version, but Aoshima's Terrano D21 could be a useful starting point?

[2023 Cannonball Run "Run-What-You-Brung" Official Finished Builds]

Another one makes it to the starting line....

Aoshima 1996 Honda Accord Wagon, on Tamiya Honda NSX floorpan complete with the mid-mounted V6 engine and suspension front and rear. Like a bigger, more sophisticated version of things like the Renault 5 Turbo or Clio V6.

Bodywork largely standard, just a lip spoiler added to the bottom of the front bumper and side vents taken from a Monogram Chevy Citation. Paintwork is BMW Boston Green and clearcoat straight from Halfords automotive cans onto a generic grey primer. The colour is close to Honda's Sherwood Green of the time.

Fujimi aftermarket 18" BRS M10 wheels, with staggered tyres from a Scale Productions set. Brake discs came with the Fujimi wheel set. Fujimi accessory tailpipes were grafted onto the ends of the NSX exhaust system , with an extra slot cut into the bumper for the dual outlets. Rather neatly the Accord kit includes two sets of glass, one clear and the other tinted, so it was easy to incorporate privacy glass to avoid anyone noticing what was different in the back.

 

The NSX floorpan was stretched by around 8mm (8 scale inches), and its width was trimmed towards the back end. I had to extend the length of the rear overhang to suit the Accord, but at the front end it worked out just right. I was able to utilise the full NSX suspension front and rear, why change what Honda had worked so hard to develop? If anything I imagine the longer wheelbase will make it even more stable.

This is where I did most of the work, and now it's the bit that's hardest to see. But I suppose that's the point of a sleeper isn't it? Added an aftermarket sports filter, which together with a bit of remapping and gentle tuning to focus on reliability rather than massive power I'd expect to give around 350-400BHP. I added the Scale Production NOS bottle for a bit of extra go when needed in an emergency. Interior tub was taken from the NSX complete with the LHD dashboard (to ensure good visibility for overtaking), with the side panels removed as I've kept those from the Accord inside the doors. Added Bride seats by Hobby Design with belt decals from a Belkits Opel Manta. Rollcage was cut down from a Tamiya Toyota Corolla rally car, which also donated a fire extinguisher. Folding engine bay cover fabricated from sheet styrene, with the rear of the loadbay cut from the Accord's original interior tub.

All ready for the start, hopefully looking like little more than a nicely modified Accord Wagon and not something with the heart of a high-performance but docile supercar.

[2023 Cannonball Run-What-You-Brung Build Thread]

2 hours ago, slusher said:

Great looking wagon Nigel, glad you finished it! 

Thanks Carl. I had it next to me at work today, as I took it in so I could get some daylight shots. Must admit I like how it's turned out.

[2023 Cannonball Run-What-You-Brung Build Thread]

Final shots to come in the completed builds thread, but I'm there with my Accord/NSX mutation:

For the engine bay cover I took inspiration from the folding boot floor in my 1:1 daily driver. With it opening up like this I figured they could access the engine either through the rear doors, or the tailgate. And it's a Honda, so why would they need to look very often?!

And with it closed for normal running. Still got some loadbay at the rear plus there'd be space under the bonnet (sorry, hood).

 

Got a final bit of cleaning-up to do before I get some better completed shots, but I can rest easy knowing I've got it finished two days before the deadline. Exhaust tailpipes have since been fitted, unusually they were the last thing whereas I normally make it the licence plates.