Spottedlaurel

It looks excellent, such a clean build with a great finished result.

It's coming together very nicely. I think it was partly inspired by seeing the effect it had here, but I've recently got hold of some Tamiya TS flat and semi-gloss clear. I look forward to seeing what it will do, I should be using both in the next few days. Should open up some interesting colour/finish options.

That paint choice is perfect, it looks fantastic.

Blimey, some inventive thinking going on there Glen! Probably not a combination anyone has thought of before, but it might just work..... Will be very interested to see it with wheels on, I'd imagine they need to be large and for it to sit super-low.

I can imagine it was very satisfying! One of none builds are good, no one can pick up on inaccurate detailing......

Nice work on the grille - is that what was holding you back?

Stunning! The machined metalwork takes it to another level.

Fantastic to see these little details come together, they both look so effective.

That looks fantastic, great to see it built after being in your stash for so many years. Good call to build it faithful to the original. Makes me feel better about those I've only had for 25-30 years.....

Very nice, they'd certainly get to the beach quick enough. The metallic paint with flat clear gives an interesting effect, I like that.

Thanks Larry and Chris. I was hoping for some sunshine today so I could take an extra photo or two, but sadly it's not looking too promising.

Excellent refurbishment work there, it now looks like a much more viable project.

That's excellent Gareth, it's worked out really well!

Another project started last weekend, after all my recent completions: 1:24 Aoshima Nissan Cedric 330 kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr I have a couple of these kits, plan for this one is mostly OOB but lowered, different wheels and painted Tamiya TS-21 Gold. Various shades of gold, copper and brown were the signature colours for these things. 1:24 Aoshima Nissan Cedric 330 kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr Fairly modest parts count, with no engine and relatively basic suspension. 1:24 Aoshima Nissan Cedric 330 kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr Initial mock-up, wheels possibly from an old AMT kit fitted into the Cedric's tyres. With their dated, late '60s American styling they suit that look well, this UK-spec pillared model (badged Datsun 280C here) owned by a friend looked good on steel spokes and that's another possibility: Sadly we never got the 4-door hardtop in the UK, although at least one private import made it here as did a coupe: I'm hoping my gold will be close to that colour. 1:24 Aoshima Nissan Cedric 330 kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr I cut the bonnet out, not that I need to for an engine but it was moulded with a partly open gap and just four attachment points which would have looked rubbish when painted. If I'd have looked more closely at the bodyshell I would probably have chosen something else to start, or maybe my other issue of this kit. The panel lines were very shallow and have taken a lot of scribing (and adjacent filling due to the inevitable mis-scribe), and looking direct at the back end shows it be mis-shapen and slightly twisted. Hopefully the twist will be resolved when it's fitted onto the chassis, but I'll have to put up with the odd shape. 1:24 Aoshima Nissan Cedric 330 kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr 1:24 Aoshima Nissan Cedric 330 kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr Anyway, I've persevered and it's now had an initial couple of coats of primer. I can see a little more filling is necessary It's a car that really needs the chromework and metallic paint to give it its identity and make the most of its heavy styling, I look forward to getting to that stage.

Well worth the effort of saving it, nice one.

It wasn't a project I'd planned to do soon, but I can see me spending some time investigating this concept further over the weekend......

This is the one I have, still with its box: Mine is a long, long way down the list for restoration.

Looks good Roger, one of the first I've seen built-up. I didn't realise there was another version of the kit with this front end, makes it look more like the North American Escort, which apparently shared little but the name with the Euro-spec model. It would appear that as well as filling in the grille they've changed the headlights and indicators to more sloping units, compare it with this brush-painted glue bomb that I have: This particular example had the Kamei X1 bodykit as well as XR3 parts, the original builder used a bit of mixture.

Id didn't see it first time around, looks excellent (and great photos too!).

Looks like you're going about it in a very thoughtful way, I look forward to seeing it progress.

Looks great! I saw a very nice 2dr '68 at a show here last year and managed to get the AMT '67 recently, definitely something I want to do at some point soon. Any issues with putting it together?

Nice one! Good to see another of these Monogram kits built.

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

Thanks Claude, I'll give it a go at some point soon - that Charger has been sitting on the shelf for too long.

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. 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).