Matt Bacon

Not to be a pain, but are you sure it's a coupe? The current RoG box shows the car in black, with a metal factory hardtop, but it's not a fixed-head coupe. It's still the 1/25 kit originally tooled by Revell (GB) back in the early 60s... bestest, M.

Oh, I'll be watching this one closely. I have one of these in the stash, and I'd really like to know how to put it together. Some of the parts and instructions have me scratching my head! Good luck! bestest, M.

Even I get it, and I'm in the UK (actually, I don't know how they do it -- 12 months subscription with international postage still works out at less than £2 an issue, when Octane is nearly £5). It is great, and the articles are fun reads as well as having great pictures. The last issue conveniently had a Toyota 2000GT in, just as I was building one... bestest, M. edit: Actually, it's Hemmings Sports & Exotics that I get, and one's just arrived!

Thanks, guys... The BMW engine is now wired (for ignition at least). I drilled out the core of the distributor and cut a Postbox-like slot across it at the back (the wires really do emerge in a line from the side, not the top). That gave me something to stuff the ends of the wires into. The Lexus engine is bigger, but not as much as you might think... The transmission is under construction as well. The 507's seats have distinctive "rollovers" at the top -- or at least they do in all the pictures i can find. Some sprue gives a starting point... bestest, M.

These are the LFA wheels. They're supposed to be "Smoked Chrome", so I sprayed them with Humbrol Metalcote Steel (which has a superb shiny metal finish when buffed) and then hit them with a thin layer of Tamiya Smoke. I thought that any brighter chrome finish would have to be smothered in smoke to be dark enough, whereas the steel is pretty grey out of the can. The "gutter" on the 507 hardtop is made from solder. It's the most tractable material, I reckon. But to get the "square" section, I rolled it on a tile to flatten it somewhat. And this is what it looks like in place. There'll be a bit of sanding to get a smooth surface, then primer over everything. Ultimately, I'll BMF it when the hardtop is silver again! The 507 engine is progressing off screen... bestest, M.

The paint is on the body now, and the interior started with "carpet" applied using Plastikote Velvet. For once, I'm keeping it he colour it comes out of the can, more or less.. Test fit of the top shows that it will fit nicely -- but also that it's too "beetle-browed", bulged up at the front. So it's out with the sanding sticks again. The body is going into the airing cupboard in a plastic box for a couple of weeks now. It feels a bit one step forward and two back, but the real thing is quite elegant, and my version... wasn't. I'm happy with these now. The sharp eyed will spot in this photo that the "verticals" are in front of the horizontals on one side and behind on the other. I didn't figure on the "handedness" meaning that I'd have to use the front and back of the sprue grille I'd made -- I though I'd just turn them at 180 degrees to each other. However, they're teeny-tiny in real life, and I don't think that it'll be too obvious when the thing is together. I've achieved what I wanted, though -- you can see through them! And just to prove that the LFA is also under way... It's so crisply moulded and the fit is perfect: you could slot the engine together without glue if you wanted to! bestest, M.

Thanks, guys. Life and work have rather got in the way of modelling over the last couple of weeks, but I'm back on the go again now. The hardtop has had rather a lot of iterations to get to this state: I now need to think about glazing and how to reproduce various bits of chrome trim (there's a very visible "gutter" over the door and side windows...) I also want to have proper grilles at the front, with a "see-through" effect, rather than just painting the solid parts black. This took some figuring out how to do... I sanded from the back until the moulded grille would just pop out. A quick trial suggests that it will work, more or less... (there aren't enough grille elements on the moulded parts -- they should have seven horizontal bars). I'm trying to decide whether to lose the chrome and spray the whole thing chrome silver when assembled instead... bestest, M.

Two very different cars, but inspired by the Japanese sports car duo. Both the 240ZG and the 2000GT were designed by the same guy, Count Albrecht Goertz. The 507 was also a Goertz design (probably his best -- it's undeniably one of the best looking cars ever built. So good-looking in fact that apparently BMW pulled an advertising campaign for the Z8 which paired it with the 507, because the older car made then new one look like a bit of a dog). And the LFA is, like the 2000GT, a collaboration between Toyota and Yamaha, which builds the engine... The 507 is an older Revell kit, dating back to the 90s, but looks nicely detailed in the box. The LFA is Tamiya's uber-kit, probably the best they've done (at least until the LaFerrari appeared) First job on the LFA is paint -- colour matched Zero Paints Pearl Blue (don't let the web site fool you, Steve DOES have it made up). It's a three layer colour. Silverish base coat Translucent, slightly pearlised top coat 2-pack clear coat. The 507 is going to be built as John Surtees car, which is fitted with a factory hard top. Since the Revell kit comes with a removable ragtop, that seems like the best place to start... That's all for a while, since I'll be away from the bench this week. bestest, M.

Nope, Sir Stirling Moss is (was) the best in the world. Anyone who can win at Le Mans, win the Coupe d'Or three times in the Alpine Rally and come second in the Monte Carlo, win the Mille Miglia, and miss out on the Formula One World Championship by a point handed over in a sportsmanlike gesture, is the "Complete Driver". The closest anyone's come to that today is Seb Loeb, with any number of WRC championships and several Le Mans wins to his name. There's no point in comparing different driving disciplines and trying to claim one that makes THOSE drivers "the best in the world". The best drivers are the guys who get the best out of the car they're in, on the circuit/course that they are driving, in the competition that they're trying to win, against the conditions that they are driving in on the day... and they do it every time, no matter what "discipline" they are competing in. Those guys are few and far between, but they should be celebrated any time we find one (Moss, (Phil) Hill, (Graham) Hill, Donahue, Lauda, Loeb...) bestest, M,

That looks absolutely spectacular. I'm in awe of the wire wheels, especially. It is a great kit, isn't it? Also, seeing this makes me think I know where Albrecht Goertz got the proportions of the 240ZG from! bestest, M.

Thanks, guys! Gary -- that is a shame! I suspect the race version has the parts for the street version as well -- there are certainly a few marked "not for use" in my street version. There's also a "super detail" version with full engine -- and you should REALLY kick yourself if it was one of those you passed up for a tenner! ;-P bestest, M.

They may both be curbside, but I think these are fantastic kits by Hasegawa. I've previously built the Miura and the 250 Testa Rossa, and these two models have just confirmed Hasegawa's position as my personal #1 maker for car kits. They are precise fitting, well-engineered (not overcomplicated but as detailed as is needed, wherever it's needed), and really look like their full-size prototypes. Highly recommended. Build thread is here: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=85404 bestest, M.

...and finally, compare and contrast: bestest, M.

Sorry... they're both the Hasegawa kits... ...and now the 240ZG It's not as beautiful a car as the 2000GT, but I like its style and even the colour. That front overhang is a bit much, but it does lend it a real "shark-like" look. Still, I wouldn't say no if I found one for sale! (and I'd better replace that rear offside wheel badge that's moved during the photo session. Rats!) bestest, M.

Two of Japan's finest ever sports cars, both products of their era, both designed by the same guy, Albrecht Goertz. The 2000GT was a Yamaha proposal which Nissan turned down, and Toyota didn't. The Z-car is Datsun through and through... What a lovely car, and what a great kit... bestest, M.

Thanks, Steve... I think this is about it for the building. A bit more cleaning up to do yet (it's amazing where the fingermarks appear, even when you're wearing cotton gloves to handle the darn things), and then the decals and number plates, and they'll be done. The "metal transfers" were a pain in the neck -- there was no glue on them that you'd notice, so a bit of careful use of tiny spots of superglue was needed to get them to stick. They all have decals to be laid over the top. The mirrors are really tricky, since there's no positive location on the fender tops at all. They're painted in "Gunship Grey", with chrome rims and metal transfer mirrors, so there's quite a bit of work in those teeny-tiny parts. Formula 560 Canopy Glue to the rescue to hold them in place. ...it's the cutting mat that's wobbly, not the suspension! This time, the metal transfers actually stuck properly, and the mirrors have tiny mounting holes drilled through the fenders for a positive location with the smallest possible amount of superglue gel. ...you do have to wonder how much use those wing mirrors would be, especially on the 240Z -- they're a very long way forward, and must have been very hard to see anything in at all, especially if they were vibrating a bit with the engine at full chat... Time to figure out what plates to put on them -- I'm pretty sure that 2000 GT is perfectly good UK plate, but not so sure about MB Z402G... especially since it's got to go on a "squarer" plate, which will break it as MBZ 402G... Decisions, decisions... bestest, M.

It feels like I'm on the home straight now... The 2000GT is together, and the 240Z is very nearly so (I just want to give the mirror time to set solid, so it doesn't fall off irretrievably when I mate the chassis and body.... as I said, I think once it's together, it's staying together!) It was very handy having the Hemmings Sports and Exotic magazine to read last night -- I noticed that in an excellent drive-by photo that the "grille" is only chrome on the front edge, while the rest of it is steel grey. Painting it immediately made the kit look less "toy-like". 90% of that hideous seam is going to be under the chrome bumper, and he rest will be carefully blended. I don't think it'll vanish completely, but it will be a tough spot... The BMF on the 240Z is not so curvaceous as on the 2000GT, but I'm glad to get it over with! The decal for the rear window demister is actually very easy to work with, and rather clearer than it looks in this pic! I masked the headlight covers, ad painted the frames using Humbrol "Chrome Silver" from a rattle can -- it's good stuff! With a bit of luck, I think these two should be finished tomorrow -- and then what? I'll give you a clue: it's going to be another "two-fer". The cars are pretty radically different in most respects, but they share a common heritage with this build... bestest, M.

Thanks, Oscar... Here's the workbench tonight: Both chassis are complete. The 240Z is still lacking its wheels. I'm worried about anything that might possibly get in the way of getting it into the body, since test fitting suggests that its both tricky and a "once and for all" moment. Fortunately the 2000GT is more forgiving - although of course that does result in an under nose panel that's to be added right at the end. Most of the join is under brightwork, though... The Z is progressing, with most of the body fittings added bar the wing mirrors and wipers, which I'd almost certainly knock off. The rest of the time has been spent BMFing and panel-lining the 2000GT. Looking at photos, I decided it really needed the lines emphasising, and I've tried various solutions. This is 50% neutral grey ink, though you wouldn't know to look at it, would you? The vents in front of the windscreen are pure black, so you can see the contrast. ...and because the body fits easily, I can do this. It IS a cool car. Time to read the article in the latest Hemmings "Sports & Exotic Car", which arrived this morning... It's also very SMALL, as you can see in comparison to the Z in the first photo. Back to the BMF, starting on the Z tomorrow... bestest, M.

That's beautiful -- I love the colour. Which "Rosso" is it? Lovely interior, too. And the hat is a great touch. Congratulations! all the best, Matt

This is the underneath of the 240Z. I decided too use the double exhaust tailpipes instead of the single as instructed, because the reference picture I have clearly shows the double pipes. ...and this is the rather simpler 2000GT. The textures is moulded in the kit -- very nicely, I think. Compare and contrast... Each has its own clear "style", and era... which you may recognise from Japanese hi-fis of the period! bestest, M.

Slow, but steady, progress is beginning to pay off, now... That's the 2000GT chassis completed. In this one, they have you build the running gear and then the cabin on top... ...whereas the 240Z gets the cabin built first, and the running gear after that. I couldn't resist a trial run... The slightly wobbly edges on the black are all going to be covered by BMF, have no fear... bestest, M.

Thanks! I'm pretty sure that the Tamiya "Maroon" acrylic spray paint was colour matched to the ZG "Grand Prix Maroon" (actually a mistranslation of the French "Marron", chestnut brown) when they launched the 1/12 scale "big boy" 240ZG... bestest, M.

A prancing horse or a leaping cat? I'm just glad that's it's a real choice again, which it hasn't really been since 1968... bestest, M.

I'm definitely not sure why you'd have one when you could have a matched pair of "his" n "hers" Jaguar F-Type V8S convertibles for about the same price...;-P bestest, M.

Thanks for the positive feedback! I'm not sure I agree with the above, though. Maybe it's true for the US (Are there any ZGs in the US?), but there are plenty of pictures online of "very original" '70, '71 and '73 240Z interiors online that have the wooden rim; the Hasegawa instructions call it out as wooden coloured; and the article in Octane about a completely original ZG (the only one in the UK) that I have at my side as reference clearly shows THAT 240ZG has a wooden wheel. Plus it looks more interesting in that black cabin... bestest, M.