Tamiya 1/24 Mazda Savanna RX-7 - 1st Generation Rotary Rocket

[Dann Tier]

On ‎11‎/‎22‎/‎2018 at 7:23 AM, Tommy124 said:

Fully agree. When it comes to those super-fine double lines on the hood of a '69 Camaro, I'd go for BMF aswell. And it doesn't have that "time factor" to it...

Agree here too, Dann, Tamiya is a good tape. BUT: once you use it on Tamiya acrylics or TS colors and leave it for a longer period, the solvents will leave their mark on the paint, the longer - the worse. That's why I switched to a (guaranteed) solvent-free Tesa tape for these kinds of paints...

By the way, I always use a small hairdryer on a lower temperature setting to warm up masking tape before removing it from the painted parts. This significantly reduces the tape's adhesive power on the paint - and the risk of pulling off paint instead...

That sounds like an interesting technique, Tommy!...

[935k3]

On 11/22/2018 at 7:23 AM, Tommy124 said:

Fully agree. When it comes to those super-fine double lines on the hood of a '69 Camaro, I'd go for BMF aswell. And it doesn't have that "time factor" to it...

Agree here too, Dann, Tamiya is a good tape. BUT: once you use it on Tamiya acrylics or TS colors and leave it for a longer period, the solvents will leave their mark on the paint, the longer - the worse. That's why I switched to a (guaranteed) solvent-free Tesa tape for these kinds of paints...

By the way, I always use a small hairdryer on a lower temperature setting to warm up masking tape before removing it from the painted parts. This significantly reduces the tape's adhesive power on the paint - and the risk of pulling off paint instead...

Where do you get TESA tape? I have some old rolls of their cloth tape I use for seatbelts. I have not found anyplace to get it. It seems to be sold to industries only. I just realized  you are in Germany where it is made. I cannot find an online place to buy it.

 

Edited November 25, 2018 by 935k3

[Daxman]

I love the color!

I've always wanted to wire up LED lights. I need to look into it. That looks amazing.

[Tommy124]

On 25.11.2018 at 1:00 AM, 935k3 said:

Where do you get TESA tape? I have some old rolls of their cloth tape I use for seatbelts. I have not found anyplace to get it. It seems to be sold to industries only. I just realized  you are in Germany where it is made. I cannot find an online place to buy it.

Tesa products are widely available in German DIY stores, they have dozens of different tapes for any purpose. The (solvent-free) tape I was referring to is called "Precision indoor". https://www.amazon.de/tesa-Malerband-Qualität-Promo-Pack-Rollen/dp/B00B9DDB7G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543234412&sr=8-1&keywords=tesa+precision+indoor

Tesa cloth tape shouldn't be a problem though, found it on Ebay.com...

[Italianhorses]

On 11/24/2018 at 4:47 PM, Luc Janssens said:

So went to my parrents today and it was quite a search on the attic to find the model, anyway as I wrote originally built in '77 or 78, then after a few year playing with it, it got a color coat and decals I probably got from a defective kit at Verlindens shop model world...this one and an old Monogram 4x4 Van are the oldest built models I still have.

 

This is awesome! Keeping as is for the memories or rebuild?

[Italianhorses]

On 11/24/2018 at 10:20 PM, Daxman said:

I love the color!

I've always wanted to wire up LED lights. I need to look into it. That looks amazing.

These are actually light bulbs that came in the kit (this is box-stock build after all :)), not LEDs, but same principle, I guess. LEDs are better since they won't get warm as these bulbs do!

[Ich_Will]

Great little Mazda. The color is spot on and the pop up lights are a great touch. 

[Luc Janssens]

3 hours ago, Italianhorses said:

This is awesome! Keeping as is for the memories or rebuild?

Keeping as is, 10-15 years ago I made the mistake of disassembling some of my old builds, and they're still disassembled in boxes, instead of on a display shelf where they used to be.

[Italianhorses]

3 hours ago, Luc Janssens said:

Keeping as is, 10-15 years ago I made the mistake of disassembling some of my old builds, and they're still disassembled in boxes, instead of on a display shelf where they used to be.

Good point.

[Dann Tier]

On ‎11‎/‎24‎/‎2018 at 7:00 PM, 935k3 said:

Where do you get TESA tape? I have some old rolls of their cloth tape I use for seatbelts. I have not found anyplace to get it. It seems to be sold to industries only. I just realized  you are in Germany where it is made. I cannot find an online place to buy it.

 

It looks great!, but the only problem I see, is the cut edge being a frayed white line.....that would drive me nuts...lol

[Tommy124]

16 hours ago, Dann Tier said:

It looks great!, but the only problem I see, is the cut edge being a frayed white line...

Agree with you Dann. Plus I think the structure and thickness of the tape in use is a bit out of scale. I use white Leucosilk tape (medical tape for fixing bandages etc.) and color that up using a marker. Very easy to do. https://www.voelkner.de/products/266758/Soehngen-1009210-Leukosilk-5m-x-2-50cm.html

Edited November 28, 2018 by Tommy124

[Italianhorses]

Its been a while, huh? Finally, an update on this one…

As some of you remember, this was started as strictly box-stock project for a contest but wasn’t finished in time. Since box stock was no longer a requirement, I decided to spice it up a bit.

Originally interior was supposed to be plain tan, so the tub was carefully masked and painted base color.

The rest of the interior panels was cleaned up and painted as well:

Real car had some sort of plaid pattern on the seats, but replicating that would have been next to impossible with paint and I didn’t want to mess with designing and printing my own for a project that started as a simple box-stock build:

https://www.rx7club.com/attachments/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/67500d1091087598-picture-request-sa22c-w-plaid-inteior-zzztttooo-img600x450-1085891053z04-149n.jpg[/img]

So, I cheated. Looked high and low for some similar pattern decals but couldn’t find any. So, I bought this plaid pattern decals for nails, it was a nice design and a similar color-scheme:

When they showed up, they were super glossy, self-made decals – I almost threw them in the trash as I wasn’t sure I could use them. They were also too small, and that meant I had to piece them up to cover both real and front seats. But decided to give it a try:

It turned out ok with lots of setting solution, and several coats of dull-coat to get rid of the shine. Here are couple more pictures with different lighting:

Dashboard was also painted, detailed, and assembled:

Since original kit does not provide any gauge cluster decals, I decided to see what could be done about it. I knew that Revell did a RX7 kit, so I found a decal sheet from that kit on ebay and bought it. I figured I could also use decals for the badges, and wheel centers from it. Side not – Revell makes terrible decals.

But it worked fine for the gauges, and I also painted and detailed the rest of the interior panels:

Toyed around with flocking the carpet, but I could not find proper color flocking to match the paint, and after mocking the interior realized that zero of that flocking job will be seen after assembly, so passed on that.

Assembled interior looks good. Wiring for the headlights is hidden under the seat and front floor panel. Door cards actually mount inside the body shell. I really feel bad for the rear passenger’s legs!

[Italianhorses]

Well, I guess nobody missed the thread after all, hehe.

Painted the wheels and exhaust parts in metallics, front suspension parts in black:

Assembled the wheels, tires are narrower than the rims, and I suspect the rims are also a bit oversized – but they look fine:

Soldered the wires for the headlights to the power source, put the wheels on, and married the body to the chassis:

Didn’t want to spend much time with the underside, just dry brushed here and there – its mostly incorrect anyway so decided this should do just fine.

Everything seemed to be in its place after assembly, but somehow the headlights do not sit flush with the body anymore!

I’ll have to figure this one out and see what needs to be adjusted. But they work just fine, so does the motor!

Overall, its taking shape, good stance too!

 

[Curt]

Beautiful little "Rotary Rocket", Alex!  The working lights look like the real thing.  Now to add the fender mounted mirrors...

[Italianhorses]

35 minutes ago, Curt said:

Beautiful little "Rotary Rocket", Alex!  The working lights look like the real thing.  Now to add the fender mounted mirrors...

Oh, there is still plenty missing here...But I'm actually finishing it up as I type this, so should be done pretty soon!

[Jonathan]

Absolutely beautiful work!

[WizPorsche944]

Wow ! Do the pop up lights work off the motor ?

[OldNYJim]

I always enjoy seeing your work Alex, and would like to see it more regularly ???

Super clean and nicely done build as always - I like the interior and that color is great!  

[Italianhorses]

10 hours ago, Jonathan said:

Absolutely beautiful work!

Thank you!

10 hours ago, WizPorsche944 said:

Wow ! Do the pop up lights work off the motor ?

Nah, there is a tiny lever that you pull to pop them up, and press to lower them back in.

10 hours ago, CabDriver said:

I always enjoy seeing your work Alex, and would like to see it more regularly ???

Super clean and nicely done build as always - I like the interior and that color is great!  

Thanks. Hopefully I can contribute more often!

[Gramps46]

Glad to see you are back Alex. 

[Italianhorses]

On 8/11/2019 at 8:04 AM, Gramps46 said:

Glad to see you are back Alex. 

Thanks, won't promise anything, but will try to find the time to build more!

[FabbricaP]

Stunning build. Love those plaid seats!

[Italianhorses]

On 8/12/2019 at 5:58 PM, FabbricaP said:

Stunning build. Love those plaid seats!

Thanks!

All right, I think its time to wrap this project up.
Headlights and inner fenders were adjusted slightly to allow for the light to go down flush with the bonnet again:

Works in the raised/lit up position as well!

Badges and license plate was taken from Revell decal sheet. Taillights painted with Tamiya clears and foil backing:

One interesting part is that there is a hole under the orange part of the taillight where the latch would go. Had to stick the foil right behind that piece:

Wipers, badges, wheel caps, mirrors:

And its all done! Full photoset in the gallery soon!

[Italianhorses]

Completed pix:

 

[OldNYJim]

STUNNING!  I've really enjoyed following along with this Alex, as I always do with your projects!  Beautiful work!