Academy HYUNDAI SANTA FE 1/24

[Metalbeast]

Years and years ago I built their Hyundai Excel kit- it was a motorized kit with glass molded in this weird bluish green. I mean the windows, headlights, everything. Didn't seem too bad at the time but I'm sure if I got that same kit today I'd be horrified. I'm really interested in this, though. I love seeing kits of ordinary, everyday cars and this fits the bill to a T. I even have a little experience with a 1:1 Santa Fe- I drove a 2003 version years ago as a body shop loaner!

Edited January 22, 2020 by Metalbeast

[7urbo1ag]

Does anyone know how to fix the "4x4" problem with Academy's Hyundai Azera/Grandeur?

[sfhess]

18 hours ago, 7urbo1ag said:

Does anyone know how to fix the "4x4" problem with Academy's Hyundai Azera/Grandeur?

Just lower it a little.

[7urbo1ag]

5 hours ago, sfhess said:

Just lower it a little.

Could you be a bit more specific? I noticed a few weeks ago that the ride height was off so I cut/sanded the window, but the result was nearly the same as it once was. I thought about slicing the pins of the brakes and pushing it up higher but:

1. the rotors are a pain to push out (as it is a slightly cheap Korean snap kit)

2. even if I did this the underside would still poke out below

I've looked everywhere for weeks for a solution, but could not find anything until I stumbled across this recent forum. I actually want to get this kit over with quickly because it has taken me three months to fix the flaws of the body/interior.

[randyc]

Guess what was waiting when i got home from work yesterday?   Yep, this kit.  Straight from Korea.   Still have Korean air in the box and bags.  lol.   So, if you are wondering how long it might take one to get here, I ordered on Jan 14 and it arrive on Jan 29.  Seller from ebay.  Couple weeks.  Not too shabby.   

Now we gotta get a real one.   Wife is pretty sure she wants the Earthy Bronze version.  I want to add the Convenience package for the upgraded stereo and dual zone a/c.  We're searching the dealers for the perfect one within reasonable drive from home.  Using the Hyundai website, which tells us where they are.  

I may start on the body and cleanup of parts. Can't do interior til we own the real one so I can make it identical.  Looks like it will make a nice replica when complete.  Nicely detailed parts if the surfaces are a little light on detail engraving.  No real surface detail on seats.  Which is okay, could be leather or cloth.  

I can do photos if anyone wants to see, but not much I can add that isn't in the video on page 1.   Will probably do a build up thread when I get started.  

[martinfan5]

10 hours ago, randyc said:

 

I can do photos if anyone wants to see, but not much I can add that isn't in the video on page 1.   Will probably do a build up thread when I get started.  

Why I didnt bother doing any photos myself, I got my kit last week.

I was test fitting the body and chassis and its not a great fit, there are some gaps in certain areas.

[ZTony8]

Oh boy. A model of an SUV. Yippy skippy. Hey, maybe it'll attract millenials to model building.

[martinfan5]

4 hours ago, ZTony8 said:

Oh boy. A model of an SUV. Yippy skippy. Hey, maybe it'll attract millenials to model building.

Better than a model of a subject that is over 50 years old,  the hobby isn't just for the "boomers" and its time they accept that have some respect for us millennials that is spending our money in the hobby too.   So you are darn right, yippy skippy indeed?.  (  I am not directing that at you Tony, just general lee speaking)

Edited February 1, 2020 by martinfan5

[randyc]

I don't drive a 69 Camaro, so finding a model kit of a vehicle we actually own and drive is pretty cool to this old fart.  

I have plenty of models, diecasts and plastic builds of everything else, so why not a new SUV?  I also have a 1/43 2007 Ford Edge diecast that's identical to the one in the driveway.  And that is not easy to find. 

If ya don't like it, don't buy it.  

[Rob Hall]

On 2/1/2020 at 6:19 PM, martinfan5 said:

Better than a model of a subject that is over 50 years old,  the hobby isn't just for the "boomers" and its time they accept that have some respect for us millennials that is spending our money in the hobby too.   So you are darn right, yippy skippy indeed?.  (  I am not directing that at you Tony, just general lee speaking)

Yes, there are so many real world subjects I'd love to see kitted, incl. modern SUVs...would love to have a WK2 Grand Cherokee in scale like my daily driver... so many cool variations of the GC could be done like the Trackhawk and Trailhawk.     A current style Wrangler Rubicon or Gladiator would be great to see also..

Edited February 3, 2020 by Rob Hall

[stavanzer]

I drive a 2017 Kia Sorrento. While this kit is a Hyundai, it is the only game in town for a Modern "Cute-Ute". I'll be getting one eventually, just for that reason.

[randyc]

When I had the opportunity years go, I bought the Tamiya Cherokee and the SATCO Pathfinder and 4Runner models.   I always thought it couldn't hurt to buy stuff so maybe we could get more.  I think the SATCO models were Aoshimas?   Still will if it's interesting.  

We bought our real Santa Fe yesterday so that will be coming up soon.  As the weather allows me to work in my minimally heated building.   Wheels don't match ours and ours has the giant moon roof.  But it will be close.    We bought a different one than we started out looking at.  

Trackhawk would be nice to have...

[Rob Hall]

4 minutes ago, randyc said:

When I had the opportunity years go, I bought the Tamiya Cherokee and the SATCO Pathfinder and 4Runner models.   I always thought it couldn't hurt to buy stuff so maybe we could get more.  I think the SATCO models were Aoshimas?   Still will if it's interesting.   

Yeah, those are Aoshimas..nice kits, were reissued in the last couple of years...problem is they are SUVs from around 30 years ago...

[randyc]

22 hours ago, Rob Hall said:

Yeah, those are Aoshimas..nice kits, were reissued in the last couple of years...problem is they are SUVs from around 30 years ago...

Well, they weren't that old when I built them.  LOL.   Kinda like the guys who built the first gen of kits that are still being reissued.   I haven't paid attention to them being reissued.   

[Lizard Racing]

We bought a 1/1 of this SUV last year.  Today I see a review of the Academy kit on the Finescsle Models website.  Went right to Mega Hobby and ordered one. The only other of our daily drivers I have done is a '74 AMC Gremlin-our first new car.  Will let everyone know how it comes out.

[randyc]

I have been fooling with my kit a little.   How would we represent the smoked Chrome?  Clear with a drop or three of gloss black?  The grille on ours is even a darker chrome.  Might use gunmetal metallizer, polish and gloss it?   

We have the espresso/gray interior which has NO gray in it at all.   From a modeler's perspective, it is Testors rubber for the espresso.  The gray is "light rubber".   I think I can make it with rubber and white.   Intersting that the seats are molded so carefully as to probably not require any filling of seams.   The fake wood grain looks sorta metallic when you open the door.  I'm thinking gunmetal here too maybe.  Or titanium?  This may require some thought and mixing or drybrushing.,   We'll see.  Just needs a different finish for that little bit.

The tinted rear glass section will hide a lot of the interior, but it's not that exciting I guess.   Our fronts are tinted from dealer, but I may leave them clear to be able to see the detail of front compartment.  Solar tint would be cool, but never have achieved this very well.  Not many people have - Juha Airio maybe?  Bill Geary?  Also wish the kit included proper masks to help paint the black.

Our wheels are the standard 18" wheels - I think the kit wheels are the 19" turbo version.  Ours is the regular GDI engine, so different wheels.  I'll paint them up and let it go at that.  

Ours is the Limited, so it has the big moonroof.  The model has the full roof.   I sanded the ribs off last night and will have to scribe the panel lines in up there.  I think Arctic Blue or Olds engine blue will match up pretty closely to the "stormy sea" without having to buy more paint.  And I can paint those old enamels fairly well.  

I suppose next time I work on it, I should start a workbench thread.  Not many will care, but I will put the same effort into this one, maybe more, than any other build.  My Santa Fe has to be as nice as the wife's right?

[peteski]

10 hours ago, randyc said:

I have been fooling with my kit a little.   How would we represent the smoked Chrome?  Clear with a drop or three of gloss black?  The grille on ours is even a darker chrome.  Might use gunmetal metallizer, polish and gloss it?

 

How about airbrushing a coat of Tamiya . . . smoke (transparent paint)?  If it is too dark, mix it with Tamiya clear.  If darker color is needed, airbrush multiple coats of full-strength smoke.

[randyc]

On 2/14/2020 at 7:52 PM, peteski said:

How about airbrushing a coat of Tamiya . . . smoke (transparent paint)?  If it is too dark, mix it with Tamiya clear.  If darker color is needed, airbrush multiple coats of full-strength smoke.

Thanks - I'll have to look for some.   No local hobby shops anymore.  

[El Roberto]

On 1/13/2020 at 9:46 PM, Erik Smith said:

The cool thing is, you could put any emblem on it - Kia, Toyota, Subaru, Honda, etc- and nobody would know the difference. 
 

It actually looks Like a very good model in the photo above. 

 

The entire grill is different, as is the rear end of the body.