1975 Datsun 620

[Chuck Most]

I bought this kit when it was first reissued, and sat on it until just now. I've heard the kit was a nightmare to build, but overall, I just plugged away at it for about a week and a half worth of evenings and had no real issues with it. Windshield fit isn't the best but overall it didn't fight me much. 

It is mostly out of the box with a few exceptions. The open wheels are from an AMT '50 Chevrolet 3100, though the left rear tire is the kit piece with the molded on hub cap (why, MPC? Why?). The kit air cleaner was replaced with a crusty chrome one from the spares pile. In the bed, you will find a milk crate from Iceman Collections, which contains a few empty booze bottles from an MPC '28 Lincoln, along with the kit spare tire (with it's lug and hub holes opened up) and some crushed resin cans. The side view mirror was nabbed from an AMT '70 Ford Taxi. There's also a baseball cap from Kitchen Table Resin resting on the front seat. The kit headlights are just smooth chrome discs, so I swiped a set from the Datsun Monster truck kit, which at least have a reasonable attempt at molded detail. I went with a mismatched front sheet metal ensemble featuring an olive drab driver's fender and splash apron, red hood, and yellow passenger's side fender. The overall color is Tamiya Park Green with a dull coat, it looks like it might be a decent match for factory Datsun Pistachio Green.  Salt, sanding, Vallejo rust washes, and AK Interactive weathering pencils round out the finish. I used the kit decals for the fender badges and lenses... they look better than I was expecting them to, especially the front turn signal/parking lights. 

 

 

Edited March 9, 2022 by Chuck Most

[Daddyfink]

Nailed it! Now you need someone asking if its for sale! LOL! 

[happy grumpy]

The look is spot on, back in the day we would see many of these were they seem to rot faster than they could move. I remember a guy bring his to my friends garage and when he lifted it up, the poor thing just split in 2, boy, the look on his face.? great job on the weathering.?

[espo]

Great looking finishes. Looks like this truck could tell a lot of stories. I like the extra touches in the bed. 

[Erik Smith]

Nice. You got the rockers correct - as in mostly rotted away. Friend had one in high school - back when it would have been only 12 years old or so - and we filled the rockers with bondo and spare change - surprise for the next guy. 

[Doug 1061]

Too cool.  I think these trucks could rust out even in Arizona.    I imagine these trucks are all but extinct by now, haven't seen one on the road in years.

[PappyD340]

Very cool Datsun PU!!

[Spottedlaurel]

Nice one! Certainly what most of them here in the UK after 5-10 years of damp, salty winter roads.

[NOBLNG]

Well done. She looks real!?

[Kromolly]

Fantastic, so much character.  The weathering is very, very well done.  So many artistic touches make this pickup look like the real thing at 10-15 years old.  Used to see them everywhere.

[DRIPTROIT 71]

I like what you have came up with! Excellent work!

[slusher]

Great weathered Dotsun!

[ChrisR]

Looks great!

[ewetwo]

excellent.

 

[the goon]

Perfect.

Mark

[stavanzer]

The weathering, is well done. I remember seeing these on the roads into the 1990's, but have not seen one in a long time. Even in California, they have rotted out and vanished.