Tamiya Jaguar MK2 Saloon

[radiohd10]

Just wrapped this 1:24 Jag MK2 by Tamiya. It’s not a perfect kit, but with a little love it can really pop on the shelf. If you’re planning to build one of these, here are a few things to note: 

1. The trim around the front and rear windshields is so poorly molded that you can’t even scribe them out. The solution is adding some plastruct half round strips around both and sanding it down.

2. It’s an old kit and the metal transfer decals for the side trim were basically useless. I added some styrene strips to the body before paint and foiled it after. Not ideal, but definitely better than the kit trim.

3. The wood grain decals that come with the kit were ok, but I decided to paint the wood detail instead. Highly recommend doing this, as the decals overall were very old and pixelated. 

4. I scratch built most of the engine bay, the mirrors, some interior parts, and a few bits on the front fender (reflector lights and lamps) because the kit doesn’t include them, which is very weird. 

5. The side windows are a pain to foil and install.  Also, if I could do it over, I’d cut out the windows so you can see into the car a bit better.

Other than the above, the kit was a breeze with no fitment issues at all. Paint is tamiya rattle cans: body - silver leaf under ts-13 clear; interior - dull red under semigloss clear; wood grain - wooden deck tan, linoleum deck brown, yellow, black, clear orange, semigloss clear. 

Overall, an enjoyable final build of the year. My biggest takeaway from this one is that silver is a reeeeeal pain in the butt to get right. It shows every flaw, so body prep is super important. 

Anyway- Happy hols everybody!

🤘🏽

[Matt Bacon]

Looks great to me! You’re right that some detailing in the engine bay goes a long way to adding realism. They captured the shape and character of the car really well, though. Not sure I’d leave mine parked in that neighbourhood, although if I was a typical Mk2 owning villain planning a heist, maybe I’d have to…

best,

M.

[radiohd10]

24 minutes ago, Matt Bacon said:

Looks great to me! You’re right that some detailing in the engine bay goes a long way to adding realism. They captured the shape and character of the car really well, though. Not sure I’d leave mine parked in that neighbourhood, although if I was a typical Mk2 owning villain planning a heist, maybe I’d have to…

best,

M.

😂 yeah I’m saying this driver was there for a clandestine meeting and decided to snap some shots of his ride before the other baddies showed up lol. 

There were a few details tamiya could have improved on but overall you’re right, they nailed the design. 

[Hi-Po]

Nicely done, clean and neat.  I really like how you did the burl wood dash, very realistic.

[Jim B]

Cool Jag.

[Mike C]

Looks great! How did you do the wood burl of the dashboard? Was it decals?

[Lucius Molchany]

Looks good !is that air cleaner factory stock?

[radiohd10]

22 minutes ago, Hi-Po said:

Nicely done, clean and neat.  I really like how you did the burl wood dash, very realistic.

 

10 minutes ago, Mike C said:

Looks great! How did you do the wood burl of the dashboard? Was it decals?

Thanks!

10 minutes ago, Mike C said:

Looks great! How did you do the wood burl of the dashboard? Was it decals?

thanks - the kit comes with decals but I didn’t use them. I painted it with a few shades of brown and black and some clear orange 

9 minutes ago, Lucius Molchany said:

Looks good !is that air cleaner factory stock?

yup. here’s the look i was going for…

[Brudda]

Great job sir!!!

[BVC500]

Great job!  I haven't heard one modeler say good things about the metal transfers in this kit. And I agree with you on the F/R window trim. I managed to scribe, but a real pain to get right, and the last thing I did on my WIP.

Edited December 23, 2022 by BVC500

[Paul Waymouth]

Beautifully done. My late father restored and regularly drove a red one of these. I’ve always loved them and the wondrous  sound of the 3.8L engine. 

[peteski]

Very nice build!  I like the color you chose.

That kit is quite good (Tamiya IMO does not make bad kits), but yes it is vintage, and while it has full engine, the details are sparse.  Again, typical Tamiya thing - parts are very well molded and fit well, but the details are sparse for someone who likes detailed engine bay. That is how I expect a Tamiya kit to be.  That kit has the best molded 1-piece plastic wire wheels I have ever seen.

[1959scudetto]

Excellent model, Ryan - this was one of my holy grails before it was released in the mid 90's. First I looked at the photos asking myself: how did he manage the wood trim decals for the dashboard laying down so nicely? Then I read your explanations about the painted dashboard - excellent idea (if one is able to make it as perfect as you did here!) - Jean Daninos did the same with his Facel Vegas in the 1950's (metal dashboards got painted to simulate wood).

The pics under the bridge are especially great-looking - you've done it justice - very nice!

[radiohd10]

4 hours ago, Brudda said:

Great job sir!!!

Thanks brudda 🤙🏽

4 hours ago, BVC500 said:

Great job!  I haven't heard one modeler say good things about the metal transfers in this kit. And I agree with you on the F/R window trim. I managed to scribe, but a real pain to get right, and the last thing I did on my WIP.

Yeah - not a fun part at all. I actually found breaking the window panel between the two windows made them much easier to foil and install. The only metal transfers I could use were the jag badges on the rear, and even those needed to be secured down with a few drops of clear acrylic. 
 

3 hours ago, Paul Waymouth said:

Beautifully done. My late father restored and regularly drove a red one of these. I’ve always loved them and the wondrous  sound of the 3.8L engine. 

That’s awesome. I almost did this one in red…maybe next time
 

2 hours ago, peteski said:

Very nice build!  I like the color you chose.

That kit is quite good (Tamiya IMO does not make bad kits), but yes it is vintage, and while it has full engine, the details are sparse.  Again, typical Tamiya thing - parts are very well molded and fit well, but the details are sparse for someone who likes detailed engine bay. That is how I expect a Tamiya kit to be.  That kit has the best molded 1-piece plastic wire wheels I have ever seen.

Thanks - yeah the wheels are amazing. I’m tempted to buy another one of these kits just to use the wheels on one of my Revell e-types. This was my first tamiya kit, and you’re right - it was pretty great. I have a tamiya testarossa and a fairlady in the stash and I’m pretty pumped to try them out after the great experience with this one. 

[radiohd10]

1 hour ago, 1959scudetto said:

Excellent model, Ryan - this was one of my holy grails before it was released in the mid 90's. First I looked at the photos asking myself: how did he manage the wood trim decals for the dashboard laying down so nicely? Then I read your explanations about the painted dashboard - excellent idea (if one is able to make it as perfect as you did here!) - Jean Daninos did the same with his Facel Vegas in the 1950's (metal dashboards got painted to simulate wood).

The pics under the bridge are especially great-looking - you've done it justice - very nice!

Thanks! I think painting wood grain is my new favorite thing to do. Got an MGB up next and may try it again. 

[Speedpro]

Beautiful build! I really like the engine details and those wire wheels. Well done

 

Speedpro

[Ace-Garageguy]

Yes, beautiful work. Nicely photographed too. Sure would like to have a real one.   

[Dragonhawk1066]

Very nice! The outdoor pics are fantastic!

[PappyD340]

Very nice!

[NOBLNG]

Sweet looking Jag!👍 And great photography!

Edited December 24, 2022 by NOBLNG

[Classicgas]

Beautiful.

[iBorg]

Looks like the real thing.....great build of one of the classics I wish I had.

[Phildaupho]

Gorgeous. Extremely well built. I have one in my stash which I have been thinking of building in 2023. Yours may be the incentive I need.

[espo]

Beautiful looking Jag. Your efforts to correct the chrome trim look great. I like the wood graining, something I enjoy doing as well. The attention to details on the engine and the interior look very realistic.   

[slusher]

Gorgeous!