Nissan Fairlady 300ZX Turbo Tamiya (9 after 45) Thanks for taking the time to look. Any advice on how to improve are welcomed.

[conchan]

Well, It’s been a while since I posted. Work and all that other stuff that gets in the way of the enjoyable things. 
I enjoyed this build very much until the glass. Then it became a major clusterf**k. Nothing seemed to go right. The interior turned out to be the best part of the build in the end. The undercarriage is ok, if just, and the engine bay is the same. Paint isn’t anything special either. It was a good learning build and am ok with the final product. 

[Flatout]

Hey Conrad…overall the model doesn’t look too bad.  It appears the thing you had the most trouble with was the black trim on the windows and body.  It looks as if you tried to free hand it with a brush and bottle paint.   Get yourself some Tamiya masking tape in various widths and use it to mask off the trim then spray paint it.  Use thin coats and take your time, at first it won’t be easy but you’ll get better with each model.  See you’re living in Japan also, if you don’t mind me asking…where in Japan do you live.  PM me if you have any questions or need some help.  Take Care…

[happy grumpy]

Turned out nice. For me the results are secondary, what matters is the enjoyment of building. 

[peteski]

Yes, the model looks pretty good. As for masking windows, I thought that kit (and many other Tamiya kits) includes masks for the glass to make painting easier.

[conchan]

10 hours ago, peteski said:

Yes, the model looks pretty good. As for masking windows, I thought that kit (and many other Tamiya kits) includes masks for the glass to make painting easier.

Thanks.
Many kits, as you say have window masks, this one however did not.
I'll try regular masking tape next time as my freehand sucks.

[conchan]

16 hours ago, happy grumpy said:

Turned out nice. For me the results are secondary, what matters is the enjoyment of building. 

Thanks.
Oh, I enjoyed building the kit for sure. Just wished the build was executed better, especially the windows.

[conchan]

22 hours ago, Flatout said:

Hey Conrad…overall the model doesn’t look too bad.  It appears the thing you had the most trouble with was the black trim on the windows and body.  It looks as if you tried to free hand it with a brush and bottle paint.   Get yourself some Tamiya masking tape in various widths and use it to mask off the trim then spray paint it.  Use thin coats and take your time, at first it won’t be easy but you’ll get better with each model.  See you’re living in Japan also, if you don’t mind me asking…where in Japan do you live.  PM me if you have any questions or need some help.  Take Care…

Hello Pete, 
Yes, the trim on the glass is what killed me on this model. Body trim was only a severe wound. 
I'm going to try the tape 'n' spray method next time as my freehanding sucks. 

No worries at all.
I'm in Nagoya. Been here for a while.
Only been to Okinawa once for a naginata seminar and tournament.
What I saw looked  nice, though I only saw from the airport,  to the hotel, to the dojo and reverse. So can't really judge. 
If I need some help, I'll be sure to DM you. 

[Jim B]

Nice looking Z-car.  Well done.  Odd that you have so many fitment issues with this kit as I've always heard good things about Tamiya kits.

Edited March 31, 2023 by Jim B

[peteski]

3 hours ago, Jim B said:

Mice looking Z-car.  Well done.  Odd that you have so many fitment issues with this kit as I've always heard good things about Tamiya kits.

Sounds like freehand painting the "glass", not parts fitment, was the main issue.  I have feeling that if the window masks were included in this kit, the build description would be more positive.

Personally, while I have been known to brush-paint some small parts, I never attempt anything like what Conrad did.  I mask and airbrush pretty much everything.

[conchan]

On 3/31/2023 at 10:27 PM, peteski said:

Sounds like freehand painting the "glass", not parts fitment, was the main issue.  I have feeling that if the window masks were included in this kit, the build description would be more positive.

Personally, while I have been known to brush-paint some small parts, I never attempt anything like what Conrad did.  I mask and airbrush pretty much everything.

Yes, that is it. 
No fitment issues worth mentioning. Just not able to paint within the lines on my part. 
The kit was fun to put together and would recommend it with the caveat that there are no window masks included. 

[Funkychiken]

This is not Tamiya's best engineered kit, but you've done well with it. 

Like you say, interior looks fantastic,  engine bay looks great too.

Looks like you may have painted the bonnet with more coats than the rest of the body, agree with the window mask comments too, free hand only works when there is a moulded-in recess or guide.

Still a great looking kit!

[Dragonhawk1066]

That's a good looking Nissan!

[slusher]

Beautiful Nissan, really clean detailed build!

[conchan]

On 4/9/2023 at 7:00 AM, Funkychiken said:

This is not Tamiya's best engineered kit, but you've done well with it. 

Like you say, interior looks fantastic,  engine bay looks great too.

Looks like you may have painted the bonnet with more coats than the rest of the body, agree with the window mask comments too, free hand only works when there is a moulded-in recess or guide.

Still a great looking kit!

Thanks for the positive feedback on the overall build and especially the interior/ engine bay. I appreciate them. 

Yes, I think the bonnet got one extra coat because I can't count to two. 

 

[conchan]

On 4/9/2023 at 7:43 AM, Dragonhawk1066 said:

That's a good looking Nissan!

Thanks for the positive feedback. 

[conchan]

20 hours ago, slusher said:

Beautiful Nissan, really clean detailed build!

 

Thank you for looking and the feedback.