The next project, Aoshima S13 Silvia, mild tune

[Gray Smith]

Hey guys..

Before I post the model, let me give you some back story on my love of the Nissan chassis code name S13, also known as the 240sx in the USA. My affair started about 8 years ago when I bought my second car..my dream car...a 90 240sx..

a few years later and a few dollars thrown at it and I ended up with this...

this, you could say was my dream car..better to me than any Ferrari, Porsche, Corvette...stuff like that...mostly cause every nut and bolt turned on that car was turned by me, is was turbo'd so it was quick, but not rediculously fast, it handled very well, and in the rain(or anytime with some healthy throttle application) it would break the back end out. Unfortunately it met with an untimely end, and I became a father, and it was time to move on. To this day I still miss it some, but I choose to have my fleet(7 kits i think and counting) of s13s in small scale.

This kit I've had for a while, and didn't want to build a bone stock Silvia....but I didn't want to go wild and "drifterish" I mainly wanted to go with something like what I had, not stock, but not wild. This is also my first time building a body kit of any kind, and using Tamiya 2 part epoxy putty(and man I do like it!!!). I was trying to replicate the sides and rear of a factory body kit that was offered late in the model cycle on the Japanese 180sx...

the front bumper is modeled after a bumper that I wanted on my car by a company called K-style, this bumper was used on the old Team Orange Sil80 truck drift car for those in the know.

here is the initial build up of body kit pieces

and here it is now...with some 2 part putty laid down and shaped, I still need to work on the shapes some, but I feel i'm close.

now those who know me, know I have a wheel fetish and can't decide on a set of wheels to save my life..here are some of the choices i'm running thru at the moment.

an 18/19" size Volk RE30

an 18/19" size Advan Racing RS

and the set i'm really leaning towards a 17/18" size Wedsports SA-70's

and the kit sourced Work CR Kai's

So far as what I plan to do to this kit? Well finish the body kit, If I build a US based car then I need to convert the interior over to LHD since aoshima didn't make it that way(fujimi parts to the rescue), a set of r34 skyline seats, a low but not wheels tucked ride height, and a paint job with a cool blue/green nail polish i've got topped with some kustom color Carribean Surf flip, i'm still not sure about using the engine insert that came with the kit, since if I build the engine, i'll have to detail it and then i may lose interest...this one is supposed to be fun so..we will see.

Hope you like it guys, comments and critiques welcome, and as soon as I have daylight i'm finishing up the Z

Gray

[RodneyBad]

Great looking 1:1.

Love the head light conversion..

Sure the model will be just as good.

Nice Body kit.

I Wondered how they do that..

The Wedsports SA-70's look good

so does all of them..

I'd think that most modelers have a wheel fetish..

I have more wheel/tire combos than models.

and still looking for the perfect set for any car.

[Roadkill2525]

I like your Sil80, which Aoshima kit is this?

[Nick F40]

Option's awsome! I don't need to say much about your 1:1, since you laready know and the model looks sweet. I like all of the wheels, I like the CR Kai's and the Advans for something different but your choice is nice also.

Still the 240 over any Ferrari or Porsche? Corvette?

[Nick F40]

you guys will appreciate this then

these are just a couple of the Japanese magazines i have from my "import" days. some of it is S14 but i think you get the idea!

Dave

wow, those are in nice condition, very cool. Your import days? I'm guessing by the comment and the pictures you had an S14?

[Tonioseven]

I like the Volk R30s. What is this wheel talk?! Bah! Rubbish! Stock or nothing!!

Gray, I still have the front-end piece from this Bomex 180SX if you want it for future use...

Edited March 1, 2009 by Tonioseven

[Nick F40]

I bet that sucked. Starlets are pretty sweet though.

Antonio....

Hey Gray, if you don't post anything up we just start going...

[Gray Smith]

Man o man..I leave this thread for a few hours and it just blows up...

Antonio..if you are sure you don't need it, i've got a tamiya 180sx that could sure use it...pm me..

Nick and Dave, oh you should have seen my collection of jdm magazines...I had an original S13 Silvia hyper rev and quite a few option/drift tengoku/young version magazines dating back to 2000...i've also get a few Option vids and Hot version DVD's

Imports never truly left my blood...I'll always like them, but the soft spot will be for 240's I'm thinking that maybe....just maybe if I get enough back on my taxes i'll see about finding a cheap non-running s13 shell and go from there...

we will see..

I'll get some more posted on this soon.. i've already lost some desire to build for the moment..lol

Thanks everyone, this one has been a long time coming...

Gray

[Ken]

Would starting with a sil80 be easier. I know you have gotten this far, but I picked up one of the fujimi sil80s and would be willing to work a trade if you would like.

[Gray Smith]

Oh i'm good Ken, thanks for the offer, I'm just building a Silvia this time around...not trying to replicate my old car, just something like it. I've got one of those Fujimi Sil80's too..it will be built into a replica of my old ride.

Thanks though

Gray