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Tamiya 1:24 Mazda


Funkychiken

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Chassis is basic with sump built in. but multiple masking events and some hand painting leaves it looking at least slightly interesting

Dash is coated in Tamiya dar grey, then masked for a black centre stack

interior is almost finished, more masking & black bits to do

Chassis Painted.jpg

dash masked.jpg

interior tub finished.jpg

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5 hours ago, CabDriver said:

This one includes a hardtop AND is a Miata...what is the 'Miata version'? 

The Miata went by many names... this kit represents a JDM Eunos Roadster. In Japan the first generation Miata wasn't even branded as a Mazda. Eunos was a sub-brand that Mazda used briefly in Japan for "specialty" cars like the Miata and the Cosmo. They were going to build a sports/luxury brand around the Eunos name, much like Toyota did with Lexus, but the bursting of the Japanese economy bubble in the early 90s put a stop to those plans.  "Eunos" and "Roadster" badges are popular mods for Miata owners, especially on first-generation cars.

Actually, the Miata is really only the Miata in the US. The rest of the world got the Mazda MX-5. 

Tamiya released this model as a US-spec Miata as well as the Eunos. The Miata kit includes a LHD dash as well as correct decals for the US cars. The Miata kit includes (I believe) a convertible up-top but no hardtop.

Very clean work on this build so far, looking forward to seeing how it turns out!

Edited by jaymcminn
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On 8/28/2023 at 5:59 PM, jaymcminn said:

Tamiya released this model as a US-spec Miata as well as the Eunos. The Miata kit includes a LHD dash as well as correct decals for the US cars. The Miata kit includes (I believe) a convertible up-top but no hardtop.

Interesting!  I checked my stash of these and not a ‘Miata’ among them…I had no idea there was an ACTUAL Miata kit!  Thanks for the info - I need to find one now!

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I don't think that vintage of Miata/Eunos was made as a (non-removable) hard top. It was roadster-only sports car. It did have removable hard top which could be installed.

Yes, this vehicle is known as Mazda MX-5 Miata in the States.  My GF owned one before I met her. It was the "M-Edition" and she said it was lots of fun to drive. I wish I met her earlier.  :)

Like Jason mentioned, Tamiya released both versions as separate kits.  Both have the hard top option (molded in clear plastic, on the same tree as rest of the clear parts.  I have both kits.

 

dscn2094ppyig.jpg

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  • 2 months later...

I thought I'd try to paint this with Tamiya Acrylic base coat with Zero 2K clear.

the base coat was a bit of a struggle, this paint does attract dust mush more that a zero paint base coat, so it took a few coats extra - after sanding out the dust and re-coating. the thing with this base coat is that it changes colour slightly after sanding - goes a bit darker. so it took a while. I shall not be using tamiya acrylic again for a base coat.

Prior to this, I coated my Bugatti and it came out beautiful.

But this was a nightmare.

used the same method, 2 or 3 tack coats with 5 mins in-between

then 2 heavy coats.

it looked great on application, but after drying its probably the worse finish iIve had for years using 2k.

so i'll get to sanding next.

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  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...

I meticulously went through the Tamiya sanding grits, then the same with micromesh & finally polish compounds. At each stage, I washed the body shell & changed the water. It all looked fine until polishing. The paint looks mottled, dull, hazy. So I repolish. no difference. I try wax, doesn't help.

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About to chuck it, then I decide to carefully sand it down & re-spray. with Zero grey primer. a few small cracks appear. So I sand down & spray again with white primer. looks of deep cracks appear!

 

So i've bought some Dot 3 & i'm going to soak it for a while and see if it removes the Zero 2K clear thats underneath.

 

I'm guessing its the Tamiya Acrylic thats causing the cracking...

cracked1.jpg

cracked2.jpg

cracked3.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Whilst it soaks in Dot3 Brake fluid, I've finished the interior

Firstly I masked the edges - then applied in 4 different orientations the Clear Matt enamel, and sprinkled the flocking - in this case a mixture of grey & black - for dark grey flocking

 

Interior prep for flocking.jpg

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