Mazda R-100 rotary street/strip: A small car in a very small scale

[ismaelg]

Hello,

The Mazda R-100 was a car from the late 60's early 70's. It was the first rotary engine car to be imported into the US.
In Puerto Rico, our car culture is as strong as anywhere else on the planet. Drag racing is and has always been king of motorsports here. The rotary engine has a religious cult following both on the street and on the dragstrip.
These late 60's early 70's Japanese cars are coveted. Many are modified for drag racing. From show cars to daily driver/weekend warrior, to full blown professional racers.
While I am firmly planted on the Chevrolet V8 camp, I grew up with the sound of rotary engines revving havoc.
A good friend who is running a 3D printing small business (Grumpy's 3D Garage) offers many of these cars in 3D resin at various scales. While visiting him, he was doing some test samples of this in 1/64. That is your typical Hot Wheels/Matchbox scale. He looked at me and said "Here! See what you can do with this".
I'm not exactly into these cars but, why not?
A 3D resin model requires extensive work. This is not exactly for the beginner or the faint of heart. You have to make your own glass and many other parts. And, the smaller the scale, the bigger the challenge.

This is the end result. This would be a street/strip car. "Barely" street legal. Automotive lacquer primer, paint and clear. Enamels and acrylics for everything else.

License plate reads R100 PR

As a bonus, here is a quick video with sound dubbed in. No, the model doesn't sound like that.  

 

Thanks,
Ismael

[bytownshaker]

Cool little car, I remember a Mazda that ran in NHRA called the Samurai Warrior its little rotary would really scream. 

[PappyD340]

Very cool!