Aoshima BRZ STI Concept

[martinfan5]

Aoshima finally got this one released, it had a released date of Nov of last year, but kept getting pushed back, it is a concept STI version of the BRZ, the kit tooling is the same as the stock version/wheel option 86/BRZ kits, with a few additional new bits, they include the lower front splitter, a different trunk spoiler, and carbon hood/roof decals. You get both LHD/RHD dash options, and can build for US/EU/Japan versions.

Edited March 12, 2013 by martinfan5

[martinfan5]

[Bennyg]

Nice. Will have to get one. Ben

[cobraman]

Looks like a nice kit.

[kelson]

This kit is on my to buy list,but with so many new releases i can't keep up!,have you got a color in mind to paint it?

[Tonioseven]

Hopefully mine should be here any day now. I'd post a picture of how I will paint it but I can't post pictures for some reason.

[dantewallace]

Nice!!! Where's the engine?? Am I missing something?

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Hohoho, just you wait -

What Jonathan's posted is a curbside, but future versions of Aoshima's 86/BRZ got THIS comin':

Thems of you what ain't got it yet and like the subject might just wanna hold on a wee bit longer...

Edited April 3, 2013 by Chuck Kourouklis

[Casey]

What Jonathan's posted is a curbside, but future versions of Aoshima's 86/BRZ got THIS comin':

Are they planning to include the bottom 1/3 of the engine, or will the third issue include a full engine?

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Well, comes to that, the chassis pan doesn't look as if it allows for the bottom third (more like fifth, really). Would have been obscured by an undertray whichever way.

Far as engine inserts go, this'n is crazy engraved. Blows Tamiya's out of the water, recalls Fujimi Enthusiast more than anything else.

[Casey]

Well, comes to that, the chassis pan doesn't look as if it allows for the bottom third (more like fifth, really). Would have been obscured by an undertray whichever way.

Is that typical/normal/usual of Aoshima kits which include and engine to not include a full/complete engine, excluding curbside kits?

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Seems to be - R35 GTR, Aventador, now this 86/BRZ all bear it out.

Not atypical for Japanese manufacturers, though; up till this one, the most bewildering was Fujimi's insert for its R35, nearly 30 pieces with all the lines and doohickeys anybody could reasonably expect - but still not a complete engine with a proper bottom end, no matter how complete it looks from the top.

[Casey]

Aoshima = teasers!

I would think leaving the lower engine shield off to show the bottom side of the engine would be something builders would do, but maybe not?

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Well, if you look at the trees Jonathan has posted above, you'll see not only the separate undertray/front suspension lowers piece - which ain't really the issue blocking the engine bottom - but also that web of plastic molded to the same area of the chassis plate, which is.

The various R35 kits have something similar going on, and Aoshima's Aventador bay is kind of a box into which either a one-piece insert, or a more-detailed-but-still-bottomless multi-piece engine drops.

If you have a look at the top left corner of the top black tree in Jonathan's shots, you'll see between the front struts on the left and the rotors on the right a piece which encompasses the lower bell housing, crossmember, and bottom surface of the oil pan (the transmission is complete in 3 dimensions and very well engraved, btw). So I guess someone could separate the undertray from the lower suspension and have a fair representation of the engine bottom, long as he didn't mind black webbing filling the space on either side.

A complete engine will require a layer of bridging work, though.

[Casey]

That's interesting. I wonder if people who build these kits (with mostly there/partially molded) engines either overlook, aren't bothered by, or (something else) the lack of a fully complete engine assembly.

I'm not saying it's better or worse than a free standing engine in a Revell '69 Camaro kit, and compared to some Monogram kit engines, it's definitely better, but it seems like an odd decision to go 95% of the way there, then intentionally decide to mold the remaining 5% of the engine with another neighboring part.

[Chuck Kourouklis]

I'm guessing that they're starting from a marketing standpoint in a culture where curbsides are just generally better accepted all around, and then they deliver a little extra gravy for more enthusiastic modelers after the initial, primary release.

Also, it just so happens that modern, under-trayed and over-stuffed engine bays forgive this approach more easily than the airier compartments of yore...

[martinfan5]

Chuck, I seen those engine pics a few days ago when Aoshima posted them, I agree, there engine is going to blow Tamiya's out of the water, and by doing this, in my opinion, they now will have the better version of this kit

An official announcement will be made on the 10th of April I believe what was said

Now what I am wondering, are they going to add this to of the 86/BRZ kits

On the stand point of only doing the top half, well once the model is finished, you can not see the under side of the engine, so in that case it does not bother me that they only are doing the top side, its better then nothing

I can post some more pics if needed, let me know

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Oh, they very nearly had the better version without! This cinches it absolutely, in my humble estimation.

[martinfan5]

Oh, they very nearly had the better version without! This cinches it absolutely, in my humble estimation.

You are correct, I have been saying if Aoshima were to include an engine with their version that they would blow Tamiya's out of the water. I have built both versions and hands down I like Aoshimas better.

You get a better kit, minus engine detail, for less then the Tamiya kit, about $5 less , just depending on where you buy from

I wonder if this going to be an engine parts kit, or they going to do a rerun of the 86/BRZ kits with the new engine tooling? I am kind of hoping for just a engine parts kit, it will be easier on the wallet

Edited April 3, 2013 by martinfan5

[Bennyg]

The engine in the aoshima looks better than the tamiya version from those pics. Look pretty accurate to me. Picking my real BRZ up today. Been waiting since August.

[martinfan5]

The engine in the aoshima looks better than the tamiya version from those pics. Look pretty accurate to me. Picking my real BRZ up today. Been waiting since August.

I would love to see some pics of it

[Tonioseven]

I would like to get an engine parts kit for this build. I received the kit last week and I'm impressed!

[Modelbuilder Mark]

The underside will look very realistic. That pan is VERY prominent on the 1:1. See here.

[martinfan5]

Right, which covers up all the bottom half of the engine, so really, there really isnt a need for the bottom half of the kit engine to be molded, the down side you cant kit bash the engine , but I am not sure if there is going to be a demand for that in the first place.

Top half is better then no half

[niteowl7710]

Dangit Jonathan these people need an oil pan! They don't care if it's completely and totally hidden, a model kit is just not a model kit without the oil pan!!

Anyone who's complaining about the hyper-detailed "7/8th's of an engine" aspect to the new Aoshima tooling has clearly never stuck their noses in a Revell AG Ferrari kit lately. Those things look like a bunch of lumber nailed together at odd angles on the bottom since there's only a sliver or two that show through the bottom of the skid plate and those parts are the only thing that they engrave.