Matt Bacon Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 This is the underneath of the 240Z. I decided too use the double exhaust tailpipes instead of the single as instructed, because the reference picture I have clearly shows the double pipes. ...and this is the rather simpler 2000GT. The textures is moulded in the kit -- very nicely, I think. Compare and contrast... Each has its own clear "style", and era... which you may recognise from Japanese hi-fis of the period! bestest, M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o-man Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Great progress Matt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Bacon Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 Thanks, Oscar... Here's the workbench tonight: Both chassis are complete. The 240Z is still lacking its wheels. I'm worried about anything that might possibly get in the way of getting it into the body, since test fitting suggests that its both tricky and a "once and for all" moment. Fortunately the 2000GT is more forgiving - although of course that does result in an under nose panel that's to be added right at the end. Most of the join is under brightwork, though... The Z is progressing, with most of the body fittings added bar the wing mirrors and wipers, which I'd almost certainly knock off. The rest of the time has been spent BMFing and panel-lining the 2000GT. Looking at photos, I decided it really needed the lines emphasising, and I've tried various solutions. This is 50% neutral grey ink, though you wouldn't know to look at it, would you? The vents in front of the windscreen are pure black, so you can see the contrast. ...and because the body fits easily, I can do this. It IS a cool car. Time to read the article in the latest Hemmings "Sports & Exotic Car", which arrived this morning... It's also very SMALL, as you can see in comparison to the Z in the first photo. Back to the BMF, starting on the Z tomorrow... bestest, M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Bacon Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share Posted February 22, 2014 It feels like I'm on the home straight now... The 2000GT is together, and the 240Z is very nearly so (I just want to give the mirror time to set solid, so it doesn't fall off irretrievably when I mate the chassis and body.... as I said, I think once it's together, it's staying together!) It was very handy having the Hemmings Sports and Exotic magazine to read last night -- I noticed that in an excellent drive-by photo that the "grille" is only chrome on the front edge, while the rest of it is steel grey. Painting it immediately made the kit look less "toy-like". 90% of that hideous seam is going to be under the chrome bumper, and he rest will be carefully blended. I don't think it'll vanish completely, but it will be a tough spot... The BMF on the 240Z is not so curvaceous as on the 2000GT, but I'm glad to get it over with! The decal for the rear window demister is actually very easy to work with, and rather clearer than it looks in this pic! I masked the headlight covers, ad painted the frames using Humbrol "Chrome Silver" from a rattle can -- it's good stuff! With a bit of luck, I think these two should be finished tomorrow -- and then what? I'll give you a clue: it's going to be another "two-fer". The cars are pretty radically different in most respects, but they share a common heritage with this build... bestest, M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator-Fox Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Coming along great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Bacon Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 Thanks, Steve... I think this is about it for the building. A bit more cleaning up to do yet (it's amazing where the fingermarks appear, even when you're wearing cotton gloves to handle the darn things), and then the decals and number plates, and they'll be done. The "metal transfers" were a pain in the neck -- there was no glue on them that you'd notice, so a bit of careful use of tiny spots of superglue was needed to get them to stick. They all have decals to be laid over the top. The mirrors are really tricky, since there's no positive location on the fender tops at all. They're painted in "Gunship Grey", with chrome rims and metal transfer mirrors, so there's quite a bit of work in those teeny-tiny parts. Formula 560 Canopy Glue to the rescue to hold them in place. ...it's the cutting mat that's wobbly, not the suspension! This time, the metal transfers actually stuck properly, and the mirrors have tiny mounting holes drilled through the fenders for a positive location with the smallest possible amount of superglue gel. ...you do have to wonder how much use those wing mirrors would be, especially on the 240Z -- they're a very long way forward, and must have been very hard to see anything in at all, especially if they were vibrating a bit with the engine at full chat... Time to figure out what plates to put on them -- I'm pretty sure that 2000 GT is perfectly good UK plate, but not so sure about MB Z402G... especially since it's got to go on a "squarer" plate, which will break it as MBZ 402G... Decisions, decisions... bestest, M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclescott58 Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 Very nice. My two of my all time favorite Japanese cars. I just ordered the Hasegawa Toyota 2000GT on eBay today. I have a Hasegawa Datsun 240Z with the shorter, more commonly seen in this country, nose. Despite being curbsides, I like Hasegawa model kits. As seen in your examples, they build up very nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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