Japanese classic sports duo ***FINISHED*** (picture heavy)

[Clashcityrocker]

Nice work on these two. Toyota does it for me at the moment.

Nigel

[IvanV22]

Great pair! Really liked the woodwork paining!

[mattbacon]

Thanks, chaps...

I feel 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.

[Clashcityrocker]

Both coming along nicely.

Nigel

[gnomemeansgnome]

Loverly!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhHJ4zEKDZY;

[mattbacon]

Thanks, gentlemen... 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.

[JamesPerrin]

The nice thing about them being Japanese is that the steering wheel is on the correct side

I'm quickly falling for the 2000GT - I said there was a bit of the E-type in there crossed with something American, it's now come to me who is its other parent, surely a Cobra Daytona.

[Clashcityrocker]

Both look very nice. Still the Toyota for me,and have to agree re the wing mirrors, why so far forward? I've seen similar on other Japanese vehicles too.

Nigel

[mattbacon]

And that's it...












What a lovely car, and what a great kit...

bestest,
M.

[mattbacon]

...and now the 240ZG









It's not as beautiful a car as the 2000GT, but I like its style and even the colour. That front overhang is a bit much, but it does lend it a real "shark-like" look. Still, I wouldn't say no if I found one for sale!

(and I'd better replace that rear offside wheel badge that's moved during the photo session. Rats!)

bestest,
M.

[mattbacon]

...and finally, compare and contrast:






bestest,
M.

[JamesPerrin]

Both are excellent as usual Matt, or should be call you "50 shades of Black" from now on?

[Clashcityrocker]

Both look very good.

Nigel

[Ratch]

Two fine renditions Matt