Tamiya Mazda Eunos/MX5/Miata kit (more new wheels)

[MiataMark]

After some heavy hints my wife bought me the Tamiya Eunos 1"24 plastic kit for Christmas. I want to build this in to a replica (or what I want it to be) of my 1:1 model. I've done some modelling (as in kit building not the other sort) in the past but I'm not great at finishing things as you'll see.

Anyway the Tamiya kit;



it's a curbside model so no engine detail, so mocked up with the kit (14" daisy) wheels;






So the first thing is to mock up with some wheels I have in the parts box, some cross-spoke alloys from a Pontiac Trans-Am kit (yeah, 5 stud and raised white letters...)



or some ESCI BMW M1 BBS cross spokes;



I like these but they're miss matched sizes (came from a 1:32 Porsche 935 kit);



I have bought from eBay some Fujimi accessory wheels that should be 15" multispoke (like the Team Dynamic Pro-Race)



I'll also need seats, scratch-built roll-bar and harnesses, here's the interior 'tub' mocked up wit the seat from the BMW M1 kit



and those unfinished kits;

Airfix Pontiac Firebird, had one of these as a hire car the first time I went to the US



Anglia Gasser and Tamiya Lotus 7 (includes some great weber carbs), actually have a built version if this as well.



ESCI 'crystal' BMW M1 racer (need to do something with the roof as the glue discoloured the clear)



After seeing markgenesis effort I'll try and finish the Anglia but in black.

Also found a great shop that specialises in car kits, for buying custom parts or kits, www.hiroboy.com/ popped in earlier in the week and although they're not really a shop had a great chat and a look at the aftermarkets parts available and the kits (some nice BMW E30) Fujimi kits.

We'll see how I get on with these, need to sort out the hobby shed first.

Mark

[MiataMark]

The Fujimi accessory wheels turned up all the way from Japan;



A bit out of scale though, the Tamiya wheels are 17mm dia (scale 16" should be 14") the (Fujimi wheels are scale 18") look good though (would be painted if used)...



Think I might be buying an E30 or Golf GTi Mk1 kit to get some scale BBS wheels.

[porsche944]

I have one of these to build as a replica of Becky's Eunos.

[markgenesis]

Great work so far Mark, the accessory wheels look ok but agree they are a bit big (as 18's would be on a 1.1 scale MX5), buying a Golf or a BMW for scale BBS wheels sounds like a plan, must admit buying kits just to rob wheels and engines etc seems extreme but sometimes the only way, i had to buy a 70 Chevelle kit just for the engine for my 62 Corvette.

Years ago i bought one of those Lotus 7 kits but never built it, ended up using the carbs on a Tamiya Mini Cooper (split webers)

Will be interested to see how you scratch build the roll bar, i have one to make (roll cage), was thinking about using 2.5mm solder or 3mm alloy welding rod ?, seen these being used really well to fabricate headers and exhausts.

Really pleased to see other scale model activity on here , i'll be updating my thread at the weekend, got the Corvette finished, the Thames finished and bought a Revell 57 Chevy (old 73 issue with opening doors boot and bonnet) which will be a lowrider.

[MiataMark]

Jan 14, 2016 22:37:03 GMT markgenesis said:

Great work so far Mark, the accessory wheels look ok but agree they are a bit big (as 18's would be on a 1.1 scale MX5), buying a Golf or a BMW for scale BBS wheels sounds like a plan, must admit buying kits just to rob wheels and engines etc seems extreme but sometimes the only way, i had to buy a 70 Chevelle kit just for the engine for my 62 Corvette.

Years ago i bought one of those Lotus 7 kits but never built it, ended up using the carbs on a Tamiya Mini Cooper (split webers)

Will be interested to see how you scratch build the roll bar, i have one to make (roll cage), was thinking about using 2.5mm solder or 3mm alloy welding rod ?, seen these being used really well to fabricate headers and exhausts.

Really pleased to see other scale model activity on here , i'll be updating my thread at the weekend, got the Corvette finished, the Thames finished and bought a Revell 57 Chevy (old 73 issue with opening doors boot and bonnet) which will be a lowrider.

For the roll cage I was going to try brass rod (2mm should be good for a scale 2" roll bar), or just use sprue.

BTW my other part built kits;





The DB5 doesn't have an engine and the Airfix kits are a bit basic (and 1:32 scale). The Fujimi Countach kit is comprehensive... The Cobra isn't very accurate meant to be a 427 but it's an early transverse spring chassis.

Mark

[BenHancock]

Looking forward to seeing your progress on the mx5.

A chap on mx5nutz has made some "aftermarket" parts for this kit, including 15" wheels..... www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=274482&hl=

I am in no way affiliated by the way, just thought you might be interested.

[MiataMark]

Jan 17, 2016 23:15:56 GMT BenHancock said:

Looking forward to seeing your progress on the mx5.

A chap on mx5nutz has made some "aftermarket" parts for this kit, including 15" wheels..... www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=274482&hl=

I am in no way affiliated by the way, just thought you might be interested.

Thanks for that, I can see me getting the wheels and tow hook (actually I'll probably just buy the lot :-)

[scalewhorks]

Jan 17, 2016 23:15:56 GMT BenHancock said:

Looking forward to seeing your progress on the mx5.

A chap on mx5nutz has made some "aftermarket" parts for this kit, including 15" wheels..... www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=274482&hl=

I am in no way affiliated by the way, just thought you might be interested.

That would be me! Can you see the thread on Nutz ok?

[MiataMark]

Following on from the post from BenHancock I bought a complete set of resin parts;



The wheels are much better sized and look really good, of the other parts I'll be using the brake parts, front lip and the towing eye.

The kit is following the 1:1 car in that I've now spent more on bits for it than the original price of the kit! Suppose I better get started on building it.

Mark

[rustywagon]

FYI guys, if you want to scratch build roll bars, or anything else for that matter, search ebay for plastruct and plasticard. It's basically tube, box section, sheet etc made from styrene (the same stuff as the kits). you can cut, shape, glue, heat it to make almost anything you can think of.

I'm building a replica of my wifes first car at the moment, I'll get some pics up later tonight.

Steve