Datsun Fairlady Roadster

[Spottedlaurel]

1:24 Fujimi Datsun Fairlady Roadster kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

Fujimi kit, I believe bought back in the '90s and started in the summer of 2007 for a build contest on another forum. It should have been completed by November of that year as I recall, instead it took me over 13 years.....

I didn't quite get it finished in the time for the deadline, then we moved house. A year or two later I was doing more on it, then my young daughter accidentally caught the box and knocked it on the floor, damaging the paintwork. I didn't start it again until this year.

I tried repairing the paintwork, but the aerosol was no use after that length of time and the best thing for it was to strip it and start again. Here it is in the brake fluid, a bit gutting to lose not only the original paint but also the BMF and detail painting that I'd done.

I needed to match the colour, a trip to the local car parts shop showed that Ford Bermuda Blue (a mid-late '70s colour) would be a pretty close match to the underbonnet area and floorpan that I'd carefully painted and didn't want to redo:

Fujimi 1:24 Nissan Fairlady Roadster by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

Finally got it finished today, basically OOB as the road car but with slotmags and P7s from the Monogram Datsun 280Z. Enough waffling, have some photos:

1:24 Fujimi Datsun Fairlady Roadster kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1:24 Fujimi Datsun Fairlady Roadster kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1:24 Fujimi Datsun Fairlady Roadster kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1:24 Fujimi Datsun Fairlady Roadster kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1:24 Fujimi Datsun Fairlady Roadster kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1:24 Fujimi Datsun Fairlady Roadster kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1:24 Fujimi Datsun Fairlady Roadster kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1:24 Fujimi Datsun Fairlady Roadster kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1:24 Fujimi Datsun Fairlady Roadster kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

Fortunately I think it was just the bodyshell that took a tumble onto the floor, the reasonably-detailed chassis, engine and interior were still intact.

It was a bit of a fiddle refitting a lot of the lights etc, as things needed cleaning up, and it took more time than expected to finally get it across the line. But it's good to see it in the cabinet at last:

1:24 Fujimi Datsun Fairlady Roadster kit by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

Edited August 6, 2020 by Spottedlaurel

[stitchdup]

Sweet, it looks right at home on the slots

[Doug 1061]

That's one you don't see every day.  Haven't seen one of these on the road in many years.  Good job.  Looks like you could drive it away.

[Spottedlaurel]

7 hours ago, stitchdup said:

Sweet, it looks right at home on the slots

Thanks Leslie, I think the wheel choice was made after seeing a photo of a 1:1 example on them from some years ago. Those from the Monogram Z were the perfect size and width.

Colour of that one inspired me too, I think there was a pale blue in the range (there's a couple of other builds on here in a similar colour). I think the Bermuda Blue I used was seen here on Escort Mk2 and Cortina Mk4.

3 hours ago, Doug 1061 said:

That's one you don't see every day.  Haven't seen one of these on the road in many years.  Good job.  Looks like you could drive it away.

Thank you Doug. Certainly a rarity here, they were never sold new in the UK but a few have ended up here over the years.

 

A few thoughts about this kit now it's done. My build is far from perfect, and having to strip and redo it didn't help. But it looks fine sat in the cabinet.

It's more accurate than a lot of Fujimi's toy-like offerings, but not as detailed as their Enthusiast series. I think a Fujimi Toyota Sports 800 I also have came out at the same time and has a similar level of detail, that would look good alongside the Datsun.

Generally it fitted together well, I'd say very well with regard to chassis, engine and interior. When trial-fitted everything went together nicely, but I think the dashboard slightly fouls the glass when it's fully assembled and that meant the front end didn't sit quite as low as it should have done. The glass had minimal overlap so took a bit of fiddling and patience to get in place. The rear view mirror and central bar which runs down onto the dashboard was very fiddly, hopefully my dab of PVA keeps that in place.

The bodyshell is moulded in red plastic, whether that causes me an issue remains to be seen. It hadn't bled through the original coat of paint after 12-13 years, hopefully it's time in the brake fluid and the new paint I've applied won't cause me an issue. I did put a silver base coat down between the primer and blue which I hope will act as a barrier.

I hadn't used the aerosol paint before, it was an automotive Hycote Double Acrylic in the smaller can. The air pressure made it difficult to put down an even coat and it didn't like even a tiny dab of white spirit being used to clean up overpainting or BMF residue (this causes me no issue with Tamiya TS aerosols). However, being a solid colour meant I could easily brush-in some spots where minor damage occurred, including me holding the shell and realising I had a bit of superglue on my finger and thumb...... 

[PappyD340]

Very nice!

[Plowboy]

That's a really cool looking little model! The color and wheels really suit it well! Never knew Datsun even made such a car. Nice work! 

[Spottedlaurel]

On 8/7/2020 at 9:58 AM, PappyD340 said:

Very nice!

Thanks Larry.

1 hour ago, Plowboy said:

That's a really cool looking little model! The color and wheels really suit it well! Never knew Datsun even made such a car. Nice work! 

Thank you Roger, I had the look in my mind for a long while. You got them in the States, I think just called Roadster 1600 or 2000 and I believe they raced them in SCCA classes.

[Modlbldr]

That turned out very nice Nigel. I like the look of it, especially the wheel choice. Glad to see you finally got it finished. It makes a nice addition to your shelf. I'll have to see about getting me one. Still waiting on my S800 to arrive.

Later-

[TooOld]

Sharp looking build !  Those early Fairlady's were great cars !

[ewetwo]

Looks great.

 

[Spottedlaurel]

8 hours ago, TooOld said:

Sharp looking build !  Those early Fairlady's were great cars !

 

53 minutes ago, ewetwo said:

Looks great.

Thanks Bob and David.

10 hours ago, Modlbldr said:

That turned out very nice Nigel. I like the look of it, especially the wheel choice. Glad to see you finally got it finished. It makes a nice addition to your shelf. I'll have to see about getting me one. Still waiting on my S800 to arrive.

Later-

Thanks Tom, it's certainly a nice kit and one I'm certainly pleased to see done at last!

[Madhatter]

that is beautiful!! I didn't know about this kit at all until now. Fantastic finish to it.

I like your choice in mags too

[doorsovdoon]

Turned out great! Love these old import roadsters.

[BeakDoc]

So nicely done. Smooth and clean. Great color choice too.

[slusher]

Beautiful model!!

[Spottedlaurel]

Thanks everyone ?

[ChrisR]

NICE!!

[RAMBENNA]

really like this build, turned out great very nice job

[ATHU]

Looks great, nice job!!