Big Japanese Classic - 1/20 RX-3

[Faust]

One area of interest that seems to be taking off in the scale replica world lately is that of Japanese cars, particularly older cars from the ‘70s and even early ‘80s. There’s not a lot written in North America about these cars in comparison to the domestics of the period, and this air of mystery has helped fuel the increasing popularity of these rarely seen and little-known automobiles.

Interestingly, there were a lot more kits of older Japanese cars back in the day, when they were current, than you can find now. Sure, some have been reissued, and many “updated” to match the current vogue of the Tuner scene, but these don’t compare to the number of kits from when these cars were new. If you want to get a feel for one of these Japanese beauties, you have to commit to going back in time and looking at that era’s kits.

Unfortunately, the relative obscurity of these cars in North America meant there was little call to import them in kit form, so there are not as many 50-year-old Japanese car kits as there are American cars of the same age. Thankfully, though, there were a few exceptions; the Entex corporation loved to bring various Japanese kits over. Some, like their planes, were by Otaki. Others, like their 1/20 cars, were Bandai’s creations.

Thanks to my brother, I was able to get my hands on one of the 1/20 Entex Mazda RX-3 models. This is a classic in its own right, so put on your best bell bottoms and fire up the Wayback Machine as we take a look at this forgotten classic at the link below!

https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/entex-bandai-1-20-1971-mazda-rx-3-oob/

Edited July 11, 2024 by Faust

[stavanzer]

w

Awesome!

 

Build it!

[Jonathan]

Sure wish this had been available in 1/24.  Very cool...

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Dude, I'll show you sexy:

HHHHAH! Mazda Colonnade! Just like a mid-'70s GM A-body, it was waayy uglier and more staid than its predecessors, but at least it was slower and more pathetic in every other way.

For around 45 years, this has been perhaps my favorite kit of a stodgy, uninspired subject - somehow, it's right inside my line of tolerable mediocrity where A-body colonnades are a county over that line, so wretched I'll just never understand their appeal.

Well. Except for the Grand Ams. Maybe.

Btw, thanks, Adam. At least the 3's reasonably nice-looking, and you're driving me right back into the online auctioneer's vampire embrace.

[stavanzer]

Did Lada copy the Mazda Cosmo for the front end>

Look at the Lada 2107. That Grille sure reminds me of the Mazda.

[ChrisBcritter]

Some folks like 'em - like my boss who has this one and a parts car:

 

[stavanzer]

Your Boss Isn't Named Daryl Drummond, is he?

I worked for Daryl in the 1990's. He was a tuner for Mazda Rotaries. He Had a dyno and Test Stand, and we'd get crates dropped off at the shop, so he could tune them. I got to see a 4 Rotor Wankel run, once.

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Well. When I say stodgy and pathetic, it's relative -

to something like this iconic little siren.

Doesn't mean I really dislike the "colonnade" Cosmo - it's those A-bodies that truly put the "colon" into "colonnade" - just that it's quite the come-down car after such a comely predecessor.

The KIT, though, with its vinyl lines, strategic use of diecast suspension parts, and opening everything was a stunner in the late '70s, quite the revelation next to the plastic-tired Roadrunner Volares and doors-akimbo shoebox Chevy reisues of the time. Reading Adam's description of the RX-3-nope-Savanna - yours for just $250 from your friendly online vendor - it seems Bandai might have moved its game on a bit for the Cosmo.

Edited July 11, 2024 by Chuck Kourouklis

[Faust]

Oh man!! That Cosmo kit is awesome! I've never seen that one before! 

I have to say that, while it's not perfect, the Cosmo looks pretty okay to me. It's a bit weird, but generally I like the shape and style. I think the grille's a bit off from the rest of the design; it wraps up the front too much, like those '90s Regals. If it had a more distinct "snout" like the RX-3, I think it would have looked better. 

Interesting to compare it to the Colonades. I also HATE colonade A-Bodies. Not sure why there's so much love for them, but my brother is in love with them... so I guess GM knew what they were doing (from a marketing standpoint, at least...).

Fair exchange is no robbery, I guess... now I have to go hunting for a Cosmo!

[Justin Porter]

A neat kit to cover, but I have to argue the fundamental premise that 70's Japanese cars aren't well represented with new tooling. In particular, Hasegawa has gone absolutely berserk as of late giving us 21st century tooling of the Isuzu 117, the Mitsubishi Galant GTO, the KPGC110 generation Nissan Skyline, their 70's Celica which this year is getting freshened to FINALLY offer the liftback body style, the Nissan Sunny pickup, and I'm certain I've missed one or two. I'd also freely point out that the RX-3 itself got brand new tooling in 1/24th courtesy of Fujimi in 2005.  

[niteowl7710]

1 hour ago, Justin Porter said:

A neat kit to cover, but I have to argue the fundamental premise that 70's Japanese cars aren't well represented with new tooling. In particular, Hasegawa has gone absolutely berserk as of late giving us 21st century tooling of the Isuzu 117, the Mitsubishi Galant GTO, the KPGC110 generation Nissan Skyline, their 70's Celica which this year is getting freshened to FINALLY offer the liftback body style, the Nissan Sunny pickup, and I'm certain I've missed one or two. I'd also freely point out that the RX-3 itself got brand new tooling in 1/24th courtesy of Fujimi in 2005.  

Honda N360 (while dated 1969 it was sold into the early 70s)

Isuzu Bellet (again dated 1969 but sold until 1973)

First Gen Honda Civic - 3 civilian, 3 race, 2 "custom" releases

Upcoming Nissan Silvia S110 is a 1979

1st Gen RX-7 - initial SA22C boxing is a 1978

[Chuck Kourouklis]

I do love me the rip Hasegawa's been on lately, for sure.

In addition to who knows how many more '70s cars, it'd be SO cool to see them do a Piazza/Impulse and an Alcyone/SVX, for the 287th time.

(The E9 BMW omission also isn't getting any less idiotic with the passage of time - but this is a thread about Japanese cars.) ?

[64Comet404]

On 7/12/2024 at 9:15 PM, Chuck Kourouklis said:

I do love me the rip Hasegawa's been on lately, for sure.

In addition to who knows how many more '70s cars, it'd be SO cool to see them do a Piazza/Impulse and an Alcyone/SVX, for the 287th time.

(The E9 BMW omission also isn't getting any less idiotic with the passage of time - but this is a thread about Japanese cars.) ?

Agree whole-heartedly with you, Chuck. All these little Japanese cars that never made it to North America in large numbers, and then they drop in a kit like the first-gen Honda Civic or Mazda RX-7! I never thought I could want an Isuzu Bellet until Hasegawa made a kit...

The Entex kits are fun blasts from the past. I never had the RX-3, but I had the Cosmo and RX-2. 

[The Junkman]

About the time I got out of high school, the police department in the neighboring town swung a deal with the area Mazda dealer.  They would give the PD an RX-3 as a police car and the chief would speak glowingly about all things Mazda.  Mazda would also get exposure and real world use.  Recall this was the time of 440ci Dodge Polaras, 428ci Mercury Montereys, etc.  For much of that reason the cops didn't drive the Mazda.  The chief did.  And if you know anything about Mazda rotary engines of that era you know that they had a notorious habit of backfiring out of all proportion to the size of the engine.  Didn't do much for community relations.

[lordairgtar]

On 7/18/2024 at 11:42 PM, The Junkman said:

About the time I got out of high school, the police department in the neighboring town swung a deal with the area Mazda dealer.  They would give the PD an RX-3 as a police car and the chief would speak glowingly about all things Mazda.  Mazda would also get exposure and real world use.  Recall this was the time of 440ci Dodge Polaras, 428ci Mercury Montereys, etc.  For much of that reason the cops didn't drive the Mazda.  The chief did.  And if you know anything about Mazda rotary engines of that era you know that they had a notorious habit of backfiring out of all proportion to the size of the engine.  Didn't do much for community relations.

Was that town Cotati? I remember the Cotati Mazdas . I seen them when I hitch hiked all over the country in the 70s.

 

[The Junkman]

On 8/4/2024 at 3:45 PM, lordairgtar said:

Was that town Cotati? I remember the Cotati Mazdas . I seen them when I hitch hiked all over the country in the 70s.

 

That absolutely was Cotati.  I was a police cadet/dispatcher for both the Cotati Police and Rohnert Park police from about 2 weeks after HS graduation until I went into the Air Force.

[Faust]

On 7/11/2024 at 11:47 AM, niteowl7710 said:

Honda N360 (while dated 1969 it was sold into the early 70s)

Isuzu Bellet (again dated 1969 but sold until 1973)

First Gen Honda Civic - 3 civilian, 3 race, 2 "custom" releases

Upcoming Nissan Silvia S110 is a 1979

1st Gen RX-7 - initial SA22C boxing is a 1978

Okay, that's fair. 

We could always use more, though! I'd love to see some of the weirder stuff, or body styles we don't see, like the RX-3 wagons, Skyline wagons and other four-door versions of what we often see as 2-door kits. Mind you, that same sentiment goes for kits of North American cars, too...