1/12 Tamiya Datto 240ZG with "options"

Wot size nuts & bolts do ya use Greg, this datto is looking 1 cool car now looking forward to the finished model.

Dingo

wat size bolts even 1:8th scale cars dont have suspencion nice detail....

Thanks Paul..

Many thanks to you Dingo and Ash as well..
The bolts/studs I'm using for the struts are some I've had for ages....diameter is .92mm with matching nuts.
I got them at a hobby expo we had in my local town about 7-8 years ago.....I've since got lots more from a place in
the U.S. @ ScaleHarware Price seems reasonable and quality is fantastic....I'm using smaller bolts from them to mount
the over-fenders...make it easy to paint, and wont need glueing.....

Small update...
Progress is still happening, though it's mainly been on tyre #2...the rear. I have the main shape formed, sidewalls and tread layer all sanded.
I started adding the tread pattern but managed to stuff it by going off centre.... So I need to remove the tread on half the tyre and re-do it....
I have the G-nose all mounted, some minor sanding and re-shaping was necessary to get a good fit...
Also got the new radiator panel in place and drilled some holes, as per 1:1 reference I have....Firewall also mated top and bottom.....all one piece now.


Bad joins.....


Better joins.....Radiator panel also visible in this shot....


Been thinking induction too.....it was between the stock twin SU's, triple Solex, or fuel injection.......
These won.......


Now, I don't have a manifold for these bad boys....so I started making one.....
Got as far as this, but was not overly happy with it......so I started another one......


Then.....over the weekend, I scored the Safari version off ebay....... It has the manifold I'm missing, along with some NEW carbs.....
When it arrives, I'll pilfer the required parts for this build, the Safari car will then get built into a showroom floor stock 240Z with twin SU's....

With some luck and good management, I may get the rear tyre finished this week...or next, then they will be shipped off to a caster......
Stay tuned.........and thanks heaps for your grate support guys.

Cheers
Greg

The struts are very cool.

in one photo could you plese put a 30cm ruler next to it so we can see how big it is it looks like a 1:8th scale nice flares on mud gards still gana be one awsome build......

Good stuff Greg

Coming along well Greg. Loving the detail! Thanks for the tip on ScaleHarware. I might have to order some gear from them on some of my next larger builds.
Keep up the good work mate.
Cheers, Tom

The craftsmanship in this is fantastic! I love those wheels - looking forward to seeing it all come together.

Thanks very much guys...
Ash, I haven't got a pic with the 30cm rule yet, but the kit is 35cm long........

Update...
Ok...moving right along their folks....
I've turned my attention to the suspension again......The sloppyness of the joints was too much for me to bare......
The instructions call for the two rear upright halves to be glued around the control arm....being ever so careful not to let glue contact the movable part......
Even after assembly, the joint is really quite loose.......not good ! I've circled the parts in red.....


I jumped in (who reads or follows instructions anyways... ..) and glued the parts before assembly....I let it dry completely before the next step..
I drilled the bore to accept a plastic rod, into which I would add some small bolts.


I then cut out the part of the control arm, no longer required..and drilled some holes to take the bolts..


Finished component.....No more free play, and it is much stronger...yet still allows full movement.....


Now that I was happy with that, I could see that the front was going to let it down.....The movement (unwanted) in the front control arms was worse...
The two mounting pins, one on either side, were trimmed off...In their place, I drilled a hole. Yes, more bolts.


Testing on an old suspension piece.....


Complete, ready for installation......


I also thinned the ends of the control arm stays, threaded on some nuts...so I'll be able to attach it all firmly once she's in....
That's all for now guys, thank you all for your following and encouragement....

cheers
Greg

Nice!

You can't see me but i'm shaking my head in disbelief.

Good work mate.

It might be leaping ahead but have you put any thought to working wipers, washers and door latches?

You're really going at this one Greg. Nice fix on the suspension! You going to gas the shocks too?

Actually, working washers wouldn't be too hard to do. you could use a rubber bulb hidden in a base as a pump.

.I'm still .this things looking

zenrat wrote:You can't see me but i'm shaking my head in disbelief.

Good work mate.

It might be leaping ahead but have you put any thought to working wipers, washers and door latches?

....
Thanks Fred....there ya go, filling my head with more great ideas......
Actually, door latches may happen.....I'm looking into them anyways....having just received my Haynes Datsun manual...

Tom,
Not sure on gassing the shocks.... ..the springs will hold up ok, I hope...

Thanks Rocket...I need to nail a paint job like one of yours mate.....this may be my downfall.....

cheers
Greg

6 P's mate, Prior planning prevents piss poor performance. In other words do your reaserch talk to spay painters if you have to practice on what ever you can get your hands on and experiment. if you need any tips and advice give us yell.
There no such thing as stuff up it's just a challenge.

Rocket wrote:6 P's mate, Prior planning prevents piss poor performance. In other words do your reaserch talk to spay painters if you have to practice on what ever you can get your hands on and experiment. if you need any tips and advice give us yell.
There no such thing as stuff up it's just a challenge.

Cheers mate. I LOVE that philosophy....and shall head your advise.
At least it will be easier to see what's going on, paint wise....and see the flaws, allowing time for fix-ups...

cheers
Greg

I'm really enjoying the great workmanship going into this build. Thanks for putting more ideas into my head for future builds.

tezza43 wrote:I'm really enjoying the great workmanship going into this build. Thanks for putting more ideas into my head for future builds.

..Thanks Tezza, glad you're enjoying it mate.

Update, May 23rd...

Well, the rear tyre is still in progress...though it now has 3/4 of the tread added....Man, that's fiddly....
Also got to thinking, how I was going to attach the exhaust system...seeing as I cut off the ugly giant mounting pins from it....
I wanted to stay within the boundaries of realism, and also knew that, as this was not a "stock" system, a little artistic expression could be used.....

Being a large diameter pipe, I felt that a mid support could be an advantage....This will be mounted with a "rubber" joint, to absorb movement..


In the rear, I made up an "L" bracket of sorts....The U-bolt is scratched up as well. It all bolts to the chassis..



The bracket by its self, and a group shot of the parts....



And a rear shot, looking towards the front...


Also started fabricating a new fuel tank and spare wheel well for the second Datto..though they may go onto this one..
I hadn't considered this fact when my original plans for the Safari version were to return it to "stock"....so, either way, a new tank and wheel well need to be made...

More soon guys, and thanks for enjoying this as much as me....
cheers
Greg

Yep, just confirmed it, you are a seriously sick and twisted man Greg , probably a good thing mate, no sane person would go to this much trouble , nah, seriously mate, that is awe inspiring. When it's finished I'm going to need a couple of hours alone with it just to absorb all the detail. Fantastic. I'm trying to put some I have learnt from your builds into 58 SD but as mine is a full on show car a lot of stuff will be hidden......yeah that's my story anyway

More great craftsmanship there Greg,

:study: . sorry lost for words right now.

Greg, I'm p1ssed and amazed! So much detail in 1/12th scale. I magine a 1/8th build!!! This IS craftmanshp at it's best and the scratchbuilt bits look so bloody real!!

Thanks Tubbs... Thank you too Paul, Rocket and Tom..
Tom, I can see a 1/8 hot rod in my future.....fair ways down the track, but one I'd love to do...

Update....
Well, the fuel tank and wheel well are shaping up.....Because I've made good headway on them, I'll use these for this build..
That way, I can keep the good kit parts for the stock version....

The start.....






Taking shape.....




Almost......the wheel holder has had more work since this was taken...


I'll run a duel fuel lines from the tank, along with twin filter/pumps just in front of the tank....
Just some more tidying up to do, then I can give'em a squirt of primer.....
More soon guys..

cheers
Greg