1979 Datsun 280 ZX Paul Newman Driver

I started back up with this one. I had started with the AirFix kit but it is so bad and I wanted more detail. So I got an AMT 280zx. I got it a few years ago so I paid a good price for it. Of course Round 2 recently re-popped it and its much cheaper now. Oh well.

The AirFix is 1/24 and the AMT is 1/25 so some of the parts will need to be slimmed down.

I am still looking for the right wheels for this build. The AirFix wheels and tires are the worst and the AMT kit is a street car so, I am perusing eBay for something more suitable.

Cool stuff Mitch.

Another great kitbash there, Mitch.

I bought the "racing" 280 kit and was so disappointed, I never got to it. Glad you are going to make one real! Thanx for the fine fotos!

I've got a set of BBS type wheels from a Monogram Midnight Z28.  The rears on the right are deeper than the fronts on the left.



Mike

RetiredMike wrote:I've got a set of BBS type wheels from a Monogram Midnight Z28.  The rears on the right are deeper than the fronts on the left.



Mike

Those look great Mike. message me what you would want for them.

Excellent start! As a youth I obsessed on the 280Z, looking forward to seeing this develop.

Mitch, I tried to PM you about the wheels, but they don't seem to be going through.

Try to PM me with your mailing address to see if it works from your end. I'll send the wheels - no cost.

Mike

No worries Mike. I found some wheels and tires in the ole parts box that will work.

I have the body work done, the base white paint on and I am starting on the interior. I used a parts box cage as a start then scratched up some of the bracing and reengineered the back of the cage.

Does anyone have a set of the AirFix decals from the paul newman kit? I just tried one of mine and it disintegrated... this is a major buzz kill.

That's great that you've made the flared arches look seamless to the rest of the bodywork. I can always respect that kind of skill. I have a Datsun 432 Fairlady Z similar to this in the stash and I think I would prefer to add widened arches but it seems a lot of effort.
I'll just watch this one and see how it develops.

looking good Mitch....mods are not easy sometimes but you got it.

Speed Racer 65 wrote:Does anyone have a set of the AirFix decals from the paul newman kit? I just tried one of mine and it disintegrated... this is a major buzz kill.

You can save the rest of the decals by spraying them with a coat of Testor's Decal Bonder from their decal kit. I hope the one that disintegrated was a small one.

After coating, yo'll have to trim them closely.

Great start Mitch, nice one.

RetiredMike wrote:

Speed Racer 65 wrote:Does anyone have a set of the AirFix decals from the paul newman kit? I just tried one of mine and it disintegrated... this is a major buzz kill.

You can save the rest of the decals by spraying them with a coat of Testor's Decal Bonder from their decal kit.  I hope the one that disintegrated was a small one.

After coating, yo'll have to trim them closely.

Tried that first Mike. Between being very old, they look like they've been wet before.
I found a source for some reproduction decals on another site so I think I will be ok.

Thanks for the suggestion just the same.

Nice work on the modding! The body looks great.

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

I have the basic paint job down. It's not my best work as far as quality right from the unmasking. Some bleed through, some tape lift but I have had worse and made them look good. This one doesn't have any metallic colors so touch up and blending will be much easier.

The basic scheme is down and and I am going to keep moving forward.

I was able to get some reproduction decals from Dave Van over on Model Car Magazine's forum. So I am pretty happy and will be able finish this one instead of just putting it back in the box.
I wish the blue on the decals matched the box art more. I like the darker blue better but I want the 33 on the hood to match the color of the blue on the car.

Real good progress Mitch, nice find on the decals.

The whole roof and pillars are one decal Mitch?

dublin boy wrote:The whole roof and pillars are one decal Mitch?

No thats all paint Shay. I haven't started with the decals yet

A little polishing and some touch up. Trim painted and a small amount of BMF.

Still not perfect but good enough for me. This one is fighting me a little.

Excellent clean up.

Looking good.

Speed Racer 65 wrote:

dublin boy wrote:The whole roof and pillars are one decal Mitch?

No thats all paint Shay. I haven't started with the decals yet

Very impressive.

Wonderful work with the paint, the clean up really sharpened the lines and I really like the specific colour combo.