MR2Don

Very interesting with all the issues you're finding. Will help me when I eventually (I know I keep saying that, but many more critical things are intervening) get round to attacking all three of mine (Two Tamiyas, one Heller).

If I get mine (when I eventually get to it) looking anything like that, I'll be dead chuffed. Your posts and photos are going to be a really good guide to how it all goes together.

Very good. Can I ask what paint you used as the "undercoat"? And it looks like there's some sort of "weathering" around the fan and shroud.

Yes. As I said, I'm nowhere near starting mine now, but I've had a rake in the box and those parts are on a sprue, along with other ducting parts, that is moulded in a sort of pale beigy colour (not white as I presumed above) to represent plastic or fibreglass. Tamiya has put a lot of thought into these kits.

The more I see your engine photos, the more impressed I get with the finish. It really looks like die cast aluminium! Haven't really investigated the build on mine, but what is the white cross piece between engine and transmission?

Sorry - NOT! No, hold one, I'm not sorry, but...NOT!!

Huh, typical! Jumped too soon! By which I mean I bought the Jagermeister version last year, didn't know this one was on it's way, although I presume the only difference in the two are the decals and paint instructions. I saw the 1/24 Vaillant version posted recently and thought "Tempting - I wonder if you can get 1/12 Vaillant decals?" and then this appears. Anyway, mine will stay as Jagermeister, mainly because I go far enough back to remember the Jagermeister March F2s of the 70's. It's going to be a while before I can start mine, so I'll watch this one with interest. I've already noted the comments on engine colour!

I can sort of echo that! Interesting, I have those sort of concerns myself with decals over bright paint; all depends on colour depth on the decal. On the other hand, I sometimes think masking could be easier than trying to position the decals accurately over 3D curved surfaces! Did you use Tamiya's white flexible masking tape? I've become quite impressed with that. If you rake back to my posts of my Lola T70, the purple "coach line" between the blue and orange was masked that way.

That is stunningly good!!

That's nice, and intriguing. Is there anything that one can't get a kit of!!

Very good representations, although I had to admit a mild grating of teeth, being an MR2 man. This is a purely UK comment, but why does Heritage Cars keep praising MX-5s on its site and totally ignoring MR2s? Also, at the age modelled, MX-5s were good looking little sports cars; of late they've gone from trying to look like Z4s to I'm not sure what, as well as badging themselves as FIATs!

There's realistic modelling dioramas, and then there's having a dog cocking its leg up a front wheel. Very witty presentation!

And later than that. When I was looking for an MR2, there were some advertised as being for years that were too late for a Mk2, and they were imports. Mine has it's plate correct, 'K' reg, but has different dates associated with it in V5C and elsewhere and has had three different regs in it's life. Reason - first reg in UK, then went to Germany for 18 months and came back, hence became an import which, if you HPI check it, comes up as a warning, only it isn't. Asking Mr T's database, it was built in Nov '92, first reg in UK June '93 and the V5C says first reg in '94, so it looks like DVLA don't use VIN number when registering imported vehicles to see if they've been here before.

Some collection! Much surprised by the "Essex International Transport, Chelmsford" one, you would have thought I'd have known about that. Company is still operating, but is now truly international, as they're based in Aberdeen!

Oh, come on! I've got to stop visiting this thread or I'll soon have more kits than I've got years left to build them...hold one, I might be there already! Seriously, though, I'm finding it fascinating to discover what's out there.

Thanks. Yes, I stumbled across it care of the Portuguese gent mentioned above and thought it had to be worth a try. I resisted the temptation to get some Gulf decals, though, that would be going too far!

FIA Appendix J regulations of the day. They were classed as sports GTs, so had to "pretend" to be road capable, such as "passenger seat" and the spare.

You're very generous, thank you.

A bit more detail for those interested. All paint is in Tamiya acrylics, airbrushed. I mixed the blue from light blue and white, aiming for "Gulf Blue", for which I got the RGB values from Google, also that the original was apparently a Triumph Herald colour. The orange is a bit too red, mixed from orange plus red. The line between is actually a deep purple from red and blue, masked with Tamiya's flexible masking tape, which I now like! The race numbers are trimmed down spares from my Tamiya 1/12 Porsche 910, the Bridgestone, Framm and Shell decals were printed here on my inkjet. Not hugely successful as you don't get colour depth, therefore the end result is very much affected by the colour behind. Build wise, the biggest issues were getting the front and back decks to fit, a LOT of trimming required. BTW, the rear deck isn't hinged as when I tried to fit the hinge pieces, the deck sat too far back, so it's just sitting there. And the gull wing doors are a nightmare, I can open them, but I'd rather not. It'll be a while before I do any more builds as we're doing a lot of tidying and "clearing the loft". In the stash are: Part built Fujima Japanesespec MR2 Mk2, rev 3, which I intend (??) to convert to a UK spec, rev 2, T-Bar - what (see avatar)!!! Part built Tamiya road version of Alpine A110, started yonks ago and not completed. Tamiya Monte Carlo A110. Heller A110, which is based on the '73 1800cc version with wider wheels and big arches. Oh, and Tamiya's 1/12 Porsche 934RSR, from the latest release. Plenty to do, then!!

Right, I've got to do it and bite the bullet. Spent enough time looking and praising others work, so time to post one of mine. First, the caveats: Return to modelling after many, many years, so I will not class this as a very good build, no more than 7/10. This is my second car since restarting, preceded by three planes, Phantom, Tornado and SU27. So, it's Tamiya's big Lola, acquired from EBay at a reasonable price. I remember seeing this in shops way back when and thinking "Wouldn't it be nice". As I say, build's not brilliant, main reason for biting is that it sits on the end of my desk and I think the colour scheme looks good, better than Surtees Royal Blue with the white arrow. Yes, I know they never raced in this scheme, but they might have done if Ford hadn't muscled in. There is/was one competed in this scheme, Google "manuel pereira t70" and there are images - he hill climbs it in Portugal. Also, don't anybody say "that's not prototype". I've Googled numerous images of these and have discovered that virtually every one now is different. So, gentle comments, please!

Nearing off issue, but there was a news item posted on Rail Advent where somebody had nicked one of those huge trailers used for transporting steam locos! Why!!

Well, it all depends on how you define "recently", but, through a recent post here, I've just acquired the third one. So, what I have is Tamiya's road going version modelled on a '74, which I've had part done for years, then the '71 Monte version, bought late last year, which is actually a bit of a con as it's the same as the '74 except the six spoke wheels, door handles and rally decals, which means it has incorrect rear suspension and should have double shocks. So, a bit of scratching required, but luckily the Heller one, which is modelled as a '73 with the flared arches, has modelled the double shocks. Nothing is going to happen to these for quite a while as there's a lot of sorting, tidying and general throwing away of stuff being done in this house.

Good point! Haven't got to that stage in mine yet, but the instructions seem to indicate that you just sit it in place, not cemented. Hinging it would be a real plus, but a bit of scratching required - both of head and building!

1. Well done, I like it. My favourite car of all time. 2. I've just bought one to go with my two Tamiyas, mainly because it's modelled in tarmac mode, i.e. wide arches, and I think I will go for the later Renault blue/white/red livery.

Engine is quite nicely detailed, so visibility is well worth while.