NISSAN GTP ZXT IMSA PROTOTYPE

DURING THE MID 1980S PORSCHE'S DOMINATION OF THE IMSA GTP SERIES WAS ENDED BY THE MIGHTY NISSAN GTP ZX-T DRIVEN BY GEOFF BRABHAM, JOHN MORTON, CHIP ROBINSON, AND ARI LUYENDYK. SINCE THERE WAS NEVER AN AFFORDABLE PLASTIC KIT OF THIS IMPORTANT PROTOTYPE OFFERED, I DECIDED TO ATTEMPT BUILDING ONE BY MODIFYING THE VINTAGE 1/24 SCALE HASEGAWA R89C KIT #20245.
I BEGAN BY SHORTENING THE WHEELBASE OF THE KIT CHASSIS BY 1/4" JUST BEHIND THE FRONT WHEELS TO ACCOMODATE MY SHORTER-WHEELBASED VACU-FORMED BODY. THE CHASSIS WAS RESHAPED WITH A DREML TOOL TO INSURE A BETTER FIT FOR THE BODY ALSO. THE CABIN SECTION FROM THE KIT WAS RE-SHAPED AND GRAFTED TO THE LOWER BODY. THIS INVOLVE A LAYER OF SHEET STYRENE SHIMS AND LOTS OF CAREFUL SANDING. COOLING DUCTS AND LOUVERS WERE ALSO CAREFULLY INCORPORATED AFTER STUDYING A NUMBER OF EXCELLENT REFERENCE PHOTOS FROM THE INTERNET. THE MODEL WAS AIRBRUSHED IN A STRICTLY CONCEPTUAL SPLASHY LEMON/STARBURST/TURQUOISE PAINT SCHEME INCORPORATING KIT DECALS. A FINAL GLOSS-COAT OF JOHNSON FUTURE COMPLETED THE PROJECT. THE PROJECT TOOK ABOUT THREE WEEKS TO COMPLETE, BUT I FOUND THE FINAL RESULT WAS A UNIQUE MODEL OF THIS IMPORTANT PROTYPE.

VACU-FORMED BODIES AND DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS PROJECT, ALONG WITH SHEET STYRENE, WIRE, AND CLEAR PLASTIC FOR HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE AVAILABLE FROM GREG 2947.