How To Build A DRAGON: By Karl B.

As of tomorrow, it will be a whole month since I have been on here. I am here today to bring you another bad ass skyline build. This time around it's an R33 Skyline built by Karl Briffak. Karl has out done himself this time with this beast of a Skyline. Here, I'll formally introduce you to "The RED Dragon"

Karl took the Tamiya skyline and released it's inner beast by cutting open the hood and slapping an RB26 engine from the Tamiya R32 kit. Why Tamiya didn't do this to the R33 and R34 is quit odd, but when you see somone take the time to scratchbuild an engine bay for one of these all you can do is appreciate the beauty. There are plenty of scratchbuilt and modified parts along with a small list of aftermarket support to bring it to life. The side skirts and front lip are all cusom made and wrapped in carbon decal along with the B-pilar and OEM wing. Tucked under the wheel arches are a set of NISMO LM-GT wheels wrapped in Bridgestone tires. Behind those wheels lye some slotted rotors with OEM Nissan 4 piston front calipers and 2 piston rear calipers, enough to bring this beast to a stop. Pop open the hood and you'll see a very clean RB26 with a single turbo chillin on it's side. Just about everything you see under the hood is scratchbuilt. Although you can see it, the interior recieved the same treatment. It is nicely detaild with harness bars, race harness and a pair of Bride seats. As for the paint job, DO I really need to say anything??? simply beautiful.

A few details of the Dragon.

"Kit: Tamiya
Colour: Nissan AH3 Red Pearl Metallic with 2K clear
Modifications:
- Hobby Design HD02-0146 photo-etched set
- Modified lower part of front bumper
- Custom front splitter and new side-skirt lips
- Custom built rear bumper
- Exhaust modified to a single turbo with a new stainless-steel tip
- Tamiya Nissan Skyline RB26 engine from an R32 GT-R kit
- Scratch-built engine bay
- Scratch-built intercooler pipes, turbo, strut brace and air cleaner
- Model Scientists Bride Vorga seats and Tamiya Nismo Steering wheel
- Scratch-built harness bar behind front seats
- Aber photo-etched seat belt accessories with Tuner Model green harness
- Detailed Tamiya Nismo LMGT-4 rims with Tuner Model air valves
- Tamiya Bridgestone tires from a Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R
- Scale Motorsport carbon fibre decal applied to spoilers and window pillars
- Japanese tax disc and parking sticker from an Aoshima decal sheet

After 8 months in the making, it was about time to take it out of the garage!"

ALL PICTURES BELONG TO KARL B.

So I hope you enjoyed this beauty/beast as much as I did. I know several judges at a show/competition local to Karl enjoyed it, they enjoyed it so much that they awarded Karl for it.

Thanks for stopping by.

"RED SKIES" The O.G. Godzilla By: Chris L.

Today I bring what I like to call "RED SKIES" It's the original GODZILLA of the skyline world. The R32 for many of us here in CALI can only wish to own a Skyline(legal maters and money get in the way), no less an R32. It just screams kick ass! Chris Lomenda is not only the builder of this masterpiece, but also owns a real as in life size R32 Skyline which he hopes one day to look as good as it's scaled counterpart. This R32 is based of Tamiya's take on this beast. It comes with an engine that is tastefully done in stock trim. The drive train and suspension set up is one of the best detailed out there. The interior is a bit on the bland side and there might be some other bits that some might not like out of the box.

But thank god Chris likes to think out of the box when it comes to his builds. Not only did he go the extra mile, he went a few dozen extra miles to get this beauty where it's at today. He modified the engine to hold a single turbo big enough to swallow baby birds, fuel rail, fuel pressure regulator, oil filter relocation kit and some braided lines. The intake filter is scratch built along with a plethora of goodies like the brake lines that run along the firewall, the aluminum radiator exhaust system, charge pipes, and the monstrous intercooler chillin behind the front bumper. For wheels, Chris went with a set of Work Meister S1's from Model scientists which he modified to be able to paint the centers the gold color and added chrome lip that you see. The interior itself is a piece of art alone, with original seats being left in, he also added some racing harness belts, roll cage, flocking for carpet and some floor mats which he made himself. Opening doors on any scaled size kit is a skill that can be added to a resume. It takes time and patience to get it right. If the doors do not align or open up smoothly, then your F&%K3D. Not so in this case, hell it even has the door hooks for them to close properly. The door jambs are properly done and the "stock" Tamiya door cars were modded to add some detail and depth to the interior. It's a detail that should not be forgotten if you were to do that to this kit or any kit for that matter.

I can go on and on about this R32, but I would much rather just show you instead.
Enjoy.

I hope you have enjoyed this as much as I have.

Thanks for stopping by.

Lower Than Shakotan Part 2: S30Z-G Nose

Ok in the first "lower than shakotan" we brought you Raees' Hakosuka. Well he is back with this sick olive drab S30Z-G Nose that is packed with plenty of muscle to burn some serious rubber. This Hasegawa kit comes as a curbside kit, meaning that it comes with out an engine. That also means that there is no engine detail under that hood. That did not stop Raees from stuffing a mean looking RB26 with a snail the size to suck in baby birds or a kitten. There is plenty of goodies stuffed in there, like a Cusco style oil catch can, braided lines and a monster sized intercooler peeking out of the bumperless front end. The plow like chin spoiler is so low that I doubt it will be cruising around a mall parking lot. Along with the plow spoiler it has fender flares for stuffing those deep SSR Formula mesh wheels with Hippari style tires under the wheel arches. Not one for leaving them shiny, he decided to do them in black. I just gives it a menacing "I'm gonna get you sucka" look. On the inside you will find a clean and subtle environment, well other than a pair of Ferrari seats to hold you in while you blast along the wangan. Slammed with a clean stance and a bit of Oni-kyan in the rear, you can't help but to stare.


Some words from Raess.

"Another model finished. This time it's a Datsun 240ZG. A very cool kit by Hasegawa. It's a very different build from me since I love my shiny cars, but in matt green it does look good."

Specs on the 240ZG
Kit: Hasegawa Datsun 240ZG
Paint: Tamiya as 14 olive green and matt black bonnet. Decals and metal number plates
Interior: Tan and black, Ferrari 599 seats, flocking, carbon bits on dash and a spare wheel.
Body: Custom front lip, bonnet cut open, rear spoiler and fender flares.
Chassis: Engine bay scratchbuilt, RB26 fitted, custom mounts, boost pipes, resin intercooler, resin turbo, custom branches, exhaust, custom brake booster, wiring for resin battery, braided lines, custom oil catch can, working hinges and suspension cut and remade.
Wheels: Aoshima SSR Formula Mesh.