Sparked by Gran Turismo
Status: Runner
Date: 25-Apr-2015
Comments: 9
I played plenty of video games growing up, with my favourite series being Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo. That series put me behind the wheel of some wicked racing cars that I would never be able to drive otherwise.
Challenging that dream was Tamiya, which had released several RC kits of cars that appeared in the games. Suddenly, I could drive one - and build it, too! I got started in RC cars this way with a Tamiya Toyota GT-One on the F103RS.
Somewhere on the way I got diverted to off-road cars and only saw a tarmac racer once in that time, a TA-05V2 that remains the only car I ever sold.
Cue university, with long nights of studying and few breaks in the academia. What should be sitting there but my PlayStation 2, with my copies of Gran Turismo 3 and 4. Getting back into video games, I reintroduced myself to touring cars and adopted a Loctite Zexel GT-R as my weapon of choice for the top-level races. A familiar storyline was beginning again...
Saving and searching landed me a clean and slightly-worn unbuilt kit from a German model shop. My second foray into on-road RC cars had started!
The Loctite Zexel GT-R was placed on a standard TA-04 chassis, arriving after the Pennzoil Nismo GT-R on the TA-03F and the Calsonic Skyline on the TA-04S. It was a simplified version of the two, with fewer detail parts, but the TA-04 still carried ball bearings for its gearboxes.
I built mine box-stock with the exception of ball bearings. The chassis build was mildly-aggravating at times but overall quite pleasant, which may be more than what can be said for the bodyshell! I counted over 100 decals of varying difficulties - the manual states that 74 different types are present. I took my time with this bodyshell and ended up with my finest work; it is still not perfect but very presentable for a car that I do plan to run!
This car currently uses the MTroniks Sport-Tuned 20 ESC, with a Traxxas 2056 servo and a Spektrum SR200WP receiver. The motor is stock, but a Tamiya Super Stock RZ may make its way into the chassis in time, as will a light kit and a touring car cockpit.
For some reason, it seems rare to see these cars built with the original wheels or to box-art. A lot of the Loctite Zexel GT-Rs on TamiyaClub right now sport either different wheels, bodies, liveries, or a combination. I have to wonder why...
Another GT superstar has made it into my collection, and is the subject of this showroom entry.
Comments
Tamiyamandan
Fantastic Job !!!!! Looks really really Nice !!!
Grumpy pants
This has turned out really well, it's a great looking car.
Klausen
Great result, you've done a fine job on this.
MAD-BEE
Nice! Looks well smart bud.
_miga_
nice one - i really liked those TA04
berman
Awesome work Grastens! Thoroughly enjoyed your build thread and your R34 is a stunning example.
Fernado Alonso
Looks Ace ,nicely build !
Flerbizky
This page really needs a 'Like' button (: Very very cool looking!
Grastens
Thank you for the comments! I am quite satisfied with this build As for the 'like button,' Facebook users can access one on this page
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