Little Garage Resin Kit: Prince R380

[jbwelda]

I splurged on this Japanese resin kit of an obscure Japanese mini-Ferrari race car from the mid-sixties, and after receiving it and grokking the contents, decided to fast track it onto the workbench, especially now that I have virtually cleared it.


I will just start this thread off with some photos of the box, instructions, decals etc, because I already have the resin body and parts marinating in some Westleys Bleche Wite. What I can share at this point is that this is a pretty simple kit, curbside, and with a slab undercarriage. But it is a really sleek body, from initial inspection it looks absolutely perfect with even very fine details reproduced. This is my first actual resin kit, well, aside from a Historic Racing Miniatures Porsche 914-6, but this is much less a home made affair, with really exquisite packaging, illustrations and decals. In addition there is a number of photo etch frets and what appears to be inner and outer windscreen border trim and a lot of other really delicate pieces. But I will wait until the parts are out of their bath to show them off.


Here is the box top:











These are pretty much the instructions, a picture is worth a thousand Japanese characters!





Ok thanks for looking and as always, comments appreciated!


jb

[dogfish7]

Cool beans!

[Mr. E Modeler]

Looks like an interesting little kit.

[fordrodnkustom]

Looks like a well done kit. Should be a fun build.

[jbwelda]

So, there is not all that much here, but what there is, is top top quality. Hardly any flash, even on the very tiny parts. A bit around the window openings on the body, but the body itself appears pinhole free, and beautifully shaped. Have to get a coat of primer on it for final judgement, but from here it looks like some of the best resin I have ever seen, anywhere. And the simplicity in design is going to lead to simplicity in assembly, aside maybe from the formed metal pieces I will show later.


Here are the resin parts of the kit:





Just for instance, different seat patterns for pilot and passenger:





And the body:











Am going to get some primer on it and see mo betta what I have here


jb

[jbwelda]

Some background:


Prince R380

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia






Overview


Manufacturer : Prince/Nissan


Production : 1965-1968


Designer :Shinichiro Sakurai


Body and chassis :

Class : Race car


Layout : MR layout


Powertrain :

Engine :
2.0L GR-8 I6 200 hp /220 hp (R380-II)


Transmission : 5-speed Hewland manual


Chronology

Successor : Nissan R381


The Prince R380 was a racing car built in 1965 by Prince Motor Company to compete in the Japanese Grand Prix. Following the merger of Prince Motor Company and Nissan Motors in 1966, the R380 was modified into the Nissan R380-II (also known as R380 Mk.II).



Development 

In 1964, Prince had entered their new S54 Skyline GTs in the second Japanese Grand Prix, hoping to prove the performance potential of the car's new G-7 Straight-6. Although the cars performed well, they were defeated by a privately entered Porsche 904 GTS, leaving the Skylines to take second through sixth positions.





Nissan/Prince GR-8 Engine


Realizing the superiority of the mid-engine layout used on the Porsche 904, Prince decided that a custom-built sports car would be needed to win the Japanese Grand Prix.

A new aerodynamic body was built on a Brabham BT8 chassis[1]; alloy panels were fabricated with exposed buttresses over the rear engine cover and fitted to Brabham chassis number SC-9-64[2].


For an engine, Prince would use the same G engine that the Skylines had used, but adapted it specifically for racing. The new unit, known as GR-8, would be a 1996 cc Straight-6 that produced 200 hp (150 kW). A Hewland 5-speed racing gearbox would be used in the transmission.


When Nissan took over the project, the bodywork of the R380 was completely redesigned. The rear buttresses were replaced with a flowing cockpit and engine cover, while the vents and ductwork of the car was further refined. Nissan was able to increase power in the GR8 engine to 220 hp (164 kW).


Racing history 

Due to the cancellation of the Japanese Grand Prix in 1965, the R380 would be used by Prince to test high speed aerodynamics. This led to the car being used to break five E-class land speed records in late 1965.



For the 1966 Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway, Prince would enter four R380s, while a trio of newer Porsche 906s would also be entered. In the end, the R380s would take the overall victory, with Yoshikazu Sunako's R380 ahead of Hideo Oishi's second place R380.


Following the rebuilding of the R380s by Nissan, four cars were once again entered in the Japanese Grand Prix. However, the 906s would be able to overcome the previous year's loss, leaving the R380-IIs to settle for second, third, fourth, and sixth. The margin of victory was nearly two minutes. Nissan would later use an R380-II to set new land speed records, breaking seven records in October of that year.


Following Nissan's development of the newer R381 in 1968, the R380s were sold to privateers. Three were once again entered in the Japanese Grand Prix, where they took third, fourth, and fifth places. Two factory entered R380s went on to finish first and second in the 1969 Chevron Paradise 6 Hour race at the Surfers Paradise International Raceway in Australia.[3] 1969 saw one R380 taking second place in the 1000 km of Fuji race, and yet another second place in 1970 at a 200-mile (320 km) event at Fuji.


In 2005, Nismo would restore an R380-II and use it for exhibition events, running alongside other cars in the R380 series.



References[edit]

^ Bazemore, Kyle. "INFINITI to show Prince R380 at 2017 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance". NissanNews.com. Nissan USA. Archived from the original (pdf) on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.

^ Brown, Allen. "Brabham BT8". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 28 October 2017.

^ Racing Car News, December 1969, pages 60-62


jb

[Mr.409]

Never heard on one of these before, but it looks pretty good! These Vintage Circle Track cars are also really interesting, and even though the kit is a bit simple, I'm sure it'll look very good after you're finished. And I have to agree, those parts look really good, not many resin castings get close to that quality. Can't wait to see how this turns out.

[jbwelda]

Update and a look at more parts:


body is in color. I do not think I have ever seen a resin body so nice as this one. Pretty much no flash to clean up, no pinholes, deep panel lines, nice little rivet holes, just very clean and very nice. Paint is Tamiya Bright Red, inside and out, to be sanded a bit then decaled, and cleared.




And here are the photo etch and other miscellaneous parts that really make up the heart of this kit:




Clockwise from the left side, some clear lenses for taillights, headlights and various running lights (in Glad bag), vac-formed headlamp lense covers, complete with template and instructions (unfortunately, in Japanese, but I think I can figure it out), boring axles and screws, clear window pieces with surround already attached for front, rear and side windows...just peel off the backing and apply...hopefully they will fit, brass photoetch for windshield wiper, top and side vent screens, front air intake screen, rear engine cover and rear engine surround, all need to be painted flat black, an aluminum photo etch fret of small details, small bag of shiny mirror faces, two exterior and one interior and finally a brass etch windscreen surround. This is where the heart of the kit is and it really comes alive if and when all these small bits are in place.

Thanks again for looking and again comments welcome!

jb

[Mr. E Modeler]

Wow! Really pops in that red and all the detail parts should make for a fantastic curbside. I'm looking forward to further progress on this one.

[fordrodnkustom]

Coming along nicely. Looks good in that red.

[jbwelda]

I have to say, I have never, never, seen or used decals this nice, ever. Almost no carrier film to cut away, the film ended right at the edge of the design. The decals released after about 10 seconds in cold water. Literally, ten seconds. And they were very strong but at the same time pliable enough to wrap around edges and corners, and also to maintain their integrity when I was chopping away at them when wet, to fit down into the hood detents. And to top it off, the white decals were opaque enough to mostly block the bright red from bleeding through. If you look closely, you will see the slightest amount of red tint, but believe me, I was expecting way worse:










So now getting ready to mask and paint the rear panel flat black and then hand paint the side scoops in flat black as well. Interior is almost done, wheels and tires done, just need to finish up body details.

Thanks again for looking!

jb

[fordrodnkustom]

Looks great. Must have been a pleasure working with those decals as described. I've never had such an experience LOL.

[jbwelda]

A look at the wheels and tires, along with the dashboard. Again minimalism turns out looking pretty good





just wanted to add: didn't have to paint rear flat black after all, its all covered by the metal inserts, which are way easier to paint!


jb

[jbwelda]

Rear is finished except for a little light that mounts in the center hole. Also attending to some details here and there before tackling the windows. I have my fingers crossed they will fit as well as nearly everything else has.











I am really beginning to appreciate simple but well rendered kits like this. Expensive but the fit makes it worth it. May never want to even look at another AMT mess of a Detroit dinosaur again if I do many more of these.


jb

[fordrodnkustom]

Looking real good! Looks like the finish line is in site.