Last week, we revisited Dino’s 2014 story on the show side of RC drifting in Japan. That feature was a follow-up to our most-read post of 2013, which also took a take a look at the unique events happening at Hobby Garage in Saitama.
Today, as a throwback finale for those stories, we’re getting right down to ground level to examine out the crazy custom details that RC drift fanatics in Japan were putting into their scale creations a decade ago.
2014 Feature
When faced with the dilemma of which two cars to select of a 40-long collection of meticulously-executed custom RC drift bodies, there was no other way around it. Seeing because it was all about creating something as realistic as possible, the rules needed to be pretty strict; it’s the one way you could start eliminating cars that just don’t stack up.
With this in mind, I made my way across the line-up that was neatly arrange on the carpeted floor. One among the primary cars I took an extended hard take a look at was this Hilux truck. Now, it’s already surprising enough that scale bodies of this stuff exist, but what the owner’s done is mix the form of touches you’d see at a Mooneyes custom automotive event and throw in some one-off touches. Take a look at how certainly one of the front fenders is finished off in marbled primer, making it appear to be it was recently involved in just a little crash and is on its option to getting fixed up.
The stance it was sporting suggested the owner was inspired by the bagged or hydraulic look, sitting lower within the back prefer it was trying to indicate off what that suspension can do.
One glimpse on the bed revealed a cut-out section exposing the suspension underneath, in addition to a security fuel cell. Hawaii plates and a heat-stained, twin side-exit exhaust complete things beautifully.
Speaking of Hawaii, here’s one other one with the plates everyone just desires to have. I believed I used to be on the Exciting Automobile Showdown in Nagoya taking a look at this Osaka-style S13 drifter, its front and rear overfenders attempting to contain the aggressive negative camber.
Misaligned body panels probably hint on the rough use it’s subjected to within the docks at night. Oh, and sun roofs were all the fashion this yr – a wide range of types, either fixed, tilt-able and even sliding back to disclose the inside beneath.
The entire USDM thing with flashy colored wheels and an obligatory BMX bike on the roof is one other popular look that a few of these detail-obsessed scale modellers are opting for. We saw an Estima van last yr with an LCD screen within the trunk, so it wasn’t as much of a surprise seeing a tiny screen squeezed at the back of this EK Civic. That doesn’t make it any less impressive in fact.
Ah, yes the FC3S RX-7, all of us love them and they give the impression of being so good done up as drift cars. This one sported a pleasant and aggressive aero kit and thru the rear glass you may make out the roll cage.
However the surprise got here whenever you viewed it from the front. How about that for a front end swap?! We’ve seen BMW front ends on S14 Silvias but never a CLK face on an FC, unless I’ve obviously missed it in real life. Again, the entire thing was very nicely done with the joint lines hidden away and a set of LEDs to offer the effect of HID headlights.
For me, the more grassroots the approach is, the higher. Which means cool, old style JDM rides, bulbous flared fenders, and numerous details in the inside. This was probably the primary time I’d seen gusseting done to a roll cage.
Some guys preferred to avoid wasting all the eye to detail for the paint, like this lowrider-style Aristo. Having painted my fair proportion of polycarbonate bodies, I can’t even begin to assume the skill this complex air brushing required.
While most of those bodies get painted from the within in order that the glossy exterior can hold as much as the unavoidable crashes and damage, matte or rust-like finishes require the paint to be applied on the surface. This also makes it possible so as to add some scuff and paint damage for yet one more touch of realism.
Camo paint too is applied to the outside. Just like the military-themed S13 above, this 180SX not only had the same Rocket Bunny overfender kit fitted, but even tiny little rivet details for authenticity. It’s touches like this that rating highly with the judges.
The realism of all of it takes a giant step up when people start taking things to recent levels, paying more attention to the inside of the cars in addition to other touches. Except for the caricature driver behind the wheel and the kanjo-racer-style window net, what I actually liked was the marginally tilted bonnet, something that many drifters and track racers do in an try to cool their engines just a little bit more. After all, it’s more about looks and when done in a scaled way it’s even cooler.
Then there are those that basically truly impress, and Hulk Hogan had much to be proud about here. I believed I used to be up at a Drift Matsuri in Ebisu Circuit when taking a look at this AE86 missile. It’s had a tough life this automotive, drifted and banged around to inside an inch of its life and it sure shows because it’s missing all its bodywork from the front end. To get this look, the owner needed to hand-build the chassis, and right right down to the welded-on fender reinforcements, the suspension turrets, radiator support and subframe.
Then in fact there’s the engine: a micro 4A-GE, hand-formed out of plastic, sporting even all of the pulleys, alternator and the belts connecting them up. The important thing here is to form and shape its underside in order that it slots onto the RC automotive’s front diff casing. Mind blown!
The beaten look extends all the way in which across the automotive, with a mismatched yellow trunk lid and the fuel filler cap that’s nearly able to fall off.
And it doesn’t end there. There may be in fact the inside, and depending on the chassis used, the motor and the battery position, there’s normally enough space to permit the addition of interior pieces just like the instrument panel and steering wheel. Nonetheless, what made this particular AE86 special was the servo-operated door that could be made to swing out at any time. The owner was opening and shutting it while drifting the automotive on target, which made everyone laugh.
Seeing the several levels of standards, it was becoming just a little easier to separate the amazing from the truly mind-blowing.
This was one automotive that basically stood out: a homage to Mike Burroughs’ roof-chopped E28 street rod, albeit finished off with some USDM touches just like the rusted bonnet and skateboard, and curiously enough, a kyusha-style bumper-mounted oil cooler. Okay, so it’s not roof-chopped and the shell is of an E30 M3, but you may’t deny the amazing execution of all of it. The Speedhunters tyre bombing stickers we’d already seen before, however the TAKATA Racing x SH tow strap? Just awesome!
This was the one kaido racer-style body I saw this time, but all the correct touches were there, commencing with the race-inspired Bridgestone livery.
On the back we have now a puttied-off rear section, very similar to the back end of the Mizuno Works-built Liberty Walk Kenmeri, also finished off with round tail lights and the naughty folded-up-at-the-corners number plate.
Obviously half of the satisfaction of making these one-off works of miniature automotive art is seeing them paraded in a line-up like this. A number of picture taking is at all times a must.
The 86 seems to have lost its popularity as people prefer to think about the more old style stuff, but that didn’t mean there weren’t a pair value testing.
Should you ask me, the rarer the shell the higher, as this JZX81 perfectly shows. Pumped fenders mean aggressive offsets could be run for that perfect grassroots drifter stance.
Looks pretty mean from the back too. Take a look at that poke!
If it’s realism mated to perfect execution that I used to be to search out, then I used to be pretty sure my search was over once I saw this Z10 Soarer. The body was pretty easy and stock – no crazy paint jobs in sight, only a glossy white finish with black body protectors all the way in which round. It sat low on a set of what might be described as reversed BBS-type mesh rims with gold centres.
The ‘basic’ things ended here nonetheless, the bonnet dampers form of hinting that there was rather more to be discovered. Underneath was an ideal replica of a 6M motor.
It also sported a full interior, including suede-wrapped front and rear seats, transmission tunnel console and dashboard. There was little question in my mind that for 2014, this was the automotive that basically pushed the envelope. I used to be sure my alternative was the correct one.
Together with my pick, two other cars were chosen and added onto the scaled RC Custom Body Show stage for the award presentation.
Together with them was the ‘Better of Best Award’ automotive, which went to the blue Aristo. This was combined alternative between myself and the remainder of the judges, picked for its authentic representation of the fashionable day VIP scene and the undeniable fact that it really pushed headlight design with the replica Cima multi-LED reflectors built into the stock housing.
The blissful winners were also given some Speedhunters goodies to take home together with that flashy laser-etched glass award.
I still find it amazing how this whole RC drift scene goes so perfectly hand in hand with the automotive culture that we cover world wide. It’s the challenge of recreating these styles faithfully that keeps this dedicated group of fellows going, and if what we’ve seen thus far is anything to go by, we’re in for much more of a treat within the years to return.
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
This Article First Appeared At www.speedhunters.com
