Tamiya has decades of experience building plastic weighing models, and has a reputation for making kits with a high degree of fit and finish. The company is now announcing a 1/24 scale version of the new Nissan Z 2023 with neat features to make painting easier. Sales begin in December 2022 at a price of 4,180 yen ($30.53 at current exchange rates).
When finished, the Z model measures 7.205 inches (183 millimeters) long, 3.307 inches (84 millimeters) wide and 2.165 inches (55 millimeters) high. The hood doesn’t appear to be open, so it’s likely that none of the engines are open. However, flipping the car reveals a transmission molded into the underbody, and there are sections for the driveshaft and rear differential. There are also sections for the suspension and exhaust system.
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If you are not familiar with building plastic scale models, then it is important to understand that assembling the parts is the easy part. Painting the pieces is where the challenge comes from. Tamiya has some clever solutions for this Z that will result in a complete kit that looks even better to put on your shelf.
On the outside, the model has a separate black strip attached to the roof. This means the builder doesn’t have to use tape to carefully protect the rest of the body when painting these parts. Similarly, the metallic trim strip that follows the Z roofline is also a piece of its own, so one doesn’t have to isolate this piece to get the right color.
Window trim and pillars are some of the hardest parts of a model car to paint because it’s so easy to get the color onto the clear plastic that recreates the glass. Tamiya includes a custom-cut masking detail to protect this area during this process.
Brake calipers and rotors are separate parts, not formed as one. This is another case of Tamiya which makes the painting process easier for builders.
For accuracy, a small, transparent section reproduces the turn signal mounted on the model’s Z mirror.
The new Z is available with a two-tone finish on the seats. To reproduce this, each chair is made up of four parts: the base, the sides, the back, and the cushions. The part that makes the bolster is red (and maybe blue as well as you can see from the photo). This construction method eliminates the need to paint this section with a brush.
Inside, builders can choose between a left or right steering wheel layout. There are stickers for all instruments.
The real-world 2023 Z starts at $41,015 in the US after a $1,025 destination fee. Regardless of the trim level, it uses a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 that produces 400 horsepower (298 kilowatts) and 350 pound-feet (475 Newton-meters) of torque. Buyers can choose a six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic.
