1:24 LB Works Kenmary2Dr Shodai

LB Works Kenmary 2Dr Shodai in 1:24 scale from Aoshima

An injection-molded plastic kit in 1:24 scale capturing the two-door Skyline coupe of the generation nicknamed Ken and Mary in a wide-fender conversion by the Liberty Walk shop. The model comes from Aoshima of Japan, which runs this range of tuning conversions as a separate edition. The Shodai designation refers to the first form of this body kit. The kit is meant to be glued and painted, and the contents of the package and the number of parts are not stated here.

The real subject

The basis is a two-door Skyline hardtop of the first half of the 1970s, known in Japan as Ken and Mary after the advertising pair of the period. The Liberty Walk conversion changes mainly the looks: it adds markedly widened fenders fitted over the original body, a deeper front spoiler, side skirt extensions and an extremely low ride height with the wheels pushed out to the lips. The result is a kit that depicts not a production car but a particular present-day tuning conversion of a classic Japanese coupe.

Building and painting tips

The widened fenders tend to come as separate parts, so try their fit dry first and fill and sand the seams if need be. A low stance means it is worth checking the relative positions of wheels, axles and lips before any gluing. Sand the body, spray a filler primer and lay the paint on in thin coats. A gloss surface is worth polishing. Apply the decals onto a gloss base and seal them with clear once dry, so that their edges are not visible.

Who the model is for

• admirers of the Japanese tuning scene and wide-fender conversions
• modelers building classic Japanese coupes in an unconventional form
• builders with experience of filling and lining up add-on body parts
• collectors building a collection of cars in 1:24 scale

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.