1:24 RX-7 A-Spec Mazdaspeed

The RX-7 in the Mazdaspeed A-Spec modification

The subject is the Mazda RX-7 completed with the A-Spec package from Mazdaspeed. It is therefore a car that stands halfway between series production and a purely private rebuild: the modifications come directly from the sporting division of the carmaker, not from an independent workshop. It is precisely that which makes it a rewarding subject for a collection of Japanese cars, where factory and tuning forms of one type meet side by side.

Mazdaspeed and tuning from the factory

Mazdaspeed came about as the racing offshoot of the carmaker and in time became a supplier of sporting parts and of whole packages for road cars. The A-Spec designation carried aerodynamic body accessories, sporting wheels and a modification of the suspension, which changed the character of the car without making a racing special out of it. On the rotary coupe RX-7 these modifications made sense; the basis with its low center of gravity and balanced suspension responded to them very willingly.

How to reach a deep gloss

Factory tuning cars present themselves in a clean, showroom state, and the surface of the model is to match that. The foundation is a carefully sanded filler primer and several thin layers of the shade. Once dry comes the top varnish and possibly fine polishing. The body accessories are tried dry before gluing, because even a small gap is conspicuous on a finished car. The wheels and the tires deserve attention of their own, because it is precisely they that complete the overall impression.

Target group

• Collectors of factory sporting packages
• Modelers with an interest in the Japanese tuning scene
• Builders who want a cabinet with several forms of the RX-7
• Experienced modelers working with glossy paints and polishing

The content is a kit to be assembled, not a finished car; the shades and the aids are dealt with separately.