Fujimi Isuzu Piazza 1/24 | Model Kit Index

Background:

Another to add to my collection of wedge-shaped 80s Japanese cars. I've always thought the Piazza looked pretty cool and building this has made me appreciate the Piazza's styling even more.The front lip and wheels really set it off nicely. Seeing what's happened with a few Japanese cars I've built over the last few years, I wonder if Hasegawa will release a new and better tooling than the Fujimi kit.

Pros:

Body proportions are nice, dashboard and instrument panels are nicely detailed and the seat mounting points are good and strong. All fits together easily. Not much else to add.

Cons:

Curbside. No door cards. No brakes. Basic underbody and suspension. Designed to be motorized, with all the bad that comes with that. No drivers side window(!), rear seats seem too short, number plates too small, side mirrors are a bit crap and the headlights are very fiddly to install. Body moulding has clearly been out of the moulds a few too many times and needs some re-scribing. Moulded in yellow which is a pain to cover up. The box art implies a supplied front lip and RA Watanabes that are not included.

Verdict:

An easy kit to build but IMHO, a decent result is possible only by extending the kit with some extra parts, as noted in the build notes below. If you really want a Piazza, go for it. If you just want a 80s Japanese Wedge, get Tamiya's Subaru Alcyone.

Build notes:

I added a few extra details: a tube over the exhaust tip so it wasn't just a solid cylinder, replacement number plates, new wheels and added brake discs and a replacement rear axle. The front lip is from an S12 Silvia kit and door cards from an R31 Skyline. Interior mats are made from painted sandpaper. Painted in Tamiya TS-58 pearl light blue and clearcoated with Tamiya TS-13 clear - all from rattle cans. The interior is a combination of Mazda Metallic blue, Tamiya TS032 Haze Grey and Tamiya XF-18 Medium blue.

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