Engine detail?, how big a deal is it for you?

Hi All,

I am currently looking for my next project for after my Mazda 110S which is progressing well, and I am seemingly spending a heck of a lot of time trying to figure out which models have engines, and which don't.

I see that the majority of Fujimi and Aoshimi don't have any, and many Tamiya models miss it out too.

Does engine detail matter to you guys?, I personally think its extremely important as at the end of the day the engine is a cars heart and soul most of the time, and therefore very important.

I doubt I could ever bring myself to build an engine-less kit, which seemingly limits my options :(

Whats your opinion?

Dan.

I will much like models have engine detail(like old Tamiya, Revell). but companies just cut production cost by leeaving out the engine, engines are purchase separately (like Aoshima GT-R engine).. I think companies want to charge extra if you want engine detail.

Honestly, if it's a decent kit of a car I want a model of, whether or not the kit has an engine doesn't influence me at all. Detailing engines is probably my singe favorite task in car modeling, but if every kit I built had en engine, I'd finish none of them. Many kits just shouldn't have engines. Take any Porsche 911. Sure, it's got a nice looking powerplant, but what's the bloody point if you can't see it when it's assembed? Just knowing it's there doesn't really give me a warm fuzzy or anything. If I'm going to put the effort into a model, I want to be able to really see it when its done. Curbide kits have a very nice simplicity for me- and it's nice having cars in my display case with their engine compartments closed, also.

I like engine detail. So if I have a kit that doesnt have an engine, then I'll build an engine. However currently I am building an MR2 thats curbside.

For me it depends on whether the engine can actually be seen if it can I want an engine if not it doesn't matter. It also depends as to how much money hat I actully have at the time. I also find that the engine is a pain to do as most of the detail is missing and you need to make it yourself.

I build both curbside and engine detail. doesnt really matter to me..but I do think its pretty cool to see the "full package" and I think it makes a more interesting display with the motor.

-Chris

i prefer engines. i recently got a Tamiya R34 kit and im planning on either buying and engine or scratchbuilding one myself(just for fun/practice).

i much prefer to have an engine in my models.
what i bug about is how they can get away with charging almost the same, sometimes higher costs for a curbside as they do for a full detail kit.

On a Le Mans car it's almost essential, on a touring car or rally car it's great to see an engine but no big deal if it's a curbside.

I personally find most modern engines to be ugly. They are just a bunch of plastic shapes and maybe a few wires, nothing really interesting at all. I'd much rather have more detail elsewhere on the model.

its a big deal for me, if it aint there an i want it i build it, of transplant one. but im annoyed when i want an engine an don get one, so out comes the styrene.

How many models with engine detail have you built?

Thanks for all the info guys.

If the above question was for me, I assume it was ;), then I have built 1 and a half, my 70's Skyline, and my current 69 Mazda 110S, also this afternoon I purchased a Dodge Daytona, which I believe has engine detail too, so I am hoping to have done 3.

I might have to try one of these "curbside" models and see what its like, I suppose I can see both sides of the story, but I think I would still miss the engine details.

I find it interesting that people make there own, thats pretty hardcore stuff for me at the moment, but I guess its a soloution.

As for the price aspect, I would definatly pay more for a detailed model, engine an all as the money aspect is not really an issue for me.

Dan.

I used to think I could do engine detail all the time but it a lie. To most, it's a lie.

It's actually very refreshing to do a nice curbside every now and then. Of course, this is coming from a person that puts a huge amount of time into custom engine parts and spends 3-digits on one build. Hunting down parts, PE, trips for styrene, kit bashing. It's a PITA.

Believe it or not. My Nismo R34 is my favorite model.

My Nismo R34 is my favorite model.
I have to disagree with you :nono: !! Your Nismo R-32 is MY favorite model!! :lol: :lol: Seriously, I no longer have the time I once had to put into each build so it doesn't matter to me if it has an engine or not.

I have to disagree with you :nono: !! Your Nismo R-32 is MY favorite model!! :lol: :lol:


:ylsuper:

When I pick up a curbside kit, it feels lifeless and soulless, since, as someone already mentioned, the engine is the soul of a car. A car with engine detail is more complete.

With that said, I have no problems buying a model car that's curbside. However, if a version of the same car exists with an engine, i'd rather buy that, assuming it still had the correct body shape and interior.

Agreed... I used to just toss the engine together and not care, until I started reading Scale Auto and looking around on the intarweb for stuff, and I realised how easy it is to properly detail an engine, if you just take your time. Now I make a strong effort to detail every engine in my kits, and the thought of a curbside kit makes me recoil. Probably the main reason I don't do many Tamiya kits :(

I think the only exception to this rule is a mid-engine car where the motor is stuffed up under a cowl or something and you can barely see it. I likely wouldn't put too much effort into that.

I used to think I could do engine detail all the time but it a lie. To most, it's a lie.

It's actually very refreshing to do a nice curbside every now and then. .

I agree with nis.k.a. I like to have a balance between curbside and engine-d kits. Sometimes I'd just like to finish off a kit soon so curbside kits are great. Depends on my mood really!! :icon16:

Well, I like cars with engine a lot. But I'm nor building that much models (in 8 years only 8) and i'm a porsche fan and if anybody ever has seen the engine of a porsche, well.. there's just not much to see.. so i'd rather make a decent curbside model instead of looking for a model with a complete engine, putting a lot of efford in the engine and not being able to see anything of you're work. That's why I like Tamiya a lot. I've build 6 tamiya's with engine detail... the porsche gt1, enzo, xj220, 360spider, clk-gtr and carrera gt (not finished yet). The only 2 curbside are 2 porsches(gt2 and gt3), so I'm not complaining about the lack of engine detail by tamiya...
BTW the rally cars and the DTM cars of tamiya do they have engine detail? i believe the DTM have but I'm not certain.

I'm still on my third ever car build and this, like my others, is curbside so I have no experience in the engine building. However, I know that for me, because I don't have much time in my life I would HAVE to be able to see the end result or I wouldn't bother with it. I do think I'll do an engined kit in the future but at the speed I'm building it'll probably be in about 5 years time!!

Engines in kits are definitely a bonus and it is a shame that so many new kits are curbsides. It is, however, understandable that kit manufacturers decide to sacrifice this aspect of the car in order to provide a more affordable product.

It would be a nice addition to Tamiya's range if they did make models of engines and sold them as affordable individual kits. I would not mind paying a little more for an engine.

In terms of buying kits only if an engine was included? Well, I would not go that far. Tamiya has made extremely handsome curbside models. They can capture the lines of a 1:1 perfectly in 1/20/1/24.

If you like American cars then I think you are really spoilt by Revell/AMT/ERTL as they tend to have engines in all they models.