The resin bits from Hobby Design are very detailed and go together well. The engine is very well detailed with two PE sheets; the kit also includes everything you need to convert Tamiya's curbside S2000, such as firewall, radiator, etc.
The engine block consists of five resin parts, the transmission another four. The PE sheet includes a four-part clutch assembly which I didn't bother putting in -- perhaps I'll keep it for a future display engine.
The accessory drives consist of nine pieces. A better instruction sheet would be useful here. The serpentine belt is well described but it is up to you to make one (I used Tamiya tape sliced thin and painted).
Other bits include the inlet (2 resin pieces plus PE bits), two motor mounts, starter motor, oil filter, a three-piece exhaust system, and two radiator hoses. All of it is very well done, and there doesn't seem to be any serious problem with mold release agents.
The suspension bits culled from the S2000 are up to the usual Tamiya standards.
It all fits in the S600 tub, albeit with a lot of cutting of inner fenderwells and the firewall.
Many aftermarket wheels are 18 scale inches and up, and are way out of proportion to the S600 body. Most of the spares in my parts bin are likewise much too big. These 16" wheels and Yokohama tires came from Hobby Design and are an excellent fit. Luckily the S2000 discs and calipers fit nicely inside the rims. These sorts of things can also be had from Scale Productions in Germany, where you will find BBS wheels suitable for hotted up GTIs.
The real issue will be covering the wheels and devising a big enough hood bulge.
A tight fit ... a good thing I wasn't trying to shoehorn a blown Chevy small block into this engine bay. The valve cover, inlet and air filter will all poke through the existing hood.
So with the easy part done (the drivetrain), now I have to figure out flared fenders. One option is to slice the fenders off along the seam, and pull the whole body side out. (Another donor kit could also provide new body parts, at a cost). This would create a very cool custom look, at a significant risk of wrecking the body.
Another option will be to see if I can steal fenders from somewhere else ... I have a Heller kit of the Renault R5 Turbo which is very poorly detailed and which I flung to the back of the closet once I opened it up -- I was disappointed at not finding the usual Heller level of detail. So one option is to carve out at least the fat rear fenders from the R5 and trim to fit. The look would be aggressive Euro saloon car racer, somewhat like the Audi S1. Decisions, decisions ...
To be continued ... the build-off ends June 1.
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