The pictures on this page are meant as reference material for building the Fujimi RX-8 model kits.
Fujimi sofar only made models of early Japanese versions of the RX-8 (Series 1, 2003-2008), this page is limited to pictures and descriptions of versions that Fujimi made models of.
The pictures on this page were either scanned from dealer brochures or copied from the Newsroom section of mazda.com, all picture copyrights reside with Mazda Corporation, Japan.
I've made a start with listing paint codes, I plan to add more (2005-2008) but will limit listings to what was available in Japan.
For a polystyrene model kit it is usually best to apply a suitable primer base coat (e.g. Tamiya gray or white primer) and then apply a thin top coat of automotive paint, I've added all Motip/Dupli-Color Auto-Color matches I could find, as I get very good results using this paint on car model kits.
I've provided some model paint alternatives just in case model paint is preferred, I plan to add more whenever I find good matches.
Please note that these are close matches, rather than exact matches.
Zero Paints offers a range of automotive scale model paints that are accurately matched to more recent Mazda paint codes, including most of the paint codes listed on this page.
Production of the RX-8 started in April 2003 with the production of export models starting a few months later. This makes that there is a Japan-only 2003 model year.
The red RX-8 in the pictures is a US specs version, but there are no obvious external differences between the Japanese version and the export versions.
In 2004 the following exterior paint colors were available:
| color name | color code | sample | closest model paint | Motip | remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning Yellow | A4J | Tamiya TS-47 | |||
| Brilliant Black | A3F | 0-0550 | |||
| Velocity Red mica | 27A | Tamiya TS-39 | |||
| Winning Blue metallic | 27B | Tamiya TS-50 | actual color is prone to fading | ||
| Nordic Green mica | 27C | ||||
| Titanium Gray metallic II | 29Y | Tamiya TS-42 | 70-0211 | ||
| Sunlight Silver metallic | 22V | Tamiya TS-83 | 10-0132 |
Base color for the RX-8 interior was usually charcoal (very dark gray, often referred to as black).
Right from the start the interior was offered with some colorful options, such as full two-tone leather like the red-black interior shown below, or with color accents in the seats or the cap over the binnacle in color instead of black such as the yellow-black interior shown below.
Note that the car with the yellow-black interior was actually a prototype, but this interior color scheme ended up being offered on production versions.
Apart from two-tone interiors the upholstry could also be ordered in charcoal colored cloth or with dark gray alcantara seat inserts (i.e. the red parts in the two-tone interior).
The backs of the front seats were usually hard plastic shells that came in a metallic gray finish, apart from some special editions.
The side edges of the center console usually came with a 'brushed aluminum' finish.
Roof liner was always in a pale gray, almost white, color.
Some close-up pictures of the instrument cluster, center console and shift levers to help with detailing the Fujimi kits.
This Japanese domestic version was based on the Type S model. A lefthand drive version of similar specs was also offered in the US as 'Shinka'.
The 2005 version was available with exclusive Radiant Ebony/Black Cherry mica (28W) paint and came with a 'sand'-black interior with beige alcantara seats.
Note that the seats fitted had no hard shell backs and the center console had no brushed aluminum sides, more subtle differences were leather-wrapped steering wheel, shift knob and handbrake lever.
The US also got a 2006 edition of the Shinka that was offered in exclusive colors such as Black Cherry mica (28W) and Copper Red (32V).
The Sports Prestige Limited and Shinka versions were fitted with suspension enhancements including different springs and yellow Bilstein dampers.
More details on the Sports Prestige Limited version can be found in the Newsroom section of mazda.com.
| color name | color code | sample | closest model paint | Motip | remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brilliant Black | A3F | 0-0550 | |||
| Radiant Ebony mica | 28W | 150-0160 | |||
| Titanium Gray metallic II | 29Y | Tamiya TS-42 | 70-0211 |
There were several different versions of the RX-8 Hydrogen RE tested and used, these images show the cars that are closest to the Fujimi kits.
The Mazdaspeed enhanced RX-8 was a limited edition based on the Type S model and was introduced in December 2003. It was available through all Mazda Rotary dealers.
The RX-8 Mazdaspeed version was only available finished in either Sunlight Silver metallic or Strato Blue mica (a unique color only offered on this model).
More details on this special edition can be found in the Newsroom section of mazda.com
As production of the original Mazdaspeed version reached its planned limit of 300 cars, an RX-8 Mazdaspeed version II was offered in August 2004 of which another 180 were produced.
The Fujimi RX-8 Version II kit can be used to recreate either version.
| color name | color code | sample | closest model paint | Motip | remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunlight Silver metallic | 22V | Tamiya TS-83 | 10-0132 | ||
| Strato Blue mica | 25E | Tamiya TS-53 |
The Mazdaspeed RX-8 shown on the Fujimi Mazdaspeed RX-8 A-Spec box top was actually a prototype that was displayed at the January 2003 Tokyo Auto Salon (even before the RX-8 was put into production), as can be seen in this picture:
The Mazdaspeed RX-8 B-Spec was introduced at the 2004 Tokyo Auto Salon, it was designed to handle the demands of circuit racing.
It was fitted with cooling parts suited to continuous hard driving and a high performance suspension that ensures stable handling even during high-speed cornering.
An upgraded clutch for better torque transmission, a sports-tuned muffler that provides improved exhaust efficiency along with a deep, sporty sound, revised suspension bushes and 19-inch forged aluminum MS-01 wheels complete the package.
The parts in the Fujimi Mazdaspeed RX-8 A-Spec kit do resemble the production B-Spec version.
