Hasegawa Mazda Savanna Rx-7 (SA22C)

In 2021 Hasegawa celebrated its 80th anniversary by releasing a large amount of new model kits.
Among the new kits was the first of the Rx-7 SA kits, which was added to the Historic Car Series.
Its brand-new tooling was based on laser scans of an actual Rx-7 and it shows: this is by far the most accurate and best detailed Rx-7 SA kit yet.
The way the model is divided into separate parts and some spare parts that were already included in the HC-43 kit suggested that there were more versions to follow and indeed a kit of the 1979 Daytona winning race car was released in December 2021.

As an aside: the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima has both a Mach Green 1978 Rx-7 Limited and a Tornado Silver Rx-7 Turbo GT in its collection.

Kit Nr. HC-43, Mazda Savanna Rx-7 (SA22C) Early Version Limited (1978)

released in Oct 2021

Despite being a kerbside model, this kit contains an impressive 142 parts, of which 9 are not used.

The floorpan comes with lots of small details molded in, separate parts add fully detailed suspension, down to the Watts linkage for the rear axle (part B4) and a complete exhaust system, including the air pipe (part F2).
Being a 1978 version, the rear brakes are well detailed drums. An unused set of rear disc brakes (parts B16, B17, C10) is also provided for future versions.

The cabin interior consists of a well detailed tub with separate side panels, a set of pedals, separate parts for shift boot, shift knob, steering column and 4-spoke steering wheel, multi-part seats on separate rails, rear bench seat, rear center console, arm rests and even the dome light (part C9) and the luggage cover in stowed position (part C11).
As this 1978 Limited version was only sold in Japan, the kit only includes a right hand drive dashboard.

The body comes with separate lower rear quarter panels and a separate lower front clip. The detailed head lights are fitted on hinge pins and can be posed opened or closed.
Door handles and all side moldings are provided as separate parts, as are some delicate brightly plated Mazda (parts X4, X8), 'Savanna Rx-7' (part X1, left hand side only) and 'Limited' (part X3) emblems, optional decals are provided to replace the emblems if so desired.

Clear parts are provided for head-, tail- and indicator lights and even some small lenses for the rear license plate lights are provided.
Door windows are separate, the rear window and rear side 'sail panel' windows are molded as a single part, the windshield is separate and comes with sun visors molded on.

The decal sheet for this kit is just as well detailed as the plastic parts are.
Apart from a full set of plaid pattern decals for the seats and a beautiful instrument cluster, decals are included for small details such as the shift pattern on the shift knob, the heater controls and radio on the center console, a set of silver strips for dashboard and door panels and much more. There are even spare decals included for instruments, badges, a full set of digits for Japanese license plates and optional striping decals for the door sills.
A set of self-adhesive paint masks is provided for the rear hatch and sail panel windows.

Body parts are molded in green, chassis and interior parts are molded in dark gray, X-parts are brightly plated and the WA-parts containing the wheels are satin plated. Tires are made out of soft TPE plastic and are generic (no markings), the thread pattern resembles that of the original Bridgestone tires.

The instruction sheet offers several 1/24 scale detail drawings to help with aligning parts, placing decals and painting details.

Some improvements I would like to suggest:

• Step 10. On a full size Rx-7 only the sail panel windows have black borders. The glass hatch itself is completely clear with only the brown heater grid visible, when closed the hatch rests on a weather strip over a satin black metal frame.
  Either paint the edges of the glass hatch in a dark gray color instead of black or use the paint mask as a template for making the frame out of plasticcard and fit that below the hatch.
  
• Step 11. Painting the console for the dome light (part C9). Only the face plate and the switches should be painted semi gloss black, the edges of the console should be painted color B, the same color as the top of the dashboard (see modified picture on the right and picture of actual console).

Apart from Mach Green, the Limited version with tan interior was also available in Spark Yellow and Sunrise Red (Aurora White came with a red interior), see the Color Overview page.

Pictures of the dashboard and interior of a 1978 Limited version can be found on the Rx-7 Interior Pictures page.

Kit Nr. HC-52, Mazda Savanna Rx-7 (SA22C) Late Version Turbo GT (1983)

released in Jul 2022

This second street version of the Hasegawa Rx-7 SA kit represents the final P132 version.
The japanese P132 version differs from export P132 versions in that its interior was not updated (apart from the steering wheel) and that a turbo-charged fuel injected 12A engine was available.
The Rx-7 Turbo GT went on sale in Japan in September 1983.

Compared to the first release these parts were changed:

• new body with updated rear
  
• AB, D, F, K and WA-frames, with all parts specific to an early X605 version, deleted
  
• new AC-frame with clear parts for tail lights and indicator lenses
  
• new L-frames with taller seat head rests
  
• new M-frame with all parts specific to a later version
  
• new Q-frame with lower part of the nose
  
• new R-frame with plated parts for emblems
  
• new T-frames with 14in tires
  
• new W-frame with brightly plated parts for tail light reflectors and door mirrors
  
• new WB-frames with satin plated wheels
  
• new decal sheet
  

In all the kit contains 151 parts of which 22 are not used.
Once again the new M and R-frames hold some unused parts that suggest a future release of yet another version.

Hasegawa made a lot of subtle changes to the kit to depict the differences between the early and late versions of the Rx-7, such as a new exhaust pipe with catalytic converters, a new lower center console, new arm rests, a new dome light console and slightly different head rests for the seats.
The new multi-layered rear light clusters are a particularly nice touch.
The new decal sheet includes decals for seat upholstry, dashboard instruments, center console (heater controls, radio dial), shift pattern for the shift knob and optional decals for the emblems.

Body parts are molded in metallic dark gray, chassis and interior parts are molded in dark gray, W-parts and X-parts are brightly plated, the R-parts and the WB-parts containing the wheels are satin plated. Tires are made out of soft TPE plastic and are generic (no markings).

The instruction sheet offers several 1/24 scale detail drawings to help with aligning parts, placing decals and painting details.

Some improvements I would like to suggest:

• Step 6. Note that the door cards and the side cushions of the seats (to be painted [116] RLM66 Black Gray) are actually covered in vinyl, so these should get a satin finish.
  
• Step 7. Before fitting the arm rests (M3,M5) to the door cards (C18,C19), consider filling and rescribing the 'ladder'-patterns as Turbo GT door cards had 4 horizontal grooves instead, see this picture.
  The lower part of the doors (to be painted [33] Flat Black) is actually covered with carpet.
  
• Step 10. On a full size Rx-7 only the sail panel windows have black borders. The glass hatch itself is completely clear with only the brown heater grid visible, when closed the hatch rests on a weather strip over a satin black metal frame.
  Either paint the edges of the glass hatch in a dark gray color instead of black or use the paint mask as a template for making the frame out of plasticcard and fit that below the hatch.
  

The intended exterior color of the kit is Tornado Silver metallic (color code K8) with a Black (color code 00) interior, see the Color Overview page.

Kit Nr. 20635, Mazda Savanna Rx-7 (SA22C) Middle Version GT (1980)

released in May 2023

This third street version of the Hasegawa Rx-7 SA kit is a limited release, it represents the P815 version.

Compared to the Turbo GT release these parts were changed:

• F-frame with exhaust parts added
  
• new N-frame with lower part of the nose without cooling slits replaces Q-frame
  
• new WC-frames with steel wheels (not plated) replace WB-frames
  
• new decal sheet
  

This version makes use of most of the parts that were already included as spares in the Turbo GT kit.
The tires are the same Bridgestone-like 13in tires that came with the Early Version.
In all the kit contains 158 parts of which 31 are not used.
The new decal sheet includes decals for dashboard instruments, center console (heater controls, radio dial, clock), shift pattern for the shift knob, mazda emblems for the hub caps, the small 'RX-7' emblem for the lock of the rear hatch and optional decals for the emblems. No decals for seat upholstry this time as the seat inserts are solid neutral gray.

Body parts are molded in metallic silver gray, chassis and interior parts are molded in dark gray, W-parts and X-parts are brightly plated, the R-frame holding the emblems is satin plated. Tires are made out of soft TPE plastic and are generic (no markings).

The instruction sheet again offers several 1/24 scale detail drawings to help with aligning parts, placing decals and painting details.
The same suggestions for improvements mentioned in the Turbo GT description above also apply to this version.

The intended exterior color of the kit is Sunbeam Silver metallic (color code K3) with a Black (color code 00) interior, see the Color Overview page.

Kit Nr. SP-618, 'Yoroshiku Mechadoc' Mazda Savanna 'Champ' Rx-7

released in October 2024

This limited edition represents the Rx-7 as featured in the "Yoroshiku Mechadoc" anime and is part of a set of car models released by Hasegawa to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Yoroshiku Mechadoc anime series.
The model is an early version Rx-7 fitted with a TWR-style front spoiler and late version rear spoiler, wheels and exhaust system.

The kit contains most of the parts of the Early Version kit (A, B, C, D, E, F, J, K, X, AA and AB parts trees), combined with the M, W, WB parts trees and tires from the Late Version kit.
A unique 3D-printed part for the front spoiler is included.
In all the kit contains 166 parts of which 48 are not used.
A new set of decals for the car driven by Nachi Wataru, owner of Speed Shop "Champ" and the now familiar set of self-adhesive paint masks for the rear hatch and sail panel windows complete the kit.

Body parts are molded in green, chassis and interior parts are molded in dark gray, W-parts and X-parts are brightly plated and the WB-parts containing the wheels are satin plated. Tires are made out of soft TPE plastic and are generic (no markings).

The instruction sheet includes a set of pictures and drawings from the Yoroshiku Mechadoc anime.