Last year I picked up a junk black-hooded Bluestreak, looked for an early pre-rub grey one, and eventually found it shortly before Christmas. Then I could use its windshield, doors, glasses and tyres! Then I sold my Anime Bluestreak

And here it is!









Any idea on how to unstick the black sticker of the original one without tearing it? And which paint would best imitate the original?

- Unsticking the black sticker: I suggest using camp fuel and a sharp surgical blade. The camp fuel /should/ break down the sticky glue and will quickly evaporate so that your sticker will not be soggy. I would test it first on a scrapped fairlady sticker first... If your sticker needs to be reglued, I suggest using the gluestick type. Another suggestion would be to buy those glossy round stickers in black and cut one to fit the front and just replace it.

-As for the paint, I assume you mean the translusent black that is meant to go on the T-bar roof, not the diecast hood or the plastic shoulder areas... I suggest you use an airbrush w/a black translusent water based acrylic paint. This will make clean up easier, and will not harm the plastic as an oil base might. Stay away from Tamiya or any other Enamel paint. If you wanted to repaint the diecast, use a laquer based paint. Be sure to mask your work before you spray. Always use a very sharp blade for crisp lines. Also, do not use thinners or other chemicals to clean up the existing paint since they will instantly cause crazing in the plastic which will result in making the plastic hazzy, crack, degrade, or even disolve.

But for the record, even the pre rub early TF bluestreaks have changes in the mold from the original black hooded blustreak. Behind the metal on the doors you probably will find a #2. The back windows have suttle differences as well as the main windshield iirc.

Thanks. -Himawari

Thanks for the advice. So I can't exactly match the original parts, unless maybe I use my Italian Diaclone... No
Bah, it's a restored model anyway... Not like it's mint in box...

ACTUALLY, a US pre rub would probably be closer to a diaclone than an italian "Trasformer" would be in most cases. Some exceptions would be yellow sideswipe or red tracks.... If you were to look at the mold, you can see tell tale signs of where in the timeline it fit in. So many changes happend in such a short time during late '84 and early '85.
Thanks. -Himawari

Do you include the Takara-Circle grey Bluestreaks, or only the Takara-dates? Both my pre-rub and Italian are Takara-Circle. (Edit: I need to say that I cannot look at my TFs again before next summer...)

Thanks

so are you trying to remove the black hood... shame Its since it marks it out as a 432 fairlady Z and not just a regular one

Err.. No... I'm trying to restore a black-hooded one with a pre-rub grey one, the next steps are getting the original black sticker on the new heard/windshield part, and painting the roof black.

Just as long as you don't use opaque but translucent paint, you'll be fine.
Thanks. -Himawari