Just bought my first kit in long while

[slomax]

Well it was my birthday on tuesday, and so with some of the funds i recieved, i headed into town today to visit my local model shop, determined to return home with a kit.

As i did when i was younger, i spent what must have been the best part of an hour choosing which kit i wanted to have a go at building. I have always done aeroplanes in the past, but wanted to build a car and have a bit of a challenge. I had heard that the Tamiya kits were good quality and quite detailed, so headed straight to that section of the shop.I eventually decided on one of these-



Then came the paint selection- Being used to enamel paints, i stuck with what i was familiar with and went for a selection of Humbrol enamel paints, a couple of nice paint brushes and some other bits and bobs.

I really am surprised at the quality of these Tamiya kits, Whe i got home and started to have a proper look at the construction and quality, as well as the detail, I am really very surprised. Nearly all of the kits that i have built before have been the usual budget airfix ones, but this is fantastic! And it wasn't that much more than the other bog standard manufacturers. The kit itself cost about a tenner, and all told including some turps and glue came to about £20.

I had completely forgotten how enjoyable kit building is and although it can be very difficult to remain patient and keep a steady hand at times, it is something i should do more often.

I will take a few pics as the build progresses and post them up on here so you can see how i will be getting on and give me a few helpful hints and tips as and when i need them. Any pre-build/general advice would be wonderful though!

THANKS!!

[Eric Mc]

Best of luck. Tamiya have been producing excellent kits for at least 40 years. That Seven dates from the mid 70s but is still as crisp and neat as it was when it first came out.

[slomax]

I hope someone can help mehere as i'm struggling a little bit on one thing. The kit is going together beautifully and i am being pretty dull and trying to make it as detailed as i can be bothered. BUT i am having difficulty getting a really nice body paint finish.

I initially gave the Body an undercoat of matt white enamel. The Gloss red Enamel that i have just doesnt seem to be getting a nice smooth shiny even surface. it is not of uniform colour and has bubbles in it, even though i stir the paint slowly, not shake it like many people do. It just seems to make the model look a bit shabby and not taken care over. So, what is the drill for a really smooth Gloss hand painted enamel finish?

I would prefer not to strip it back to the plastic, but if it is what is needed then it will be done to get a nice finish!

Many thanks!

Niall

I will post some pics up of progress soon....

[slomax]

Right, so this is where i am up to so far...











Any hints/tips, especially regariding the body paint finish would be apreciated!

Many thanks
Niall

[Eric Mc]

I presume you are brush painting?

Although a good finish can be obtained with a brush (I used one for years), you cannot beat a spray finish.

The normal procedure is to prime the bodywork first. I use Halfords grey or white aerosol primer. This is acrylic base and goes on really well. After the primer is laid on, I will lighly sand back the primer using a very fine sanding cloth - such as 3600 or 4000 grade micromesh.

The top colour is then sprayed on either using an aerosol or, for me nowadays, with an airbrush.

If you are not happy with the finish you have obtained by using a brush, I would advocate letting the current finish dry really hard and then sand it right back almost until the plastic shows through. I would then lightly spray some grey or white Halford's primer - leave that for a day, then sand that back and spray the desired top coat.

The key to spraying is multiple light mistings with adequate time for each misted layer to dry before applying the next coat.

[Gokartmozart]

Echo Eric's comments.


A good guide from Hiroboy, a great site for car model related stuff.

http://www.hiroboy.com/catalog/paint_guide.php

[Evangelion]

Try thinning the paint a little, and use more coats. I thin my paint almost as much for brushing as I do for spraying.

[stevep944]

I'd echo using Halfords plastic primer and top coat spray cans, then micromesh polishing cloth and Autoglym car polish..
See my recent Ferrari 288 GTO thread below; like you its the first kit I've built in years and I am really pleased with the bodywork finish.
It should be finished in the next day or so so I'll put up some more pics then.

[PeetBee]

That's looking fantastic. I was bought that kit a couple of years back and haven't started it yet. You've inspired me to start now though!

[Skodaku]

Hmmm. Just reminded me that somewhere in my stash I have a Tamiya 1/12 scale Caterham Super Seven BDR kit. It's in the "Master Coachworks" series and has proper alloy panels etc. Must dig it out and get it under way. Link here if you've never seen the kit :

www.scalereplica.com/workbench/car-sub-menu/caterh...

There was also a Caterham Super Seven JPE in the same series. Neither kit is in current production so it's e-Bay or luck. They seem to go for around £100 - £130. Also worth trying a net search as they seem to be available in Hong Kong etc, (where I ordered mine from a couple of years ago). Rather fine kit.

[dr_gn]

I think you have done a great job on the mechanical components, but I agree with Eric about the body finish, although rather than letting them harden completely, I'd dunk them in brake fluid for a few days to remove the paint, wash in detergent with a toothbrush, then spray them.

Whatever you decide to do (repaint or not), it will look good when it's complete.