Building model cars :D

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Not sure if this should have been in the car thread but hey ho :D I've not built a model since well before uni but I popped into a model shop in Glasgow and bought Tamiya's new Nissan GTR. *** a kit :D I remember building an old Revell cougar and thinking it was pants but this..... yum yum yum. anyone else a not so secret nerd :D
 
Building model cars is a great hobby, something I do when I’ve got some spare time. The Tamiya Nissan GTR is a great kit, www.hiroboy.com will kit you out with paints and supplies to build it.

Step 1 to any model car is to read the instructions, and understand the parts in front of you.

Step 2 is to then prepare the parts for assembly and painting. I normally wash ALL the parts apart from rubber tires in warm (not hot) soapy water, and then start to decide with parts to assemble BEFORE painting.

Step 3 is to inspect the body parts, and sand with 600 grit wet n dry sand paper, pay attention to the lines around roofs and bonnets etc, these are normally known as mold lines. Then again wash all parts assembled or sanded. Also, this is a good time to mock build the model, to test fitment, to ensure it all fits well. Tamiya are normally pretty spot on.

Step 4 is to prime all sub assembled and none assembled parts. I use a good old fashioned can of ‘plastic bumper’ automotive grey primer. Its cheap and easy to use.

Step 5 is to decide on colour choices, and decide if you want to use airbrush or spray cans for the body panels, and seats, interior etc. Try not to brush paint if you can, its looks naff on model cars.

Step 6 is to then dry fit all parts, when painted to test for fitment and see where you need to sand off paint to allow for glue, or if not possible where to use Super glue or two part resin glues.

Step 7 is to start assembly….

Sounds easy, but this is the basic steps. Basic tools –

00 – 04 paint brushes.
Super Glue
Plastic glue
Spray primers
Spray paints
Model paints
Model knife
Plastic cutters
600 – 1200 grit sandpaper – wet n dry
Tweezers
Face mask for when spraying
Decent lamp
Masking tape – Tamiya is the best to get

Ooh sure I’ve forgotten something.

Oh and my website for some ideas –

http://michael616.fotopic.net/
 
Wow, thanks for the reply IV!!! I actually had a bit of spare cash and bought a badger airbrush and a pretty cool compressor :DDD Got a few essentals such as sanding sticks and such. I'll maybe post my results in the horror section :D

Just visited your web site. more of a model engineer I'd say :D Excellent stuff, very inspiring. I bought an eduard hellcat kit as well as it looked cool. Got home and discovered their are two full kits plus markings and photo etch :D superb stuff
 
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I am currently building a Ferrari F1 model:D
Although its peed me off slightly lately, as the wheels weren't pushing in, only 1 actually stuck on properly, so I had to glue the others on:(
But will make sure I don't make the same mistakes on my next model!
 
Kimmi rocks :D I can see myself getting into this:D Got to find time between mountain biking, guitar, girlfriend and work.
 
i used to build the rally cars, got a few real nice ones.

might build a couple more now the weather is rubbish/dark nights are getting here
 
The Nissan GTR is a quality product if that's a useable yardstick. Even the packaging is super slick. £29.99 of your earth currencies
 
LordSplodge said:
Depends what you want to do with it. The TT01 that I had has been superceeded and is only really good for drifting. I raced mine though! :p
Click to expand...


I had a TT-01, stupidly spent loads on hopups and then decided it wasnt for me, hated the way it drove. I mainly run a Tamiya Mini now, few choice mods and its uberfun:D
 
Tamiya still do sell some quality 1/24 model car kits.... If you want a high detailed plastic kit from a box, then pick up a Tamiya Ferrari Enzo or Tamiya Mercedes SLR. Very nice kits, and you'd do well to source out their Tamiya Modena 360 or F40 kits as well. Best plastic kits your money will buy...

Their Rally kits are superb, but sadly Tamiya do not release new kits all that quick, so lag behind in terms of recent sports or road going cars.. Shame, as they are still the best you can buy for sub £30.
 
ive recently got back into doing these, i had a week away house sitting so it passed some time.

didnt realise just how good people can do these, ive always used brushes for all painting but recently picked up a cheapish spray set just to give it a go and will get a good one if its as good as im hoping.

as a rule do people remove the parts from the moulds prior to painting as ive always left the attached until done for ease of painting if so how do you paint them do people use some sort of stand/clamp system??

does anyone have a good guide to how to get a great paint finish on all the tiny detailed parts?

cheers

Gary
 
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