Tamiya Model Kits

PiKe · 26 Dec 2011 at 23:39

I was bought an S2000 model for Christmas, having never done a plastic kit before I was after a few tips.

Firstly there's a lot of different paint codes in the instructions, presumably they will be needed during some point in the build? Is it best to paint to parts before I remove them from sprue? Obviously I need to take my time and do it a bit at a time, how long should a full build take?

Thanks

arknor · 26 Dec 2011 at 23:40

weeks i'd paint them whenever they need painting

i did some model aeroplanes as a child and just painted them at the end but i can imagine some parts of a car need painting as you go

Tom0 · 26 Dec 2011 at 23:42

I'd paint them all before gluing anything incase i couldn't work my brush into any little gaps (FNAR).

OCD

atpbx · 26 Dec 2011 at 23:43

Some parts its good to leave on the sprue, usually the smaller ones.

Clothes pegs are handy too,

Windle · 26 Dec 2011 at 23:48

Ditch pot paints and invest in a sprayer, makes life 8million times easier

bitslice · 27 Dec 2011 at 00:29

Get some really find sandpaper and make a perfect job of removing the sprue, seen too many models where people just don't bother. Same with cleaning up each part, not all mouldings are perfect.

Pity you only have the one model to make as Windle is correct, thin your paint right down to avoid loading up each part with paint, otherwise to scale it will be an inch thick

The glue melts the plastic, so only use the minimum required, and keep your hands clean.
Make a case to stop grubby plebs from picking your model up

Werewolf · 27 Dec 2011 at 01:57

Windle said:
Ditch pot paints and invest in a sprayer, makes life 8million times easier

Aye, especially if you're doing mainly things that can either be masked and sprayed before assembly, or masked after assembly

Although it's best to get a decent AB to start off with, or at least one you can get spare for easily

(Harder and Steenbeck do a starter brush for about £50).

Pike, IIRC the Tamaya paint codes can be translated to other brands of paint fairly easily as some people prefer one type (or even brand) of paint over others (acrylics, enamels etc).

Shayper · 27 Dec 2011 at 02:08

I have a partially metal F40 kit lying about somewhere that I keep meaning to finish.

Read *start*.

DaTinz · 27 Dec 2011 at 12:06

If you are going to use Tamiya paints, I would echo the advice given above: get an airbrush. Tamiya paints do not brush paint well at all. Even a cheap and nasty airbrush is better at laying down seamless paint than even the best hand brushing.

GeezerButler · 27 Dec 2011 at 13:40

Paint conversion resource here:

http://www.paint4models.com/paintchart/paintconversionchart20100101c.html#