Tamiya 1/24 Epson NSX 2005

I started this kit last year as a fun "break" from my super-detailed 1/24 250 GTO project, saying I would build it OOB with a few details. Unfortunately I don't know how to build anything OOB anymore. :uhoh:

I don't really know anything about the JGTC. I picked this car because I liked the livery. I am a graphic/web designer during the day and I have used many Epson printers. :p Stupid reason, I know.

Anyway, to the model...
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/TM24287.jpg
Aftermarket: Tamiya PE set, Crazy Modeler PE set (for Arta NSX), Zero Paints Epson blue paint

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_7941.jpg
Body coated with Zero gray primer after attaching the front wheel arches, hood louvres, filling and sanding.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_7942.jpg
I drilled out any molded rivets or bolt heads. I will replace them with machined or PE parts after the body is painted.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_7944.jpg
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8175.jpg
I thinned the back of the front fender/wheel arches. I ended up breaking this one 3 times while painting and sanding. :crying: I finally inserted a metal pin to fix it for good.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_7946.jpg
I thinned the edges of the front diffuser(?). Painted semi-gloss black waiting for CF decals.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_7947.jpg
I drilled out the dashboard and added missing detail. (I owe inspiration and reference here to Macio's Arta NSX: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=1053906 )

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8129.jpg
Finished brakes, painted with Alclads. Added the Tamiya PE parts.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_7855.jpg
I decided early on that the kit parts that hold up the rear spoiler were way too thick and had to be replaced. I started by making each piece with sheet styrene.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8132.jpg
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8136.jpg
My parts VS. the kit part. Testing the fit with Scale Hardware rivets.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8174.jpg
This is the latest picture I have of the body after adding Zero white primer. I have since added many layers of Zero pure white.

That's all for now. Tomorrow I'll show my progress on the cockpit. I hope by posting this thread it will motivate me to FINISH it!

jmtomservo - like what you have done - I will follow this thread so I have some ideas when I build my Epson - John

Will be following this, can't wait to see more, the brake discs look good

Oh and remember to drill a hole for the antenna on the roof before painting, it will save you from much stress

Oh and remember to drill a hole for the antenna on the roof before painting, it will save you from much stress

Thanks for the tip, Shadow. The hole is drilled, just not visible in the photos probably.

Here are some more shots of the work I've done...

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8169.jpg
I sprayed some Alclad aluminum through mesh ribbon to get the CF pattern on the seat. As you can see it is very wavy, but looks pretty good. (But will be almost invisible on the finished model.)

Here are some shots of the cockpit tub. My first time using CF decals.
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8246.jpg
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8245.jpg
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8249.jpg
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8247.jpg
I am just dry-fitting the shifter in these pics.

Dashboard with Scale Motorsports CF decal applied.
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8251.jpg

Starting work on the steering wheel...
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8252.jpg
I removed the molded knobs and switches and drilled holes for replacements. CF pattern is from spraying through plastic mesh. I will apply clear coat and then paint the flat-black grips.
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8254.jpg

That is all for now. I am preparing to spray the blue body parts and finish the rest of the CF decal work and then I'll start clear coating and start adding hardware to the interior: switches, wiring, seat harness.

jmtomservo - carbon looks very well done for your first time - what type of mesh are you using for the "spray" carbon look? - john

if is your first time using cf decals really it's very very well done...please wich brand cf decals are using you?.Waiting for more updates.
thanks.

Your cf work, from the decals to spray, are both amazing!

Carbon fiber is never straight and most of the time it does look like on your seat. So really it actually looks more realistic than if you sprayed the pattern straight. Also the sprayed cf fooled me fore decals. Keep it up!!

Thanks for your comments, everyone.

John18d: Here is the mesh I've been using:
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/mesh.jpg
The red mesh is some sort of gift-wrapping ribbon I stole from a Christmas gift. The black is the typical mesh that comes in Tamiya kits. The calipers in the pic are set to 10mm.

sebasoakley: So far I've only been using Scale Motorsport 1/24 twill weave. I tried a sheet from Hobby Design but it didn't stick at all. May give it another try with some Microscale liquid decal film and plenty of micro sol, but I don't have high hopes.

MidMazar: Thanks for the tip. I think the best application of the mesh CF came out on the shifter "knob" using the red mesh. Of course you can barely see it in the pics... but that's a good thing to me, it actually looks in scale.

The cockpit looks really good, I like the contrast between the floor and the carbon, what paint did you use for the floor?

the adjustable rear wing support is a nice touch :)

The cockpit looks really good, I like the contrast between the floor and the carbon, what paint did you use for the floor?

The interior is plain old Tamiya X-18 acrylic semi gloss black. I've have a lot of trouble with it looking metallic on this model, though. Almost looks like gunmetal in person. I think it has something to do with using too much thinner (i switch between 91% alchohol and tamiya x20A) and using too much pressure? Or I could have accidentally mixed in some metallic paint (not cleaning the airbrush enough)? :banghead: Not sure yet...

Anyway, I plan on sealing the tub with 2k clear and then masking it off so I can spray some flat clear on the non-CF parts again. Hope I don't mess it up.

Phenomenal work! :worshippy

Rob

jmtomservo - thanks for showing the forum your "carbon making" materials - John

Quick update:

Progress has been slow because I had some trouble painting the body. I thought I had a good base coat of white, but when I started to paint the Epson blue it revealed some strange areas that looked very smooth, almost wet. I think what happened is there was some polishing compound left over where I had used it to smooth some tricky spots on the hood. The blue paint reacted and created a weird, inconsistent finish, no matter how many coats I tried. I didn't want to risk any similar reactions with the clear coat, so I stopped and started to sand away the trouble areas and cleaned the body several times and then sprayed again with a few lights coats of white primer to get a more even base to try the blue again.

White base coat, masked off:
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8384.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8382.jpg

Building up mist coats:
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8388.jpg

Notice the darker spots on the fenders:
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8389.jpg

Right now I'm waiting for the body to dry (after another cleaning) so I can mask it off and try the blue again. But there is some good news, though, the blue went fine onto all the small body parts, and I've applied 2K clear to the "snorkel" and sideview mirrors (because they don't have decals). The snorkel needs some polishing, but the blue looks great - perfect match for the kit decals.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8859.jpg

I also clear-coated the seat, masked it off, and painted the flat black surface. Too bad the CF will be almost invisible to see inside the cockpit. :(

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8858.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8857.jpg

jmtomservo - that carbon "spray" job you did on that seat came out fantastic - sorry to hear about your difficulties with painting the body. I have a suggestion though - whenever I have had to polish or sand between painting on a part especially large parts I use PPG "acryli-clean" - it is a silicone-wax-degreaser-remover - even fingerprints can screw up paint work. Finger prints have amino-acids in them that leave a "greasy" print - that is why I wear nitrile gloves once I start to apply the primer and then paint and then clearcoat. Also you want to be sure that the moisture "water" is removed from your spray equipment before spraying and if your system is contaminated with silicone, that you use a few drops of "fisheye eliminator" - it really is worth the precaution when you consider how much work it is the correct poor paint results. Anyhow - looks like you're back on track and all is looking good - John

wow. that is one amazing CF job! definitely a shame it'll be hidden from view once the kit is done. looking forward to the rest of the build!

:biggrin: Progress! I've re-painted the body this weekend and it looks much better now. Used Zero Epson blue and gloss black. I'll let it continue gassing off for another day before I do the first coat of clear. Can't wait to start decaling!

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8863.jpg
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8873.jpg
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8875.jpg

Dry fitting...
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n519/jmtomservo/Automotive%20Forums/Epson%20NSX%202005/IMG_8878.jpg

jmtomservo - the paint and masking work looked like they paid off - very nice work. Did you use the instructions to determine the masking or did you use the decals to decide where to mask?? - Thanks - John

Hi John, thanks for the comment. I used the instructions and some of the decals. The masking on the sides was pretty straight forward, but I cut out the decals that go on the front and the rear because those were more tricky. Luckily, the stripe decals are pretty large so it seems like there is plenty of "wiggle room" to get the line right. At least, I hope so. ;)

-John

from the decals to spray, are both amazing!

Great CF work and clear coat on those small parts. I wish you luck in the rest of the built and I am happy that my ARTA build has helped you a bit.

Fantastic work there! CF looks fairly "easy" to do by looking at those pics, so thats gave me some confidence!

Keep the updates coming pretty please :)

That looks absolutely amazing! Love the CF work on the seat and your masking is really nice and sharp. Great inspiration for a noob like me! Thanks!

Very nice work throughout and that seat came out looking fantastic..!!! You seem to have overcome the troubles with the body painting and your masking job looks flawless. You can actually apply clear coat over the Zero paints after 20-30 minutes, no need to let it 'gas out' but it won't hurt it to leave it for a few days. Look forward to seeing the decals applied..

Hey - just so you all know what an excellent job John has been doing on this build - the seat is not a CF decal job - he painted that. John has shown some really excellent painting and masking skills on this build - I for one have learned a lot from this and I know my work will be improving just from watching this thread.

Great job John

regards
John