Here's my first ever plastic model! This came about after I gave my nephew in Australia a plastic kit from Frys last Xmas - I had no idea what was in the box, just thought it was a decent looking toy. I was watching him build it, and vaguely helping out, so I guess technically it was my first, and I just couldn't believe what a fantastic kit it was. It was the Tamiya Ferrari 360 Modena - no doubt one of the all time classic plastic auto kits. When I got back to the US I stumbled into a model store and came across this one - the SLR - I figured why not have a go at it? I kinda randomly chose between it and the Enzo Ferrari (!!!!), thank Dog I chose this one :grinno: I think my main motivation was just to see if it was possible to build anything remotely resembling the box artwork as we didn't do any serious painting on the Ferrari.

I actually finished it before I discovered this forum and have been too lazy to post the pics:shakehead, but I finally got around to it. I guess I was lucky to choose this kit, because although it is a very slick and beautiful kit imho, it's really sort of basic and went together very well of course, which was perfect for my first attempt.

Then I discovered automotiveforums and I was severely deflated - I just can't believe you guys, seriously, there are so many demented geniuses here. I doubt I'll ever become one of them, but I did try pretty hard with this kit - took about 2 1/2 months I think. It was too late to do a WIP but I've tried to take some pics. Yikes!, I thought modeling was hard, the photography is insane, not aided by my camera going mental on me.....

Here's my WIP, yes, painted on newspaper :banghead:
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1010899.jpg

And the first images, imagine my excitement!!!:runaround::runaround::runaround:
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011042.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011043.jpg

Crap!!! Talk about a bad paint job :shakehead Oh wait, that was just my $650 (circa 2001) camera being creative :nono:

Then I got lucky though, one camera recall and a free service later...
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011058.jpg

That's Tamiya TS-13 over TS silver, it took me a while to get the hang of this, the paint darkens up a lot when you apply the TS-13, I think it's because when you lay down the silver the flakes tend to settle on top, but the TS-13 partially redissolves the base coat and draws the color forward. At the same time it seems to "float" the metallic particles which creates an amazingly realistic finish. So I'm in love with TS-13 over TS metallics, I've since tried other combos and could not really get the same effect.

The Mercedes Star was done painstakingly with masking tape and enamel (yeh, novice) :screwy:

I painted the rear plate white and scraped back the edge for the frame...
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011059m1.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011078.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011084.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011086.jpg

I tried some outdoor shots, my photography is terrible, for every decent pic, I took 250 duds...
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011107.jpg


http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011114.jpg

Very difficult to capture the interior, it's a nice leather-look red, done by mixing gloss and flat acrylic and deliberately spraying with a bit of orange peel. It looks very good up close. I discovered this because of my poor a-b technique!
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011120.jpg

The B pillar should be silver, the instructions don't show it, but it should be - I might fix it sometime. The door sill is Alclad chrome with the SLR metal sticker on it.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011137.jpg
Unbelievably, I got all the decals on intact.
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011127.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011126.jpg

The TS-13 is deliciously shiny, I love that stuff!!!
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011156.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011160.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011161.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011166.jpg

I've started my second model now, doing a WIP for it too, will post asap.

~Mark

Simply gorgeous! For a first model it's beautifully built and finished with a great shine to it. Photography is good too...what camera do you use? Fantastic build dude, and welcome to AF

Very nice work on the model and incredibly nice photography.

For a first model: :worshippy :worshippy :worshippy
It took me ages before I could get a shine like that.
Your hood seems to sit extremely well compared to the others I've seen.
Awsome work!!

:bigthumb: If this is your first model i will love looking at your stuff in 5 years time when you have had more practice :grinyes: ,superb finish superb photos what can i say ,apart from brave shout for your first model .keep them coming and good luck
:cheers:

:eek2: :eek2: First model??????....well is a very good begining!!...your built is very clean and the finish awesome! I can't wait to see your 2nd model:grinyes:

Thias cannot be your first model - judging from what I have done back in the days. This looks really good, congratulations...I see some talent!

Hi,

Your built is really nice, I cant believe this is your first model...

Do you mean, the first SLR ???

Some people cant even do one as nice after many years.


Congrats this is an extra model.

George

Looks good for your first model! The B pillar should actually be black. An early production car had a silver b pillar, but thats it. Also, Tamiya says the windshield base (where the wipers are) should be black, but it actually should be silver, like you did. Good job.

Geez, this doesn't look like a first model! Great job, I can't wait to see what you do next.

Thanks for the comments guys, it means a lot to get some feedback.

My camera is an Olympus C5050 zoom, 5.1M I think. It's pretty old now, nothing too special, but it does have a decent size lens.

Yeh, it really is my first model, but it's a pretty easy model. Tamiya did a brilliant job, for example, the windows and tails just pop in, no glue to worry about - I know some purists hate that, but it makes it easy to eliminate mistakes.

Getting the shine is not that hard I think - the store guy sold me some micro mesh. I just put down a few progressively wetter coats of TS-13 straight from the can. The final coat needed some very minor orange peel cut off, then it's almost straight to the 12000 mesh for a great shine. I found the trick was to examine the surface carefully as you go - in good light you can easily detect when the peel is gone, then you just rub up the shine. I realise you guys know all of this of course :)

The damn hood snapped in half as I was naively exploring the strength of the plastic! To line it up perfectly, I just pushed the hood around while the glue on the hinges was setting to get in the perfect position.

Btw, I modified the star - I made it sit further back, didn't think the kit placement was correct. The real car has it well and truly tucked under the hood.

Yeh, BVC500, (I've drooled over your work btw), correct - Tamiya got the color of the frame at the wiper base wrong. I found this out by looking on ebay. And the B pillar is indeed silver - you are correct that the door frame is black. But not the B pillar - you can verify this by looking on ebay.

~Mark

Looks superb, hard to believe it's your first one, looking forward to seeing the next!

simply unreal for a first time build, such a cracking result and what a finish on your top coat too.
TS13 is a very good silver but you still have to know what your doing when appyling it, cannot congratulate you enough and welcome to one of the best modeling forums around, you'll learn a lot here from the guys.
so what is the next project Mark? and are you addicted to modeling yet? If not its only a matter of time mate!

Thanks for the comments guys, it means a lot to get some feedback.


Yeh, it really is my first model, but it's a pretty easy model. Tamiya did a brilliant job, for example, the windows and tails just pop in, no glue to worry about - I know some purists hate that, but it makes it easy to eliminate mistakes.

Getting the shine is not that hard I think - the store guy sold me some micro mesh. I just put down a few progressively wetter coats of TS-13 straight from the can. The final coat needed some very minor orange peel cut off, then it's almost straight to the 12000 mesh for a great shine. I found the trick was to examine the surface carefully as you go - in good light you can easily detect when the peel is gone, then you just rub up the shine. I realise you guys know all of this of course :)

The damn hood snapped in half as I was naively exploring the strength of the plastic! To line it up perfectly, I just pushed the hood around while the glue on the hinges was setting to get in the perfect position.


~Mark


Your first model.....yeah ok. Trouble is you talk and use terminology like you've done it for years. I have read hundreds of first time posters on here and none of them talk so confidently about the model they have built and painted. Maybe you paint cars for a living! :nono:
Anyhow, that aside the model is superb, very good paint and finish. I look forward to seeing your second model...:wink: :iceslolan

Looking really nice!! very clean

Ah, I see what you mean re: the b-pillar. Thanks for that!

Thanks Sean, after I put down the base coat I took it down to my LHS and asked them if I should just leave it like that as I thought anything else I tried would only ruin it. They said I could try Future, but I found it too runny and ended up stripping it all off :grinyes: Then I tried TS13 from the can and got a good result. The biggest issue was going through 50$ worth of paint!, it was ridiculous, I need to try decanting everything next time.

My main hobby is electric guitar, but I am addicted to this site, that's where I picked up the modeling-speak :) The actual modeling is a bit stressful because I want to murder someone every time I make a mistake, and that's a **lot** of times! Next project is already well under way, will start the WIP very soon, I didn't want to drag it out over 4 months(!), so I have waited until now. (poor etiquette I guess)

Paul, my building experience is lots of electronic gizmos and some balsa wood r/c planes and radios, etc, as a kid. Nothing like the painting or detailing in scale modeling. Are you a Barry Sheene fan? Love that guy, used to watch him on tv in Aus where he did a lot of motor-sports presenting, it was funny to watch him squirm in the chair, and his commentary was great.

~Mark

ps: look at the pic with the hood up, you can see the tabs I glued across the back of the hood because I **snapped it half** like a complete moron...

looks really nice from here.

Paul, my building experience is lots of electronic gizmos and some balsa wood r/c planes and radios, etc, as a kid. Nothing like the painting or detailing in scale modeling. Are you a Barry Sheene fan? Love that guy, used to watch him on tv in Aus where he did a lot of motor-sports presenting, it was funny to watch him squirm in the chair, and his commentary was great.

~Mark



Barry was my childhood hero and still is today. He popularised motorcycle racing when it was still a relatively unknown sport and together with KR took the sport forward and helped it become what it is today. I've heard some of his commentary for the Aus networks - it was hilarious. I'm not sure how the broadcasters managed to stay on air with some of the stuff he came out with! :iceslolan

I´m speachless, never seen that great done first model before. Very nice pictures, too! :)

Ha ha, thank you!

Sorry for this bump, but I have some more pics for you.

And, a shamelss plug for my new Ferrari 360 Modena WIP (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=768417) :naughty::naughty:

Some engine bay close ups... There's plenty of room for detail in here, CF, etc, but I'm ok with the over all level of detail. The inital work was hand painted (yuck!!!!, that was before I learnt the air brush), the painting on the valve covers is dry brushed (kinda, sorta).
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011142e.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011139.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011126e.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x97/mrmodels/Mercedes-Benz%20SLR%20McLaren/P1011093.jpg

Look like a pro to me. Nice work dude.

I can believe that this is a first build. I have seen it several times. A person new to modelling asks me which kit to build...I think "new guy, needs great kit," so I ask "What do you want to spend?" "not much, but I want a great kit." Tamiya is the only answer. I think if you were to drop some paints, and a bottle of cement in the box and shake it it would turn out nice!

You DID do a fantastic job. I really like the attention to detail. Box stock kits can yield fantastic results, as evident here.

Keep up the great work, I look forward to seeing the 360!