*Inexpressable Joy!*

[Twist]

Guiddy, Primera Man, SS2K, (alphabetical order)

Guess what? I went to my local toy and hobby to look for car models. I was thinking that I'd have to settle for some non-Japanese kit or maybe a Tamiya of a model that wasn't what I wanted (Tamiya doesn't make a rally lancer evo) In any case, I was looking and behold! A Hasegawa Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI GSR Rally Edition (whew). It was imported from Japan and only cost 1 cent more than at Hobby Link Japan (Thanks SS2K!). It was imported back in October of 1999!! I didn't have the money at the time, but got them to hold it for me til monday. I'm sooo excited. To think, I'll not so soon (i'm an amateur remember) have a completed Lancer! Well, I'll probably need you guys help along the way. Guiddy's post on the Subaru WRX looks to be very helpful. Whaddya think I'll have to shell out for paints (I have none)?

P.S. You're probably saying to yourselves, "Oh joy Another newbie to explain stuff too." I wil try to keep my questions intelligent and quick...
In closing here's a pic...

[primera man]

Go back to the shop and ask to see the instructions.
In there it well tell you what paints you well need.
Looks like you well need a couple of spray cans(red/blue) and then some enamel paint pots like black/silver/red etc etc.
Get some really good paint brushes. A small one for detail work,a larger one for other bits and maybe a bigger one again to cover some of the bigger stuff you cant spray.

Dont forget the glue....lol

[Twist]

I looked at the instructions at the shop, but through the saran wrap stuff. When I go back on monday to get the kit, I'll get them to help me with the paint. I already have the glue (left over from my model airplane days.) I've never actually done painting work on a model (save a little on a Gundam model.) I think I'll do a little thing like Guiddy and post my progress so you guys can comment. Overall, do you do most of the painting before glueing? (does that have an e or not?). In any case, after I'm done with this kit, whomever helps me gets a free drawing! Maybe that'll help (not that you guys aren't nice enough w/o incentive)!

[Jay!]

Originally posted by Twist
...(Tamiya doesn't make a rally lancer evo) ...

I can't figure out why you keep saying that. I know I've seen them.

Evo V
Evo VI

And if you don't like those particular paint schemes, do a search for decals by Studio 27, and there will be a set for almost every Lancer ever... :flash:

[Twist]

I just meant the one I like. I mean no disrespect to Tamiya. When I was at Hobby Link Japan, I didn't have much time. The Hasegawa version I did find was the one I like the most. I didn't see any Tamiya's right off (that and it took me a while to find out that the rally cars are in the race section) In any case... I have done some looking around and I definitely like the one I found. Especially how you can have real cloth seat belts (but at the cost of a turnable wheels) But now I have a Lancer

[primera man]

Originally posted by Twist
Overall, do you do most of the painting before glueing?

Do almost all of it before you start to glue.

Clean up most of the parts while they are still on the "trees" like molding lines etc. Then try and spray most of the parts that you can while they are still attached.

Or.....(an example being an engine)...if most of the engine parts are to be one colour...assemble most of it first then paint it all as one piece.

[Twist]

So from what I've read and know from previous experience I'll need this supplies, right?

1) Model Kit (duh!)
2) Glue (will plastic cement do or do i need superglue too?)
3) Hobby Knife
4) Brushes (fine, medium and broad)
5) Sand Paper (1200 and 800 grade?)
6) Paint (Spray and pot paint)

Any thing else? Do you think I could get most of this stuff for under $20 excluding model?

[Jay!]

Check out the glue article I linked to in here. It helps.

Also, for the record, I have found Tamiya acrylic paint in spray cans and bottles the easiest stuff to work with. You can't beat water clean-up. I always junked things up so bad with enamels.

[Twist]

OFF TOPIC!!!
AVATAR!!! WHOOO!!!!!
Sorry...
ON TOPIC!!!
How long does it take you on average to complete a kit?

[Jay!]

Originally posted by Twist
How long does it take you on average to complete a kit?

My fastest: 3 weeks
My slowest: August 1999 - present... still working

I'm easily distracted.

[Guiddy]

The best EVO would be built using the parts from both Hazegawa and Tamiya, as the belts and photoetch is superb in the Hazegawa kit, yet the body and ancillaires are better in Tamiya's kit.
Tamiya use better molds too, less flash. Overall, the Tamiya kit would be better for a first timer, but you could do much worse than the one you are getting!

AVOID glues in the tubes like the plague!

You want the Revell glue in a bottle for sticking unpainted parts together, a crystal clear water soluable glue for clear parts and basic assembly, and then a good super glue like Zap for strength on parts like suspension etc.
Sorry to sound expensive, but it is the only way to get the best results!

[Twist]

what would the price be for all the stuff you mentioned and the stuff I had on my list?

[Guiddy]

Looking at about £6 on glue.
£20 total!
You may want to add some needle files to you list too!
I have built up my stuff over years, but I must have something like £200 worth of paints, £100 of that in just cans of auto paint!
But I have been moddeling for 15 years!

[MercCougarXR7]

Modeling is no place to cheap out - if you do, your model will show it despite your hard work.

Some other tools I use are a tiny pair of side cutters, to cut parts out of the trees. That way, it's easier to use the hobby knife and trim the parts. I had a few thumb cuts before I learned to do it this way though !

I have started taking parts out of the trees before I paint though - such as engine parts. Since all I've done so far are RearWheelDrive (RWD) or RearEngine vehicles, I take all the engine parts (such as block, heads, intake, and sometimes tranny) and glue them together and paint them as one unit, so there are no lines as to where one part's paint started and stopped.

Most of all, ENJOY doing the work - it should never be a chore that has to be done. While looking at a completed model is nice, the real fun in modeling is the process. Don't work on a kit if you are tired or in a bad mood. It's too easy to screw something up that you'll kick yourself for later.

Good luck, and have fun!

[Twist]

Originally posted by Guiddy
The best EVO would be built using the parts from both Hazegawa and Tamiya, as the belts and photoetch is superb in the Hazegawa kit, yet the body and ancillaires are better in Tamiya's kit.

You can do this? I didn't think that competing companies would use interchangable parts. I realize of course that they have to be the same scale. In any case, I don't think I'll do the hybrid this time. I figure I'll have enough trouble with the one kit i've got. That and I've only got enough money for the necessities. The part I'm most confused about is painting. If you do the spraypaint and such when everything is still in tree form wouldn't the little parts where the parts are attached to the tree not have paint? What do you do there? Overall, I am definitely looking forward to having a Lancer Evo in my room!