ARTA NSX 2005 - Tamiya - 1/24

All cabling is finally done. Lots of work, some problems with glueing floor experienced. Luckilly behind the seat. Seat dry fitted only, gear knob decaled with carbon fiber. I hope that next photo session will be better...

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/37.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/38.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/39.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/40.jpg

Squeaky clean! :bigthumb:

Coming along very nicely

Just gorgeous, and oh so clean!

Seat and air intake clearcoated. This time it is U-pol 2K. It's OK but not as great as expected or my painting skills are not enough to achieve satisfacory results. I have just purchased Dupont 3750s so you will see next painting experiments soon.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/43.jpg

In the meantime I decided to correct front wing/chassis. I used Tamiya epoxy putty to dull screw hole and Finishers two part putty for final corrections.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/41.jpg

I rushed the whole process too much and in the end putty has settled AFTER it has been painted semi-gloss black. So I had to start sanding again... :banghead:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/42.jpg

The seat and intake still look good. Probably just needs a slight polishing. Nice cf work. Shame about the putty but at least it's not too hard to fix.

This time I kept patient...

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/46.jpg

In the meantime I have decaled side skirts and the next step will be 2K

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/47.jpg

Going back to the interior. Bucket seat is painted with matt black. Seatbelt material provided by Tamiya is a crap - something plastic-fantastic :banghead:
So I created my own Takata material - silk ribbon painted with Tamiya Park Green. It gives right shadow.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/44.jpg

Now it is time for dashboard. I have only few pics and one game render...

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/ref5.jpg

This is what Tamiya gives you to simulate switches and controls:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/45.jpg

I will use only switches descriptions and make my own with Hobby Design knobs and switches.

I have started drawing a stencil (Corel) to make perfect aligned holes:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/45a.jpg

Nest step is to print, cut and glue stencil to the panel. It should help a lot to drill holes right.

I have just run out of printer ink so you have to watch next update to see the results :grinno:

I've always thought the way to judge a modeller is to look at how he treats the simpler, less detailed and less part containing kits.

I have to say you put more effort into this curbside than I do with a kit that has all the bits in it.
Bravo.

wow I have to subscribe to this, Only word that comes to my mind is precision. Very inspiring and I cant wait to see your dash work.

I really appreciate your kind comments. Thank you!
They give me great motivation and inspiration. I hope that you will like my next ideas on this model.

simply put, AMAZING
i like the fact that you have taken it to the next level in detail with a JGTC kit. i rarely see this happen.

Great skills, interior looks absolutely great so far

WOW!!!

This is VERY,VERY nice build...

I have had to correct stencil and finally managed to drill all holes. It worked out flawlessly.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/48.jpg

Next step was to build antennas (I believe those 3 rods on the dash are antennas, correct me if I am wrong). This is 0,5mm rod and PE tire balancing weights used as antenna's support.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/50.jpg

1 grosz is a bit smaller than 1 euro cent. :)

That how it looks now dry fitted:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/49.jpg

While everything was drying I have added steering shaft missing in Tamiya kit

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/51.jpg

I love the stencil idea you used for the dash, was it difficult to get the correct scale? or were you able to get it right on the first try?

I love the stencil idea you used for the dash, was it difficult to get the correct scale? or were you able to get it right on the first try?

No it wasn't that bad. I have measured basic dimensions and draw it in Corel. I took wrong measurements at the first time :banghead: and that's why I have had to correct first drawing.

With some quick tries in Corel I managed to get right stencil. It took me like half an hour.


Some progress pics - I have managed to finish seatbelts. It was a real patience test :) Belt material is a silk ribbon painted with Tamiya Park Green. Takata logo is a part of a Tamiya seatbelts decals. PE harness from Tamiya PE set.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/52.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/52a.jpg

I have added screw and use it to bolt harness to the frame.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/53.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/54.jpg


Dash under construction...

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/55.jpg

Tasty!! Love how clean and precise all the details are!

This is really something! The attention to detail is superb!

Great stuff, Maciek :bigthumb:

This is going to be a "Bytom Basher" I am sure!! :D

Great stuff, Maciek :bigthumb:

This is going to be a "Bytom Basher" I am sure!! :D

I hope so! :biggrin:

There were great hopes about S800 in Bytom and what has happened -> :crying:

It seems that I will manage to print out and make decals of the switches tags:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/56.jpg

They are approx 0.3mm high and they are made out of paper just to dry fit them.

The problem is with steering wheel tags - it requires even higher resolution (they are smaller) and probably I (my printer) will give up :(

Maciek, check out Jaykay's MP4/4 thread. IIRC, he used a great dry transfer process to produce very small lettering for the dash/steering wheel.

looks awesome BTW :D

Maciek, check out Jaykay's MP4/4 thread. IIRC, he used a great dry transfer process to produce very small lettering for the dash/steering wheel.

looks awesome BTW :D

Thanks for the hint! Unfortunately those dry transfers were third party and I probably would not be on time using this service. Will see - I will try high res laser printer on waterslide decal paper.

BTW I felt small reading Jaykay MP4/4thread again...

All of the switches are mounted and painted. I used 4 types switches from HobbyDesign and 0.5mm simulated rivets as the lowest row of controls.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/57.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/58.jpg

The LCD panel is not finished yet. Dash painted with thick Tamiya surface primer than Tamiya Nato Black. I must say that I am really satisfied with final effect.

You're right to be satisfied, that panel looks fantastic.

Congrats on getting such fine resolution print for the switch labels. Altogether it looks superb.

Congrats on getting such fine resolution print for the switch labels. Altogether it looks superb.

Thanks! Those letters on the dashboard panel are not mine - I used box decals and cut&trim them down.
Hope that my prints will be close to them in terms of quality.

Excellent work! Absolutely no reason to "feel small" :-)

I wish I could achieve that same quality of detail on an instrument panel, also the finish of the rest of the dash is superb

WOW!! Highly detailed.. I want to follow this one build!!

I have finished paddles. They are thinned as they were too thick and out of scale. Decaled with 1/43 SMS carbon decal to keep it in scale.

I have also added connector for steering wheel cable (red arrow). I used HD knob switch (0.75mm dia) drilled with 0.3mm drill to connect cable.
Steering shaft will be glued later affter final dash assembly.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/59.jpg

And quick photo to show scale. Coin is a bit smaller than 1 Euro cent

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/60.jpg

Once again: thank you for watching and all nice and motivational comments.

damn man...damn

Steereing wheel is on the bench. I am struggling to get good lettering printouts. After two hours I got satisfactory results.

This is how I'd like wheel look like:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/ref6.jpg

Printouts on photo paper, HP 7600, 600dpi (blue arrow). I have backup plan to use yellow ink on transparent decal (red arrow). Will see - I will test both methods and show you results.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/61.jpg

They are readable and when printed on decal paper should easily conform to steering wheel curves.

Insane detail Macio! lovely work!

//Emil

I have finished paddles. They are thinned as they were too thick and out of scale. Decaled with 1/43 SMS carbon decal to keep it in scale.

I have also added connector for steering wheel cable (red arrow). I used HD knob switch (0.75mm dia) drilled with 0.3mm drill to connect cable.
Steering shaft will be glued later affter final dash assembly.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/59.jpg

And quick photo to show scale. Coin is a bit smaller than 1 Euro cent

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/60.jpg

Once again: thank you for watching and all nice and motivational comments.

You are a modeling GOD!!!!

You are a modeling GOD!!!!


Don't tell it to anybody Human, or... you might wake up as Tamiya putty :) :runaround:

What's next - steering wheel is on the bench. I will describe modifications more in detail - maybe some of you will find it useful. Plan is to decal wheel, add own lettering, add signal lamps and make it as clean as possible. I see 2 difficulties: decaling knobs and masking.
Why?
Knobs and switches are on very small area so decal will probably conform but carbon pattern will be deformed. Masking is hard as I may easily destroy decals. Will see what can be done.

Step 1: Putty, sanding and primer - only one layer as the details are delicate.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/62.jpg

Step 2: Drilling and removing switches. I will use HD knobs for two bigger ones (CM-A/B) and my own for the rest. I remove knobs to make decaling easier and more clean.


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/63.jpg

HD knob dry fitted only.

Step 3. Semi gloss painting (Gunze). Form this point all have to be max clean and there will be no much room for the mistakes.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/64.jpg


Step 4: Decaling process is started. I have used SMS 1024 carbon decal. When it will be dry I will put my own decals and Honda logo.


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/65.jpg


Stay tuned,
to be continued...

So, you're going to keep the doors closed on this? Or, are you going to try to have the windows down? (Do these windows move [don't think so, but...]?)

Great build. I have a "PIAA" version that's in process (read: stopped) right now and I need to finish it...keep it up!

Daniel

magnificent! you're doing a wonderful job, I love to see this level of detail.

Cheers, Lee

Windows do not open as far as I know. The doors will be shut maybe in the next model I will open them.

The windows in the kit are second to none in terms of transparency so all the detaills should be visible. I have tested it and you can easily see panel details from outside of the model.

Step 5: Decals. They were prepared in Corel, few copies to choose best printed (see: background of the picture). Printed on BMF decal paper and secured with Microscale Liquid Decal Film - airbrushed, thinned with Tamiya X-22a thinner.
They came pretty decent but they are not Cartograf :) but I am quite happy with the result. Tested on scrap. I will do another copy on laser printer and see if it is better or not.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/66.jpg

Thanks for watching!

this is just insane attention to detail. keep up the fantastic work cause im loving it.

Amazing interior detailing, would be nice to open doors.

While waiting for printing my decals on laser printer I went back to the dash. I decided to make again antennas with different approach. I drilled 0,5mm rod with 0,5mm drill and glued 0,45mm plastic rod. I made few for this model and Raybrig and spares just in case.

It made painting easier as well.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/67.jpg

Ready to be glued. I added PE screw imitations.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/71.jpg

Dry fitted. It is 4,5mm high

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/69.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/68.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/70.jpg

The detail on the dashboard is incredible. Thank you for continuing to post such inspirational work. You are a true craftsman and master modeler.

wspaniala robota...tylko pozazdroscic

very nice and great job... i wspanialy polski akcent :)

zgadzam sie :)

Chciałem powiedzieć coś w języku polskim również, lubię swoją pracę bardzo.

=)

Thank you again Gentleman! I felt my eyes wet :redface: ;)

As I said before all those comments make my motivation going higher up and give me lots and lots of modeling fun.

There will be some more surprises so stay tuned.

Still trying to print better decals... In the meantime I decided to add driver cooling duct. I saw Alex Kustov method with teflon tape but decided to try differnet route. I used heat shrinking tubes. I used screws and my own cable threaded needle. Partialy succesful

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/72.jpg

Test 1 - on screw and painted with Tamiya TS paint
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/74.jpg

Test 2 - on needle

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/75.jpg

Test 2 looks better but not best - a bit out of scale. I will look for smaller screw and will see if manage to get better air duct.

I like your dash panel, very very neat & detail :icon16: fantastic work!

Panel decals are ready. I yhink they looks OK for the first time I made so small decals. One tag is about 0.4mm high

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/77.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/76a.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/76.jpg

I have created additiona decals for the dash: LCD monitor with Panasonic logo and two decals on the top of the carbon panel.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/78.jpg

Steering wheel decaled. Just belive me - it is readable :) Not as neat as Tamiya decals. I hope that I will get macro lens soon so there will be more details to watch.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/79.jpg

I think that without lettering it would look still ok so I am not sure if the current effect was worth an effort I have put.



On this pic lettering is seen better. Still not convincig :) and carbon decal looks completely not as in real.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/80.jpg

wow, i think the decals look good. the lettering in 1/24 is way to small for the average inkjet.

that dash is just insane with all the switches and buttons. keep it up man, i get a bit excited when i see an updated in my email..lol

wow, i think the decals look good. the lettering in 1/24 is way to small for the average inkjet.

that dash is just insane with all the switches and buttons. keep it up man, i get a bit excited when i see an updated in my email..lol

I agree with your opinion, on the wheel I hit the limit. Lettering on floor panel is OK but on the steering wheel I would need 1200 or 2400 dpi to get decent results. Anyway I left it as it is.

The only interior things left are: cooling air pipe and small tag with Autobacs logo.

Step 5. (Steering wheel). Painted with semi gloss clear than switches added (Hobby design and 0,45mm plastic rod) and painted.

Steering wheel is glued in place, communication cable added (0,15mm copper wire).

I am not sure that all mods to wheel were worth an effort I put. A bit overkill I supose. If I put carbon and paint switches it would look still very good.

Some new pics.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/81.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/81a.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/82.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/83.jpg

Time to start body preparation. I have few ideas to improve body finish.
Reference pics:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/ref7.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/ref8.jpg

There are some details I want to take into account in detailing my nsx
- Screws on the rear fender - green arrow /I will use PE screws/
- Rear mesh is mounted in different way than Tamiya suggest as well as painting scheme - grey arrow
- Exhaust mounting points and auxiliaries
- Air intakes - just to make sure that screws are like in real - yellow arrows
- Hood pins different on rear and front hood - blue arrow

I will putty front fenders but later on as they are extremely fragile and I might break them while sanding.
I will start with basic surface preparation. I will change my usual method in two ways. First I will use regular Tamiya grey acrylic paint to revise how surface is sanded. I will strip off grey, use 1 layer of white primer and then I will start painting white and red. I want to reduce number of layers to avoid flooding delicate details.
Second - I will paint body underneath with silver then black for 2 purposes: light reflection and make body fully opaque to preserve color tone.


Removing ejector pin marks with my new sanding tool (toy.)

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/84.jpg

I remove plastic screws (red arrow) and make holes for PE parts. Panel lines got some treatment.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/85.jpg

Side mirrors - they need to be mounted in completely different way than Tamiya offered.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/86.jpg

Modified rear fender mesh support - left Tamiya

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/87.jpg

Rear meshes support glued and puttied.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/89.jpg

I also decided to modify rear wing support. Tamiya version has right shape but is thick as hell (1mm). I built my own from 0,5mm styrene sheet /left, dry fitted/. I will use metal screws to mount it together an some glue. Leaving moving parts would complicate assembly without any additional gains.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/88.jpg

I am excited to see your talents applied to the body work. I like the thinned out rear mesh supports and the wing uprights. Keep up the great work mate!

Excellent work all around! I don't care too much for this car to be honest but i'm always looking forward to your updates. Well worth watching!

that interior is flawless! excited to see more body work from you

Great that you like my work!
Short update. I have modified rear wing to accomodate new uprights. I used a piece of styrene to build thin and even gaps and light curing putty to fill the rest of the hole.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/90.jpg

New wing uprigts just glued

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/91.jpg

Drilled front air intakes. I drill holes for two reasons: it is easier to paint and polish, second - in original car screw heads are not over body surface.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/92.jpg

Rear wing dry fitted. I will have to correct uprights mounting points on the hood. Small change, lots of work.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/93.jpg

Analyzing picture I have concluded that vertical parts of the wing are far to thick and have to be corrected.

Right one before diet, left - skimmed down.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/Macio4ever/ARTA_NSX/94.jpg

Milled down from 1,06mm to 0,65mm