Finished: Tommy Kaira M30 Skyline
ratdat
12-21-2003, 08:11 PM
Believe it or not I started this Fujimi kit about 4 years ago :lol: Back then I tried painting it with some kind of purple pearl paint which reacted bady so it went back in the box and got forgotten about. Here's how it looked at the start...
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/0910_0873.jpg
Seeing 86_SR5 doing his Drift Skyline prompted me to dig it out and resurect it. I decided not to try to strip the paint, figuring as it had been on so long that might not be sucessful, so carefully I sanded it off and repainted it in Citroen Wicked Red (honestly, that's what's it's called!)
The kit is truly terrible. Most bits are badly fitting and they got the headlights completely wrong. Fujimi provided the clear lenses for projector bean headlights and the back part was for normal twin headlights! I chopped some reflectors up from another R31 kit, I also ditch the rear wing they provided as it was junk and fitted decent rims and brakes. Inside I changed the front seats, added a few details and, to make it a little different from other R31 models, my car's now LHD :o)
I'm amazed I actually finished it as it's been one disaster after the other in the build. I spilled thinners on my worktop which soaked the clear tail light panel, melting the surface which took a hell of of lot of time to fix. Then just as I finally polished it back to life I snapped it in half :banghead:
I also got it wrong the first time I stuck the windows in. I used 60 second epoxy and glued them in in the wrong position :banghead:
I had to cut and carve all the epoxy away with a scalpel to get them out again. What else? Oh, I got really bad pin holes in the paint down both sides of the car after the first wet coat. (I filled a couple of body moulding lines down the sides) I filled them with paint on a toothpick then sanded them flat before the final wet coats. Because of this it has too much paint on there really but never mind! Also, I damaged on of the stripes when applying it, the they started to wrinkle up when I put the clear coat on ...argh! ...but the application of some heat dried the clear before the problem got too bad, thankfully. So many times I've nearly given up on this one :lol: :iceslolan
Anyway, I'm fairly happy with the way it's turned out in the end. I've yet to add seatbelts and I had planned to do the rear wing in CF but the decals I ordered turned out to be junk so for now I've left it aluminium. I also want to tint the rear and side glass a light smoke but I haven't got any film at the moment, only dark smoke which looks way to dark on a model. I haven't waxed it yet as the paint isn't fully hard but I wanted to get the ordeal over and done with and put it in my display cabinet... I'll get and do the last bits some time next month I think :iceslolan . Anyway... here's the pics...
:feedback:
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/a.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/b.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/c.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/d.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/f.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/g.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/h.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/j.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/k.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/l.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/m.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/n.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/o.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/0910_0873.jpg
Seeing 86_SR5 doing his Drift Skyline prompted me to dig it out and resurect it. I decided not to try to strip the paint, figuring as it had been on so long that might not be sucessful, so carefully I sanded it off and repainted it in Citroen Wicked Red (honestly, that's what's it's called!)
The kit is truly terrible. Most bits are badly fitting and they got the headlights completely wrong. Fujimi provided the clear lenses for projector bean headlights and the back part was for normal twin headlights! I chopped some reflectors up from another R31 kit, I also ditch the rear wing they provided as it was junk and fitted decent rims and brakes. Inside I changed the front seats, added a few details and, to make it a little different from other R31 models, my car's now LHD :o)
I'm amazed I actually finished it as it's been one disaster after the other in the build. I spilled thinners on my worktop which soaked the clear tail light panel, melting the surface which took a hell of of lot of time to fix. Then just as I finally polished it back to life I snapped it in half :banghead:
I also got it wrong the first time I stuck the windows in. I used 60 second epoxy and glued them in in the wrong position :banghead:
I had to cut and carve all the epoxy away with a scalpel to get them out again. What else? Oh, I got really bad pin holes in the paint down both sides of the car after the first wet coat. (I filled a couple of body moulding lines down the sides) I filled them with paint on a toothpick then sanded them flat before the final wet coats. Because of this it has too much paint on there really but never mind! Also, I damaged on of the stripes when applying it, the they started to wrinkle up when I put the clear coat on ...argh! ...but the application of some heat dried the clear before the problem got too bad, thankfully. So many times I've nearly given up on this one :lol: :iceslolan
Anyway, I'm fairly happy with the way it's turned out in the end. I've yet to add seatbelts and I had planned to do the rear wing in CF but the decals I ordered turned out to be junk so for now I've left it aluminium. I also want to tint the rear and side glass a light smoke but I haven't got any film at the moment, only dark smoke which looks way to dark on a model. I haven't waxed it yet as the paint isn't fully hard but I wanted to get the ordeal over and done with and put it in my display cabinet... I'll get and do the last bits some time next month I think :iceslolan . Anyway... here's the pics...
:feedback:
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/a.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/b.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/c.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/d.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/f.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/g.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/h.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/j.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/k.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/l.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/m.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/n.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/o.jpg
CamaroSSBoy346
12-21-2003, 08:27 PM
holy shiznit :O
ImolaEK
12-21-2003, 08:33 PM
wow unbelievably cool...im lovin the air freshener hanging from the mirror...lol...great job.... :naughty:
Sebstar
12-21-2003, 08:36 PM
that shine is to die for man!!! great job!
CamaroSSBoy346
12-21-2003, 08:40 PM
hold on...its left hand drive!? BTW where did you get those pine tree air freshiners?
BTW RB26DETT-GTR nice modifiers, i just got the Modifier Mustang GT
BTW RB26DETT-GTR nice modifiers, i just got the Modifier Mustang GT
ratdat
12-21-2003, 08:53 PM
hold on...its left hand drive!? BTW where did you get those pine tree air freshiners?
The dash came from a Revell AG Skyline kit..the same one that donated it's body kit to my Auster (I'm getting some good use out of that kit :lol: ) I couldn't resist making it LHD just to make it a bit different.
The air freshner is made from two pieces of paper laminated together with a fine wire in between. Then cut to shape with a scalpel and painted green. :icon16:
The dash came from a Revell AG Skyline kit..the same one that donated it's body kit to my Auster (I'm getting some good use out of that kit :lol: ) I couldn't resist making it LHD just to make it a bit different.
The air freshner is made from two pieces of paper laminated together with a fine wire in between. Then cut to shape with a scalpel and painted green. :icon16:
86_SR5
12-21-2003, 08:55 PM
That's a nice red, the wing looks cool, I've got a freshner like that I made, but lost. Nice LHD, and as said many times, skylines are born with GT wings, so it just looks right
*srry* bout the before post, realize I was very immature.
*srry* bout the before post, realize I was very immature.
Zcaithaca
12-21-2003, 09:33 PM
yo eddie that red is wicked AWESOME! Love the air frener...someone musta let a nasty one rip! haha im immature.and good job...did you forget topaint the calipers cuz they kinda lok resin color...maybe its yellow and its just the camera tho.
tazdev
12-21-2003, 10:20 PM
Old Skool C:thumbsup::thumbsup:lness
Layla's Keeper
12-21-2003, 10:40 PM
The clean look and brilliant finish bely the pains of completion. It is and excellent model.
If there's any qualms I have this is it; I do think the wing should've been mounted a little lower. It does do a good job of breaking up the blandness of the tail end, but it looks a little goofy being that far off the decklid.
But, that's a pretty minor quibble coming from a rivet counter. The car looks great as is.
If there's any qualms I have this is it; I do think the wing should've been mounted a little lower. It does do a good job of breaking up the blandness of the tail end, but it looks a little goofy being that far off the decklid.
But, that's a pretty minor quibble coming from a rivet counter. The car looks great as is.
SchuberT
12-21-2003, 10:44 PM
wicked stance for a wicked color with a wicked shine... awesome build... great ressurection
primera man
12-22-2003, 01:15 AM
Huge improvement !!
slk320
12-22-2003, 09:50 AM
WOW
I love the wheels and brakes, suit the car very well. The paint and interior is awesome too!
I love the wheels and brakes, suit the car very well. The paint and interior is awesome too!
joecwlaw
12-22-2003, 10:03 AM
Ferrari TR
12-22-2003, 11:14 AM
That's sweet!
Nice mix of an old car with new tuner touches.
Where did the 'tread-plate' come from?
:p
Nice mix of an old car with new tuner touches.
Where did the 'tread-plate' come from?
:p
EMAXX
12-22-2003, 01:29 PM
Dang. Very nice work. Another car that looks real, and needs a 2nd look to see that its a model. Great work.
ratdat
12-22-2003, 03:21 PM
If there's any qualms I have this is it; I do think the wing should've been mounted a little lower. It does do a good job of breaking up the blandness of the tail end, but it looks a little goofy being that far off the decklid.
It's funny you should mention that ...you are absolutely right too :iceslolan . This is the second wing I made for it. The first one I messed up so I had to start again. The first one did have shorter supports and did look better but I only had tall supports left in the kit with which to make a replacement. I might rescue the old wing, strip it apart, clean it up and use that when my CF decal arrives.
The original wing was the two piece SAS one...it definately looked better lower down...
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/100_1595.jpg
It's funny you should mention that ...you are absolutely right too :iceslolan . This is the second wing I made for it. The first one I messed up so I had to start again. The first one did have shorter supports and did look better but I only had tall supports left in the kit with which to make a replacement. I might rescue the old wing, strip it apart, clean it up and use that when my CF decal arrives.
The original wing was the two piece SAS one...it definately looked better lower down...
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/100_1595.jpg
ratdat
12-22-2003, 03:26 PM
That's sweet!
Where did the 'tread-plate' come from?
:p
My LHS sells the tread plate for model railroad detailing. It's just styrene sheet so it's easy to work with. Covered in BMF it looks just like the real thing :sunglasse
86_SR5: I knew you were joking really :iceslolan These R31 kits seems to be frought with difficulty and problems I think. Just keep at it and you'll win though with yours
:bigthumb:
Where did the 'tread-plate' come from?
:p
My LHS sells the tread plate for model railroad detailing. It's just styrene sheet so it's easy to work with. Covered in BMF it looks just like the real thing :sunglasse
86_SR5: I knew you were joking really :iceslolan These R31 kits seems to be frought with difficulty and problems I think. Just keep at it and you'll win though with yours
:bigthumb:
flyonthewall
12-22-2003, 06:03 PM
Nice work, i like it!
7th_skyline
12-22-2003, 06:34 PM
Wow ratdat, that looks fantastic.
So lookout for "7th_skyline's 7th Skyline mk2 thread" one day in the near future!
I like the interior, lhd dash was a headspin, but it looks really good. The color really suits it too! I know the wing is a little high, but it still looks cool!
I've ordered another one from HLJ and I'm going to redo mine, because my paint looks ok in photos but its horrible close up (funnily enough, it reacted really badly on the first paintjob in metallic dark blue tamiya paint, then when I stripped and primeredit it was ok in tamiya primer, but with the candy lime it reacted and cracked on the roof and bootlid...).
Also, on the problems with the kit, did you have troubles with the body sitting too high on the chassis when you first fitted it up? I had to mess around for ages to get it to sit down right, it originally sat about 4mm too high up :o And yeah, on the next one I'm going to fit the passage GT projector lenses in, I had them ready but wimped out this time.
The next one - it will be P . I . M . P !
So lookout for "7th_skyline's 7th Skyline mk2 thread" one day in the near future!
I like the interior, lhd dash was a headspin, but it looks really good. The color really suits it too! I know the wing is a little high, but it still looks cool!
I've ordered another one from HLJ and I'm going to redo mine, because my paint looks ok in photos but its horrible close up (funnily enough, it reacted really badly on the first paintjob in metallic dark blue tamiya paint, then when I stripped and primeredit it was ok in tamiya primer, but with the candy lime it reacted and cracked on the roof and bootlid...).
Also, on the problems with the kit, did you have troubles with the body sitting too high on the chassis when you first fitted it up? I had to mess around for ages to get it to sit down right, it originally sat about 4mm too high up :o And yeah, on the next one I'm going to fit the passage GT projector lenses in, I had them ready but wimped out this time.
The next one - it will be P . I . M . P !
ratdat
12-22-2003, 06:47 PM
I've ordered another one from HLJ and I'm going to redo mine, because my paint looks ok in photos but its horrible close up (funnily enough, it reacted really badly on the first paintjob in metallic dark blue tamiya paint, then when I stripped and primeredit it was ok in tamiya primer, but with the candy lime it reacted and cracked on the roof and bootlid...).
I'd just go for automtive paints. I don't often have problems with them providing you paint carefully and lightly for the first few coats ...and make sure the primer covers all the bare plastic
Also, on the problems with the kit, did you have troubles with the body sitting too high on the chassis when you first fitted it up? I had to mess around for ages to get it to sit down right, it originally sat about 4mm too high up :o And yeah, on the next one I'm going to fit the passage GT projector lenses in, I had them ready but wimped out this time.
Yeah, if you look at the pics of mine in some shots you can see the edge of the chassis below the sill. It wouldn't go in that last 3-4mm without a lot of re-engineering of the interior so I didn't bother. :grinno: I just lowered the suspension enough to make up for it. It really isn't a very good kit. This one was the Tommy Kaira kit but i suspect most of the Fujimi R31 kits are probably the same. Does Aoshima make an R31? I haven't had a look to find out.
I think if I did it again I'd probably make some custo headlights with clear, non-textured lenses and multi surfaced reflectors like some modern cars have. Trick to make on such a small item but it'd look cool. :smokin:
I'd just go for automtive paints. I don't often have problems with them providing you paint carefully and lightly for the first few coats ...and make sure the primer covers all the bare plastic
Also, on the problems with the kit, did you have troubles with the body sitting too high on the chassis when you first fitted it up? I had to mess around for ages to get it to sit down right, it originally sat about 4mm too high up :o And yeah, on the next one I'm going to fit the passage GT projector lenses in, I had them ready but wimped out this time.
Yeah, if you look at the pics of mine in some shots you can see the edge of the chassis below the sill. It wouldn't go in that last 3-4mm without a lot of re-engineering of the interior so I didn't bother. :grinno: I just lowered the suspension enough to make up for it. It really isn't a very good kit. This one was the Tommy Kaira kit but i suspect most of the Fujimi R31 kits are probably the same. Does Aoshima make an R31? I haven't had a look to find out.
I think if I did it again I'd probably make some custo headlights with clear, non-textured lenses and multi surfaced reflectors like some modern cars have. Trick to make on such a small item but it'd look cool. :smokin:
Zturbo
12-22-2003, 07:13 PM
Beutiful interior man!!! complete with metal foot plate and pine shape air freeshener. that good :)
njh
12-22-2003, 07:36 PM
Nice work!
Great detailling on the wheels.
I somewhat find the GT-wings rather odd on it.
Great detailling on the wheels.
I somewhat find the GT-wings rather odd on it.
chaos
12-22-2003, 10:08 PM
Fantastic job!!!
Hiroboy
12-23-2003, 01:04 AM
Awesome..!!!!!!!!!!
Your models are a joy to look at. 10/10 Dude
Your models are a joy to look at. 10/10 Dude
tonioseven
12-23-2003, 06:42 AM
What Steve said!!:sunglasse This car has just given me modeller's block!! It's Skyline-perfect!! :sunglasse :sunglasse :sunglasse
chrismcgee
12-23-2003, 07:41 AM
excellent model there dude, the chequer plating looks so so so good, realy brings it to life. and the little tree air freshener is uber cool!
ratdat
12-24-2003, 04:16 PM
I got the chance to take some outdoor pics ...in the snow! :sunglasse
I think I need to re-do the rear turn signals and polish the tail lights to get them a bit glossy looking. I'll do that when I do the wing I think.
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/0910_1089.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/0910_1088.jpg
I think I need to re-do the rear turn signals and polish the tail lights to get them a bit glossy looking. I'll do that when I do the wing I think.
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/0910_1089.jpg
http://www.ratdat.com/M30/0910_1088.jpg
SchuberT
12-24-2003, 04:47 PM
hehe... that's awesome...
86_SR5
12-24-2003, 06:02 PM
that's real snow?! I've never seen real snow. just the ice on my windsheild at 6 in the morning that the wipers wont break off :p
ratdat
12-24-2003, 07:08 PM
that's real snow?! I've never seen real snow. just the ice on my windsheild at 6 in the morning that the wipers wont break off :p
Oh yah..it's real. We only had it for one day though..all gone now. We don't get snow here as much as we used to when I was a kid.
Summers are hotter too :smile:
Oh yah..it's real. We only had it for one day though..all gone now. We don't get snow here as much as we used to when I was a kid.
Summers are hotter too :smile:
SCUDERIA-FERRARI
12-24-2003, 07:54 PM
that is "BAD ASS"
Skylinefreak_
09-16-2004, 06:23 PM
This is one AWESOME looking machine - can't believe I only found it now!!!
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