How long to get it right?

Just wondering but on average how many kits did you all build before you started to be more comfortable with building model cars?

I'm still building my first 360 Modena and I'm so sure I'm going to make a mess of it I've purchased it twice. One is being currently built the second is in the corner ready to be rebuilt once I get more confident.

I used an airbrush for the first time last night and I was almost a wreck after it. I panicked when using a can of primer, wasting about half a can on some scrap plastic trying to learn how to spray using a rattle can. I might be trying too hard.

But so far this is the progress I've made -

http://img81.exs.cx/img81/7318/modena31mk.jpg

Still got lots to learn, hopefully I will not be in the corner twitching by the end of it.. :lol:

It realy depends on what you think is good at your own opinion. I know I was makeing models before without painting the bodies, now I paint them and first two are not so good as all of the others affter that. I can say I build more then 50 cars without painting bodies, some 10 with painting them with brush ???? (they are not that bad at all) and recently I made 8 cars painted fully with spray cans. All in all this is period of some 15 years but beside cars I used to build planes and armore before and now I do motorcycles also. So if you are patient and you have read all of the techniqus here I think you will make the first one very good, just folow the rules.

Im still not confortable yet! Always biting off more than I can chew so to speak. :lol:

Its not going to bite you, much less eat you, so dont be afraid.

:)

I still worry about starting a kit from the begining as i wonder if it will turn out OK, if I'll stuff the paint up etc etc.

I still worry about starting a kit from the begining as I wonder if it will turn out OK, if I'll stuff the paint up etc. etc.
I feel the same way; I just got a Johan '64 Cadillac and I'm scared to death that I'll mess it up somehow!!:(

Isn't that the way it shall be? What if you got a perfect build the first time you tried? Would be rather boring in my opinion. When I started my bike kits I had a clear vision of how they would turn out. They would be clean smooth builds as close to perfect as they could get. And because I didn't know if I would get stuck in modelling I got me the best looking kit I could find. Luckily the mess that came out just thrilled me to move on, and I still am. My 8th bike was the first one to be ok in my own eyes and then I got myself a car kit. Back to scratch... So mickbench just take it slow and don't get your hopes up for this first build to turn out perfect. Do this one and a couple of more and then get back to your next 360, I bet you it will be so fun to compare the two!
best regards
Joel

[QUOTE=mickbench]Just wondering but on average how many kits did you all build before you started to be more comfortable with building model cars?

I'm getting up in the hundreds of builds now, and I know the next one will still have problems. I think the idea is to improve on each as you go along. I think if you ask most guys on here, they all have something on every model they built that they would do differently, or better next time.

A good way to practice painting is to paint pop cans, nice curves, sharp edges, etc.

Randy

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/138187recoil_w.jpg

Sounds like a few of you have some trepidation towards starting new projects, which means I’m not being silly. The 360 I’m working on has certainly given more than a few moments of panic. As already said I’m sure I’ll build the next 360 and compare the two and think, “hmm done better this time”.

I have a confidence problem, as it doesn’t take a lot to deter me. One failure can set my confidence back so much that I’ve given up many hobbies. This is in fact my second attempt at model car building. I attempted when I was 15 and used brushes etc… Wish I had them all still to compare with the attempts I’m making at the moment.

Well looking at your picture, I don't think you have too much to worry about. Your already ahead of a lot of builders. Now for painting the body, keep it simple. Try Tamiya spray bombs to start. Next model try something else. If the paint doesn't work out strip it and try again. This one has 2 tries at paint on it, second was Tamiya spray can.
Randy

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/138187btest6.jpg

Like it's been said before, each kit is a learning experience. There probably isn't a modeller here that's built a car that they were 100% proud of, I know I never have. Even if we're "comfortable" with building a model, we'll do something silly like try a complex paint job or try to add extra detail or scratchbuild a body kit - and back into uncomfortable territory with us! That's part of the fun. Don't panic so much either. The worst thing that can happen is you'd have to buy a dublicate model for parts, which usually isn't too costly (though it kinda is with the Ferrari kits).

Remember - it's only plastic!

One thing to remeber is that of all those flashy models you see on the net/ in modelmagazines, there were probably 2 kits messed up :)
I`m saying that even "professional" builders,those with a million trophies,mess up now and then!
Of course we only see their good buildups !

One thing to remeber is that of all those flashy models you see on the net/ in modelmagazines, there were probably 2 kits messed up :)

That is so true, i'm sure :evillol:

These days, I always start with the body as that is the main area i'm going to screw up on, if that has come out OK, then I work on the interior etc.

4 years ago I would have been very happy with my worst work now, but now I seem to have set my standards very high, if I'm not 99% happy with the finish I move on to the next kit.

I seem to have countless kits half started and then dropped due to not being happy with the quality.

My big hate is the White body colour,I love white cars, but I have only 1 off model that I was happy with (Cusco Subaru Impreza WRX STi ) and maybe 10 off kits that I screwed up with the painting of the body white.

It comes with practice and these forums/websites have certainly help me improve 100%

One thing to remeber is that of all those flashy models you see on the net/ in modelmagazines, there were probably 2 kits messed up :)
I`m saying that even "professional" builders,those with a million trophies,mess up now and then!
Of course we only see their good buildups !

And a savvy builder will only show you the best angles or side of any build and you never see the flaws.

I personally look upon each build as a learning experience, sometimes they come out really nice and other times ...... well lets just say I learn more

I personally look upon each build as a learning experience, sometimes they come out really nice and other times ...... well lets just say I learn more[/QUOTE]


That the right answer

I'm a small time model builder. I build very slow, im still working on a car i started 6 years ago, and its still only a quarter done. I have to take all the paint off the body again and repaint it, its too thick. So far all of the parts are painted, i have a custom sub box made out of the rear seat{two in one kit} the roof is chopped off, the engine has sparkwires, battery cables, brake line. disc brakes from camaro, modded to be drilled and slotted. Carbon fiber type paint job on the hood, interior is finished in black with mixed black and red. trunk is cut out {not originally} need to put in rear axle, put two more discs on the rear, put on the camaro rims, put in the windsheild, repaint it, glue it all together. plus i have to put the rear brake lines in as well. By the way, its a 57 ford fairlane. I dont know if i want to do an engine swap for something else and add more details with wiring and such. Tell me what you think. Ill have to get pictures sometime.