7th Kit - R34 GTR

Me again, this is my most recent complete build (July).
One of the more popular kits on here but hopefully you'll like mine as much as I do.

This is the Taimya kit - V spec II although I chose to ignore the GT struts and Nismo wheels - great additions to parts box for future builds. Had to use the drilled discs and large rear pipe though - these look excellent.

Colour is Tamiya light gunmetal TS 42. Originally I planned to put gunmetal racing stripes across car but in the end I'm pleased I went with the cleaner look.
I put everything I'd learned in the pervious 7 months into this kit and tried to achieve something worthy of posting. Most of my previous kits were ok but not up to the standard of most on here but served well to learn on.

Interior is mix of semi gloss black seats with flat blue inserts (leather and alcantara look) was going to be flat red until my Z-tune arrived and I spotted that was the colour scheme for that car. German grey carpets and shelf. Pleased with the interior although you won't really see it below.
I worked hard on weathering the underside of the car and was very pleased with how that turned out - was somewhat disapointed to have to add the under trays at the end as they cover most of my good work - could have left them clear as packaged but don't like that look. Good learning experience anyway and will work great when I do some more full engine kits!
Wheels were sprayed my own mix - an attempt to be darker than the light gunmetal paintjob but in the ned the two colours turned out pretty similar.
Lots of clear went on the car and then my first attempt at using the micromesh cloths I had - all I can say is wow!!!! I went through 1500 grit then 2000 papers before moving to the 8000 and 12000 mesh cloths and I was amazed. I'd seen some great paintjobs on this site before but never thought I'd be able to do it. They were amazing though. After a final polish up with Tamiya finish and a little wax and I could see my own face smiling back at me - not the greatest view but well happy with the result.
Had a nightmare right at the start. Held bumpers and skirts in palce with masking tape before adding ultra thin cement to rear of joints (too much as it turned out).
Cement flowed through and up the masking tape leaving most of the panel/ joint lines melted away - bubbling under the tape and the gap between the bonnet and front bumper completely disappeared.
After a lot of cleaning up and again, a first experience of using probes to reopen panel lines , the body cleaned up ok - not 100% perfect so that elusive kit that I'm fully happy with hasn't quite arrived yet but in my opinion my best work by a long way.
Wheel decals fell apart when putting them on but doesn't show too much.

Anyway - see what you think:
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/288259Sky1-med.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/288259Sky10-med.JPG
Sadly that's actually me waving in the reflection still very pleased with the finish!
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/288259Sky11.JPG
Joint between bumper and bonnet looks ok now - was completely smoothed off after cement nightmare!
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/288259Sky2-med.JPG
The only view of washing and dry brushing on underside - worked hard on this and rear and front suspension and drivetrains looked great but then covered by trays. Was lazy not filling exhaust joint line!
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/288259Sky3-med.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/288259Sky5-med.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/288259Sky6-med.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/288259Sky7.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/288259Sky8-med.JPG
Really pleased with the look of these brakes!
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/288259Sky9.JPG

That's my complete work up to date - almost! I did build a 1:43 GT40 which looks ok and built the M635csi engine as an exersize in washing and dry brushing - I'll get round to putting some pics on one day and the Bemmer will be built if I can ever make my mind up how I want it to look.

Current build is a street racer ford focus. My first attempt at scratch building (floors and interior parts) as it's a rally conversion.
It's coming along slowly at the moment and I expect it will be sometime before I post any pics of this (which can only be good as there is a very similar thread running at the moment!)

Thanks for having a look and any comments you leave - posted four kit threads tonight (without a fish in sight! (just a joke - honest!)) hope I haven't bored you all too much with my explanations of each kit!

Cheers!

how in the whole world did you paint the gt-r logo?

GTR logo was just the kit decal carefully aligned on the body then a dose of Micro sol shrunk it back - pleased you spotted that, I was pleased with that - looks like a real badge!

Very good job:) Wish my 7th model looked that good :p

Wow! Looks great! I gotta tell you, I get tired of seeing so many Skylines, but yours has made me look all over again. Beautiful work!

Wow! Looks great! I gotta tell you, I get tired of seeing so many Skylines, but yours has made me look all over again. Beautiful work!

Thanks for that - really appreciate your comments - a lot of work went into this one!

Nice Work!! I love the color!!!

Bloody hell... That was a good paint job.. I can see your face nearly. I use Micro Mesh, love that stuff.. Brings a really bad paint job around, and brings a great paint job to a mirror finish.. Just like this one..

Superb work, and well done for detailing the under chassic a bit more.. Looks well good.

nice shine

Very nice! The gunmetal color works very well on that car.

Awsome! Clean build! Keep up the great work!

Nice GTR. The paint looks amazing!
Keep up the good work