hey guys need help (n00b)

Hey guys,

Im a n00b. In fact.. REALLY noobie.. anyway - I bought alot of materials and I bought civic car kit and I want to put it together and have it look nice. But Im not sure what to do first.. I read many conflicting things. Heres a list of what I have:

1. Exacto knives (10 different heads)
2. Loctite superglu
3. Plastruct Weldene
4. Model Master paints (some tamiya)
4.5 Tamiya spray paint (Can)
5. Tamiya Primer
6. Tamiya clear coat
7. Brushes
8. Tree remover
9. Honda Civic Si coupe (Revell)
10. Clear glue (for windows?)
11. Reverse Tension Tweezers


Im not sure how to put it together.. Do I paint first? Do I assemble parts then prime, then pain? Im so confused, and for my first car I want to make it simple.. Then on later models I want to start expirementing.

This is sorta a test to see if I like it (I think I will)

Thanks in advance
~M

welcome too AF!!!
your question can be answered here
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=63623
or
here http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=215864

Welcome. Not to sound like an ass, but you really should read the FAQ (links posted at the top of the board.)

They can really give you step by step by step. Any part that's supposed to represent one part (eg. two engine block halves) should be glued together first, and then painted. Use spraypaint whenever possible, on any of the biggest parts on the car... the rest of the info you can find in the FAQ imo.

First of all, relax and have fun. That's really the most important thing.

For many, the best order of operations is to start on the body. Sand off the mold lines, add any additional body parts (but not clear parts!), prime in, than paint it. While the body paint is curing (give it a week or so), do the interior and underside. It's usually best to remove parts from the runners, and paint them as you assemble them.

Enjoy, and if you have specific questions, feel free to ask. And of course, there's alot of good info in the FAQ's and How-to's.

Good luck, and welcome to AF!

well everything is different for everyone. if this is your first model, i suggest you but your expectations lower so that you won't be disappointed with your results(even though they can turn out great!). just take your time and they should turn out pretty decent looking.

i suggest reading the manual several times through. also, read ahead even when you are assembling. it will give you and idea of how to assemble everything. many times i find myself building things in the order i want. i only used the manual for paint colors and when i dunno what a piece is or where it goes.

don't be afraid to use creativity. you don't need to follow the paint colors in the instruction manual, use your imagination.

as for the body of the model, assemble the body shell with the bumpers and side skirts, wings(maybe, depending if the wing is body colored or not). prime it up, let it harden for a couple days(a week if you wanna be sure, but even one day should be fine, it has been for me). when you are ready for color choose your color and spray a couple mist coats into the hard to reach parts(vents, underside of skirts, inside the shell, under the wings, etc...). then go to the how-to or the FAQ and look for a painting tutorial. it is a very good tutorial and should help you a lot. let the paint dry out for a good while(a weekish) and then spray your clear coat like a regular paint(MAKE SURE THE PAINTS ARE COMPATIBLE, laquer with laquer, etc...). it will give you a better result if you make sure the clear and the paint are compatible. the clear should be mist coats built up to a wet coat. then when your finished and you let it dry for like another week you should be able to sand and polish away until you have a great shine.

and welcome to AF!

thanks for all your replys:

with regards to the how-to's:

I was having trouble finding much information on starting from the EXACT beginning. That said, after another perusal, I have a few questions.

1. @the previous poster, is it better to prime and paint the body and underside first? Before assembling the engine? The instructions seem to start with building the engine.

2. I know that the Plastruct Weldene is not good to use with painted parts. How far should I build unpainted parts (say in the engine at first) before I prime it and paint it? When do I begin this process? Is a sander a key tool? All I have is exacto knives.

So is the absolute first thing I do, wash the body and undercarriage with some vinegar, then apply a light coat of primer, followed by increasingly heavier coats until I've completed 4 layers?

Im sorry to be such a n00b, but for my first model, I'd really like step by step instructions because any small slip-up and I might hate it, haha.

Thanks again for the replies!

~M

okokok... take the body and sand it. it is recommended that you use sandpaper. go to some hobby store or even some hardware or autoparts store. they have lots. sand with about 600-800 grit. then wash. then prime. 3 coats max should be good. then spray the paint. 4 coats is good. when i said paint the underside i meant like the underside of the whole body. the bottom of the side skirts, the engine bay place, etc.... it's hard to get paint in those areas so you just spray a little before you go on to the main body part. if you glue stuff after you painted it just scrape off or sand off the paint using you knife or sandpaper for the part that is being glued. plastic glue melts plastic together and it makes a stronger bond.

Ok so.. I have 3 large sections.. top shell bottom shell and the seat (insert?)...

the bottom chassis is already black, I dont think I need to paint it, or if it is susceptible to paint.

so, I basically sand everything I'm painting, then prime it with 3coats, then paint the black spray on with 4 coats?

What about the detail on the upper shell, such as windshield wipers, etc. is that all taken care of later? or should I just do it now? Lastly the engine goes into the engine bay (obviously) but if I paint it first and I use the plastic cement stuff, it will eat away at the paint? so should I skip that part?

1) just sand the body. the chassis and the interior tub can be painted. i think most people do.

2) stop asking questions. just build the model. i understand some of your questions such as painting technique, but remember - someone had to go through all the trouble to figure out the techniques. as a modeler you absolutely need to be creative, or else all the models that are built here would suck. so just go and build them models. it's all about experience.

Try using the search feature, or reading the FAQ, nearly every question you have asked has been covered here.

You could even visit some of the in progress threads to get an idea what order things are done in, and best YET, read the instructions that come with the model, they usually show you close to the best order of proceeding.

stop asking questions. just build the model. i understand some of your questions such as painting technique, but remember - someone had to go through all the trouble to figure out the techniques. as a modeler you absolutely need to be creative, or else all the models that are built here would suck. so just go and build them models. it's all about experience.

Very nicely put :cool:

Welcome to AF!

also, one more thing. i just reread your first post and just wanna say that even if this doesn't turn out good, you shouldn't be discouraged. a lot of modelers build one model that didn't turn out good and just quit. i mean if i look back at my first models i can't even believe that i made them. i used 3 colors and didn't paint the body. even though i have close to 1000(lol, this one will be 999 posts) i'm still learning basic techniques. and keep in mind that a huge chunk of all these posts have been on this specific forum. just because a first model doesn't turn out right doesn't mean that you can't be a good model. i'm sure everyone's first model was quite bad compared to what they can build now. once again, it takes experience.

also, don't forget to post pictures of your progress in the completed and in progress forum(s)! i would definately like to see what comes out of this!

I'm not a veteran, but like the others have said, just build it. Don't stress about stuffing it up, if you do, you'll learn from it. You will figure out your own preferred techniques along the way! :grinyes:
and enjoy it!

Thanks for the kind words and replies.

I've actually just primed the body and begun work on the engine. I hope to spray the body tonight. I'll start taking pics and start a thread in the progress section.

just a tip. Anything that is the same color and is attached to each other...glue then paint. If you want a more realistic looking model. put the parts together then sand away the line where they meet. a lot of times there will be a little overhang. after you have sanded, then you can paint. I know a lot of things such as engine halves, seat halves, heads and the like are all typically the same color, so assemble them. give the glue time to set up. an then paint them. It saves some time and headache with trying to remove the paint from where the parts meet. and also helps give a more realistic look. also remember, chrome plating is much like glue, anywhere there is chrome that needs to be glue, the chrome needs to be removed from the contact area......

the best thing you can do is dive in head first with an open mind and a willingness to learn from your mistakes. If you mess something up on this model, or aren't happy with the outcome of a certain part of it. when you are done, take a step back assess what went wrong and figure out a way to fix it. then go pick up another model. pick out a different color for the body, and dive in again. trying to make somthing that looks better than the first one.

just a tip. Anything that is the same color and is attached to each other...glue then paint. If you want a more realistic looking model. put the parts together then sand away the line where they meet. a lot of times there will be a little overhang. after you have sanded, then you can paint. I know a lot of things such as engine halves, seat halves, heads and the like are all typically the same color, so assemble them. give the glue time to set up. an then paint them. It saves some time and headache with trying to remove the paint from where the parts meet. and also helps give a more realistic look. also remember, chrome plating is much like glue, anywhere there is chrome that needs to be glue, the chrome needs to be removed from the contact area......

the best thing you can do is dive in head first with an open mind and a willingness to learn from your mistakes. If you mess something up on this model, or aren't happy with the outcome of a certain part of it. when you are done, take a step back assess what went wrong and figure out a way to fix it. then go pick up another model. pick out a different color for the body, and dive in again. trying to make somthing that looks better than the first one.


I've already begun doing that. But I didnt know to scratch away the chrome plating.. tahts a good idea.. even the two halves that are the same color, I'd like to detail paint some of the parts. Like the flywheels, I want the wheel to be black but the rest aluminum, maybe some sprockety thingies to be black as well.

if you are state side, go to the local wal mart and pick up a can of color place aluminum silver. it is a really good replicator of real aluminum blocks. hit it with some clear and it kills the shine and gives it that dull look. then go back with the detail brush and some black and paint it.