first build starting

hi all just about to start my first build
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/Picture.jpg

aoshima top secret skyline gt-r

theres quite a few pices in this kit but looks fairly simple

i was goin to build the tamiya mini cooper for my first kit but with it been so small and engine detail etc i changes my mind and purchased this,

comparing it to the tamiya mini,

it has more mold lines
the skyline chassis is all one piece so painting will be difficult
the instructions are not as good so i will be using them as a referance only.

i am goin to try a few extra bits ( cutting holes harness holes on seats etc) to make it look more real

anyway back to the build

for the chassis hows the best way it paint out the detail? the gear box and exhaust is sunk in so masking tape will be verry hard

and for painting the body, it comes in quite a few pices, do i spray them seperate of dry build and spray as one to get even coverage

sorry for the essay, but any help is much needed

thanks jamie

Have fun and good luck

I'd say the tamiya cooper would have been a better choice for first kit, because parts fit better, and the instructions are a bit more clear. not only that but the cooper would be a much more accurately detailed build straight out of the box.

I have the top secret skyline, and feel it was worth what I paid for it (40% off at hobby lobby) and nothing more. I have yet to begin building it, and from what I've heard, it's a real pain. but then I've seen some really nice builds from this kit as well.

I hope it comes out alright for you. and don't get discouraged if it doesn't. just pick up that Cooper, and you'll see just what I'm talking about.

My first question would be to ask what paints and brushes are you using? I'll tell you right now, if you don't have a good selection of ENAMEL and LACQUER (not acrylics, even the Tamiyas are pretty shoddy) paints you'll be up the creek with no paddle. I typically recommend Model Master for your enamels. Model Master lacquers are pretty nice, but for the absolute best I always stand by Floquil.

Lacquers and enamels offer better coverage with less paint and fewer brush strokes, and by using a good selection of hobby quality Sable Hair Brushes and plenty of patience you'll get good results. 10-0 and 7-0 sizes are a MUST in any hobby arsenal.

hi

for the body im using zero paints basecoat
for the rest i have a selection of tamiya acrylic and a few humbrol enamel,

i used flat black acrylic to spray the chassis and it turned out ok,

all the big bits will be airbrushed with acrylic (apart from the shell)
and for the samll details i will use a mix of acrylic and enamel, i also have some paint pens

for brushes i have a selection of humbrol prestdent brushes,

bit of progress

spent the last few hours picking detail out of the chassis
pics are not verry good, camera dont focus on zoom,

for my first chassis im pleased with the results
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41117.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41113.jpg

it doesn't look bad from the blurry pics. it seems you have decent parting lines between the silver and black. be sure to use some gloss black and semi gloss black to pick out some highlights on the chassis. the contrast in finish makes an amazing difference

Nicely done! That's certainly one of the more difficult tasks you'll face in this build, and it looks like you've managed very well. Some better pics would be nice, but I think the under engine detail could benefit nicely from a wash to bring out the details. Theres a how-to on it in the how-to directory.

Out of curiosity, have you built models other than cars before? How is it that you have an airbrush?

will try to get some better pics later
i will give it a go with semi and gloss try pick out some more detail, do i just pick out the tubed areas?

will try a wash but it will not be seen as theres covers over the engine and exhaust,

i tried making a airfix plane when i was 10yr old, i glued it all together no sanding or paint etc was a mess, other from that i have no moddeling experiance

as for the airbrush i went in my local model shop and said i wanted to build a car, i walked out with 30 paints 10 brushes, sanding sticks masking tape, scalpels, glue and a air brush

its not a verry good one, revell beginers airbrush, it has a glass jar and a can of air, if you know what i mean

a better pic, cam wont do any better they just go blurd

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/betterpic.jpg

Well good on you, mate, for jumping in with both feet. Seriously, I'm confident you'll enjoy modeling every bit as much as you hope and expect to.

A different airbrush perhaps may have been a better choice for you. It's entirely likely you will find yourself upgrading in the not distant future. But in the mean time you have something to learn on and use. Believe me, I would definately choose to model with a less than optimal airbrush than with no airbrush at all!

Bit of a shame that your camera is somewhat limiting. But from what I can see it does look like great work- spectacular in that it's your first go of it.

The Zero paints you have for the body are something of an advanced medium. It's excellent paint and will very likely be your poison of choice for years to come- however learning to use it for the first time while at the same time learning to use an airbrush for the first time while painting your first body may be a bit much to bite off all at once. Body painting is very much a collection of a number of different skills, and trying to develop all of these skill at the same time can be a woefully frustrating experience.

I would say definately use the airbrush and acrylics to paint the interor, underside and suspension parts. But if you were at my workbench and I was over your shoulder teaching you to airbrush, I wouldn't be starting you out on body painting- and I certainly wouldn't start you on automotive laquers.

For body painting for your first time, Tamiya spray TS laquers (primer and paint) are definately the very best way to go. They are an terrific product, and with care and instruction a beginner can paint a really great body with them on the first go. They will teach you alot about how paint behaves as it is sprayed. In using them there are many fewer variables to get wrong than in airbrushing, and so they are a very easy way to achieve great results. A little practice and you may quickly outgrow them- but I would strongly recommend them for at least your first and possibly second bodies.

got a bit more progress done the last few days

subframe,shocksand brakes on front
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41132.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41135.jpg

also the wheels
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41137.jpg

not a very good pic but i have painted the bolts and added a fine piece of wire for the valve

i aslo added the decals but most of them have fallen off, i followed the instructions too.
so any tips for applying decals? i dont want them to fall off the body

Looks good from what I can see in the pics. Like what others said any automotive paints are somewhat advanced and require a bit more attention. Ventilation, quick operation(this stuff will start to harden in your AB after 20-30 minutes). From your list, it seems that you don't have a clearcoat for the zero paints. Automotive basecoats MUST be clearcoated, otherwise the color will look wrong and you can't polish and get good results.
As for the photography, I suggest you stand back till your camera will focus and try to zoom in to the item you are taking a pic of. Crop it in a photo-editor if necessary.

HTH
Steve

thanks for the replies

for the automotive paints i am going to try it on the body as i have purchased it, i also have some zero jet black which i airbrushed the chassis covers and it turned out ok, so will have to experiment,

for the top coat i have a can of Mr Top Coat Gloss Spray that i am going to put over the base coat.
for the cam i will have a play see what happens.

can anyone help me with the decal application, i cant find a how to on it and the are falling off

nice kit man ,i guess me and you are both working on our first cars but mine is a nismo Ztune. your's is comeing along good ill keep an eye on this thread. and i need help with decals 2 ive droped a couple but luckily i find them if i look closely in the carpet lol

for the top coat i have a can of Mr Top Coat Gloss Spray that i am going to put over the base coat.
That'll work for you just fine. That's what I do ;-)
I gave up with 2-part clears and laying clear from my airbrish - I get a much better effect staright form the can. Just remember to lay several mist and light coats first before trying to get a wet coat down!

more progress

undertray had plastic rivvets on, too hard to paint so i drilled them out and added pin heads
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/bolts.jpg

then finished rear brake assembly, so chassis is complete
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/chasis.jpg

started on the interior, bucket seats was drilled out and painted
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/seat.jpg

also the dash is complete
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/dash.jpg
if you skuint your eyes pics arnt as blured

Very nice. Its coming along great.

Does your camera by chance have a macro? That may help with the bluriness.

whats a macro? the cam is a samsung digimax a4. 4.0mega pixels if that helps

edit, added link http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/camera/specification/1081/show.html

Macro is a mode for taking up close pictures. It helps them to become clearer. On most cameras, its the shape of a little flower lookin symbol.

On the picture of your camera, it shows the flower on the bottom of the blue Menu button. Im not familiar with Samsung cameras, but Im sure maybe if you just press that, your camera will enter macro mode, then try takin a pic.

ok so i got macro mode, better pics
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41154.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41150.jpg

Much better, but still a tad blurry. I figure a 4.0 MP camera would do better... Maybe try holding it a little farther back? Just kinda play around with it til ya get it.

The chassis and dash look really good. Looks like you have a pretty steady hand.

todays update

we have flocking,
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41168.jpg
just the centre concole to paint then add gear stick etc and interior is done

also ready for primer
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41158.jpg
decided to add bodykit before paint as i has some fitment issues with rear bumper, to glue after would have ruined paint imo

Very nice. Coming along great. Ive built about 12 cars and have yet to flock the carpet, so your already one step ahead of me on your first build. :-P

To answer your ? about decals - you're best to use a solvent specially prepared for decals. There are a few on the market - MicroSol is a good one or Humbrol may easier to get depending on your location. Humbrol do Decal Cote #1 and #2, #1 contains a mild adhesive and #2 a setting solution.

There's a very good tutorial on this at
http://www.amazing43.com/A43_2005/English/menuenglish.htm
under Techniques on the lefthand side of the home page.

Good luck - it's coming along nicely

more progress

the interior is done,i could have done better, but theres always next time
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41171.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41170.jpg

Now those pics are real nice. Great job so far keep it up. Q

The interior looks top notch, and the pics are crystal clear. Keep up the good work bro.

more progress
masked the boot and applied ts gold zero paints
then masked the gold and added zero jet black to the boot
masked up again to paint the window surrounds, wish i did it by hand as its not very good.

decals was added, was difficult and i destroyed the black line at the bottom of the door, oops

then came the clearcoat, not too bad needs a bit of rubbing compound and wax but its lost in the post so it will have to wait.

anyway pics
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41175.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41174.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41173.jpg

notice the window surround, not verry happy with them tbh
c&c please

good job there with the decals, just watch out with the orange peel on the hood you got going.

appart from some rubbing compound, wax its complete

the smudged window seal and the wobbly decals really let it down but its ok for first go, next car will be better.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41177.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41178.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/speed_bucket/STA41179.jpg

Beautiful, man.
I'm a big fan of Top Secret tuned Supras and Skylines.