Lamborghini Muira *Help Needed*

Ok. Im a sorta n00b to models compared to you guys! Ive done a few cars before, and know a few techniques, but need your help step by step.

I decided it would be a good idea to post on AF because this modeling forum has to be the busiest forum there is. :D

So... here goes.

I have no specialist tools, no primer for my models, but i do have some things such as pliers, craft knives and quite a few paints. So far ive painted the dashboard a matte black, to give it a sorta leathery effect, and ive glued the steering column to it..

Sorry: no pics, my pc cable has gone missing, but its a Hasegawa Lamborghini Muira P400 SV.

EDIT: Found the cable :) heres the boxart and the dashboard:

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/515/spa0250du3.jpg
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3910/spa0251ra8.jpg

-chris-

UPDATE:

Some pics of the body, ready for all work needed for it, such as sanding etc.

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/5479/spa0252ba0.jpg
http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/9311/spa0253gi4.jpg

-chris-

Looks like you're off to a good start.

If you want help, you're going to have to ask what you want to know, as specificly as possible.

Search on 'Miura' and 'Jota' (the kits are pretty similar) and look to see what other people have done with them, and read their descriptions of how they did it. Decide what you do and don't want to do, and then search more to see if there are more descriptions on those techniques.

If you ask 'how do I simulate carpeting in my Miura?', you'll probably get answers for two or three good ways of doing it (well, you'll likely get several people telling you to search on it, as it's a topic that's been covered often enough). But if you ask 'how do I make my interior look realistic?', you'll get no useful answers at all.

You can get an incredible amount of help here- but only if you're willing to put in the effort to help yourself (and to help us help you) first.

Wow, thanks man. i dont think anyone has ever given me such a detailed description on what to do on ANYTHING.

You're the best ;)

Im off to search miura and jota kits now.

-chris-

that appears to be a pretty good kit. Is it full detail, or still the same old motorized pos with a nice body, and a flat chassis?

its quite good detail, from what i can see its a good replica with engine and things... i may try a few mods such as custom exhaust pipes and engine wires etc.

UPDATE: i have looked at pics of the SV on google, and have decided my car will be black with silver/gunmetal scoop on side skirt.

I think ive messed up the sandin on the body, but theres a chance i can fix it. pics tomorrow because i have to go now.

UPDATE!

Help... I think ive screwed up the sanding, but since this is the first body ive sanded, im not sure. can you guys tell from this pic or should i take some better ones?
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/6527/spa0255yb6.jpg
Its packaged to keep the crap off it, and it can breathe so dont worry :D
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/9349/spa0256vq5.jpg

What are you using, how are you doing it, and what is it that you think went wrong? Some better pics would definately help.

Well, im using 1500 wet and dry, and it doesnt look how i think it should, but im starting to think differently... watch this space for pics as i shall update.

Phew! big sigh of relief, it looked much worse yesterday, but for some reason it now looks fine ;)

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/879/spa0259ek7.jpg
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/1692/spa0258rf1.jpg

Body now ready for primer, which should be arriving tomorrow ;)

i) do you know why you need to sand a model's body?
ii) do you know what to look for when sanding a model's body?
iii) do you know how to fix those things?

From the very little that you've actually said here, I'm guessing it doesn't look right beucase the surface isn't sanding evenly. What on earth can we see of the body when it's in a plastic bag? No offence but a little thought goes a long way.

sorry, i wasnt typing what i was thinking really, the plastic bag pic... well i cant really explain that one. yeah i sanded the body to remove the mould lines.

Thanks (i also updated the last post)

first of all, you still haven't said what the problem is.

secondly, I'm assuming you're suing the 1500 from Halfords.
I'd use maybe 600 3M stuff and go gently over the problem areas
i.e mould lines, then go to 1200 to level out the rest of the body.

You're going to have to primer that thing to see how well you've done in fixing problems.

Ahh, no problems as such now, and i got the sandpaper from my dad... he works in a garage... so i think its likely to be similar to halfords stuff. i guess i should do a little more work on the body to level it out, but other than that ive made a complete ass of myself worrying about nothin...

*i hate being a n00b*

I usually use 300-400 grit for the body then hit it with a sandable primer, then sand the primer with a 800 to level it out, then a light coat of primer followed by 1200, then paint. of course I wash the body after I sand each time so as not to get "chunks" of debris that could damage the surface more than the sanding sticks.

From what I see, it all looks fine.

I like that... if i had the money, id get different sandpapers, and primers... all i have right now is 20p... :P

also.. your sig idea sounds cool ;)

I only have Halfords sandpapers to use and I've got myself the 800 grit and 1500 grit. To eliminate any mould lines and give the body a good surface for the (Halfords) grey plastic primer I'm using, I use their 800 grit....then once I've got a good few coats of primer, I sand it down smooth with 1500 grit in a large water-bath contraption :) . Always use primer.

I check the body's smooth etc. then proceed to painting. I like to keep it in a clean plastic bag to keep dust away from it and only take it off right before painting, starting with mist coats then working up from that.

I hope I've been of some sort of help. I've got limited funds too but if you want to get into this hobby, I'd recommend getting the finest grade wet and dry paper you can and one slightly coarser and ofcourse some primer. Then just build up your tools from there :icon16: . Others might not agree, but I'm just trying to give you my own personal experience.

Don't forget to cut out those two sprues on the front bonnet before you primer it up...don't wanna patronise you, just saying incase.

Try reading here:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=59123

If you don't have all the grits of sandpaper that you need to complete the job, don't try to build the model yet. Wait until you have the cash to pay for the right tools, rather than agitating yourself by trying to complete the kit without the stuff you need.

It looks fine so far though ;)

read that many times. tbh im making this model oob (out of box). i couldnt mod it even if i knew how.

so... I now have primer, and some metallic gold spray which i found (its a chrome effect) for the rims.

Pics as soon as i sort out a spraying area (i dont even have one yet :P)

Finally, some actual progress!

Ive sprayed on the base coat. Its not actually primer, but the guy in the model shop seems to think it will work like one. it is matt grey paint.


http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/240/spa0264um6.jpg
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/2312/spa0265yf4.jpg
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/7609/spa0266lv0.jpg

This was pretty much straight after the 2nd coat went on.
If anyone notices any problems, please point them out ;)

Its gonna be a few days before i get my gloss black body paint.

-chris-

too late now but paint does not equal primer.
And to be honest, I can't see anything from those photos. Are you using your phone?

Hehe, you should listen to us and not to the guy at the hobby store. But it could turn out decently as long as you use the same sort of paint for your color coat and basecoat. That is, use enamel with enamel, lacquer with lacquer, etc.

Here's another how-to. If it weren't for this guide, I wouldn't have gotten into this hobby recently. What I've learned recently is that you don't need to lay down the tricky "wet coats," which can run if you're not careful (and if your can of paint sucks). You can continue to lay down light coats the entire time, then clearcoat and polish your clear.

thanks guys, im gonna use the same paint i guess, and :/ i would make mistakes wouldnt i. oh well, i guess i only learn by making mistakes!

*Update*

Heres some newer pics of what the body looks like in good light.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/2775/spa0269fi1.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/3407/spa0267sy7.jpg

One thing I MUST tell you. do NOT spray your cologne anywhere near your modeling area. it WILL get on your plastic, and cause adverse effects with your paint....trust me, I know...from experience.

base coat looks good. and the wheels could use a semigloss, or dull coat on the gold, but if the shiny was your desired effect, then I think it looks great.

Oh, and what is that little red jet in the background? I used to have one, but it seems to have flown away. I speak of owning a model of course, not a real one.

Oh, and what is that little red jet in the background? I used to have one, but it seems to have flown away. I speak of owning a model of course, not a real one.

It's a Hawker Siddeley Hawk as flown by the Red Arrows

The tires look a bit chunky, IMO.

yeah, they are stock tires, that was a quick test fit to see what it would look like. The desired color was gold, and dont worry cologne/paint spraying are never going to come into contact ;)

And the red jet was a small wip i did using only glue and paint. I didnt finish it, as you can see

Heres another update...

Black paint! with, unfortunately, more orange peel. Im not having much luck when it comes to painting bodies.

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/2812/spa0332gb5.jpg
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9099/spa0333xi8.jpg
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/3864/spa0334wr7.jpg