Completed: Honda Fit (56k beware)

This is my second car of this year. Kit is made by Tamiya.

Paint is Honda B520P vivid blue pearl, duplicolor clear can.

Lowered suspension ~2mm
N1 style muffler from Aoshima JUN Prelude
Fujimi Spoon SW388 rims
Scratchbuilt rear Spoon duckbill spoiler
SMS carbon fiber decals on duckbill and hood, going for the unified Spoon look.
Added blue tint on the mirrors, another attempt to go for the Spoon look.
Converted manual gearstick

Didn't like how Tamiya made all the parts squeeze tight, after the paint, clear, and floor wax on the windows I realized all the parts needed squeezing into place, which caused some scratches and gaps. I had problems putting the taillights into place, if I force it into their holes I would scratch the paint and probably chip it. I also didn't know the rear windows were designed to be completely flush with the rear gate. After I glued everything together and clip the chassis into the body I ended up with a big gap between the taillights and the rear gate. It looked like the interior walls were pushing against the body too much causing the body to bulge out of shape.

In this project I found out that automotive paint will eat right through Tamiya primer as well. The body had sunken mold lines at the corners of the bumpers. I used Tamiya primer to fill those lines and it looked fine before the paint went on. Right now all mold lines are very visible and I can barely feel them sink in with my fingernails. :banghead:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/DSC01330.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/DSC01327.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/DSC01328.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/DSC01326.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/DSC01333.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/DSC01334.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/DSC01332.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/DSC01339.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/DSC01341.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/DSC01340.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/DSC01342.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/DSC01347.jpg

My 2007 completed projects:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/DSC01365.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/DSC01366.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/kaho4g94/DSC01367.jpg

Thanks for looking!

Terrific work! What camera do you use?! :)

So clean and looks awesome! Shame about a few minor blemishes but overall it's amazing. Rear spoiler looks straight from manufacturer too...good job.

Nice work, I like it, I think the color is a good choice! Nice panel lines too! Congrats! :grinyes:

Great build, love the black wheels

Terrific work! What camera do you use?! :)
he/she was using a Sony DSC-W30.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/06021301sonydscw30.asp

he/she was using a Sony DSC-W30.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/06021301sonydscw30.asp

whoa....

It's true, how did you know that??

If you save a picture file to your computer, you can right click the file icon, then select "Properties" from the menu that shows up. When the "Properties" window opens, select the "Summary" tab, and you'll get information that includes the equipment used to take the photo. As far as I know, you do lose this information once it is processed through graphics manipulation software.

Your Fit is gorgeous! The paint work and the carbon is just... stunning. I particularly love the license plate mount detail on it, and on the EVO. Great bit of often neglected detail. You're truly a master, kaho.

very cool man!

That blue is magnificent! It has a perfect metallic look too. Duplicolor eh?...

Thanks! :sunglasse

THis turned out beautifuly! Very nice work on the whole thing. It's just a thing of beauty. Almost flawless. You did a REALLY good job!

beautiful

Ro

Nice work!!
I love this pearl blue color!!

How did you get the carbon to come out like that?? please tell...i've been trying...but yet to figure it out. Thanks.

mrawl: Yes duplicolor clear in a can. I am not sure how well it does on tamiya TS spray though, since I used automotive lacquer, which attacked the primer underneath. I will try using Gunze Mr. Surfacer instead of primer next time, hopefully it is strong enough against the automotive paints.

How did you get the carbon to come out like that?? please tell...i've been trying...but yet to figure it out. Thanks.

This is my second time using CF decals...and first time putting it on large surfaces like a hood/spoiler, so I still had some minor wrinkles and rips. Start from cutting the pattern, I used a How-to made by an AF member and was one of the sticky threads. When I apply the decal, I started on the center of each piece, using a cotton swab I rolled the upper surface of the decal to push water bubbles outward that are underneath the decals. I continued flattening the decal onto the surface expanding on that area. It is a slow process because the area you have previously flattened needs time to dry out to glue itself to the surface. I applied Gunze Mr. mark softer a couple times to the unconforming parts of the decal, and decalling the hood took me a little less than two hours.

Since the hood is a round surface, the decal will overlap near the edge of the hood. I just kept on applying mark soften on the decal. After the decals have been softened, I pushed a wet cotton swab against the overlaps and they folded. The folds are not very visible and can't be felt after a polished coat of clear has been put on.

I noticed the decals shrink after drying, this is evident when I made a rip or poke through the decal they enlarged the next day. Also if I painted the panels black/gun metal/metallic grey before applying the decals the rips and holes won't be so visible.

Looks very good!

Excellent build apart from the tiny rock chip in the hood its perfect. Really quality build, and the photography is also great. Lets get started on another one!

Nice projects.

Great finish it looks gorgeous!
Nice color, nice idea, I like it!

Congrats on a finished model