revell corvette Z06

hi all
first off i'm not sure if this is the correct "location" of this post
(muscle car??)
anyways, here's my new project...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/20080718a.jpg

i've heard about fit problems with the hood....
right now it doesn't fit well but doesn't look TOO bad either
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/20080718b.jpg
however, i do see some mold lines and sink marks around...
btw, any hint on how to remove the solid grill??
do i just use a no. 11 blade and ummm.... lots of patience??

i'll probably be using the split spoke wheels
(the one on the left)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/20080718c.jpg
perhaps in black or gun metal

tires are disappointing...
even by revell standard...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/20080718d.jpg
the vinyl feel hard and weird
(and looks shiny, of course)
thread are shallow and looks to be simplified

here's the main "concern" for most cars
color scheme!
i've decided to paint it in yellow
(model master bright yellow)
but plain yellow is kind of boring
so maybe a black stripe???
this is what i'm preferring...
the stripe ends over the roof
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/20080718e.jpg

or maybe this...??
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/20080718f.jpg
stripe goes all the way to the back
but i'm not sure where to end it....

i've also thought about side stripes too
much like the gallardo superlaggera...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/20080718g.jpg
doesn't look very good though....:S

anyways
here are some questions that i hope someone can help...

1. any one worked on this kit before?? areas to pay attention to?

2. any advices on painting the stripes? (like do i need some "narrow" masking tape first, then "wider" ones? do i peel the tape off after the paint has completely dried or just after its dry enough to touch? do i peel away from the paint or what?)

3. being not very rich, i'm wondering if you can paint the black stripe in FLAT black, then put on a clear coat... would it still look ok??

4. how do you make the windows look so realistic?
polishing compound (finishing)???

5. i've heard that model master paint is easier to have orange peel then tamiya paint... is that true? and if yes, any advices? (yes, i've read the article about 30+ coats of primer)

i'm a really slow builder so there might be no progress for a long time
anyway
any help / advice / ideas would be greatly appreciated
:D

hundred plus views and no reply? :(
anyways
i was trying to finish up my other models so i put this corvette aside
and finally started again yesterday

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/200808051.jpg
there're some molding lines to clean up...
the ones on the bumper are minor sinkmarks

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/200808052.jpg
did a litle painting
however i later found a photo showing the suspension should be in black...
hmmm.....
anyways a question here
do you paint your chassis semi-gloss or flat black??
i think most photos show some parts are semi-gloss while some are flat
however, becuase of "scale effect"
i think neither of the colors look quiet correct...
any help on this??

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/200808053.jpg
another thing is
mold lines along springs or similar parts
how do you clean up these parts?
and if the springs are misaligned....
what can you do? (apart from scratchbuilding)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/200808054.jpg
i also tried to find the difference between chrome silver and flat aluminum
however, they look 95% similar to me
only thing i could tell is chrome silver seems to be a bit more whitish
any comments on these paints???

I do like the second option, the one with the strip extending to the back of the car. So far so good. :wink:

1. any hint on how to remove the solid grill??
do i just use a no. 11 blade and ummm.... lots of patience??


2. so maybe a black stripe???

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/20080718f.jpg
stripe goes all the way to the back
but i'm not sure where to end it....


3. any advices on painting the stripes? (like do i need some "narrow" masking tape first, then "wider" ones? do i peel the tape off after the paint has completely dried or just after its dry enough to touch? do i peel away from the paint or what?)

4. being not very rich, i'm wondering if you can paint the black stripe in FLAT black, then put on a clear coat... would it still look ok??

5. i've heard that model master paint is easier to have orange peel then tamiya paint... is that true? and if yes, any advices? (yes, i've read the article about 30+ coats of primer)


well im by no means a modeling pro, but heres my 2 cents

1. use the back of a used no.11 blade and basically run it around the perimeter of the piece you want removed, 'scraping' the styrene away as you go. just be sure that the end of the blade isnt crooked or bent, or else it will take off on you when it catches, making unnecessary scrapes and gouges.

2. the stripe that goes the length of the car looks great. it could either end above the license plate area, or go under the rear bumper (which i think looks better).

3. you dont really need special masking tapes or anything unless you plan on laying down some pretty intricate striping. i use 1/2 inch green or blue painters tape for pretty much everything. the blue gets used more on bare styrene as it has more 'stick', and i use the green to stripe or two-tone on already painted surfaces because it releases much easier, but still keeps a clean line.
you definately want to get the tape off before it dries.
i pull mine when the overspray on the tape is tacky. to keep your clean paint edge while pulling your tape off, pull the tape off back over itself keeping it low and angled very slightly away from the painted edge as you pull, if that makes any sense.

4. of course it will look okay. you might even consider just leaving it a flat black stripe splitting your shiny yellow paint, it would be a great contrast.

5. when it really comes down to it, bad paintjobs are 97% user error. it is true that you get what you pay for, but if you spray in light coats and follow all of the instructions on the can, especially the parts about shaking it for atleast a minute, and keeping the can a certain distance away, you should turn out a pretty great end result. this is of course with careful surface prep such as a good primer and sanding. buffing, waxing and polishing after the clear also work wonders.

hope ive been of some help, looks great so far.

I like the idea of the black stripe going down the back of the car, would look really cool!

Perhaps Black wheels and Black headlights.
http://www.americanlemans.com/Gallery/187/1875182008231657203.JPG