Flying Sub, now with showroom finish!

I promise this is the last time I’ll post an off-topic subject to this forum, but some of you guys were very generous with your time and expertise when I was negotiating the “new car finish” learning curve, and I just wanted to say thanks.

This is the first time I’ve buffed out a finish to this extent, and I’m pretty pleased with the results (for the record, this is Moebius Models’ kit of the Flying Sub from the old Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea TV series).

I used Tamiya rattle-can lacquers finished off with polishing abrasives. I’d originally planned to topcoat with clear, but the polished yellow looked fine without it.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa304/CarsonDyle/FS1-5.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa304/CarsonDyle/fs3-4.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa304/CarsonDyle/fs8-2.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa304/CarsonDyle/fs4-3.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa304/CarsonDyle/fs5-3.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa304/CarsonDyle/DSCN0656.jpg

Although I don’t typically model autos, I’ve probably learned more on this forum than anywhere else on the web re: scale model finishes in general. Thanks again for the tips and advice.

That looks fantastic. The finish is spectacular. Some of those Tamiya colors really don't need any clear to come out that beautifully. I'd like to know how much paint you used (approximate number of heavy coats) and how much effort you put into polishing it.

I'd also like to know whether your name is an homage to "Charade" or not.

Awesome! There will be more than a few around here who would be more than happy with that fantastic finish you have achieved :thumbsup:

Maybe it's just the photo lighting but a couple of the parts - such as the hatch in the bottom - look as if a light was would help add some depth and definition to the parts.

I hope very much that you decide to share your next project too! :)

I'd like to know how much paint you used (approximate number of heavy coats) and how much effort you put into polishing it.

I went through seven (or was it eight?) cans of Tamiya Chrome yellow.

Basically, I applied several light mist coats, building up a heavy wet coat. After letting the finish cure for a couple weeks I sanded out a couple glitches, then repeated the process.

So, I suppose the answer to your question is two heavy coats.

Once the surface was fully cured I started in with Micro-Mark polishing abrasives, beginning with 3200 and working my way up to 12000.

I'd also like to know whether your name is an homage to "Charade" or not.

Yeah. My real name is Peter Bartholomew. :cool:

Maybe it's just the photo lighting but a couple of the parts - such as the hatch in the bottom - look as if a light was would help add some depth and definition to the parts.

Photography is not my forte lol, but I really need to take some better shots of this thing. That hatch was given the turpenoid & dark blue-grey oil treatment to bring out the recessed areas, but it’s just not showing up in the pix I took.

I hope very much that you decide to share your next project too! :)

Thanks. As I mentioned, I’m not much of an auto modeler, and I feel a bit funny coming here with threads about flying submarines. Thing is, I’ve found this forum to be extremely helpful, so you’ll probably be seeing me around.