On to body detailing.
I like to leave detailing until after the clearcoat is polished and waxed. That way the paint is protected from any dirt/painting errors and the like.
The window surrounds get masked with lots and lots of tape. Tamiya tape (accept no substitutes!) and a new xacto blade are used around the surrounds.
And then I like to use 3M house painting tape around the Tamiya tape. It's cheaper, almost as good, and covers large areas nicely.
At this point, the surrounds are gently sanded with fine sandpaper to give the paint some tooth. Otherwise it often comes up with the masking when sprayed on a gloss waxed surface.
I used flat dark grey, as straight black would be a bit stark for a white body. I'm trying out Vallejo airbrush colors, and like them so far.
The taillight and turn signal reflectors get painted in much the same way. I masked them, painted with Tamiya gloss black acrylic, and then sprayed them with Alclad chrome.
The street version of the GT2 kit (which this is) includes fog lights to go next to the front turn signals. However it's common to see fog lights removed for air ducting, and Tamiya makes it all too easy to do this. As this is being built as a track car, the fog lights come out!
But something has to go in their place. I'm using K&S photoetch screen for that.
The screens get dipped in Blacken-it and then painted. I could have skipped the chemically blackening step, but if any black paint gets scraped off it won't show the shiny brass beneath this way.
Ready for installation.
Here's what the fuel filler looks like ready to install.
And in place.
And here it is with headlights, taillights, turn signals, fuel filler, and door handles in place. Still needs wing mirrors, windows, and an engine lid, but I'm really happy with how it's looking.
Gio is attempting to help me develop my photography skillz. We may be getting somewhere.
Thanks for watching!