Tamiya 24268 Xanavi Skyline R34

[Marianitem]

Hi everyone! I've been away from posting builds for too long because I've been too busy to sit and build regularly. I've mostly been trying to finish many started builds and also rebuilding a Castrol Primera and an Axia Skyline that I bought used for cheap.

Anyway this thread I'm starting is about Tamiya's 24268 Xanavi Skyline R34 which I admire. I bought Studio 27 photo etch set for it and it is my first time using PE sets. I will also add CF decals outside and paint CF pattern with mesh on the inside. I've been holding back on this one as I don't wanna mess it up but I think is time for me to enjoy it no matter how it comes out. I'll also build the Z with Tamiya's PE and the R35.

I've been reading lots of threads and doing sone research but I'm still insecure about how to deal with PE. I've already read that there are PE add-ons, PE-replacements and I asume PE+plastic+decal combination. Here I will share some pics and my thoughts about each section and hope you can help me figure what to do in each case.

First off I understand brake discs, radio jack base, blinkers fastener, roll cage reinforcement are placed as add ons over regular parts.
Mirrors, wing parts, wiper, grilles are replacements of original plastic parts.
Now for things like the fuel cap I'm not sure what to do because the fuel cap is already 3d detailed. Should I fix the blind plate over the detailed part and then add the other PE details over it? Painting everything separate of course...

Also, for the seatbelts I have PE parts molded exactly as the decals and I have the decals. Should I shape the PE to the seat, then add decals to the seat? Or how should I paint the PE?
For the center console there are 4 PE parts, 19-22 which are add ons, but have some surface detail and different textures but don't know how to paint them. I got some reference but no technique, only that I have to use metal primer. I intend to paint CF pattern thru mesh so any tips are welcome.

Finally, I will have to bend the wipers and there are no indications to it...

Below are the pictures of the PE manual and PE sprue. Please see them on next reply as I'm writing from a mobile phone.

Any help and comments will be much appreciated.

[Marianitem]

Here are the pics related to the previous post. Hope you can help me on this. Thanks

[nugundam93]

Originally Posted by Marianitem

First off I understand brake discs, radio jack base, blinkers fastener, roll cage reinforcement are placed as add ons over regular parts.
Mirrors, wing parts, wiper, grilles are replacements of original plastic parts.
Now for things like the fuel cap I'm not sure what to do because the fuel cap is already 3d detailed. Should I fix the blind plate over the detailed part and then add the other PE details over it? Painting everything separate of course...

Also, for the seatbelts I have PE parts molded exactly as the decals and I have the decals. Should I shape the PE to the seat, then add decals to the seat? Or how should I paint the PE?
For the center console there are 4 PE parts, 19-22 which are add ons, but have some surface detail and different textures but don't know how to paint them. I got some reference but no technique, only that I have to use metal primer. I intend to paint CF pattern thru mesh so any tips are welcome.

Finally, I will have to bend the wipers and there are no indications to it...

seatbelts - i'd shape the PE to the seat, prime it with metal primer, then paint and apply the decal

center console - i usually paint them the same way as the plastic part it replaces.

wipers - the wiper arm (central part of the PE sheet, looks like a 3-pronged spatula with a squiggly handle) folds on the horizontal axis (based on the pic). if you were to number the "prongs" 1-3, prongs 1 and 3 fold on the axis of prong 2. the blade itself is to the lower right and should fold the same way.

anyway, found a PE tutorial which might help you too: http://www.italianhorses.net/Tutorials/Photoetch/pe.htm

*edit*

this one too, this shows the PE wiper being bent into shape: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/i...c=70702&page=2

and another way of showing how PE parts get bent: http://www.pimpmybatmobile.com/wp-co...tructions3.pdf