Calsonic GT-R WIP - First build on the forums

[89audiQT]

Hi all. Here's my first build since becoming a member here at the forums, but I think it's somewhere around my 80th-85th build in all. It's not much to look at just yet, but i've got some rather odd ideas for this one. BTW, it's the Calsonic Skyline GT-R (1999 Version.)

Just a quick show of painted and assembled front-end, masked windows, and primered body. The mods should start sometime within the next day or 2, once I decide on what'll be done to it. Mostly body and interior changes. Hope you enjoy it.

[gionc]

Originally Posted by 89audiQT

Hi all. Here's my first build since becoming a member here at the forums, but I think it's somewhere around my 80th-85th build in all. It's not much to look at just yet, but i've got some rather odd ideas for this one. BTW, it's the Calsonic Skyline GT-R (1999 Version.)

Just a quick show of painted and assembled front-end, masked windows, and primered body. The mods should start sometime within the next day or 2, once I decide on what'll be done to it. Mostly body and interior changes. Hope you enjoy it.

Well, I love so much almost all sylines but Hoshino's stuff had from the very begin a special place in my modelling hart so can't wait for updates..
and.. if not said before you're welcome here

[89audiQT]

Just wrapped up the rear suspension assembly. Minor washing and weathering just as an excuse not to paint all the terrific. My intentions aren't to really skimp much on the quality of painting the smaller parts, but rather to save a little bit of time that'll all be put into other areas.




Enjoy

[D_LaMz]

that is looking good!

[89audiQT]

Warning : Crude body work mock-ups ahead.

Didn't realize i was running so low on my 10 thou styrene, or else i'd have used it. Instead, just regular copy paper, since it's free.

I've decided to go with a full-on drag car conversion. Here's the idea i've got done thus far. Later on, i'll be re-shaping the rear fenders, building them out to house the wrinkle-walls, as well as working out a longer, duck tail-styled spoiler. Been busy today with a trip to the dentist and drugs to keep me away from sharp objects, so i'm just now getting around to it. Hope ya like and more updates later on today.

[NissanSkylineGTR98]

Interesting concept, looking forward to seeing the finished result! Welcome to AF!

[primera man]

Mmmmmmm....be keen to see how this turns out

[89audiQT]

Thanks guys. Unfortunately, i've decided to go ahead and build this car more to an OOB style build with some less drastic changes. I think at this point, i'd much rather make similar changes to the C-West RX-7 and just do the strip mod to that. I don't really care much for it's "standard kitted" looks that seem to plague the majority of aoshima/fujimi kits.

Instead, I think i'm just gonna go ahead with some mods to the front and rear bumpers, as well as the spoiler for this one, and start stretching out the body of the C-West later on this morning.

More pics and progress to follow once i get some more things painted and the bumpers cut up.

[Vladamor]

Interesting... I'll look forward for the result.

GOOD LUCK

[89audiQT]

After starting a new stupid job, buying a new stupid car, and catching up on sleep, it's finally time to get back to the Calsonic. I've opted against a conversion since i've picked up 2 more of these from a friend.

These pics aren't wonderful, cause the lighting conditions in my office at 2am suck (go figure).




Now, i'm gonna need a little help or advice from you guys if can spare a few minutes. This is my first time rattle-canning Tamiya's paints (this here is TS-51) and i've noticed something a lil different from my usual krylon jobs when wet sanding. I'm getting an awful lot of "lightening" in the paint. I plan on polishing the paint with micromesh, but here's the problem. There were a few specs of dust when I wet sanded them down and saw the paint damn near turn white.

After searching, i've only found some hints, but nothing I could consider usable. I'm doing an OOB build, and plan on using the decals, but because of the paint, i'm kinda lost on when I should do the decals, clear coat, etc. I've never dealt with clear coating a car, let alone over decals, but i've polished about 25 cars' paint in the past. Should I drop the decals on, clear coat, then polish the clear? I'd appreciate any input you guys got, since this forum is chalked full of good info, tips, and experience stories. Thanks in advance.

Kenney

[Vladamor]

Hi there.

Well, those "lights" on the paints are because you spray not light coats one after one. Try to use light coats, this may solve that problem...

About the decals, the modellers (from what I can see) use the different versions. Some of them apply the clear coat after the pain, then decals, and then the finish clear coat.... And some of them, aplly the decals right next from the paint, and then the clear coat...
I had read some books where they say you'll reach a better finish if you apply a clear coat before the decals, but I havn't try, so, don't know the result my self....

CHEERS

[89audiQT]

thanks Vladamor. I suppose this will just be a hit or miss process.

The paint was applied in 4 very thin coats (close to mist, but just a tad more) as not to over do it. Then I finished it off with a medium wet coat. Didn't quite look as thick as I would have normally done with spray enamel. Thanks again.

[gionc]

Excuse me, I could understand wrong you project, but you said you'll use decals, over the wrong color? I'm still unanderstanding.

Concerning the finishing I like to place decals on a smooth surface, so cut out colors with micromesh, if needed polish the body (you don't need a supershine appeal here, only to cut out orange peel) wash it, apply decals, careful spray some thin coats of ts13 (or gunze topcoat) a couple of almost-wetcoat and polish it.

An other great stuff w/out clearcoat: cut out orange peel with micromesh, wash, spray last wetcoat, let it dry for 3/4 days than polish it (well for the last step I'm still using only the 3 step Tamiya compound, not sandpapers)
clean-up the body, aplly decals and finally wax it with a super soft cloth.

[89audiQT]

well, the paint is fine. that really isn't a concern. my biggest concern was whether or not to polish the paint directly (which was turning up bright spots while removing dust in the paint by wetsanding it), or to place the decals on, spray on some clear coat, then polish the clear. i'm not too fond of the paste polish. i've always been good enough with the micromesh, as i have a near endless supply of it (bought several sheets of it in bulk from a glass shop).

thanks for the info, btw.

i'm concerned about polishing the paint directly and having the whole car brighten up much more than the color is now. a shade or 2 is fine, but when i barely touched it to remove the dust, it was close to white. i've polished many a car with the same method and have never experienced anything like this before, so i'm pretty sure it has to do with the paint i'm using.

[Bobble83]

It looks great. Like the colour. Keep up the good work