Air Cooled GB: Porsche GT2 Club Sport

[ketje]

Why don't I have a mill???

Well done

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by rockinanko

is my eyes playing tricks on me!?

No, that's Andy's photos!

[ImolaEK]

Great stuff as usual.

[MPWR]

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!

[klutz_100]

White definitely suits this car! It was a good choice finally

Photographs are finally doing justice to your work There's nothing like a plain backdrop (plus whatever else you are doing differently)

[Porsnatic]

Now with this new photography, it looks better than a real Porsche...man, excellent job so far!

[godfather23]

I simply adore what you have achieved so far. Especially your paint work on the rear lights as well as the execution on the front lights is realwise..Will the rims be gold?? That would look to pimpy, would it?

Robert

[gionc]

I agree with guys, job is fantastic. Both front&rear lights are super.

[renekingcrosby]

I agree with the boys:
great paintjob, this GT2 looks fantastic!!! Black wheels would be great!
Nice work!!
René

[polinesiano]

It's great project. I love this car!
This is the ultimate (and real) Porsche GT air cooled!

[redline2112]

Very impressive!!!
It REAL!!!

[tonioseven]

You're gonna make me build it!! Tour progress on this is terrific and quite inspirational! It may get pushed to the forefront because this is one of very few kits in existence that the stock wheels are perfect for it!

[Robi J]

Outstanding execution; the milled seats of the taillights give them a great extra-realism. I love the pictures as well. A beauty, definitely...

Robi

[ketje]

Looking great. I love the fuel filler.

[MPWR]

Thanks everyone!

For photography, Gio has convinced me to shoot on my camera's largest Mpixel setting and then shrink the image digitally. I've always shot images small so they would fit for posts. I'm very happy with this batch, so this will call for more experimenting!

As Robi J pointed out, I did grind out the reflectors for the taillights and turn signals. I did it with a Dremel type motor tool and small ball shaped grinders.



Of course, this is best to do before priming and painting!! You can see the dished out reflectors for the rear turn signals and taillights here. Tamiya already did two reflectors for the brake lights (the small round reflectors closer to the center of the taillight strip)- why couldn't they have done the whole thing?



I think headlights/taillights if done well add a lot to the realism of a build, so it's a place I like to put some effort in. I also painted the edges of the taillight strip black, and I think it really improves the already good kit part.

I'm still considering about the wheels! Of course I'm going to use the stock BBS's, as they're perfect on this car. But I'm not sure that I'm sold on the gold center- especially on a white car. Maybe doing the center in gunmetal would look good...? We'll see!

Thanks for the pics, polinesiano- they're terrific!