Question about Car Model Kits

[MPWR]

PayPal is hardly a restriction these days- many online retailers happily accept it. Tower Hobbies is another very reputable huge US based online retailer, and yes they take PayPal.

As for kit quality, especially for your first few builds it is definately worth getting good kits to start with. A flaw in a less than perfect kit might be an easily fixable minor annoyance for an intermediate skilled builder, but can be a frustrating, pull-your-hair-out never do it again kind of experince for a beginner. Why risk putting yourself through it? I can totally understand not wanting to layout a bunch of cash on a hobby you're not sure you'll stay with- but it's really just a few dollars more. For your first build, you deserve to try doing it right by building something you'll enjoy instead of fight with. If you cheap out an get a crappy kit, then have a miserable time fighting with it and decide modeling sucks and isn't for you as a result, have you really saved anything? Crappy kits can present fun challenges once you've done some building- but for your first time do it right!

If you like exotics, Tamiya is going to be your very best friend- followed maybe by Fujimi and Hasegawa. Revell Germany may be a good option later if you decide your thing really is somewhat cheaper, somewhat lesser quality kits.

For a first build find a good curbside (without engine) kit. If you like Porsches, it would be nearly impossible to beat a Tamiya 911 GT3, '88 Turbo, or Boxter for your first build.

[theOmni]

Thanks very much for all of your supportive help everyone!!


MPWR, seeing that you are an expert in such an art, I'll take your advice in buying this kit.

I was hoping to start with something that had the interior and the engine.
This kit that you reccomended me, would this have any of that?

[MPWR]

Everything has an interior, so no worries there. But I would not recommend doing a kit with an engine as a first build. Engines really can't be done without an airbrush. They simply cannot be brush painted, and buying a spray can for each color you need gets impractical in a hurry. A decent airbrush/compressor will run around $200- so it's best to build a couple of curbside kits using spraycans first to be sure you like modeling before buying one. And even if you did by one now, you don't want to learn to use it by painting an engine with it on you first build.

Start simple- you're going to be alot happier with your first build if it's something you can still look at after finishing your third build and think "yeah, I did a good job on that". Painting a body and fitting an interior together is plenty to learn without having to go into the advanced detail masking and painting skills you'll need for an engine. You'll learn all that stuff in later builds- but you'll enjoy it much more if you have the basic skills first.

The Porsches I suggested above are all curbside.

[theOmni]

Thanks a lot for your help MPWR, as well as everyone else.
I took your advice and bought the Lamborghini Cantouch kit that you reccomended.

Now, I just wait with great anticipation to start on my first build!

[theOmni]

Oh crap, dude.
I'm really sorry, but I mixed up rsxse240 with MPWR.

I thought that the Lambo kit that was reccomened was by you (MPWR) and that it didn't have an egnine in it. So I ordered it and now I realized the mistake I made after re-reading this thread. ()

Anyways, it won't matter that much becuase about 5 years ago or so, I did aircraft modelling (bought those cheap kits from the dollar store or from the flea market and assembled them with cement, etc.) I'm going into car modeling for a hobby because I know for a fact that I'll stick with it. I've bought scale models from the Maisto company and Im really interested in this.

For a while, I've only drawn cars and worked with cars in 3D graphics design. I knew that kit modeling existed but when I saw MPWR's works and other people's, I suddenly felt that I wanted to do something like this and start with a Lamborghini to give to this girl who I like for her birthday...(only if she knew...)

I appreciate everyone's help in this matter. (And personally, no matter how new I am to something, I always do something that is one or two levels harder because that is the only way you learn and get better)

[hirofkd]

Originally Posted by theOmni

...give to this girl who I like for her birthday...(only if she knew...)

That'll change this whole discussion upside down. (LOL)
Okay, make sure you first give a nice (not the supermarket one!) flower bouquet. It's a must.

[theOmni]

Originally Posted by hirofkd

That'll change this whole discussion upside down. (LOL)
Okay, make sure you first give a nice (not the supermarket one!) flower bouquet. It's a must.

lol...I already have.
And lets not change this topic into that, rogl.

[MPWR]

It's cool- but I'm glad I'm not the only one who was confused.

Having built some wingie things (and I love me some wingie things, too! ) will definately help. But there are also some skills that are specific only to car modeling. The only way to learn car body painting is by painting car bodies. Get some Tamiya sprays, use the hot water bath trick to warm them, and apply them slowly and patiently. Above all else, that is the one trick in car modeling to master.

Most people can tell pretty quickly if modeling is somehting they will like enough to stick with. If you've built planes and done CG modeling, it's a good bet you'll be building cars for years. So make yourself comfortable, you're going to be here for a while.

As for the full engine, obviously you can either jump into it now or shelve it for when(if?) you get your airbrush. For under $10 you could almost consider it a throwaway if thing go badly- but it would be a good option to learn airbrush skills on.

The CG work yours? Looks like good stuff. It seems like if you're good at it, CG would really be the tool for designing body kits and the like.

[theOmni]

I made the car (Toyota Celica) early this year with the guidance of my friend. But I have a pretty good handle of 3D CG.

ANd I understand that painting either makes or breaks your model. If you have a apply it in a crappy way, you're gonna get something like this.
But if you've mastered airbrusing, it can really boost the realism of your car like this XJ 220 beauty

Airbrushing is a good option and I plan to look into that. But what I was speculating on was getting paint with 60% zinc in it (the make up for car paint), and pouring it over the car body that needs to be painted. However, I still see that AirBrushing is a superior option.