In Progress - Hasegawa Dastun 240Z Rally Winner

[brusko24]

We're all sure you can do this right. give it time, maybe the primer didnt protect the plastic enough since automotive lacquer paint does attack plastic but im sure you already knew that. keep us posted! we're all rooting for you like crazy rally fans!

[mickbench]

Right,

I scurried home from work, I was on early shift, and armed with my camera I tried to take some outside pictures, as even though I was about to put this onhold for a bit longer, I just had to find out what had gone wrong..

I don’t like not knowing… It was in fact the paint to thick, as after I’d thinned it with thinner (I used Tamiya Lacquer thinner, and I’m still not sure that was right) the paint has now laid down so much smoother. As can be seen, the wrinkles, cracking, everything has now gone… the crack under the window as actually a large crack in the paint, that I sanded out…

Sadly, I’m worried about the number of coats applied with the paint being too thick. Two in total, and overall this has now had 9 coats of paint. 3 being mists, 2 wet, 2 that were too thick, and two to cover it again after I’d sanded. It’s a shame, but do I now just leave it alone, and buff it out, or now start again, as I now know what the problem was…

Here are some outside pictures, with cameo appearance of the family pet. The camera got a lot of sunshine in it, so the colour isn’t quite right, so I took one shot inside, where the shade of red is better and more true to the darkness seen by eye. It’s not as dark as the colour on the box, but I’ve seen so many shades for this datsun now, I’ve given up on trying to get a match, and just trying to get it painted..









Now, disclaimer – Modelcolourworx sent me the paint, and it was me that messed up… It’s not Paul at Modelcolourworx selling me duff paint… The paint, when used correctly is VERY good… I just wanted to clear this up.

[MPWR]

Well, looks like you fixed it! Very smooth, almost looks like-




-molded plastic!

It does look like a terrific paint job. Glad to see you back on track.

[mickbench]

You think the panel lines look OK? It had 2 coats of paint too much TBH. I'd only planned on 7 coats, not 9. I'm so glad I scribed them out before I started... The painted surface is fine, its just the number of coats its had. It's got me a little worried... Already had one comment about the number of paint layers.

I'll be using BMF for the window tirm, and TS Flat black for the bonnet. I think clear coat just when bye bye..!!

[MPWR]

They look fine to me. They're visible, and that's all they need to be. If you decide to wash them, you can still do a clear coat afterwards. (Just don't make them too dark- deep red or medium grey, but not black!)

[winstona]

Looks really good now. Don't tell me me you haven't polished it, it is very shiny already. The panel lines look deep enough from a distance.

Winston

[mickbench]

Winston,

No, I’ve not polished it out yet. I guess all that paint, sanding, and more paint really did bring up a good shine. Still too many coats on this one though. I’ll remember this for next time I work with automotive lacquer through an airbrush.

Live and learn, everyday is a school day…

[Lurchio]

I like the dog!

[brusko24]

very nice recovery. very nice paint. i think if you polish it even more you'd be on your way to inventing a red mirror! keep it up!

[mickbench]

I’m giving some serious thought to dunking the body on this one… I’ve left it now for a while as I try and make my mind up, as the paint still has a few slight mars, and the fuel cap is not as visible as I’d like, and it has a deep scratch around that area. To the untrained eye, perhaps not noticeable, but it bugs me. And I’m not overly sure of the shade either…

I don’t know. And this is the reason for no updates at the moment… I’m still undecided as to what I should do… Once I apply decals, then I’m stuffed, so need to make my mind up pretty soon. Keep it, or strip it.

[winstona]

Originally Posted by mickbench

I’m giving some serious thought to dunking the body on this one… I’ve left it now for a while as I try and make my mind up, as the paint still has a few slight mars, and the fuel cap is not as visible as I’d like, and it has a deep scratch around that area. To the untrained eye, perhaps not noticeable, but it bugs me. And I’m not overly sure of the shade either…

What is the extent of the damage? If you think it is not acceptable, as a builder who strives for perfrection, you should strip it and start all over again. IMO, at this stage, it is still stippable...As you said, once you put the decals on, there is no turning back.

Winston

[MPWR]

Well, I don't see the issues that are bothering you in the pics- but that doesn't mean they're well shown in the pics, and that I wouldn't be able to see them in person. I can't say, but really it's irrelevant anyway. Really the only way to answer it is by asking, "will you really be happy with it if you leave it?".

I'm guessing it's going to get stripped. You're obviously not pleased with it, as you've been lamenting about it for more than a week and haven't decided you can live with it as is- if you really could be happy with it, I think you'd have realized it by now. I think you're also convinced (very reasonably) that you know the medium better now, and can do a significantly better job with another chance. (I suspect that you would also enjoy another go of playing with the spiffy new paint.)

I certainly can't decide for you, and I wouldn't try to urge you in one direction or the other (I simply cannot make an objective evaluation of it). But I'd be surprized if you don't wind up stripping it. If that's really the conclusion your hearts come to on it, go ahead and do it- and enjoy repainting it. I can tell you from experince, it's better than lamenting in indecision about "should I or shouldn't I?".

[mickbench]

Well, if I do strip this it won’t be resprayed with the same paint, as I’ve not got enough left to paint the body and the chassis. I used too much as it was, hence the first onhold issue. Now it’s onhold as there are still some problems..

I think, and it’s pretty much a given now this is being dunked, and I’ll revert back to TS-8 on this one. I feel the paint is too thick, the scratches are too deep to polish out, and the fuel cap is buried in paint. I’ll never be happy with it, so for the sake of a £4 can of TS red, I think it’s about to be stripped down to bare plastic, and restarted..

Shame, as the paint was fine once I’d learnt how to use it, but it is the wrong shade. It should be cherry red, and I did apply to many coats… The guy who told me these things on another forum was, I regret to say right. I was just being stubborn… It was me who’s messed up. Not the paint…

Damn it… That shine was superb…. If it wasn’t for these factors, I’d have left it well alone..

[winstona]

Mick,

Good to see that you have made up your mind.

Think of this way. At least at this point, you have the opportunity to save it. If you don't make this decision today, you may be very dissapointed at a later stage when all the decals are on the body. Just like me, tragedy always happens when there is no turning back...

Winston

[mickbench]

Erm, Stripping might be onhold again.. I’ve searched, AGAIN… The colour is right.. I am going nuts looking, but in 1971, the datsun 240Z, and the Rally Winners were all painted with Cherry red (71899).

This was 905 Red for the road versions. Which is what I’ve used. Why it looks darkened in some ref pictures, an different in others I’ve yet to find out.. But, no matter how hard I ask MCW, he can only mix what Datsun codes are given, and he has done just that… The deep scratch is causing concern more now, then the shade of red..

Sorry folks.. This is one of the those "have I got this right" moments. Model building is about taking time, and if I take a further week to decide, then so be it.. It's in no hurry