Newbie

[ccc880]

Hi. I am looking into starting to do car models but know NOTHING about them. They are kits that you buy, assemble, and paint, right? What would be some good kits to start out with im (15 years old). Ive assembled maybe 3 models in my life. Thanks for any guidance or overviews of car modeling in general !

EDIT: Also what supplies will I need to be able to model? Thanks!

[chaos]

Hi! Welcome to AF!!
I suggest you try to get your hands on a Tamiya (the manufacturer) kit as your first project - simply cos they make kits that fit together well. Their Subaru WRX and Nissan 350Z kits are great "starter" kits IMO. Of course, be warned that Tamiya kits are a bit pricey unfortunately.
As for supplies - get yourself a few paint brushes, plastic glue, and paints to start off with - all of which should be available at your hobby store.
Have read of the FAQ as well - lots of info in there.
Good luck!

[DSM-Mark]

Originally Posted by ccc880

Hi. I am looking into starting to do car models but know NOTHING about them. They are kits that you buy, assemble, and paint, right? What would be some good kits to start out with im (15 years old). Ive assembled maybe 3 models in my life. Thanks for any guidance or overviews of car modeling in general !

EDIT: Also what supplies will I need to be able to model? Thanks!

Welcome aboard!

First off, you'll need plastic spray paint for the body. You'll hear of people using automotive paint, but that can be tricky, so for now I'd recommend using plastic specific paint. At the bare minimum your local hobby store (LHS) should have Model Master spray paint that you can use. However, I'd recommend using Tamiya spray paint if you can. It costs $2 a can more, but it's much easier to get a nice finish. Plastic primer is necessary, I'd say, only if you used putty on your model, or plan to polish it or use tacky tape on it. If you're trying to save money, you can get away without using primer, but you will have to be more careful. The paint will not bond with the plastic as well as if you had primer down too, so you can pull off the paint with tape, or do other crazy things to it 'accidently'.

I'd recommend you read the FAQ, front to back, at least once before you start (it's on of the Important threads at the top of the thread listing page). You don't need to do everything listed in there for a first (or second) model, as you're still really learning just the basics, and some of those tips are quite advanced.

I'm going to use my prophecying skills and give you some advice in advance: Don't worry about the first one! (Everybody's first model looks terrible...it's just part of the learning curve. We learn best by making mistakes)

Keep us posted!

[hirofkd]

I recommend starting with a simple "curbside" model (outer shell model with interior, but no engine details). You can even choose one of those snapper, and break the pegs to glue parts.

You'll need many supplies to finish a model.
* Nail file sticks or metal files (cheap ones)
* Sand paper of about 400-1200 grit
* Styrene glue (liquid type with a brush)
* Super glue for gap filling

* Gray or white primer (spray can)
* Body color (spray can)
* Interior color (bottle)
* Clear red and clear orange for the tail lights (bottle)
* Two sets of 3 to 5 brushes, round and flat

Typical difficulty the first timers have is spray painting.
Test spray on a cardboard, and get the idea of the distance and the amount of paint you apply at one time. Quickly move the can sideways, and apply "mist" coat, wait for a while to avoid the paint run, then apply another mist coat.

Brush paint is straight forward, but try not to apply too much at one time. Apply in layers, and wait for the paint to dry each time, just like stacking translucent films to make it opaque.

When you buy a kit, post it here for more specific advice, and the AF members will help you.