to the "custom body kit" guys...

[bri g]

To pkw1, flyofthewall and the other body mods gurus out there I just want to ask you guys how can you make the body kits look like a separate pieces? The problem is everytime I try and make a body kit, I have to mold the putty into the body and by the time it's painted, the body kit is molded to the body and doesn't look very realistic. Do you guys use sheet plastic first and then apply the putty? I hope I made sense.

[COZMO6476]

hi there,
i'm new at the body modeling thing but what im doing on my F&F Supra is following the panel lines of the car just like the real car. reference pictures are a must to make it accurate. just know where the body joints are and make sure that you dont bury them under the putty. if you do accidentally or unintentionally get some putty in the seams, remove it before it hardens since its much much easier. thats something i learned the hard way. I've learned lots of stuff since starting this project. i hope that helps

[flyonthewall]

I know what your saying - your trying to reproduce the 'bolt-on' look of some bodykits. Its mainly on the side skirts that you need to do this as the styling overlaps the existing bodywork, whereas with most front/rear bumpers the whole thing can be replaced and will fit flush with the body work.

Plastic sheet is the only way to create a definate solid edge to the bodykit and it won't get removed as easily with sanding...I hope i'm making sense!

Take for example the sides on this RX7. To achieve that sweeping curve of the body kit, you would first need to make a template, following the line from under the door and over the rear wheel arch. You would use the same template to cut the shape from thin plastic card (10 or 20 thou) and stick this to the body. This will then give you that edge, the rest can then be built up with putty and/or more plastic sheet - depending on whats necessary. Another tip would be to use masking tape on the side of the edge u dont want putty to end up - this will save efforts to remove it later which might end up damageing that edge!

Also note in this case the front bumper is flush with the body work.

[IMG]C:\WINDOWS\Desktop\imports\mazda\39150179pSVurx_ph .jpg[/IMG]

[bri g]

Thanks for the quick replies cosmo6476 and chris. Yup I was referring to the side skirt actually. For tough curvy bodies like the rx-7, how can I get the styrene sheets to conform to the body shape? I remember trying to do that on a prelude before and I just couldn't get the sheet to follow the shape of the body. Too thick of a styrene sheet probably? Anyways I'll give it a try again and post some pictures

Btw, I can't see the pic you posted chris, I'm not sure if it's just me. Nice job on the F&F Supra Cozmo! definitely need to see more progress pics

Bri

[COZMO6476]

the supra is all putty... never used styrene but i have some on order for future experimentation. i bought a set of different thicknesses. hopefully i will find something usable for my next body kit.

[flyonthewall]

Originally posted by bri g
Thanks for the quick replies cosmo6476 and chris. Yup I was referring to the side skirt actually. For tough curvy bodies like the rx-7, how can I get the styrene sheets to conform to the body shape? I remember trying to do that on a prelude before and I just couldn't get the sheet to follow the shape of the body. Too thick of a styrene sheet probably? Anyways I'll give it a try again and post some pictures

Bri

Use thinner platic such as 10thou, you can always add more layers to achieve the correct thickness. Its just a case of experimentation really, there is no real right or wrong way of doing it i suppose!!!