In Progress: Tamiya New Beetle

[Gridgirl]

Hi everyone!

Some of you may remember this pic:



The Fiat-eating-monster-Beetle!

Well, after I finished the Fiat, I decided to do the Beetle next. Still cute, but not quite so tiny. It's nice working on a body on which a fingerprint doesn't cover a whole door or roof!

Here are the body parts after some sanding.





I primed it in MM Acryl grey primer.

I wanted to paint the Beetle in that terrific metallic light green that I see on so many around here. I'm not usually one to stick to factory colors, but I like this one so much, I had to try. So, A mix of Tamiya Chrome Silver and Light Green- should come out pretty close, I hope.



And now the results!





I clearcoated it with a whole bottle of X22 Clear, and then rubbed it out with micromesh, polished it with Meguiar's ScratchX, and shined it with Tamiya wax. I haven't yet compared it next to a 1/1 Beetle, but I think the color is incredibly close. I'm really happy with how it came out.

Since Hiroboy was nice enough to give the rest of us some pointers on photography, here's my attempt at learning to use my camera.



Maybe not perfect, but I'm learning! (I think I'll try it next time with a clean piece of posterboard for the background. )

Let me know what you think!

[gionc]

Great start: that's fun: this is exactly the color of the bug I had: I sold to my sister just 1 month ago: I'll shoot something but I had a TDI stuff

and.. my was not tuned: I lowered it on PS for a joke on a Italian board


a couple or refs more:



hope that will help you, meanwhile I'll shot something for the interiors.
ciao

[Jmich]

After that Fiat I'm really looking forward to this build.

[willimo]

I don't remember that picture. Tell me more.

Great color matching, too, and great paint work. Mixing paint is a skill and a half, color* me impressed.

*Pun unintentional.

[Dean23]

Wow good job on the paint. it looks pretty close.. maybe a touch lighter, but definitely a good representation. cant wait to see more. IS that enamel or acrylic paint?

[Gridgirl]

Thanks everyone!

Cool Gio, thanks for the pics. Nice of you to have your car painted like my model!

Dean23- They're Tamiya acrylic, both the color and the clearcoat.

Originally Posted by willimo

I don't remember that picture. Tell me more.

Well then you'll have to check out my just completed Fiat build!

[white97ex]

that paint is spot on. amazing work. Can't wait to see more!

[drnitrus]

Nice work on the paint.

[eph2]

Nice Paint!

[quadzero]

Originally Posted by Jmich

After that Fiat I'm really looking forward to this build.

exactly. I'm really looking forward to seeing what magic you do with the interior and engine (if there is one). beautiful paintjob. we are all in for a real treat now.

[klutz_100]

So where are you going to park the 500 now?

So what do you have planned for interior extras this time? Jars of saurkraut? Schnapps? Lederhosen?

Did you put a grill or something in the front? Looking forward to following this

[Ferrari TR]

Very nice!

Now that it's nice enough to paint again, I should shut-up and finish the paint on mine...lol

[winstona]

Nice paint on this one. I am looking forward to see this built.

Winston

[porschenut]

Thats some sweet colour there, loved the fiat build and lookin' forward to more great models from you
ESE

[Gridgirl]

Has it really been so long since I updated this? I guess time really does fly when you're insanely busy......

So some months back I went to the local VW dealership looking for inspiration for this build. And I found it! There was a really cool limited edition TDI in this color. It had the coolest black and green interior. I didn't have my camera with me, so I almost had to bring the car itself home for reference material. Fortunately for my budget, I managed to restrain myself and left with only memories of the interior to recreate in my smaller, more affordable plastic recreation.

It took a lot of masking to accomplish the two tone interior, but I'm pleased with the results.



Three colors- solid green, black, and body color! Took forever to mask and paint- even had to strip and start over once. But my masking skills are improving. I also did klutz_100 style floormats.

I also did some detailing on the dashboard to give it a bit more life. The vents were painted with gloss black to bring them out, and the stereo was painted chrome to give it that modern chromed-plastic look. Knobs were also highlighted in gloss black to make them more visible against the flat black dashboard.



Thanks for looking!
(I'll try not to take quite so long to get to my next update. )