Fujimi 1/24 Mini One

[Captain Mark]

1/24 Fujimi Mini One


Hi guys,

My latest project is a current model mini, which I used for practise topcoating with metallic green. A future multimedia build will require a similar colour so the aim was to learn any lessons on a cheap kit first. The colour is Tamiya metallic green over polished gloss black (all decanted lacquers), and cleared with Tamiya TS-13. The panel lines came out excellently, although I haven't touched them at all - perhaps it was the black base coat which helps bring them out. Also, the silver trim around the bottom of the windows is all "bright chrome Bare Metal Foil", which turned out much better than what my painting skills could accomplish.

The kit builds up brilliantly except for the windows which are all a nightmare. The front and back windows don't fit the space in the body/frame, and are not molded with the proper curves to contour the body. Plus, the entire surface area of the windows is visible, so you can't really use regular plastic glue to glue them on, and araldite (epoxy) was required. Plus there's the need to keep it all in a jig to press the windows to the body for a day or two while the epoxy dries. No mean feet when there's a very minimal amount of contact between the windows and the body. Anyway... I got there in the end.

The pics were a challenge, especially since I didn't have any white backing material so had to go with black. I must admit that the metallic green looks fabulous in person, but unfortunately didn't show all that well in the pictures. They're reasonable enough though.

It's all box stock - enjoy.















Comments welcome.
Cheers all,
Mark

[modellmaker]

I like it. I made a Revell Mini kit ~3 years ago. It was a first edition kit, so it had some mistakes. Now I will build another Mini, but I don't know which kit. Revell or Fujimi...

Was it hard to fix the problem around the windows?

[RallyRaider]

Fabulous Mark, except for the big hand print in the roof of the last photo.
Future multimedia build, hey? Jaguar or Aston Martin maybe?

[BVC500]

Looks great! I love that Tamiya Metallic Green.

[klutz_100]

The color came out terrifically! Successful experiment I'd say

I think you are probably right about the panel lines - interesting insight.

Originally Posted by RallyRaider

Fabulous Mark, except for the big hand print in the roof of the last photo.

He's just showing off with the shine he achieved

[SteveK2003]

Fantastic finish!

Regarding the panel lines, an old trick for plane/armor modelers is to airbrush black along the panel lines after the primer, and then airbrush the rest of the body color.

[auw12]

Damn that's GORGEOUS!!!!!! That's one superb mini!!! I'm a big fan of the new minis, haven't seen any one do them for a long time, thanks for bring it back! Congrats man!!

[cham2020]

when you run out of mirrors and you need to comb your hair , you can use the mini roof instead !!

sick paintjob mate !

[MidMazar]

Excellent masking job! Paint is top notch!

[Captain Mark]

Thanks guys!

modellmaker: The front and back windows have gaps and I wasn't able to fix them. Luckily the photos hid them well. Having said that, I was going to enter this build into my statewide model competition coming up in August, but it's pointless now with the gaps still there. And I won't enter unless I'm confident of at least placing in the top three. The problem of the general window shape was solved by using two part epoxy type glue and not regular plastic glue. I believe plastic glue would ruin the windows and don't recommend it at all, plus it "may" not hold it very well given that there is very little of the window which actually contacts with the body. And finally I had to use a number of clamps in a complicated jig to hold the windows in place for a day or two while the epoxy dried so they would stick properly.

RallyRaider: my avatar should give it away!

Klutz100: the metallic green actually turned out to be clear green with the metallic fleks in it, so I'd say there's a very good chance the black base coat was the key. Having said that, the panel lines are very crisp and deep already and I expect would have been great even without the black base coat.

SteveK2003: now that you mention it, I do recall having seen that before. I might try it for the panel lines on my current build to test, as there's no black base coat.

auw12: Cheers - I don't think mine came out quite as good as your red number from last year (or thereabouts) though - that was a great build! I can see you're a fan!

[robrex]

Great to see this finished Mark. Bring on the Jag!

[janositamas]

Nice job, dude!

I like your color, it came out really nice on this car, and I like Minis anyway! So congrats on your Mini One!