my new project, and my first tamiya model

hay there guys. well i finally did it, i dug deep into my wallet and bought a tamiya model.. i decided to go with the opel astra v8 coupe. i really like this model but i don't think that im gunna go with the specs that they call for (paint, decals, ect...). when i got home and opened up the box i was a little disapointed.. where's the engine!!! oh well i guess a little research whould have told me that it didin't come with one. well enough yakin here's the pictures.. as always coments are always welcome. and if someone has a engine that i could use for this model you whould be my hero.. thanks and talk to you later... jason

i decide to go with x-8 lemmon yellow. and x-15 light green. any suggestions to make the paint go good whould be appreciated. im also gunna be usin testors flat gray primor.

there isin't as many pieces as i was expecting but the detail looks pretty cool.

Take extra consideration when painting over red-molded plastic. A few coats of white primer should do the trick.

the main body was casted in the orange color that model is supposed to be painted. well there you have it. for all the supplies and the model i took it in the rear for about 70.00$ :eek: tamiya paint alone was 5.00$ a can and 2.00$ for the little bottels. not to mention the model put me back 32.00$ i think my hobby shop is a little over priced, let me know what you think... jason

also.. if any of you have did this model before can you please post your pictures or send me to the link (if here on af) thank for looking... jason

This model is accurate and I dont think you can find much wrong with it.
It is a good model to work with.

Try checking out the current threads that have already started on this DTM model.

Oh, just 1 word of caution. The door frames supporting the 2 hinges are thin so becareful when opening and closing the doors.

Good luck and keep us update.

Those prices are the norm for Tamiya products. But hey, you pay extra, you get extra. You won't be disappointed! :D

Originally posted by Chain
This model is accurate and I dont think you can find much wrong with it.
It is a good model to work with.
Oh, just 1 word of caution. The door frames supporting the 2 hinges are thin so becareful when opening and closing the doors.



Take Chain's advise and watch the doors - I messed up mine, which now do not open :( Overall, this is a great car to build. BTW, was that 32 U$ you paid for the car?? Are you turning this into a street car (ask cos of your colour choices)?

Here is my progress thead, I have the team phoenix one tho
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t101100-2.html

thanks guys for the tips.. and yes, i noticed how thin the doors are.. it took me about ten minutes just to cut them off the tree. as for the rout that im taking it, yes im gunna go for a street car. if you have seen my other models then you know that i hate decals. so those will not end up on this model. but we will see, maybe the will. thanks agian, jason

blowncivic, yours is coming along great.. and thanks for the link to your page those reference pics were great. as for the cost.. yes it was 32.00$ usa. there is one thing that i don't like about the kit.. the rims. anyone have any suggestions on what rims i should use. these are the ones that the kit comes with

You have picked a great kit! Itt's not the "best" I've seen from Tamiya, but it is very nice. I'm building one now (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=100406) and if you have any parts (wheels/decals ect.) that you don't intend to use I'd love to have first crack at them!

Enjoy the kit and keep us posted!

-Rick

U dont like the rims, i love them they look SO hot on this car...

here's some progress pics from day one... first all the main body parts got sanded down to remove any inperfections. then all the parts that came with the kit were taken to the sink for a good cleaning. here's a pic of the parts sanded down.. i started with 320 grit sand paper, then 1000, then 2000.

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i let all the parts dry for about 8 hours... in the mean time i worked on the brakes.. i moded them after the stop tech big break kit..

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/720790stoptech-brakekit.jpg
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then after all the parts were dried i applied a thin coat of primer. next coat will be aplied tommorro.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/975981DSC00458-1.JPG

let me know what you think.. jason

:sun:

Everything looks great.:) What kind of primer did you use?

my hobby shop didin't have any tamiya so i had to use testors. im hoping im not gunna have any problems with the grey, i was wanting to use white, but all they had was grey.

I've heard bad stuff about testors primer... Hope it goes well though!

Ive had one expierence with testors primer and it was bad. Its not sandable and it came out rough. I use Krylon grey primer now and it works pretty good.

Originally posted by suicideclipse
also.. if any of you have did this model before can you please post your pictures or send me to the link (if here on af) thank for looking... jason

Here we go !! (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=61289&perpage=15&pagenumber=1)

hay guys.. im really worried about this primer, so far there is only one coat on it so i don't want to put any more on until i git some different primer.. anyone that lives in the usa know where i can pick some up. like a wal-mart, or k-mart. thanks guys jason

hay guys.. thanks for all the help with the primer :finger: it's alright i found it at wal-mart. i endid up getting krylon white primer. but now i have a new question for you guys.... what do you think if i went with white interior, and white rims.. also i did a search on the car, and came up with this info

Chassis type:
tubular steel spaceframe chassis
Engine: initially Chevrolet 358ci, later Cadillac Northstar all aluminium block
Cubic capacity: Chev - 5864 cc
Cadillac - 4565 cc
Bore/stroke: Chev - 103/89 mm
Cadillac - 93/84 mm
Induction: Chev - N/A
Cadillac - composite manifold
Compression ratio: Chev - 10:1
Cadillac - +-13:1
Ignition: Chev - MSD
Cadillac - Not final
Max power: 370 kW @ 7000 r/min
Max torque: 550 Nm @ 5500 r/min
Valves: Chev - 16
Cadillac - 32
Valves: Chev - 16
Cadillac - 32
Engine management: Chev - none
Cadillac - Pectel
Gearbox: Jerico - four speeds
Clutch: Quarter Master 7.25"
Suspension Front: Double wishbone
Suspension Rear: Live axle, Penske dampers with coil over springs F&R, Anti Roll Bars F&R
Steering: Powersteering rack
Brakes: AP Racing 4-pot
front and rear callipers
Front disc - 330 mm
Rear disc - 280 mm
Wheels: BBS 16" - Front - 13" wide
- Rear - 14.5" wide
Tyres: Goodyear Eagle - Front 25x13x16
- Rear 27x14x16
Wheelbase: 2620 mm
Track: Front - 1620 mm
Rear - 1595 mm
Length:

so my other question is, is there any kits out there that i could pull the engine out of to convert it into the astra. i did some searchin but i couldn't come up with anything. thanks for any help agian guys.. and i'll have progress shots for day two later. jason

Krylon white primer is probably next best to tamiya. I also like duplicolor's primers because of their great fanspray nozzle.

alright guys here's the updates for day two.. not much went on, mainly waiting on paint to dry.

i gave it a couple coats of white krylon primer. for some reason the model has turned a pinkish color, i can't get this primer to cover the model right, but oh well it should be fine.

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oh yea the animal is coming alive!!!!!
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i decided to go with the white interior and white rims.. i love being different. and with so many astra being done right now, i felt i needed to go my own way.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/810971DSC00480-1.JPG

kept it simple for the under carriage
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/533604DSC00481-1.JPG

thats it for today. let me hear what you have to say.
stay tuned more to come :frog:
jason

Gloss interior? NooOOoOOOOOoooooo@#!@#@! :o

Looking good. Keep the pics coming
Tom

hay guys here's the updates for day 2 & 3.. not much happened yesterday but some detail painting. and let me tell you, im putting everything into this model. i have never worried about detail as much as i have on this one. hay i have to if i ever wunna be as good as p-man or others on his caliber. so far i am really pleased with the way that everything is coming toghther. this is the first time that i have ever attempted a roll cage, so to say the least, it gave me alot of problems. everytime i tryed to get it toghther, it just collapsed on me. but anyways, let me know what you think.. good or bad. i like good, but the bad is only gunna make me improve on my mistakes.

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that's it for today let me know what you think.. jason :D

Looks really nice to me! Your colour scheme should make it stand out from the crowd.... look forward to seeing it come together. :cool:

Looks great so far!


WARNING

The brackets that glue onto the door frames, put them on early, before you install the glass.

Use the "strongest" bonding glue you have. I've had mine snap off three times and I've thrown every type of glue I have at them...Ambroid ProWeld, Tenax 7R and Flash Super Glue. I think I may be overtightening the screws, the snap they first time I try to open the doors. Then the process starts all over again, out with the windows, clean and sand the surface, reglue.

Hope this reaches you in time! ;)

-Rick

more pix..more pix... more pix.....more pix!!!!!! :D Looks great cant wait till its done!

Originally posted by suicideclipse
also.. if any of you have did this model before can you please post your pictures or send me to the link (if here on af) thank for looking... jason

That interior is looking great!
You might want to cut of the thing sticking out of the car`s behind to make it look more "street".

So you wanted pictures, here you go:

Looking great keep te pics up. Wut u use to carve the lines on ur brakes???
Tom

i just used a exacto knife. the harder you press down the better it will look.

flying fin thanks alot for the pic.. but i was hoping no one else had did something like that :( i'm just gunna have to try to do it some other way. we will see how it comes out. and for that thing on the rear that was coming off way before i even started on the model. thanks again jaosn

hay guys. sorry no updates the last few days, but i have been very busy with the body work. in between coats i finished of the finishing touches on the fraime. im figuring the model is about 70% complete. i still have some more body work i need to work on. plus im gunna add a hood scoop on the hood. well here is the pics (sorry there is so many, but just trying to keep everyone updated).
this is the sides that i replicated
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/323620bmx-s1-w1.jpg
and here we have the beggining of the body work
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here you can see where i added the new front
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/106521DSC00576-1.JPG
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here is a picture of the hood scoop that im gunna be adding
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/577851doubleinvert1_01.jpg
let me know what you think so far.. i always like to hear the feedback. also.. from what i have read this car is turbo charged. but in none of the pictures of it do i see a intercooler. do you guys think that it is a bad idea to add one.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/577851doubleinvert1_01.jpg

:eek: :eek: :eek: That`s insane! I`m begining to regret that I didn`t put more work on my opel!!:D

Couldn't agree more!
absolutely stunning work!

Olivier

thanks guys.. you don't know how much i appreciate it.

jason

its that time again... updates.. well im finally about 98% complete with the body work.. or am i? :D i still don't know if im gunna do anything with the rear. but any ways i got the hood done. i really like how it came out. it took me to try's to get it the way that i wanted it but in the end. i think it turned out good. let me know what you think. jason

these pictures were all taken after my first attempt. so that's why the hood looks like it went through a war.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/982831DSC00612-1.JPG
this was the underside. i ended up changing it as you will see
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take a look at this picture and then look at the next. you try to figure out what happened. i never did any work to this area. im sure you will see what i mean.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/754164DSC00573-1.JPG
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well let me know what you think.. jason

well let me know what you think.. jason

You're a modeling FREAK!!! :jump:

Great craftsmanship!!!:eek: :eek:

I really like the look of it, it's pretty nice. :)

Damn, Thats so intense.. What kind a putty are you using? And what grit sand paper are you using to sand it down?

veyron... no im not a modeling freak.. im just a freak :p

camber. im using model master red putty. this stuff is really a pain to work with. anyone have any suggestions for better putty for my next project. as for the sand paper, i started out with a 100grit paper, on the first couple coats. then after i got the look that i was wanting i started with 320, then 600, then 1000, and finally 2000. from the 320 up it was a wet sand method. i prefer to do it this way, becuse you can just wipe away the residue, and it lets you see the inperfections better...

thanks for all the kind words guys. hopefully tommorro, i will be able to get the first coat on it. cross your fingers. this is where i always have problems. but i have read the faq a million times. and even printied them out so that i have them even if im not by a computer. i do have one question for you guys about paint.. i have noticed that alot of you say that the weather is to cold, or it's raining.. what roll does this play on the outcome of your model. as long as your house is at the correct temp i don't see what the problem whould be. also should i be painting this outside. is that why you guys say this. thanks for any help... jason

Wow, simple wow's all around from this corner. The body modifications are both tasteful and outrageous. This thing is going to stand out when completed.

As for a better putty, lay your hands on some Squadron Green. The stuff is the standard putty for all the "old school" '49 Mercury and '32 Ford customizers in SAE.

thanks. i was gunna get that stuff. but i decided to get this. oh well, i'll get it for my next project.. jason

Originally posted by suicideclipse
i have noticed that alot of you say that the weather is to cold, or it's raining.. what roll does this play on the outcome of your model. as long as your house is at the correct temp i don't see what the problem whould be. also should i be painting this outside. is that why you guys say this. thanks for any help... jason

First off, thanks for the tire decals, and your kit is looking pretty wicked!

As for the painting...I used to paint (first couple of models in my adult life) in my garage. Every time I sprayed I had dust and crap all in the paint. Then I read that Warren (Primera man) painted outside and I decided to give it a try. I thought that the "outside" must be dirtier than my garage...wrong!! I've painted outside for several kits now and the results are amazing. I have yet to master the art of spraying with zero peel, but I have never had so much as a single spot of dirt/dust. Of course I only spray on "dry" days (those are plentyfull in Texas) and bring the models inside about 15mins after the last coat. The only thing that gets sprayed in the garage anymore is the interior and chassis parts, with my airbrush.

Hope this answered some questions or at least gave you the nudge to paint outside...if not chalk it up to a beer inspired post....back to my Civic now!:bloated:

-Rick

I would suggest painting outside on a warm, sunny day with low humidity; I strongly discourage painting inside the house!!! And wear a respirator or at least a dust mask!!! :)

well al be a son of a gun. so thats why i always have a couple dog hairs in my paint. thanks guys.. i will definitly paint it outside. jason

well it's been about 2 weeks since i last gave you guys any updates so here they are... i got the base coat on and let it dry in the microwave for about 2 weeks (man was the wife getting mad.. haha oh well), i wanted to make shure that the paint was fully cured.. now im gunna lightly sand it with 2000 grit paper, and then give it another 2 coats. in the mean time i have been working on my other project (im calling it project insane) you can check it out here http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t103981.html

well here is the updated shots.. enjoy

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this picture really shows off the true color
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/364307DSC00690-1.JPG

well let me know what you think.. as always i love to here your opinions. and i should have some more updates for you in two weeks or so...... jason

i wonder how the hell people get so brave and start puttying such cars :eek:

becuse we can pull it off.. but i respect your opinion... jason

looking great man:D

Starting to look good.....check the back fitting of the body as it seems to be sitting rather high on the rear wheels

thanks for the comments guys..

primera man.. yes i noticed that to, i did a little trimmin on the underside of the body, now everthing fits nice... thanks for pointing it out.. jason

well i have some new updates on the astra project.. after the first bad experience with the sanding down of the paint. i sprayed again and waited another two weeks.. and this time the sanding went well. I also got to add the second color to the model. overall i am very pleased with the outcome.. the only thing that i wish is that the green whould have came out a little brighter.. so at this point the model is about 95% complete. let me know what you think so far.. jason


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the next thing to be done is the polishing and waxing.. i am still undecided if i should put a clear coat on it though.. there are so many different opinions about this on here.. well until next time.. enjoy.. jason

:thumbsup:

holy sh!t :eek: NIce work

Originally posted by streetracing901
holy sh!t :eek: NIce work

yup

i gonna have to get one of those!

it would be my first tamiya

kick ass, I am also working a street version. Mine is in primer right now tought. all th body work was finsihed.

Wow that is looking good mate!!