General Model Kit Building Thread

[barryf1fan]

Started on a Tamiya 2005 Subaru Impreza WRC for a friend of mine.

Got a little bit done... but it's a start.

 

[barryf1fan]

got the Tamiya TS-50 Mica Blue laid down...

Hopefully get started on the decals this weekend. 🫰
After that, gonna try the Zero Paints 2K Clear for the first time (hoping I won't have to buy another kit... )

 

[barryf1fan]

Got started on the decals... Hope to start on the chassis and interior bits next week or so.

Thanks for looking in...

 

[Pete05]

Got started on the decals... Hope to start on the chassis and interior bits next week or so.

Thanks for looking in...

How did you go with the decals around the rear wheel arch/rear door?
I have seen reviews that claim it takes skill & lots of patience to get spot on.
Looks like you won in the end. It's coming along nicely. 👏

 

[barryf1fan]

How did you go with the decals around the rear wheel arch/rear door?
I have seen reviews that claim it takes skill & lots of patience to get spot on.
Looks like you won in the end. It's coming along nicely. 👏

Nope, lost... the decals split. i worked them back together. They split on the middle stripe on both sides (even though I expected it on the 2nd one...). The decals are crap. These are not the Cartograph decals included with most Tamiya kits - why, I don't know??!!

It's not visible unless you're looking for it and look really close... I ordered another kit just in case, as well as a bunch of different yellow paints to see if I can touch it up. But we'll see - should be okay.

Thanks for the comment. And if you do this kit, declals #3 and #4 are the hardest. Make sure you take your time with those the most. After that, smooth sailing. OH!! And just remember, the decals are thin... like a Fujimi decal.

 

[Pete05]

Nope, lost... the decals split. i worked them back together. They split on the middle stripe on both sides (even though I expected it on the 2nd one...). The decals are crap. These are not the Cartograph decals included with most Tamiya kits - why, I don't know??!!

It's not visible unless you're looking for it and look really close... I ordered another kit just in case, as well as a bunch of different yellow paints to see if I can touch it up. But we'll see - should be okay.

Thanks for the comment. And if you do this kit, declals #3 and #4 are the hardest. Make sure you take your time with those the most. After that, smooth sailing. OH!! And just remember, the decals are thin... like a Fujimi decal.

I've got the '99, '01 big eye, and this kit in the stash but am thinking of moving them on & thinking out the stash a little.

I've checked Scalemates.com to see what decal alternatives exist, and they're are two.
One that models 2005 Rally Japan by Shunko, and another that models Valentino Rossi's 2005 Monza Rally show ride by Blue Stuff.
Not sure who has them for sale but I know Shunko do their decals differently.
So much so that they give explicit instructions and will not refund if they're not followed.

As you say though, you'll have to look for the tears in the decals so I expect hundreds could look at the finished kit & not see them from being mesmerised by other details.

 

[barryf1fan]

Not a huge update or change, but got started on the chassis suspension parts, got'em all clipped off and cleaned. Ready for paint and primer. Did add a carbon fiber decal on the front though and thought it came out pretty nice, (still 'damp' and will lay down once dry). Just need to decide if I want to try and carbon fiber up the mirrors and rear wing. The mirrors I may do, but the rear wing will be a huge PITA... I dunno.

Anyway, here's the front:

 

[barryf1fan]

Welp, decided to start this one as I've had it for quite a while now, actually have two. I ordered the Wynns livery from Scale Motorsports a few years ago, but decided to build the stock version first. Since I'm gonna try and do the 2K clear I wanted to have two bodies done to spray (I mean, really, why screw up one kit when you can potentially fubar two!!).

Anyway, couple of shots of the start - the body was a bit of a challenge to "put together" as it comes in two pieces. Will need to make some 'sprue glue' (never done this before...) and fill in some "gaps" before laying down the primer...

This will be a slow build, though, as I still want to do the 2 McLaren F1's once done with the Scooby WRC... hopefully not 4 years slow, but you never know.

Thanks for looking in! :cheers2:

 

[Pete05]

Welp, decided to start this one as I've had it for quite a while now, actually have two. I ordered the Wynns livery from Scale Motorsports a few years ago, but decided to build the stock version first. Since I'm gonna try and do the 2K clear I wanted to have two bodies done to spray (I mean, really, why screw up one kit when you can potentially fubar two!!).

Anyway, couple of shots of the start - the body was a bit of a challenge to "put together" as it comes in two pieces. Will need to make some 'sprue glue' (never done this before...) and fill in some "gaps" before laying down the primer...

This will be a slow build, though, as I still want to do the 2 McLaren F1's once done with the Scooby WRC... hopefully not 4 years slow, but you never know.

Thanks for looking in! :cheers2:

A bit weird that the body comes in two pieces, but I find it even stranger that you don't have to glue the two pieces to a flat bottom or undertray.
Anyway, you've done a good job on it.

I did see a good sprue glue tutorial on YouTube a few years back, but I don't recall by who.

Also, I'm interested to know what model McLarens you have?

 

[barryf1fan]

A bit weird that the body comes in two pieces, but I find it even stranger that you don't have to glue the two pieces to a flat bottom or undertray.
Anyway, you've done a good job on it.

I did see a good sprue glue tutorial on YouTube a few years back, but I don't recall by who.

Also, I'm interested to know what model McLarens you have?

It does have a flat chassis 'tray' that the body sits on...and thank you, it's a start.
Yeah, I watched it awhile back as well, I just threw some sprue bits into an old Tamiya super thin glue bottle... fingers-crossed. If that doesn't work I'll have to watch the tutorial again.

And as far as what McLaren F1's I have in the stash, well, it's loads. I think I have 7 or 8 of the 1/20 scale, mostly Tamiya, a Fujimi or two. Also have the Tamiya 1/12 McLaren MP4/6 (and the Williams FW14b - need to try and score the Ferrari)

 

[wfooshee]

A bit weird that the body comes in two pieces...

Those wings from the roof to the rear fender make it unmoldable as a single piece; the mold would be trapped in the piece. The rear as a large piece is much more elegant than separate pieces for the wings and then trying to hide the joins.

 

[Pete05]

It does have a flat chassis 'tray' that the body sits on...and thank you, it's a start.
Yeah, I watched it awhile back as well, I just threw some sprue bits into an old Tamiya super thin glue bottle... fingers-crossed. If that doesn't work I'll have to watch the tutorial again.

And as far as what McLaren F1's I have in the stash, well, it's loads. I think I have 7 or 8 of the 1/20 scale, mostly Tamiya, a Fujimi or two. Also have the Tamiya 1/12 McLaren MP4/6 (and the Williams FW14b - need to try and score the Ferrari)

I'm waiting for the release of the new MP4/2B from the 1985 season, and have just got the Fujimi MP4/6. That was a pleasant surprise with the just the weight of the box a bit of a shock.
Just not what I expected from Fujimi and their usual standard of kerbside detail.
Now I need to get my feelers out for a MP4/5 & that will complete my collection of all the 1/20 Marlboro sponsored cars.
I only have three 1/12 kits, all Tamiya:
Ferrari 312B, Tyrrell 003 & Brabham BT44B.
I've watched along to some super human builds of the 1/12 kits you have, including the Top Studio detail up kits that go with. Absolutely off the charts crazy.
Thing is, if you can find a McLaren or a Williams now, they're going for AUS$300 with the potential to spend the same coin on all the pretty Top Studio bling! That's a heavy investment in modelling and approaching Model Factory Hiro territory.
Always keenly watching along.

 

[barryf1fan]

Yeah, I've seen some of those amazing builds of the 1/12 Tamiya F1's as well. Astonishing!!

I think I have all the Top Studio bits except for the engine set for the Williams, and the cockpit set for the McLaren...
Really would like to find the Ferrari kit...

I have heard on the Fujimi MP4/6 that the front susp needs modified a bit so it sits correctly... you can YouTube it, just that it's not quite right without it. 👍

 

[Pete05]

Yeah, I've seen some of those amazing builds of the 1/12 Tamiya F1's as well. Astonishing!!

I think I have all the Top Studio bits except for the engine set for the Williams, and the cockpit set for the McLaren...
Really would like to find the Ferrari kit...

I have heard on the Fujimi MP4/6 that the front susp needs modified a bit so it sits correctly... you can YouTube it, just that it's not quite right without it. 👍

Ok. So you know how intricate the details can be in 1/12 when dealing with Top Studio.
I looked at it & convinced myself that it's a one way pathway to mental instability & therapy sessions.
Huge respect to anyone that can pull that off.

I'll keep my eyes open for the Ferrari kit.
I'm always peeking into the market places looking for the occasional diamond 💎

Thanks for sharing the knowledge about the front suspension, too.
I'll keep that in mind & have the one-handed convincer 🔨 at the ready for some bespoke engineering.

 

[barryf1fan]

I hear'ya on the detail side of it, it is very intricate, but, you have to remember that with it being 1/12th scale it is much easier to see because the pieces are bigger. Like trying to get that level of detail on, say, a 1/24th would be complete bananas - yet I've seen a few 1/20 F1's with all the piping and wiring... insane. I think bringing it up to 1/12th will actually be a bit easier to accomplish, if nothing more than just to 'see' it better.

 

[barryf1fan]

Ok. So you know how intricate the details can be in 1/12 when dealing with Top Studio.
I looked at it & convinced myself that it's a one way pathway to mental instability & therapy sessions.
Huge respect to anyone that can pull that off.

I'll keep my eyes open for the Ferrari kit.
I'm always peeking into the market places looking for the occasional diamond 💎

Thanks for sharing the knowledge about the front suspension, too.
I'll keep that in mind & have the one-handed convincer 🔨 at the ready for some bespoke engineering.

btw, I think Top Studio makes a detail-up brake kit for that Fujimi 1/20 McLaren...

I found it, but I think it's been disco'd... Brake kit maybe eBay.

 

[Pete05]

Have I told you about Scalemates.com ?

It's like an incomplete modeller's encyclopaedia that knows most of what you need to know about most of your model kits.
It's only when you get into the really rare stuff like the dodo eggs, where you might draw a blank.
The best bit? It allows you to add what you've just discovered about the rare stuff & grow the community.
There's also links to retailers all around the planet, and community members that are either looking to buy or sell kits, decals or bling.

Best model related website full stop.

 

[barryf1fan]

I'm on there... pretty cool place, and I like that I can have my stash on there.

 

[barryf1fan]

Just a quick update on the Subaru... not a lot done (well, more than I took pics of..) but got the rear 'wang' done and started on the under chassis.

Gonna try and finish the suspension/brakes - underside tomorrow.

 

[barryf1fan]

Didn't have any work work for this Saturday, so was able to jump on the underside of the Scooby.
Got it all buttoned up and ready to start on the interior now. Bottom came out great (for me) except for one thing...
COMPLETELY missed the part of the chassis that is supposed to be white.
The bottom corner at the back, a portion that is under (and a bit more) the muffler... Uggh! Wasn't even rushing through this, just missed it in the instructions - I mean, like, looked right past it. Oh well, is what it is, and I doubt my bud will even know, much less notice. Probably wouldn't care even if he did.

Got the "engine" detail painted

Used my cheeky little circle cutter to mask the discs...

Completed.

Thanks for looking in.