Thanks to Oppo I've found a winter time hobby

"2BWise" (bnrracing)
10/29/2014 at 17:51 • Filed to: None

About a year ago there were some posts with 1/12 scale DIY model kits. They looked pretty sweet but I was too afraid at the time to commit to screwing up some expensive plastic pieces. Well, a year later I've been brave enough to jump in and try it myself.

This is my first go at it which I finished up last week. It was a bit tough with the 25 year old decals and the pictures look better than the result in person, but I enjoyed it so much that I've bought two since.

This is 1/20 scale and a much cheaper way to get started without getting in over my head. The painting can get a bit meticulous and the decals can be way too fragile. I'll screw up a few more lower tier cars before attempting to do any justice to a Senna McLaren.

Its amazing the attention to detail you have to have and looking at other's results I've got a long way to go. I probably won't stick to it to reach that level until I'm old and retired and can no longer wrench on real racecars. But, I suspect this will give me a way to past the time over the off season.

DISCUSSION (11)

camaroboy68ss > 2BWise
10/29/2014 at 17:59

I have a 1/12 69 Camaro that Ihace yet to build. they are fun to build though the bigger scale kits. I have two 1/8 scale 32 ford roadsters.

ttyymmnn > 2BWise
10/29/2014 at 18:00

That looks great. I used to do a bit of airplane modeling, but I could never quite finish anything. I've got an A-20 that is mostly painted but not finished, and an F-18 and an F-14 that are almost completely unassembled. The trouble is, I have nowhere to set it out and leave it until I finish. You can't really pick everything up at the end of the day. But you have inspired me to dig them out and get some fresh glue.

Are you airbrushing?

Kake Bake > 2BWise
10/29/2014 at 18:18

Good build.

I've been eyeing that one for months. Might have to pick it up now.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > 2BWise
10/29/2014 at 18:27

The nice thing about 1/20 is that everybody does open wheel cars in that scale. That a Tamiya kit?

2BWise > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/29/2014 at 19:44

Yes it is. That's the only reason I'm doing 1/20. F1 cars! Especially since you can pickup some unusual/mid pack cars.

2BWise > ttyymmnn
10/29/2014 at 19:46

No airbrushing. Simply a paint brush and lots of patience for the small stuff. I'm going to spray bomb the body on the next one I do. This one was the right color in plastic and the blue part is all decal.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > 2BWise
10/29/2014 at 19:59

Yeah, and Tamiya kits are great. You basically open the box, throw some paint and glue in, give it a shake, and you're done. 1/20 has become the standard scale for open wheel...I'm not sure why, but there are so many good subjects, you'll have a shelf full in no time.

If you get a kit with old decals, I've got two recommendations. Indycals does a lot of open wheel stuff, and Pattos Place does EVERYTHING...if he doesn't have it, you probably don't need it. Oh, or you can clear coat the decals with Future floor polish or an acrylic clear coat spray to make em hang together better.

2BWise > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/29/2014 at 20:07

I'll check out the decal sources. I'm not too experienced with them but I can't imagine decals this old are doing me any favors. Might consider pulling the rough ones off and replacing. The next one will get cleared. Any tips on types of clear to use? Don't want to destroy the decals and have to try and repair everything.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > 2BWise
10/29/2014 at 20:39

Old decals are a crap shoot. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes they disintegrate. A lot of the new Tamiya kits are coming with Cartograf decals now, which are basically the best.

Enamels (Testors) and acrylics (Tamiya airbrush) are safe for pretty much all decals. I like Tamiya spray can paints, but they're lacquers, and I've had some decals craze up on me when I clear coated...tiny little wrinkly cracks, nothing you can do with them. But Pattos Place decals work fine with Tamiya lacquers, so no problem there. Depending on how the model is going together, Future floor polish is also great...super glossy, very hard, removable with Windex if it ever needs to be redone. You actually dip the pieces in the stuff, so it might be a good way to do open wheel stuff.

We need a model building blog here if there isn't one. Live and Let Diecast doesn't count.

user314 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/30/2014 at 01:30

Why not? I've been posting models and custom Transformers there for a while now.

That said, if anyone wants to start one, please let me know.

George McNally > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/30/2014 at 16:18

I do a few models, but I post them here because I figure most folks like to see them.

The decals on your car look pretty good. I use something called setting solution , which makes the decals slightly softer for a period of time, so that they conform to the shape of whatever you are applying them on.

One thing that will increase the realism of a model is to lightly sand the tires to remove any molding lines and to give the tire a slightly used appearance.