Help Me Enjoy Building Model Cars!

Tanker-Builder

Hey!

 Just build it.The little intricacies that you mention like Chrome Trim and such can be done with foil or as I did for years, Dry Brushing With testors (Little Bottle-Chrome Silver) they don't have to be  perfect. I have seen Brand new cars with slightly crooked Bumpers and so on

        Now that said. Pick fun colors that you would've seen on the real ones. Then think "Earl Scheib" Yup, many a car that was, say Pea Green Metallic(Pontiac's Moss Green) Became corvette Blue Metallic of maybe even Red!

       Remember the adage applies here" It's Your Model Build it like you want too!"

 

The reason I approached car modeling with such trepidation was becuase my few attempts in the past failed so miserably that I could not build it like I wanted to. 

I have a few in the junkyard where the gloss coat looks horrendous. Painting shiny completly eluded me for years. Not sure if it is me or the paints that changed over the years but so far I have had success with each of my new ventures so now have the confidence to dig into the car kits. 

Hey!

 Just build it.The little intricacies that you mention like Chrome Trim and such can be done with foil or as I did for years, Dry Brushing With testors (Little Bottle-Chrome Silver) they don't have to be  perfect. I have seen Brand new cars with slightly crooked Bumpers and so on

        Now that said. Pick fun colors that you would've seen on the real ones. Then think "Earl Scheib" Yup, many a car that was, say Pea Green Metallic(Pontiac's Moss Green) Became corvette Blue Metallic of maybe even Red!

       Remember the adage applies here" It's Your Model Build it like you want too!"

Dutchman, you still didn't say what type(s) of racing you are interested i. I may be able to recomend some specific kits. Older racing may be o interest to you  Race cars in days gone by did not have the wet look nor were they covered in decals.  Usually cars that had chrome parts, like the grill and nerf bars, come already chromed in the kit.

I was in exactly the same boat about 6 months ago. I had a pile of car kits for years but the thought of the gloss paint and chrome trim just intimidated me to the point I wasn't doing them. 

I wanted to do the cars I used to own and started my '64 Impala in 2019. It kept getting put aside while I practiced methods on other kits. It was just finished last week. 

Things I have learned:

The only part that needs to be shiny is the body. The chassis and engine just use basic armour/aircraft methods. 

All vehicles are not showroom fresh, hotrods or show cars.You can model "real life" vehicles. 

Not all cars are covered in chrome. You can pick subjects where there are a few minutes of foil or chrome marker work and they are done.

When I finaly tried a rattle can laquer I understood why so many prefered it to airbrushing. With some decent prep work it is hard to screw up. 

A good place to practice gloss and trim with cars is the "curbside" kits. They are very simple to build and allow you to focus on paint and finish.

Details and scratch building are no different than armour/aircraft. 

So... In summary. Don't be afraid of the gloss paint and chrome trim. Just like any other modeling you may screw up a bit at first but it doesnt take long to get the hang of it. 

I have been building models for 76 of my 82 years along with a long list of other hobbies including Drag Racing @ Atco Dragway, racing RC boats, planes and cars up and down the East Coast, bowling, hunting and a few more that I can't remember right now (I'm 82). I've kept building models of all types during all those years. My favorites are WWI & WWII planes followed by sailing ships. Oh, that reminds me, I love sailing and racing 1/1 sailboats too. I still enter contests with my models which means I build the very best I possibly can and hope the judges agree. Every category has it's own obstacles to overcome. I keep building models because it's what I love to do no matter what it is or how hard it is. Hang in there, the more you're involved in something, the easier it gets to accomplish it.

Stay Safe.

Jim                             

   Another question I have, since you are very familiar with cars, race or otherwise, does by sheer knowledge of the subjects prevent you from " just building it"?  

    I have a friend who is VERY detail oriented and inadvertantly " tells me what I need to do" to improve my build. It is pure advice but it really stops me from even starting subjects I know will draw this response from him.

    There is no " right" answer to your query however I say try, experiment, the only way to gain skill in modeling is to do it. Also PLEASE don't be to concerned with what your peers may say, can't be perfect first time out. 

     Finally have fun!! Nobody says because you like 1-1 cars means you have to build cars...I'm a retired aircraft mechanic and almost exclusivly build armor. I was also in the U.S. Navy but never built a ship.

     Hope this makes alittle sense.

Here's some inspiration from a fellow car guy

And a little 1:1 fun - Charger, Challenger, Boss 302 Laguna Seca

Wish I could think of a 'magic' reply...but I think your last sentence pegged it: it just kind of 'goes with the territory' if you decide to do car models.

Not criticizing at all, but one question re your tag about spending an hour masking window trim -- does doing, say, a multi-panel WW2 canopy take any less time? (If that's the sort of planes you like to do.)

Anyhow, two suggestions that have sometimes helped me get amped up for doing car projects.

First...have you tried BareMetal foil for things like chrome window trim? It's a very thin self-adhesive foil that can give amazing results for stuff like window trim, chrome trim strips and so on. It's not like falling off a log -- it definitely takes its own skill set to get right -- but with a bit of practice and patience it can give (pardon the cliche) 'award winning' results.

My other go-to suggestion is just to pick a vehicle that's really special to you. A first car, a favorite movie or TV vehicle, or something with 'local color' might give that added interest. (Personally, I like emergency and first-responder vehicles. Police cars or fire trucks from local jurisdictions are always fun. Or something like a 'Blues Brothers' police cruiser. But that's just me)

Every modeling niche comes with its own challenges -- that's what makes it fun for me. Also why I enjoy doing a little bit of everything. I've always been a military a/c guy as far as my main modeling interest, but switching to ships, cars, airliners or AFV's...or monsters...just helps keep it fun.

Cheers 

It is fun to mask and paint stripes too!  

Model racing cars eliminate a lot of the issues with trim and finish.  While racing car models are scarcer than factory stock, customs and show cars, there is still a lot available.  What kind of racing did you do?