The 2014 Automotive Group Build

Hi Everyone,

Sorry, I'm travelling again, so I'll have to keep it brief. I made good progress on my Ferrari F186 before I left, but will finish it within a day of resuming, so I'll photograph it then. It's certainly a challenging model.

Great work on the 40 van Eric, another stunning model for your collection. I like your prolific completion rate too.  I've updated the build roster.

Cody - I responded to your message, you're very welcome here. I've updated the build roster. I love your choice.

Dale - The monster truck it terrific, don't be harsh on it. I loved the first photo in particular, looks pretty real. I've used that photo on page one, I liked it too much to ask :)

Seabe - the Lotus looks pretty good. I think I saw you on F1M too. Those Braun wings sound like a pain point, but somehow I already knew that :)

Keep up the great work guys, this is really motivating me to build, and I hope it is for you too.

Cheers

Tony

Hey Tony, guilty as charged - that is me on F1M... Thought I recognised your name!

Eric, thanks for the help... BUT... it's not working like that any more! New DropBox only uses public folders for paying users. The way you get your "public link" now, is exactly as I've done it, using it in exactly the way you prescribed anyways. I am going off my rocker here. Even tried Google Photo's, then you can ony paste the link. Which I get from Dropbox as well as an option - I can put a link down and the pic can be opened externally. But that's not what I'm looking for - I want to insert the pic on the spot! And no, I am not computer illiterate - even though it looks (and feels!) like it at this stage.

Not spending another night's building time trying to figure it out. Just returned with freshly basecoated WM parts: Brawn body, front and rear wing and all 4 the Lotus brake rotor/caliper combo's. Tomorrow second layer. Trust me, theyre there. Once I firgure out the photos, I'll upload the old ones, at least!

Here is some of my progress.  I am making the 1986 Budweiser Indy 500 winner.  I got the decals from Indycals.  The color is Tamiya Italian Red.  I also painted the letters on the tires.  I have built many Kurtis Craft Indy's and some 1/43 50's Indy and Formula cars but never any of the modern style cars.  So this will be all new to me.  

Looks like your off to a great start CodyJ!

That's looking great Cody.  I hope we see a few more of these, I love 'em.

Cheers

Tony

Thanks Tony. Yep it is  Grabber Orange. Had to drive all the way to the other side of Nashville to get it. We have no good hobby shops in Clarksville.

Seabe,

I use LINUX instead of Windows so I still have the public folders. In the rich text formatting box, you can use the image tags.

img link to photo/img (put brackets around img and /img ) If I put them in place they disappear as html.

As it is now,it only see it as a url. Hope this helps.

L8TR,

Eric

Good grief, some more building time lost - but at last now I've figured out how to use Flikr again! You have to grab some arb piece of url in the middle of a string, not the initial one (as I'd have guessed!) And then both url tags and "insert image" works.

So whilst Flikr is still working for me, seems they're planning on removing my sign-on method, here at least are what I have. Oh yeah - and all these were taken by cell phone - to get it done quicker(!! - that idea went up the creek a bit!) - so please excuse the quality.

Lotus 25 after step 2 has been completed: (I am testing the tags on this one, so if it misbehaves, sorry...)

Brawn body and wings, ready for basecoat:

Brawn - Wings only.

Think I just found my error on Google photo's - I have to obtain the url in a different way than I thought.

So as a test, an awesome pic I just found earlier... for all you fellow F1 fans. When cars were still cars and racing was still racing!

HI all,

My weekend was bust. Too many honey-do's hehehe. About all I did today was some of the chrome on the Chevelle. We have a weird weather pattern going through, might even snow in the morning lol.

Here's a mock-up of the Chevelle. Just need to finish the chrome, install the windows and mouint the bumpers.

L8TR,

Eric

Seabe-  Nice progress and an excellent test pic too!

ehwheeler454-  I am late to this build but just wanted to say I love the color you chose. It really compliments the white.

Here is my progress on the Indy Car.  I have been building for about 10-12 years and this kit is definitely in the top 5 for worst fitting.  But its an AMT so what can ya say.  The only reason the car isn't done is because i dropped it  (only about 6 inches).  So that's why the wing is off (Being re-glued).  After that its just mirrors and fuel buckeye.  

Thanks Cody.

I like the paint job on yours also, nice and shiney. What's your trick for painting the lettering on the tires?

L8TR,

Eric.

Eric and Cody - both of those look really good! Have to agree, that colour really works, Eric. Smooth paintjob, Cody. Shock to my F1-based eyes to see them running the front suspension in matching colour to the body... but with tthe commercialism everywhere, I'm actually surprised it hasn't happened already - most likely weight saving.

Eric, know those all to well! Between those, daughter's netball and my cycling, I get to fiddle on the kits.... maybe in the mornings before work and sometimes at night!

Brawn body and wings are white... think it's my second-most hated colour to apply! Always interesting to take a TS rattle can to 43rd body - feels to me like I'm trying to fill a coffee mug with a fire hose. Had to re-open the slits on the rear wing, which now looks more messy to me than if I'd have just left it as indentations. Clear to go on shortly.

Front suspension is basically done on the Lotus. I've decided to stick with the kit rotors - the WM ones will just add weight and complexity without bringing much to the party, since it's behind solid wheels! All is done, it must just be added to the body.

Seabe- You're actually right the front arms should be black.  I debated on hand-painting them but I was worried I wouldn't be steady enough.  

ewheeler454- As far as the letters I use a tiny brush and both hands.  I also paint by tracing over the letters.  Almost like I am writing, not just brushing over them side to side.  Not sure if that actually helps but that's the way I'm used to.

Here is the Finished Car.  It was a really simple build with not much to show off under the hood/bonnet.   The body and engine cover didn't fit well so I had to glue them together anyway just to get it to fit.  Kinda a curbside I guess but I had fun and like the final look.

Hi everyone,

I was just looking through all the GB's and seen this, And thought "Maybe I can do one for this. Then, I was looking at the list of participants and seen my name was signed up way bay back when. OOOPSSSS!!

I'll try to do the Camaro. I think all thats left is to put it together? I'll get it back out tonight

Sorry. Like they say "The mind is the first thing to go"

Cody, sweet-looking and very well built! Don't worry about the front suspension, do it next time. If I see what you did to the lettering and the helmet detail, this will be easy! Just do one line with the flow of the body to create some separation, then paint the suspension with the arm, using a bigger brush for smooth coverage.

My Brawn white is done. Now to do some detail painting of my own! Black sections on the wings - esp noticeable on the rear wing. Some black on the body itself. And for some weird reason they decided to leave a tiny streak of the dayglo yellow open - for you to paint! Riiiight on the nose sides. Seriously. Hope the yellow I have will match well enough.

Lotus dash is done, just awaiting decals to dry and will add a drop of clear on top of them. Hope to take some pics over the weekend...

Thanks Seabe, looking forward to seeing your progress!  It's neat seeing another open-wheel builder!

Okay, Here's the Camaro, I've had it a year and a half. That's whart happens when you'd rather be building WW2 aircraft. LOL

So with out further ado

Okay, long overdue progress pics. Brawn parts are already looking different - added SGB where required. But got it while it was still clad in white.

The seat of the Lotus 25 - I am in an adventurous mood! I wanted to add some texture and depth, so roughened it up a bit and for the first time tried my version of a technique I saw in one of the plane forums, they called it pre-shading or something like that. Used brown for that, since the seat itself will be a brown and red mixture. 

So, the seat in current state:

Lotus 25 with the front suspension added. You can clearly see some of the glue boo-boos which I hope will be hidden in the end product.

And also it's shortly to-be installed dashboard. Tried for bit of texture there... not entirely happy, but at least it's not overly smooth! Flash made some area quite overexposed.

And lastly, the Brawn in all-white clothing.

Eric - The chevelle mock-up really looks good. I like that green, It looks nice on the Chevelle.

Tony - The car turned out nice. That paint sure does shine. I don't think I could paint letters that way, I'm just not steady enough. I would have to find some way to cheat, or use decals!

Seabe - The progress is looking good. I think the dash looks great!

I started the Monte Carlo soon after I was done with the truck. I got every thing sprayed that was going to be done in metlizer, and semi-gloss black. I also got the inside of the body primed and painted - I forgot to take a picture of that. I got the basic block built and painted

Here is picture of as much of the chassis I dared put together and still have room to get the interior parts inside the roll cage. Since I took this picture I got it primed.

Thats about what I have done so far.

Thanks Dale.

All, the builds are looking good.

I've been busy the last few days with Boss visit and inventories so Haven't been able to do much. I did somehow manage to get a large nick in the roof of the Chevelle. I got lucky and was able to sand it out and re-spray some clear on it so it barely noticeable. This thing has been a thorn in my side and I just need to finish it. Have no clue how that happened unless it was the 76 Gremlin I'm going to start soon hehehe.

L8TR,

Eric

I like what I see you guys working on, I have not had time to gloo on anything.  Its all been dirt, equipment repairs and planting.  As much as I griped, I kinda miss all that snow and ice, it gave me time at the model bench!  I will get to gloo some but it will be a while.  Keep going guys, I will try to catch up!

It's good to see you again Greentracker.

The builds are all coming along really well. The Brawn looks likes a challenge, but it's a special car.

The Chevelle was good enough to call done, until I read the text.

Cody, love your Indy car, I'll update the front page. Gee I'd love to see a few more.

I've finally got my Ferrari F186 done, it's my first multi media car kit, and is an older Studio 27 1/20 kit. I'm well into the Fujimi Mclaren MP4/5 now.

The colour is Tamiya TS Italian Red. It increases my stable of F1 prancing horses to include all of the years 1986-90.

I hope you like it.

Cheers

Tony

Tony, the Ferrari looks super nice!  Your paint looks like glass in the pics.  Not much building for me at the moment, just Corn and Spinach!  Us sod busters gotta keep Popeye fed!  I'm still here, just not much time!

Hey Tony, that's a beaut! If that's the result of your FIRST MM kit... there will be some special ones coming. Those aren't easy to build and you really did a great job.

Paint finish is top-notch, you can be really proud of that. Did you clear-coat it as well - and if so, what did you use? (TS13?)

Brawn... well, the rear wing is basically done. Some minor touch-ups and corrections required, esp with the carbon fiber on the inner side of the end plates. Some weird places to use decals instead of hand painting, which I will also touch up a bit. Steering column done - they supplied the best decal I've seen yet for the steering wheel! (Yes, I get excited about little things...) The exhaust tips are ready to be installed, tried a bit of a blue tinge - not that I think much of it will be visible.

The Lotus has some suspension installed, and some basics of the engine is starting to take shape. Replacement valve covers are niiice, could leave the metal colour and also could just lightly sand away the SGB to revel the lettering. I just hope it fits as nice as intended when push comes to shove.

Will take some pics over the weekend and show the progress. Might not be perfect, but I'm having fun!

George - Thanks for the nice comment.

Seabe - Thanks for the positive comments, yeah I clear coated with TS-13 then gave it a mild polish, it wasn't too lumpy this time so I got away with that. Sounds like good progress on both of your entries.

I've made some good progress on my Fujimi Mclaren MP4/5, I'll try to post some photos tonight.

Cheers

Tony

Question: How do you keep from getting dust in the clear coats?

Thanks

Thanks Taxtp

ken

Okay, the promised pics. Spotted some issues when looking at them, so will have to correct a bit...  But this is pretty much where I'm at as I sit here.

Lotus 25 pics:

As it was at step 7 - and after that was just engine work, so this is how it looks now as well.

Same stage - dash installed - some cleanup required there...

Seat and steering wheel. Feel the roughening (to add some feeling of texture) on seat worked well enough.

Valve cover pre-assembly:

Engine as it is now, exhausts to be added next.

Brawn pics:

Steering wheel - focus a bit off, sorry...

...and installed it looks like this: (what is not overly visible is the mini-map to the right. Tameo even included two different and accurate ones for the races that can be depicted with this car... seriously)

Rear wing - some carbon work needs to be tidied.

Tony- Thanks for updating the page and AWESOME work on the Ferrari.  I love the clean finish and stance.  Looks like the real-deal!  I also love the attention to the tires and realism they have!  

Seabe-  Looking good!  I love the steering wheel with all the crazy detail!  

That looks awesome Tony!

Greentracker,

I have a spray bottle that I use to wet down my paint booth before I start spraying. This keeps the airbrush (or rattle can) from kicking up dust. I also have a large plastic container (if you look at some of my posts you can see the cars covered). I leave them under the cover for about an hour to let them dry. After that I remove the cover to let the paint finish drying. Hope this helps.

L8TR,

Eric