The Creative Explorer Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 The Rommel's Rod is almost finished and it has been a while since I had a true challenge for me and my airbrush, so instead of going for an easy paintjob, I decided to go way difficult and over my head haha. I started this van somewhere in 2009, but quickly stopped due to poor fitting and so much work that has to be done, but since it is the perfect canvas and I want to enter a contest with it in March, I decided to take it and go full on. Most of my day yesterday and today, I've spent on sanding, sanding and sanding. And I am still not done, but I think the biggest obstacle on this build is getting it prepped, other than that, I should be able to handle it within a month. So, my goal is to get the car it's basecoat the latest on sunday, which is a challenge, since the outdoor temperature is about 0 fahrenheit and it is quite cold in the attic. I can do assembly work in the livingroom, but prefer to do all the sanding and painting up in the attic. My plan is to go wild custom on this build, make it a bit more modern and use a lot of custom-things. I have no idea which way to go with wheels and stuff, but see that later, when the car will have it's graphics. Some pictures: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^those were the pictures from 2009, that is how far I got And this is where I started yesterday: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 What I had to do, whas to sand a lot of bondo from the fenders, they really didn't fit well. Plus there are many, many spots on the car that are irregular, not very good molded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 And I gave it it's first shot of primer this afternoon, I must say; it looks better than I thought, which means there is less work left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deathgoblin Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Looking good! I really wish someone would do a kit of this year/model of van in 1/24-1/25 scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
84vanagon Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Cool! I'll be following this build. You may inspire me to dig out one of mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Erik, this one has a great and beautiful canvas to work with. Hope you are having fun figuring out what colors and paint to put on it. Best, DC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Ill second that in 1/24th or 1/25th scale....would be great to have some mid 60s to early 70s van kits come out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted February 8, 2012 Author Share Posted February 8, 2012 Thanks guys! The scale doesn't bother me really, it is my only 1/20 scale, but since I build anything between 1/25 and 1/8, it doesnt bother me, as long as I have fun haha. @DC: not completely, I do have a idea in my head, but I need to work as I go along and hope I make the right choices. I've never done something like this before and I hope it works. I was able to put the final primer coat on today, which means I could start on the paintjob as well. I went a lot faster than I thought up front, I thought it was going to take me all week to get all the panels sorted out, but here we are, wednesday evening and I already finished the mural. Anyway; I let the pictures do the talking in this project. In the box of parts ( that is what I got, a big box full of parts, of which I can make at least 2 vans, (the wizard & Shock-treatment), but I also have some parts from a black van. One of the parts was a front spoiler lip, I liked it and fixed it to the car. All the doors had to be fixed too, there were a lot of shrink-marks and I filled the key-holes. The car, finally in Primer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted February 8, 2012 Author Share Posted February 8, 2012 After the car was ready, I could start with the airbrushing, these are the items (next to paint) I might going to need for the mural, I didn't use the glossy and the stickers, but I might needed it, so I had them available. The car, ready in the paintbooth after a little prep-sanding with 3200 grit. And before the 2! hour airbrushing. The first thing I did was to paint the black background and made some stars, using white paint and ultra-low pressure from the compressor. After this picture I did the same thing with light-blue, yellow and red. Using a template, I made some moons and planets. It's shown a bit better in this picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted February 8, 2012 Author Share Posted February 8, 2012 I got the black paint and put a light coat on top of the moons and planets, this makes them a little less bright and more to the background. I also added some stars, by using 2 straight lines accross. After I was happy with the space art, I started working on the foreground, I used another template and different colors of grey to create depth The other side of the van, showing another mural in the same style And the look after all the layers for the foreground were ready The final thing I had to do, was to create some fog, for the 'connecting'-lines, but that will explain itself after I have the next paintjob on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deathgoblin Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Wow, cosmic paint job. Looks Vantastic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george 53 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Looking good! I really wish someone would do a kit of this year/model of van in 1/24-1/25 scale. If they had they woulda sold as well as the Chevy an Dodge vans!!! Never could figger out why they did this in 20th scale instead of the MPC more normal 25th scale. GREAT job Eric!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony T Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Great mural work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 You are hitting a Grand Slam with this one. LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :wub: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartster Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Anticipation is killing me! I had a 1/20 '74 Ford van IN 1974, I know it wasn't that box art, & I don't rember what brand. I'd have to guess same basic kit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted February 9, 2012 Author Share Posted February 9, 2012 Thanks guys! @Bart, there were several versions of this van, so it is quite plausible it was a different version of this kit. Guys, I need your honest opinion! I am in between of continueing or restart the project. I am not all that happy with the paintjob, it doesn't look too bad, but I think there are many flaws in the project, too much to make it look nice. What I need to hear from you guys, if I should stick with this or just start over. (even though it has taken me 16 hours of work yesterday) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stulee11 Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 in my honest opinion... i would say the top colour takes the effect away from the wicked planets airbrushing... i would say keep the bottom colour to break it up but i would of left the top as it was. but thats my opinion either way she looks sweet as mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren B Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 that is awesome love the paint job. I have to agree with stuart on this one. this looks wicked as it was I like the top color as you finished it but would have loved to see more of your detail show thru that you have here. But that is just my opinion and coming from someone that hasnt lifted an airbrush in over a year I can t say much. Your work is totally awesome and keep it up. I love the detail on this van in this pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted February 11, 2012 Author Share Posted February 11, 2012 Thanks for the honest opinions and I am sorry not to reply earlier, but I went to sanding the whole van (and there was lots of it) and missed a bit of motivation to get on airbrushing again. But, I redid the car and now made the whole van 'space-art', without any solid colors. Pictures will follow soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted February 11, 2012 Author Share Posted February 11, 2012 so I went from this: To this again: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted February 11, 2012 Author Share Posted February 11, 2012 That was yesterday, I spent today more than 10 hours to get this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted February 11, 2012 Author Share Posted February 11, 2012 So far: LOTS and LOTS of work on the airbrushing, I can say it is my most comprehensive airbrushwork so far, I even made a video of it, any interest if I put it on youtube? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stulee11 Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 now thats the one for sure !!!! without a doubt the best paint job i've seen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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