jaymcminn Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 (edited) Last year, I heard through the grapevine that Trumpeter was going to stop production of the controversial 1/12 GT40 kit. I had been on the fence for a few years over this one, and decided to pull the trigger. For about a year now, I've been gradually figuring out exactly how I wanted to proceed with this build, as so many of these kits get started only to never be finished. This has to do with many factors... the kit itself isn't easy at all to build, and has many inaccuracies that can cause a modeler dead-set on building a perfect replica of a specific car to throw up his hands and stick the box back in the closet. I've always loved the GT40, but have never been a "rivet counter"... I just want to turn this box of (mostly chrome-plated) parts into a beautiful model. The Trumpeter kit is actually pretty good for this purpose, The body shape is perfect and the overall level of detail is actually quite good if you're willing to bend a little. Is it toy-like? Probably no more so than most large-scale Tamiya kits from the '70s and '80s. Certainly less so than the Revell 1/12 scale Shelby GT500 or most of the big-scale domestic releases. I'd like to see more detail in some areas, and I'm determined to add it where I feel necessary. I've decided to replicate (within reason) chassis #1015, the Arcadian Blue car that finished second at LeMans in 1966. I ordered a set of decals from BBK for this car, and the Arcadian Blue paint from Scale Finishes. I've got some good online photo references for this car as well. I'm not using the KA Models detail set on this car, having spent my extra cash on a set of the awesome Icon tires (thanks, Derek!) and the aforementioned decals and paint, as well as some other miscellaneous goodies. I started off with stripping ALL THAT CHROME from most of the trees of this model. It's like the engineers decided to just chrome everything just in case... if it were built like that out of the box it would look like a Tom Daniels show rod. Most of the relatively shiny bits on the model will be replicated in Alclad chrome and airframe aluminum. Once I was able to start actual assembly, I got the engine block and transmission together and painted it black... then masked and textured the transmission, heads and intake manifold with make-it-suede. I painted the heads/manifold in Testors Metalizer Aluminum, and the transmission in Tamiya Metallic Grey. The exhaust system was cleaned up, weld beads added with Micro Krystal-Klear, and painted Alclad Chrome before being heat-stained with Tamiya clears. Here they are after the chrome... I used a parts box distributor with Scale Motorsports ignition wire and RB Motion resin boots for the ignition system, and scratchbuilt a coil and wire looms. You'll also see the first two header pipes as well as the collectors after being "heat-stained". ...and here we are as of now. Headers installed and everything buttoned up. The "turkey pan" and carburetor are just sitting on there- they need to be painted, and aren't actually due to be installed until much later in the build process. Edited July 21, 2014 by jaymcminn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbowser Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 I like where this is going. Those exhaust pipes look very convincing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Looks great so far. Keep it up ! I always wondered about this kit as I have heard some not so great comments about it. Good luck. Looking forward to your progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric C Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 You're off to a great start. Having just completed this model myself I know what a challenge it can be. I also know how rewarding it can be to have a 1/12 scale GT40 on the shelf. Stick with it, you won't be disappointed when you're done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Smart move Jason. Get Eric to post a snap of his car-it'll inspire (or depress!) you. It's very detailed and pin-neat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Great looking engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaymcminn Posted May 31, 2014 Author Share Posted May 31, 2014 You're off to a great start. Having just completed this model myself I know what a challenge it can be. I also know how rewarding it can be to have a 1/12 scale GT40 on the shelf. Stick with it, you won't be disappointed when you're done.Eric, I saw your build on Automotive Forums and it is fantastic... I couldn't use the kit tires after seeing how good yours looked with the Icon pieces. I hope mine turns out half as good as yours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len Woodruff Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Great start Jason. Keep the updates coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deathgoblin Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Wow, excellent engine work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmfowler Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Excellent work so far, will be following this build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanesteele240 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Yep. So far a win Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davewilly Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Looking great. I also love the look of the GT40 and I also like the bigger kits...but heard bad things about it so I havent bought one yet.....So I will follow along with your build to see how it goes....I still want one anyway..but it might push me to just do it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaymcminn Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 Slow progress so far, folks. Removing parts from sprues, cleaning up mold lines and ejector pin marks, getting some of the subassemblies together and mounting them on toothpicks and craft sticks for painting. You know, the fun stuff. Only about 3 times as much of it as there is on the average 1/24 scale kit. The large number of bare metal finishes on the GT40 is going to be challenging too... I'm going to try Alclad's airframe aluminum for a lot of the parts to vary things from the Testors metalizer finishes. Our recent run of excessively rainy/cruddy weather here has put a damper (so to speak) on painting the big body parts in the garage. Normally I'd use my spray booth indoors, but the Trumpeter kit is a little large for my dinky little Paasche booth. I have finished the seats (pics tomorrow) and I think my solution looks pretty good... I also got the Icon tires and they look amazing. Pics of those as well. I'm still not sure what to make of this kit... it's a bizarre combination of brilliant and amateurish that just leaves you completely befuddled at times. For instance, the beautiful turned-aluminum hood pins at the front of the car, but the crude plastic nub sticking up through the engine cover that's supposed to hold the rear end of the bodywork in place. Or the braided fuel and oil lines but the lack of an ignition system. The completely incorrect tires mounted on wheels with separate turned metal valve stems. The list goes on. On the plus side, the mockup with the doors in place and everything attached to the chassis reveals a model with excellent fit and tight (but not too tight) panel gaps and tolerances. Anyway, more pics tomorrow. Thanks for the support, everybody! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hossalimi Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Engine is looking great!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Anyway, more pics tomorrow. Thanks for the support, everybody! On the plus side, the mockup with the doors in place and everything attached to the chassis reveals a model with excellent fit and tight (but not too tight) panel gaps and tolerances. Mind the gap between the rear clip and the chassis tub (where the fuel tanks are). Sand the upper inner edge of the clip and you still may have to shim the clip bottom edge to meet the tub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaymcminn Posted June 4, 2014 Author Share Posted June 4, 2014 So, the seats. I didn't want to do anything too radical with them, but they are a pretty visible part of the finished model. Basically, I decided that my goal would be to make them look less plasticky, so I started by sanding off the molded grommets. Next, I heated the seats over a candle (kids, don't try this at home) to allow the backrest and seat to sag a little in the middle. I then carved wrinkles in the bolsters with my Dremel. I painted the seats with Krylon Make-It-Suede and gave them a topcoat of Model Master Aircraft Interior Black, which is a nice dead-flat dirty black. Then it was on to the grommets... which are RB Motion 1.1mm photoetched washers. You get 256 in a package, which is plenty for both seats. The washers were attached with clear flat acrylic. I like the way they follow the sags and curvature of the seats. The seatbelt hardware and belts are from the kit, and look really good. Here's everything all together... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennyboy Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 Excellent work on the seats Jason!! I actually thought you wrapped them in leather........and the grommets.....WOW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cien1986 Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 may i know what you are using on heat staining the exhaust pipe... its done over alclad right? did you clear coat it before? how you textured your transmission? actually that is very impressive work.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric C Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Great job on the kit seats. You really brought them to life given what they are to start with. I love that idea of softening the plastic to create that "sunken in / sat in" look. Great idea!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaymcminn Posted June 6, 2014 Author Share Posted June 6, 2014 may i know what you are using on heat staining the exhaust pipe... its done over alclad right? did you clear coat it before? how you textured your transmission? actually that is very impressive work.... Henry, the heat staining on the exhaust is done with Tamiya clear acrylics thinned with rubbing alcohol over, as you said, a base of Alclad chrome. I started off with clear smoke on all the parts. On this kit, I only applied the smoke about halfway down the exhaust pipes at the rear to leave the ends of the pipes in a brighter finish. I then mixed together a brown clear from clear orange and smoke, which I used on the header pipes and collectors. Finally I mixed clear blue and smoke, which I applied on the header pipes right where they meet the flanges on the cylinder heads. The texture on the transmission, as well as on the seats, is a paint called "Make It Suede" by Krylon. It's available here in the USA in craft and home-improvement stores. I have a spray can of it in a buff beige color I've had for at least a decade now, and I'm not even halfway through it yet! I just apply the paint over primer or bare plastic and then apply my finish color once it's dried. Scale Motorsports sells a line of textured spray paints called Faux Fabrix you might be able to procure more easily through one of the online hobby shops if you can't find something similar to the Krylon paint in Indonesia. Hope this helps! Great job on the kit seats. You really brought them to life given what they are to start with. I love that idea of softening the plastic to create that "sunken in / sat in" look. Great idea!! Thanks, Eric.I don't think they're quite as good as the modified KA seats from your build, but I would have broken down in tears if I'd had to hand-form 228 grommets from solder like you did! As it is, I'm pleased with the results. Things are progressing on this one, albeit slowly. More pics in the next couple of days. As always, questions and comments are welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cien1986 Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 Henry, the heat staining on the exhaust is done with Tamiya clear acrylics thinned with rubbing alcohol over, as you said, a base of Alclad chrome. I started off with clear smoke on all the parts. On this kit, I only applied the smoke about halfway down the exhaust pipes at the rear to leave the ends of the pipes in a brighter finish. I then mixed together a brown clear from clear orange and smoke, which I used on the header pipes and collectors. Finally I mixed clear blue and smoke, which I applied on the header pipes right where they meet the flanges on the cylinder heads. The texture on the transmission, as well as on the seats, is a paint called "Make It Suede" by Krylon. It's available here in the USA in craft and home-improvement stores. I have a spray can of it in a buff beige color I've had for at least a decade now, and I'm not even halfway through it yet! I just apply the paint over primer or bare plastic and then apply my finish color once it's dried. Scale Motorsports sells a line of textured spray paints called Faux Fabrix you might be able to procure more easily through one of the online hobby shops if you can't find something similar to the Krylon paint in Indonesia. Hope this helps! Thanks, Eric.I don't think they're quite as good as the modified KA seats from your build, but I would have broken down in tears if I'd had to hand-form 228 grommets from solder like you did! As it is, I'm pleased with the results. Things are progressing on this one, albeit slowly. More pics in the next couple of days. As always, questions and comments are welcome! many thanks for sharing your tips.... keep it up.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanesteele240 Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 You did great on the seats but one of the wasers are off by just a Bit. O.o. Just kidding the seats are great and you learned me something with the heating to make them sag trick mm thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nacho Z Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 Great work so far Jason! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davewilly Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 WOW great looking pair of Seats! Great job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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