Michael jones

I dont think you need to spend a decade or more building cars to make a very nice model with shiny paint. I think you can learn the most important things quite quickly if you spend time reading/ watching youtube. There are some key elements that really make a big difference.... Mr levelling thinner really helps reduce orange peel for example. People who use 2k clear, more often than not, get amazing results. I know I was amazed from the first time I used it. You don't need an expensive airbrush to get good results.... Of course practice does make a difference, but if you are using the wrong materials, you can practice all you like and fail badly. A lot of the failed attempts I see on here and other places, are all things people have done multiple times before, people can learn a lot from other peoples mistakes. A bit like how many people spray Tamiya lacquer over decals then wonder why they melt. Or lacquer over enamel is another example. Lessons learnt by others can really help you not make the same mistake. Mike

Tamiya tape or equivalent washi tape works great, but also bare metal foil is really great the few times I have used it.

I have had good luck with nail polish, but also had one model which faded a bit. The blue colour turned purple over time on the light facing side. I also used nail polish clear on that particular model so probably didn't have the UV resistance like other models covered with 2k clear. Never left in the sun (always in covered).

There has been some news on facebook that Tamiya are producing the Team Suzuki ECSTAR GSX-RR '20 motogp bike in 1/12 (December release). We will see if that is true... Mike

New improved chrome turned out pretty good here...

Tamiya ENAMEL X-22 also works well as a clear coat for Molotow - maybe slightly better than S-02 chrome sealer(way better than future). It may yellow over time however? I have also heard the testors enamel clear may work very well too... One of the best all around chromes is actually SMS super silver. It is not as bright or reflective as molotow, but seems to be ok to be handled etc. Probably the best compromise. Mike

Gidday its tamiya 1/20, paint is tamiya primer, tamiya gloss white, gaianotes orange then the very important step - maximum 3 coats of gaianotes fluro red, then 2k clear. Masked using bare metal foil mostly. I built it as a curbside to as this will not go in any shows. The rear wing is a pain to build!

Completed last week.

This kit was used btw

Gidday, I built the one in the link below. Took a lot of work to transform it!

Sprue goo can also work very well, but it can be hard to sand. The problem I have is if the filler is not white, it can show through or shadow once the paint is applied (on light colours). Thats what makes the Tamiya white putty appealing. The super glue over tamiya white putty idea is great however!

Just wondering, almost all files i see on the net dont have windows. Is it possible to 3d print windows in clear resin for example, or are they too thin to be possible? Thanks and great work.

Proabably depends on the clear coat used. If 2k clear is used, tamiya compounds are not that effective compared to auto products.

The reality is, you could apply 100+ coats and it wont be shiny, if you don't apply the clear wet enough. Also Mr levelling thinner really makes a difference to allow more flow. I would suggest just practicing some more with much wetter coats. Any paint will come out flat, if applied dry. Usually a couple of coats is enough with most hobby paints like Tamiya and Mr Color. Mike

I think with nunu they need to keep going down the touring car track. The merc 190e dtm 1992, audi quattro dtm 1992, rover vitesse etcc 1986, holden commodore vk etcc 1986, ford mondeo word cup winner 1994 would all be amazing to see. These cars would sell a lot, just like their m3. Even a replacement for tamiya's sierra rs500 or bmw 635csi would be awesome!

Good luck with that! Money talks and Spot model is one of the most well known euro online shops. Loose lips sink ships...

Good news! Nunu 2021 Let nobody calm down and let's panic!!! Nunu has finally announced us everything that they have scheduled for this year, on top of what we already know. And what exactly is coming our way? Nothing less than the reedition of the Martini S4 and the official S1, the 935 Kremer K3 sponsored by Gozzy, the evolution of the Audi R8 of the 2019 season, the reedition of the Cruze and a new version of the M6. These are the "official" news, but off the record, NOTHING LESS than: in 1/12 scale the Lotus 99T and 1993 Suzuki RGV500, and in 1/24 scale the 1980 DRM winner BMW 320i E21, the Mazda RX-7 Le Mans 1981, the Peugeot 306 Maxi Evo2 and the Audi A4 BTCC. Wwwoooowww!!! We still do not have exact dates, so everyone pay attention to the SpotModel newsletter to be informed of what is coming.

That silver candy base looks really great!

Looks like what happens when you apply too wet and it eats through the primer causing the damage to the plastic. I've never sprayed zero before, but id guess pressure too high (usually only really need 15psi). Also it probably would not have been so harsh with some retarder added. With Tamiya paints using lacquer retarder, you can easily spray directly on plastic with no issues. I have encountered issues like yours when using auto paints a few years ago. Mike Looks like what happens when you apply too wet and it eats through the primer causing the damage to the plastic. I've never sprayed zero before, but id guess pressure too high (usually only really need 15psi). Also it probably would not have been so harsh with some retarder added. With Tamiya paints using lacquer retarder, you can easily spray directly on plastic with no issues. I have encountered issues like yours when using auto paints a few years ago. Mike

The tamiya LP clear red is much more red than the X27 "red" which is more orange.

Thanks for the info. Mike

thanks for the help guys, much appreciated

Hi guys, I'm wanting to lower my Monogram Monte Carlo build, but recently with scale auto out of business the below link does not work anymore. Does anyone have a copy on their computer at all. That would be awesome if there was a way to still read this. I have read this forum and do get the general idea of how to do it (I have lowered several other cars before), but just wanted to read the actual story. link http://www.scaleautomag.com/~/media/import/files/pdf/3/9/7/sca-bu0607.pdf thanks very much Mike

Thanks for the kind words. Now onto Waltrip's Monte Carlo Aerocoupe Tide Ride

Just an idea, you could airbrush the window (surround only) in the body colour and then PVA glue the window in place. At least then, there would be a layer of paint between the body and the window. This is how beemax do their kits. The other idea (a bit more crazy)would be to thin some PVA down and apply it a bit like a panel line accent. As it would be very thin, you probably wouldn't notice it.