Tommy124

I fully agree here. Regardless of the type of paint used, I would never let the color set inside the airbrush for such a period. I use a gravity-feed (Harder & Steenbeck Evolution) airbrush, so I empty the cup into the paint container. After that I fill in a small amount of the stuff that I found to be the most effective for cleaning the AB just aswell as stripping paint off a model. It's called Methoxypropanol (https://www.kremer-pigmente.com/de/methoxypropanol-pm-70920.html). I also found it useful to close the nozzle with a plastic cap (https://www.everythingairbrush.com/plastic-nozzle-cover.html) before spraying with a bit of of that stuff inside the cup. With the nozzle being closed, the pressure is reversed, so the cleaner goes back the other way and makes sure for a good (intermediate) cleaning inside the AB.

I use either that glue on a stick or the "wax picker pen": https://www.ebay.de/itm/2-Stuck-Picker-Pen-Stift-Strass-Stein-Perlen-Applikator-Wachsstift-Nail-Art/272661436612?hash=item3f7be358c4:g:YJMAAOSwXoxafFZ0:rk:12:pf:0. This is very nice to handle.

Nice build, Will!

Dann, completely agree to this! What a build, what a WIP, what a result! Looking forward to you cutting down to doing only 4 builds simultaneously, as that will mean more and quicker progress!

Thanks for the tip, I will definitely be checking out this stuff. Product description says it has "air channels". I assume that means the adhesive reverse side is somewhat engineered in such a way as not to let any "air bubbles" occur during application.

I actually just got the sister kit (2in1, "Classic Cruiser") by trading with a fellow modeller. It's not so easy to find around here. Will be following your process!

No, I haven't. It's a very nice box though... I once considered trying this out but honestly, I don't know why I should. I don't see any point to prefer this over Zero paints 2k clear which I mostly use on "modern car" models. Furthermore, I believe both products are nothing special or different really. They are 2k clearcoat lacquers as used in the automotive industry, while probably being modified for airbrush (small nozzle) use. Other than the ZP product, the AK stuff comes without any separate thinners which is something I don't like. As that means there is a fixed clearcoat - hardener ratio (3:1) but nothing can be done about the viscosity. I like to vary the amount of thinners in the process, so this is not good imho. The next thing is that the AK stuff is very expensive, given the small total quantity of only 80 ml. The ZP set comes with twice the amount (100 ml clearcoat + 60 ml hardener = 160 ml) PLUS 60 ml thinners which further increases the total amount of mixed varnish and, more importantly, the flexibility to adjust the ratio according to my needs. Both products cost about the same, a bit more that 20 EUR. So AK has the nicer packaging, but I'm pretty certain ZP is the better deal...

STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL model and photos! The kit has been on my wishlist for some time, it's time it got in my stash!

Very nice model. And a very productive builder, 2 builds after 2 weeks... I must be doing something wrong?

Great model, great pictures! Customs wheels look good on it!

There is no such place! Your builds look fine!

Yes, both look great. The livery is for a German company producing heating appliances. I always liked it, already as a kid, because of that bunny!

I agree here. I cannot tell if Future/ Pledge are exactly the same stuff like the Alclad Aqua Gloss (AAG) I have been using. But I have been told that they are at least very similar. Anyways, I have made good results with cloth-applying AAG directly onto the basecoat. Just a drop and then polish it in. At least it worked on matte basecoats (Zero Paints, Gravity Colors) to the purpose of creating partial glossy areas on which BMF is to be applied (in order to avoid making a full intermediate clear coat). And yes, that means I clearcoated the BMF later on which worked out just fine...

That is summing up in short words what I meant! And yes, of course the technology is here already. But there doesn't seem to be enough pressure on the kit companies yet to deal with the subject pro-actively... There once was a company meeting in which all the others agreed that ''it can't be done". The one guy who didn't join the meeting didn't know about that... - and accidentally just DID it...

Great discussion going on here. I specifically followed the one about the possible outlook that our mutual hobby might be facing. I'm surprised however it has not been brought up that we will probably be facing a technical development, maybe revolution even, that will dramatically change the way plastic parts can and will be produced in the not so far future. I'm talking about - of course - 3D-printing. Some of us already use that kind of technology for creating parts they do not get elsewhere. Those parts imho often miss the "final touch" presision-wise, but that will change, I'm sure. Hardware, printing materials and CAD designing software are progressing towards perfection all the time. Not so hard to imagine that kind of technology could replace an expensive and energy-intensive molding process which requires molding tools that are very expensive - even on an industrial scale. To my knowledge, companies like LEGO consider offering POD (print-on-demand) production for certain plastic parts in the future. And if THEY do, along with declining model kit sale figures, I'm sure there will be the need for the model kit industry to go down that road, too. This doesn't necessarily have to be bad news to us, the builders. First off, real big quantities (if any) might still be produced the "old way", if that's cheaper. But unlike in molding production, in 3D-printing there are no tool costs and only low setup costs, which allows to go for small quantities. Product variations that required expensively (maybe irreversibly) modifying the molding tools before, can be done easily just by additionally designing the required parts. A huge field of specialized after-market part producers could develop and add a lot to the variety. And then there is the vision that one day 3D-printing devices will be part of normal domestic life. Not only for modelling parts. Download and print your model kit parts yourselves at home one day? Don't believe it? You better... It may not all be happening that way, but I guess most of it will. Sooner or later. I guess we might become the "vinyl guys" of modelling one day...

Simply beautiful! Did you use Alclad on the bumpers?

Fully agree with you there Bill! And may I add that for filling panel lines you can use the same method, but depending on the depth of the line, it may be recommended to use styrene melted in glue. The way I did here with the sunroof panel lines on the Porsche.

Lovely restoration! I like the BMF job you did on the lettering.

Really great models and photos! You have a great gift of making them look REAL!

Both modifications look good but 20 inch Rallys if favorite for me...

Looking great so far!

My name is Tommy and I'm a collective addict. Coming here helps me, especially when I see that I'm NOT crazy owning ONLY around 400 kits. Which equals around 65 years of work to do at my current building rate. Could be difficult, but why bother with facts of life while you've got a nice hobby... While I'm writing this, another parcel is being handed over to me. 4 new kits inside I believe... On a good day I can remember what I ordered. Wait... 2017 Camaro AMT Snap kit, AMT '68 El Camino Derby Kit, MPC '73 Mustang... what's the last again? Ah right, Monogram '70 Buick GSX. And some wheels, but wheels don't count, right? Collect on!

Maybe this will help? Works fine for me.

Tim, as so many here have pointed out already, the book is a joyful read, brilliant source of information and great inspiration. I was happy to be able to order it quickly easily from Amazon Germany, but I would have ordered it from anywhere... Happy to hear that there will be a second print-run. May I ask what the quantity was for the first print-run?

Can anyone imagine I'm in US car model mode lately...? I got the two 60's Vettes second-hand VERY cheap (15 EUR all-in). The '60 is slightly started on the body, but practically new. But the deal for me was more about the '63 coupe... The MPC Vette kit I bought because of its multiple building options. Last not least, the Monte Carlo snap kit is for my 10-year old son. I'm doing all I can to get him into modelling and he likes the look of this car. Now I'm annoyed I did not order another one for myself while they were on stock, as I have seen here what a nice model can be made of it with just a little work: http://www.rightonreplicas.com/blog/?page_id=1259 On the right hand side batch, some AMT customs tyres, photo edged parts for the '68 Mustang by MBM Munich, yellow and red PE side markers by Czech Truck Model, some great tyre decals by Fireball Modelworks and in the cardboard box a variety of rims by Scale Production for some future Porsche projects...