cruz

Wow! Didn't even think about that one, thanks for the advice, I will be trying that soon!!!

I have the same problem, can't never find the darn things in the Hobby Store either. I do have the flat black and usually what I do is add some gloss clear until I get the right shade.

Harry P is the nastiest guy here but I don't let that bother me...

This Corolla has been featured in this forum before, they go by the AE86 Trueno name if you were to order one. The maker is Fujimi and they are still available through Hobby Link Japan or e-bay. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki This one is a curbside, I have another one which is a hatchback and includes an engine.... Hosted on Fotki

No Kevin, those are the Accurate Miniatures Grand Sport Corvette Webers, I just posted them for demonstration purposes. The Corolla muffler was also posted to give you an idea on how to possibly incorporate the use of the tool on these small tubes. I built that Corolla about 4 years ago but all I did was ream off the edges with an X-Acto knife as shown on the pictures, wish I had this tool then...

Very cool tutorial, thanks for sharing!!!!

5 words, lots of Bear Metal Foil!!!

Excellent info, thanks for sharing!!!

Try this one..... http://www.mas-parts.com/

By the way, this is just a quick test and trial session, I am sure the flanges can be made bigger with a bit more time. Don't know if the tool is available at Michael's which is a store very similar to Joan Fabrics but I wouldn't doubt it. I don't know how much I paid, I just threw it in my wife's cart and she paid for it herself, I would probably think 5 to 8 dollars, at least it sounds reasonable.

Thanks for the "catedra" amigo!!!

These are the results after a little cleaning, sanding and buffing... Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Like I said, it is perfect for muffler tips and other uses.... Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki

Last week I accompanied my wife to Joan Fabrics and while she picked out her purchases I decided to "nosy" on around the store like a good little creative modeler to see what I might find to incorporate on my builds. While walking through the isles I found this little reamer, don't know exactly for what it is but I quickly found a good use for it. First thing I thought about was to use it in the making of flanges like the ones seen in velocity stacks and muffler tips. I am also thinking about building the Grand Sport Corvette and using real metal flanges for the actual webbers on the engine. The tool has 3 different tips that are actually stored inside the tool itself making it harder to lose or misplace them. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki I had some extra round metal pipe stock and started reaming the edge with my x-acto knife, this will permit the reamer to make the opening and stretching of the tip easier, thus creating the flange at the end. Hosted on Fotki After this, I used the small reamer and ended with the larger one to end up with the following result. I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story.... Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki

Very cool, great job on this, looks beautiful in black!!!

Very cool project, please keep us posted!

Model Master Lacquers are just a modified enamel (assuming you bought the new MM Lacquers). That's why they didn't react with the enamel. Don't try that with the HOK though.....

I'd say, use the old paint for parts and stuff if they are in pretty good shape but if you are painting a body, get yourself new paints, ALWAYS!!

Amazing stuff bro! Lots of talent!!!

Thanks guys! The decals are from the kit and they are great! For the polishing process, I started wetsanding with 3200 grit and finished with 6000, I finished with Fine/Finish Tamiya Polish and after decal placement, waxed entire body with Maguiar's Wax Cleaner. The model does not have any clearcoat and it's the reason I ended with 6000 grit cloth, wanted to make sure not to rub through the paint. I only used decal setting solution on the decals that went across the panel lines.

Finally got this thing wetsanded and polished in order to get the decals in place. Decals were a little thin so I had to be careful not to tear anything but they do look great. Had to do a bit of slicing of the decals around the panel lines just before they dried, you don't want to wait until they are dry. After the decals were placed, I thoroughly waxed the entire body to get a nice shine and get rid of all the dried decal adhesive. I like to finish off with Maguiar's Cleaner Wax and a good quality chamois, a very good trick I learned from my good friend Bill Geary! It's difficult to photograph any model that's painted white, specially if it's done indoors. Didn't have much of a choice today, weather is just nasty and gloomy. Tried my best though and when I do get a chance I will do that later but for now, here it is in all it's glory... Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Next step is to get all the BMF and molding painted and detailed, it will make this baby really pop!!!

Thanks guys! Cato, you are right, you have a keen eye and I will listen to your advice for the next one I build!

Lots of cool and well built models, thanks for sharing Len!!

That's exactly why I don't like it, it represents more of a metal flake kind of finish than a metallic.

I built this model approximately 5 years ago but never took any good pictures of it and since I have not shared any completed builds here for a while, I decided to cheat a little and add one more to the Under Glass section This was the first time using the Testor's line of Lacquers but also the reason why I am not using the metallic colors anymore, I thought the flakes were too big. Seat belts are the Photo-Etch ones from Eduards, best ones I have seen and used, everything chrome is Alcladed except the window frame. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki

I never place decals on a waxed surface, decals don't stick too well when doing this. What I do is wetsand my finish first and polish, I will then place my decals and at the end, wax the whole thing, decals and all. I will apply more wash on my panel lines at the end, this is a white car so those panel lines have to pop, right now they don't look too even.