David Thibodeau

Probably one of his coolest paint scheme's ever, I have decided to go ahead and try this one in detail. I dont have any really big high res pics of the car so here is one of a few I have. I did a rather straight forward chassis utilizing many ofthe kit bars. I did add new engine bars from the firewall forward. I did quite a few body mods: Kicked out front end, opened and hinged trunk and hood with underside detail, new brass roof flaps, PE rear spoiler, and integrated pass speedway window front lip. I skipped pictures of the primer stage and wanted show off the blue and neon I used. I have looked closely at the best stock build I think still to this date which is Brian Fascia's.The blue used was mixed by Al Mosteller in a one stage form. While it was a great looking color I wanted more pop. I decided to use house of colors oriental blue kandy basecoat.It is a one stage paint that builds up like a basecoat with candy incorporated in it. I shot it over grey primer followed by omni clear. I only added one good coat of clear since I have to add decals and more clear. What a color!!!! The trunk decal on the slixx sheet has neon in it. The problem is it will not match the neon paint you see here. I carefully made a template of the "Miracles of science" logo and masked it off before shooting tamiya ts-36 neon over white primer. It will look much better! the decals will look so at home over this paint. then I will add two more coats of clear for a killer gloss!

Thanks Harry...... DaveT

Those of you that know me should know I am an avid urethane painter. I was introduced to it by a friend in North Carolina that owned a body shop. He turned me onto using it about 10 years ago and I have never looked back. He also taught me how to protect myself from the toxic side effects of the "Carcinogens" in the hardeners. For the small amount of clear I spray since I do 1/24 scale on a regular basis I use a 3M NIOSHA approved mask I picked up for about 30 bucks at Home Depot. I change out the organic cartridges whenever I smell a hint of the fumes from the Urethane clear. I also wear pants and long sleeve shirts when I spray it. In addition I wear safety goggles to keep it from my eyes. Besided your mouth,nose,and skin, the eyes are extremely sensitive to absorbing the airborne pollutants from 2 part urethane clears. If these precautions are taken at a high level when you use 2 part urethane clear you should not have any side effects from them. I know I have not since I learned to protect myself. I also spray outside and leave the cars to dry in a closet outside my porch. I live in Florida so this system works well. It gets a little dicey in the summer but I manage. Now, onto the other subject of this in depth thread about urethane not providing a scale finish or too thick of a finish like its dipped in syrup. This is all dependent on the user and the preparation along with the type of 2 part urethane clear used. I have used House of Kolor Show clear, Dupont Chromaclear, and lately OMNI/SHOPLINE urethanes and have had great success..... My panel lines are not buried ( and that can be eliminated by scribing them prior to primer, color and clear). Have I had thick paint jobs over the last 10 years?? Sure I have!!!! But they all look as good as the day I finished the model. Until I learned how to apply the clear and thin it properly. Like many have said to each his own on how a builder chooses to paint or what type of paint they use on a model. No one should be stating that urethanes are only for 1:1 cars because it is simply not true. Now on to the proof... below is a model I just completed that was painted with Scale Finishes Ferrari Rosso Corsa followed by 2 coats of Dupont Chroma clear. I used Plastikote White Primer as a foundation for the color and clear coats. After it cured for about a week it was polished with 2000 grit sand paper, compounded with 3M perfect it III and followed with Scratch X polish. This is a 1970 Ferrari 512S that ran at Daytona 24 hour race. The kit was a bear to get together.... parts fit was terrible... especially the rear bonnet. [imghttp://images107.fotki.com/v67/photos/1/335511/8672853/P1010070-vi.jpg

YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD DAVE........... Thanks for your input here... it was needed...

Beautiful Job there Brian.... I hope you dont mind if I post some of the version I did almost 6 or 7 years ago. I built it for the Gentleman that owns and Historically races this car that was restored by ViperDave. His name is Ken Epsman. He lives out in California and owns (last time I talked to him) a precious metal collection business. Anyways here is the one I built and he has in his collection. more pics here.... Again hope you do not feel I pirated your thread... if so PM me and I will remove them! Dave T

Mach, Why does the car seem to lean to one side? It is lower on the drivers side and higher on the pass side?

Gorgeous Build Randy!!

Thank you!! Someone was paying attention!

OK.... Ok..... I am a gum flapper.... you got me..... I can sleep better knowing you have me all figured out.... Thanks Buddy.... not only are you and incredible modeler but your psychic too!! Man.... your awesome! I wont be flapping my gums anymore.... I dont want you to flip out and start deleting all your topics again.... Catch ya later... Buddy.

Nice....... real nice.... now who is melting down??? Actually.... I am having fun screwing with you... I love to mess with bi polar individuals..... Lock it down? So now your a moderator?? God help us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Troll!!!! Hah!! good one Pot!

Yep!!! But unfortunately I didnt delete it in time!! And look what happens... you jump on the J Sauber bandwagon! After all..... he is the greatest! All hail J. Sauber...... Flame on Buddies!!! I hope it makes you feel good and sleep better at nite....

Well I "Had" withdrawn my post realizing this would be the outcome in your typical as of late pointless thread Sauber....... but it looks like YOU need to keep it going and I just didnt get it deleted in time....... You are one of the reasons I dont post here anymore..... there is nothing to gain from your so called High and all knowing modeling dome. Try writing an article sometime instead of starting threads like these........ your fan base is shrinking! "Dave T"

Even Primer depending on the brand can build up too much.... some people want to control it in very thin even coats... very hard to do with a spray can.... Bob Downie's method works like a charm and you only decant what you need to use.... not wasteful.... and punching a hole in the can is something I think I would be afraid to do! DaveT

Its Wimbeldon white .... It is a Bone or "off" white color....... Its suppose to look that way.... The wheels are from the kit. Thanks, DaveT

Ahhh..... nothing like classic Shelby..... and a GT-350 in Wimbledon/Guardsman blue is pure Shelby! Mine is painted in Tamiya racing white with mica blue stripes covered with omni. I did the body a good 5 years ago, pulled it out Friday repolished it and got to work..... even added engine detail..... just a ball of fun it was!!! ;D

Very nice work!!

Very pleased with the outcome. It is a beautiful car. Not a car I would build for myself but very elegant nonetheless..... Thank you all! DaveT

I am so relieved this one is done.... I am sending off pics to its owner for final approval.... I hope it gets the thumbs up.... You all know the details from the WIP thread.......... Enjoy the pics, it is a cool ride and there were only 4 of the real deal made....

You should try one Chris, very rewarding!!!

Been away for a week in Hilton Head South Carolina with the family and it was a blast...... beautiful weather with lots of fun things to do..... I painted and cleared this 1:43rd scale white metal body before I left and took it with me and polished it real smooth while on the trip in the evenings. I got back yesterday and tore into it and finished it up today... The entire kit is white metal except for the headlights and tires! Very simple crude kit to be honest but built up into a decent replica of a rare car. Of course its for someone.... $$$$$$ Glad to be back at it!!!! These 1:43rds are quite rewarding little gems.....

Well the Front end is on its way, scratch built lower control arms, Steering rack ends, and steering shaft. And here is my new engine plate that I made with my Lathe and mill..... Metal snips, a pin vise, a mallet, and 800 grit paper!!! ;D ;D It was a bargain!!! Aint it cool how it looks like a bowtie? Not intentional!! ANd all the final polishing to perfection was achieved on the paint..... Stay tuned!

OK, not up my alley, but being built for a real high end client.. I will build anything if the money is right.. This is a french Profil 24 resin curbside kit. I wanted you guys to see what I have been working on the last few days as I have to get this one finished up shortly so I can get back to my detailed stuff.... The body was extensively cleaned, primed and painted as per the client in testors basic bottle red. Then 2 part cleared and polished. Then some PE detail was added. All the little body fasteners are PE and each painted red by hand. They dont look like much but these seats were heavily modified from the totally wrong kit parts. I had to do them 3 times before the client was happy with them. over a month after I sent the seats off to be casted, I got a nicely casted set in the mail. They were cleaned up, primed, and painted the same color as the car. Then dullcoated for realism. Then the dash was reworked, All molded detail removed, primed, painted and cleared. Next I added all kinds of various PE, crimp tubing and kit supplied PE. Beginnings of the interior! Wheels and tires are also complete. All PE disks and aluminum rim blanks topped with chrome plated spinners that were chromed by Dale Horner. Overall view so far..... Like I said, not a car I am thrilled with but it is fun to apply my techniques to unfamiliar territory. I hope you all like it so far...... DaveT

Before I put the chassis in any paint I made templates with Tape... Thanks!! DaveT

Once the chassis was done and fitted to the body properly, I cut it all apart, finessed it and primed it. Here are a few primer mock ups... The rear wheels have anodized beadlock rings from a slot car supplier. The front wheels are also from the same supplier I believe they are called Pro Track slot cars. And.... Jumping ahead!!! Its in paint! House of Kolor Kobalt Kandy Basecoat is the ultimate blue. I painted the white and blue. Added one coat of clear, Slixx decals, and more clear.... I have not polished yet but need to do a few areas.... I am in the stage of polishing it now and will have more updates in a few days..... DaveT