HPI Guy, 1982 DeLorean DMC-12 1/24 Scale Model Kit Aoshima

[drodg]

On 1/25/2025 at 4:36 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Sure. They're kinda horrible cars. I'm finishing up a complete rewire on one now, including a full custom instrument panel, and even if it hadn't been previously mangled by chimps, the OEM wiring would be almost as bad.

They don't make much power for the complexity of the engine, and they're kinda tail-happy due to being rear-engined (65% rear weight bias, where a comparable 911 is around 60%) rather than the originally proposed mid-engined. They're prone to overheating and a wide variety of other failure modes.

The urethane bumpers get warpy and wavy over time, and the bodies are almost impossible to repair and have the repair be undetectable.

On the positive side, the fiberglass structure and stainless steel skins don't rust, the Lotus-designed suspension works about as well as anyone could ask (from a handling standpoint), and they look cool.

How's that?   

 

Oh man that is great.  

[Ace-Garageguy]

On 1/27/2025 at 1:04 PM, Mark C. said:

Any ideas on how to replicate the brushed stainless steel finish on a plastic model?

Yup. I did this finish to represent bare aluminum body panels prior to paint, but the same technique would work just as well on a DeLorean

[Mark C.]

Is that the BMF method?

[Ace-Garageguy]

42 minutes ago, Mark C. said:

Is that the BMF method?

Nope.

EDIT: Here's the build thread. I think the method is described...

 

 

Edited February 4 by Ace-Garageguy

[Mark]

On 1/25/2025 at 5:36 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Sure. They're kinda horrible cars. I'm finishing up a complete rewire on one now, including a full custom instrument panel, and even if it hadn't been previously mangled by chimps, the OEM wiring would be almost as bad.

They don't make much power for the complexity of the engine, and they're kinda tail-happy due to being rear-engined (65% rear weight bias, where a comparable 911 is around 60%) rather than the originally proposed mid-engined. They're prone to overheating and a wide variety of other failure modes.

The urethane bumpers get warpy and wavy over time, and the bodies are almost impossible to repair and have the repair be undetectable.

On the positive side, the fiberglass structure and stainless steel skins don't rust, the Lotus-designed suspension works about as well as anyone could ask (from a handling standpoint), and they look cool.

How's that?   

 

I remember looking one over at one of those new car shows back in the day.  Easily the poorest quality of anything there, and that show may have included the short-lived VW Fox (window sticker on those had an added "body panel alignment charge".  Those cars weren't built in Germany or even Mexico, they were built by the boys from Brazil.

 

I heard about a DeLorean for sale.  The owner only drove it from time to time.  I'm here all week, folks...try the veal, and don't forget to tip your waitress!

Edited February 5 by Mark
Spelling

[Mark C.]

16 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Nope.

EDIT: Here's the build thread. I think the method is described...

 

 

Thanks, I skimmed through the entire thread a couple of times but didn’t hit on the details of the finish, other than your first trial pic.  I may have missed it (there’s a lot of text in that thread), so I’ll try again later when I have more time.  Nice build, by the way.

[Ace-Garageguy]

32 minutes ago, Mark C. said:

Thanks, I skimmed through the entire thread a couple of times but didn’t hit on the details of the finish, other than your first trial pic.  I may have missed it (there’s a lot of text in that thread), so I’ll try again later when I have more time.  Nice build, by the way.

Thanks. It's been so long, I'd forgotten whether I posted the technique or not.

First, it takes some trial and error to dial in the exact effect you want.

But basically it consists of getting a perfect coat of gray primer, no orange peel, sanded slick to at least 600 grit or so, and then carefully forming the "brushed" surface by stroking it with 320 grit (IIRC) sandpaper, dry, in ONE DIRECTION (particularly important on the DeLorean).

I had to use magnification to see that I had a uniform surface.

The final finish is achieved with silver-leaf Rub 'n Buff.

Again, it takes some care and experimentation, as you can easily fill and ruin the "brushed" surface if you get too froggy with it.

It's quite durable, though it will fingerprint if handled too aggressively.

I just looked at the Challenger model, and it has dulled somewhat over the years.

HOWEVER...I have a real DeLorean in the shop right now, and the finish on the Challenger model is pretty much identical to a real DeLorean that's been in the weather for a while.

NOTE: Keep in mind that the front and rear bumpers on a DeLorean are semi-flat silver-painted urethane, so to get exactly the right look you'll need to paint them with a very fine-grained silver metallic, not glossy, probably something from Tamiya.

 

 

Edited February 5 by Ace-Garageguy

[Mark C.]

2 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Thanks. It's been so long, I'd forgotten whether I posted the technique or not.

First, it takes some trial and error to dial in the exact effect you want.

But basically it consists of getting a perfect coat of gray primer, no orange peel, sanded slick to at least 600 grit or so, and then carefully forming the "brushed" surface by stroking it with 320 grit (IIRC) sandpaper, dry, in ONE DIRECTION (particularly important on the DeLorean).

I had to use magnification to see that I had a uniform surface.

The final finish is achieved with silver-leaf Rub 'n Buff.

Again, it takes some care and experimentation, as you can easily fill and ruin the "brushed" surface if you get too froggy with it.

It's quite durable, though it will fingerprint if handled too aggressively.

I just looked at the Challenger model, and it has dulled somewhat over the years.

HOWEVER...I have a real DeLorean in the shop right now, and the finish on the Challenger model is pretty much identical to a real DeLorean that's been in the weather for a while.

NOTE: Keep in mind that the front and rear bumpers on a DeLorean are semi-flat silver-painted urethane, so to get exactly the right look you'll need to paint them with a very fine-grained silver metallic, not glossy, probably something from Tamiya.

 

 

Wow! Thank you.  Would one find Rub ‘n’ Buff at a craft store?

[Ace-Garageguy]

42 minutes ago, Mark C. said:

Wow! Thank you.  Would one find Rub ‘n’ Buff at a craft store?

Yup.

[Mark C.]

👍🏻

[gwaltz1]

I just finished this kit painted with Tamiya light gunmetal. Disappointed that engine couldn’t be accessed but this kit fits together beautifully, really looks great when finished, doors even open and fit well when closed.