Revell z8, staggered BBS

[zak78]

Hey everyone,

So I just finished this and haven't totally cleaned it yet. Just wanted to post some pics, finally! The whole thing was a learning experience. Prior to this, I couldn't lay down a decent paint job, couldn't flock, couldn't use BMF or photoetch...well you get the picture. Basically, I didn't know how to build a model car! This thing took long to build because I kept having to redo what I'd already done.

Oops, cat fur.

I could smack Revell for not making a symmetrical front plate. That's ok though...First time I ever used decals anyway.

Just a curbside, nothing special. Lots of home-made parts though.

Thanks for looking. Comments and criticisms welcome :wave:

Nick

Edited April 9, 2011 by zak78

[my80malibu]

That is just a Wonderful looking car.

[Erik Smith]

Great looking build. Your persistence paid off.

[Canuk]

Very nice!

The paint is fantastic and your interior detailing skill are spot on.

[oldscool]

Nice work!

gus

[Monty]

Very impressive, given your list of things you weren't able to do previously. If, as you say, it was a learning experience, then you must be a very quick learner. Kudos also for not letting yourself be satisfied with "good enough".

Can I assume you learned what you needed from the board's tutorials or some of its more helpful members? I like the way the interior came out, but that mirror-like black paint really makes it stand out. Just out of curiosity, did you happen to use the "Norbie method"?

I bought this kit several years ago after seeing the real car featured on Top Gear. I was extremely disappointed to discover Revell had inexplicably released it as a curbside kit, so I pretty much lost all enthusiasm for building it. Congratulations on a great build. I'm looking forward to seeing your next project.

Edited April 10, 2011 by Monty

[peter31a]

Wow! That's your first build in that long? Wow! Great work! Makes me afraid to go back to the bench. You are to be commended for the patience to pull that off on your first build in a long time. Again Kudos!

[zak78]

Thanks everyone! Haha, Dave probably thought I'd never finish this thing.

Very impressive, given your list of things you weren't able to do previously. If, as you say, it was a learning experience, then you must be a very quick learner. Kudos also for not letting yourself be satisfied with "good enough".

Can I assume you learned what you needed from the board's tutorials or some of its more helpful members? I like the way the interior came out, but that mirror-like black paint really makes it stand out. Just out of curiosity, did you happen to use the "Norbie method"?

I bought this kit several years ago after seeing the real car featured on Top Gear. I was extremely disappointed to discover Revell had inexplicably released it as a curbside kit, so I pretty much lost all enthusiasm for building it. Congratulations on a great build. I'm looking forward to seeing your next project.

Hey Monty,

I discovered this board just a few months ago, but the people on here have been incredibly helpful. The real challenge, getting the paint to look right, was a lot of trial and error. What's the "Norbie method?" The paint is Tamiya rattle-can, 3 coats of color...first coat of clear sprayed when the black was still wet. Baked it for 24 hours in the dehydrator, then cut it down with 4k grit. Leveled it out with 8k, then brought out the shine with the three levels of Tamiya polish.

[crazyjim]

Gorgeous paint.

[MikeMc]

Norbie method....low psi...10 lbs, super thin paint, shoot multiple coats up close.....

I think it looks great!! B)

[Mike Kucaba]

Looks great!! Like you've been building for years

[Tony T]

Very nice!

[CEKPETHO BCE]

Oh wow that paintjob looks freakin' awesome.

Just out of curiosity, how was the kit? Was it difficult to make? Any problems with it? I have always liked the Z8. Thinking of getting that kit.

[horsepower]

You're BACK! & in black at that! great build, black is truly one of the hardest colors to get "right" even in full scale. I learned a tip from a

"master painter" when I was doing the full size cars that works well on our "babies" not only on black, but best on solids {not metallics/pearls). After you get a good coverage with the main color, make each following coat with more thinner, less color, & add clear, then add the last couple of passes with clear & thinner to get a surface you can polish. This will result in those three foot deep paint jobs, works especially good on Blank & Red.

[zak78]

Oh wow that paintjob looks freakin' awesome.

Just out of curiosity, how was the kit? Was it difficult to make? Any problems with it? I have always liked the Z8. Thinking of getting that kit.

The kit itself is shaped right, but very frustrating. I have enough spare parts to make at least one more Z8, so if you're serious about building one, I can pack together a kit and send it to you for free.

The suspension is too high, the seats are uneven (which is why I used racing seats), the body has to be bent crazily to fit the interior tub inside, and so on. It's definitely a challenge.

You're BACK! & in black at that! great build, black is truly one of the hardest colors to get "right" even in full scale. I learned a tip from a

"master painter" when I was doing the full size cars that works well on our "babies" not only on black, but best on solids {not metallics/pearls). After you get a good coverage with the main color, make each following coat with more thinner, less color, & add clear, then add the last couple of passes with clear & thinner to get a surface you can polish. This will result in those three foot deep paint jobs, works especially good on Blank & Red.

Thanks for the tips I don't have an airbrush or spraygun yet, so I'm still messing with rattle-cans.

[CEKPETHO BCE]

The kit itself is shaped right, but very frustrating. I have enough spare parts to make at least one more Z8, so if you're serious about building one, I can pack together a kit and send it to you for free.

The suspension is too high, the seats are uneven (which is why I used racing seats), the body has to be bent crazily to fit the interior tub inside, and so on. It's definitely a challenge.

Thanks for the tips I don't have an airbrush or spraygun yet, so I'm still messing with rattle-cans.

That would be awesome.

Oh and I also still use the rattle-cans. I have an air brush, but not enough skill to use it. I got one of the cheaper ones and gave up after a few experiments gone wrong. One day I will learn... one day.

[Jim Gibbons]

That is sweet! Paint, interior, wheels; everything. Fantastic work. I've lusted after these cars after I saw a 1:1 at Lime Rock in silver/red interior when they first came out.

[robertw]

Nothing wrong with redoing things when they don't turn out the way you wanted. And in this case whatever you had to return turned out well because this is a beautiful job. You made all the right choices.

robw

[zak78]

That is sweet! Paint, interior, wheels; everything. Fantastic work. I've lusted after these cars after I saw a 1:1 at Lime Rock in silver/red interior when they first came out.

Nothing wrong with redoing things when they don't turn out the way you wanted. And in this case whatever you had to return turned out well because this is a beautiful job. You made all the right choices.

robw

Thanks guys! I had the same reaction to the real car when I first saw it. I snuck into the factory on an owners' tour, and got to see some guys with hammers who were pounding the body panels into shape. Probably drooling, I hung back from the crew of unimpressed rich snobs, which eventually got me kicked out