Tamiya Peugeot & Opel Astra

Hi All,

I started building these 2 cars prior to joining this site. Only ever built 2 cars before these and I have been trying hard to do a good job this time. Been getting some great tips from this site.

This weekend I am planning to start painting the bodies and windows - I am feeling quite nervous about this as the process is critical to creating a good looking model. This part of the building has been my weakness. The 2 models I have already built look lowsy compared to what I see you guys posting on this site .

Getting this right this time will be a big confidence boost.

Here is the before and I will post the after - no matter the outcome.

welcome here mate,for first 2 they look great.

They're looking good cg. Don't fret mate. You are supposed to be enjoying building models. It's about enjoying the build and pleasing YOURSELF not others. If others are pleased in the process then so be it! Don't be too hard on yourself.

who cares about other peoples opinion as thats wot it is there opinion-not yours hell ive built heaps of cars the way other people had said it should look like and in the end i didnt really feel as if i built it as for maken em look as good as possable wot you can do is wots possable at the end of the day its your car you do with it as you like mate and thats only my opinion as for ya cars awsome i didnt know they did one for the opel so well done so far and they look good mate

TomA wrote:They're looking good cg. Don't fret mate. You are supposed to be enjoying building models. It's about enjoying the build and pleasing YOURSELF not others. If others are pleased in the process then so be it! Don't be too hard on yourself.

Good points Tom ,I agree whole heartedly.
The only other points/advice I'll add are:treat each part of the build as a seperate model ie engine then interior then chassis and then the body ,the other is I've found by posting my builds on the forum I'm trying harder and being more picky with my own workl. but thats where you have to becareful and say to yourself am I doing this for me or to impress everyone else?

Hi Guys,

Thanks for comments.

Made it through painting the bodies with car lacquer paint without to much stressing . They are drying at the moment and look quite good for my first attempt with this type of paint. Not 100% happy though and wondering how I am going to paint the tiny details over the lacquer paint. I am used to using Tamiya acrylic for details but sure this won't work over lacquer.

Can't say the body painting was that enjoyable this time around as I find the spray rattle cans a bit hard to control - plus got a headache now from the fumes . I guess practice makes perfect but I am more confident with my air brush which I use mostly.

As for the windows they are even if I say so myself.

Will post photos later today when everything is dry properly.

CU

doorslammerfan wrote:

TomA wrote:They're looking good cg. Don't fret mate. You are supposed to be enjoying building models. It's about enjoying the build and pleasing YOURSELF not others. If others are pleased in the process then so be it! Don't be too hard on yourself.

Good points Tom ,I agree whole heartedly.
The only other points/advice I'll add are:treat each part of the build as a seperate model ie engine then interior then chassis and then the body ,the other is I've found by posting my builds on the forum I'm trying harder and being more picky with my own workl. but thats where you have to becareful and say to yourself am I doing this for me or to impress everyone else?

Good advise (Thanks DSF and TOM) and I can see what you mean about being picky with ones own work. Not looking to impress others more like being challenged to improve my own work and using others work as a measure of progress. Improving is probably going to be a never ending process, which is yet another great aspect about this hobby.

Getting feed back is real helpful.

boothy wrote: who cares about other peoples opinion as thats wot it is there opinion-not yours hell ive built heaps of cars the way other people had said it should look like and in the end i didnt really feel as if i built it as for maken em look as good as possable wot you can do is wots possable at the end of the day its your car you do with it as you like mate and thats only my opinion as for ya cars awsome i didnt know they did one for the opel so well done so far and they look good mate

Your right about being satisfied doing what you can do - plus in my case I only got limited time to spend on this hobby. The Model u mention is an Opel Astra V8 coupe Tamiya brand and can highly reccomend this kit - nice details, fit, clean parts, opening doors etc...

They look great mate Your other ones were good too, dont get too down on yourself

think of paint types as a pole of sorts Acryllics cover all so they go at the top Enamels can only cover Laquers so they go in the middle and Laquers have to go on the bottom cause they dont cover anything unless you've been really lucky because nine times out of ten they'll wrinke up and crack on you.
Most of us have limited time between family ,work and anything else, I choose not to watch any tv so spend that time onthe forums or building

Thanks DSF,

Is it correct then that I can paint the details in acrylic or enamel over the Lacquer?

I am prefering acrylic to be honest as it drys quickly, Also I have more control using my air brush, it's easly to cleanup, easy to remove if it stuffs up, can mix it easily, less fumes and mess. Just generally feel more comfortable using acrylic - I guess we all got our preferences.

I hardly watch TV also - prefer to send spare time modeling or playing guitar. TV good though to put me to sleep.

i find that Humbrol enamels will go over just about anything

cgmorg wrote:Thanks DSF,

Is it correct then that I can paint the details in acrylic or enamel over the Lacquer?

I am prefering acrylic to be honest as it drys quickly, Also I have more control using my air brush, it's easly to cleanup, easy to remove if it stuffs up, can mix it easily, less fumes and mess. Just generally feel more comfortable using acrylic - I guess we all got our preferences.

I hardly watch TV also - prefer to send spare time modeling or playing guitar. TV good though to put me to sleep.

Its always worked for me. Just try in on a piece of scrap /sprue or if you dont really have any the bottom of an interior tub or top of the chassis that the tub covers.
Personally I dont really like acrylics and never had much luck with them so tend to use auto laquer on almost everything and touchup/detail work with the little tamiya enamels. Although warhammer acrylics are really good for whitewalls (skull white).