No Laughing!!! First Custom 355!!

Ok I thought I post this in it's own thread because I am somewhat proud, but also disappointed it didn't turn out any better. Started off as a red/black UT 355 Spider. This is my FIRST attempt at repainting a model.
Came apart fairly easy. Getting the steering wheel back in and snapping into the column along with keeping it hooked to the front suspension so the wheels would turn with the steering wheel was a pain in the rear!!!
Also I had 2 screws left over--not sure where they bacl, but the model is tight and not loose anywhere. Next time I will take pics off each part as I remove it so I know where it goes back.
Do you guys cover up the front Ferrari symbol, Pininfarina side badges, rear Ferrari logo, etc?? I tryed to use painters tape to tape those over, but didn't work that well--just so small.. Anyway I sanded down the car, primed with white paint and sprayed the blue over that. Then sprayed a few coats of clear. Used flat black on the rear to give a Challenge grill look. At this point--Do you guys wet sand and buff the whole car? I just left it as is because I figured I would screw the paint up. Anyway--here it is!!
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that looks really good, i hope my first comes out that good, i like the challenge grill its one thing im putting on mine along with scuderia shields

 

It is just so difficult working with small pieces--I guess after a few I will get the hang of it. Anyone have paint procedures they would like to sahre. xactly how many coats, the sanding process, etc..That is my biggest goof--Not having a nice shiny paint coat..

 

Looks good! not bad.

 

Hi,Robbie
Looks awesome!!! not bad at all! The color just like Mike's F355.
But it seems a little bit waste to repaint a UT F355 spider.
My suggestion,you may use a HW F355 to do the repaint job.
About the emblems,you may buy some from ebay.
Hope you will keep going on this way of modification since you have made the 1st step.
Congratulation!!!!

 

I got the UT for $20 off Ebay--wasn't new in the box...

 

It's definitely nice, especially since it's your first one.

Check out the tutorials here http://www.briansmodelcars.com/tutorials/index and here http://italianhorses.net/Tutorials/tutorials.htm

Some helpful FChat threads

http://www.thebestemployee.com/forum/showthread.php?t=100500

http://www.thebestemployee.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50543

Lot of guys here have done amazing re-paints on their 1/18s.

BTW - I like the photo booth tutorial because I think one of the hardest things about taking pics of models is that the lighting (natural or flash) makes it really hard to fully appreciate the paint job.

 

Some great info there--THANKS!! jOE!!

 

Did you cover the colorcoat with a clearcoat?
metalic paint allways needs a clearcoat to make it shine.
Most bulders use on all their modells a clearcoat.

It also depends on the modell.
I build large older modells (at the moment a P3 in 1/12)
To make them look authentic, I never use a clearcoat on non metalic colors.

The numbers of layers depends on the color and the paint.
When you use a metalic, just get color deep and covering, that takes about 6 layers.
The clearcoat is a different matter.
After 3 coats(take time in between to let it dry a bit).
Give it a thicker layer, to make it shine(not to much otherwise its running).

Leave the modell for 3 days and buff it up, polishing away the toplayer of the clear and any imperfections, this way you'll bring out the perfect shine and completion of the procedure.

I must say, for a first try your modell looks good!
No detail is lost, and the surface is without any imperfections.

After 20 years of building, now and then I mess up being impatient now and then. But no worry metal and resin modells can be cleaned to start over again.

 

Nice work! I like the color.

 

Thanks for the info!! It is a metallic color and yyes I sprayed 2 coats of clear on it..

 

Where?? Any links ??

 

http://stores.ebay.de/AMS-AUTO-MODELL-SHOW_MODELLAUTO-DECALS-1-18_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZQ2d1QQfsubZ15QQftidZ2QQtZkm

You may get the decals from this store.
He also got lots of Ferrari CH decals for modification.
Go for it and bring more custom cars for us.

 

robbie for your first time that thing turned out spectacular!

my first paint job was horrible lol, i wrote off the model and now use it for parts!

i tried it on a 1:18 murcielago i got at a toy factory sale for 7 dollars, needless to say urs looks great...

 

Only saw a few CH decal sets--And I can't read German...Anyone want to translate?

 

Rob,


Could you give step-by-step instructions on taking apart a UT spider?

I have one i may paint.

Thanks.

 

It is actually fairly straight forward---When you flip it over--you will see screws--Remove all of them---I only had to drill out 2 parts if I remember correctly to get it all to come apart. Once you start taking the screws out--You will see which parts need to be drilled out and will not come apart easily..My next will be a HW model and I heard they are the toughest to get apart...

 

285 dude.

I've got a bunch of decals for your model if you like.
I had em' custom made when I was in the painting model business a while back. a set of decals includes; bonnet badge and 2 fender shields.
They are meant for 1/18 models, and you need to put em' in water to make it work. so if you'd like a couple of sets just let me know and I'll send em' out to you!

Cheers

 

Paul--PM sent..

 

Got it

Sending out some decals for you on Monday

 

Robbie,

Good job man! Turned out much better than I was expecting! I like the challenge grill job!


Robert

 

Awesome--Paul--you are the MAN!!

 

I did buy the Ferrari emblem decals from this store.
You may ask him for the detail even it's not listed on his auctions.
It's ok to communicate in English.

 

sounds good--message sent to him..

 

Just got a HW 355 GTS --- the put together one---would like to do it a different color. How do you guys paint around the Pininfarina and front Fcar logo?? Very small pieces of tape?? How do you sand the model down and ready it for paint w/o sanding off those badges??