55 Bad Boy Dragster....weathering project

Since I am really bad at this car modeling stuff....I needed to build entire suspension and undercarriage before priming....some parts did not fit, so I ended up making them fit....

 I am always eager to jump the gun, so I slapped some tires and the body onto the frame to get a visual....looking sweet(ha) I trimmed out the fender well, and added some damage(to be rusted out later).....

 A coat of rust colored paint.....I forgot to gloss coat this layer...it is important before you do the salt layer to protect the rust when you clean off salt

 stippled some different shades of rust colored paint, added some blue masking liquid to a spot or two....hairspray, then coarse and fine salt...still trying to perfect that...it is difficult to get the placement just right...but practice and reps make it easier....

 Also did a bunch of the other car parts...engine, and rims...

 this is the mocked up engine...I took all the paint off the valve cover on the right of the photo...so I had to slap new paint on to cover the yellow plastic...this is why you put the protection coat on...save you from errors like this

 on the engine I added some oil grime weathering liquid mixed with baking soda to try and produce a engine block that had been around awhile and had been hammered on a bit...should have added some black to the mix, but got the desired look to a point

 did the same to the rear end pumpkin...baking soda and rust colored weathering liquid....

 they call the process of using the baking soda and liquid weathering...3D weathering...because it stands out...this spot was one of my attempts on the body

 this side shot shows where I cut the frame away, and added the 3D effects to show extreme rusting

 Here she is...complete..so to speak...I lost parts in a 2 foot move from spray table to work bench...I don't know how I do it...but I always do

 I added some weathering powders to finish up the job...after I put the liquid weathering solution on(and a few coats of matte finish)...it adds a bit more depth and is kinda fun to mess with...


I learned a ton on this kit...my first attempt at vehicle weathering....the thing I really enjoyed was watching each layer of work bring life to a yellow hunk of plastic....It is a true pleasure to create...it does not have to be a master piece each time out...it should just be fun...I think I swore at myself the least of any kit I have built...so I must be doing something right...or at least starting to

Liam's Lego creation

pilot cockpit

 My 11 year old son Liam built this Mecha Suit....he has had several creative ideas, and I have been lax on taking pictures and sharing them...this was a recent build right before he turned 11...

Today is his birthday...So Happy Birthday Liam...keep the creativity coming...

front

back

50 Olds...one big learning curve...

Started with some suspension parts...thought I could paint them and assemble...it worked ok...because I did some test fitting...and the big mistake here was not using the proper glue when it came time to put it together

rear end and cross memeber

front end attached and sprayed

I built the front end and painted it attached to the frame of the car...I added the rear end after it was painted..I could have built it all then sprayed...but was not sure...Now I know....I test fit it on the interior frame...before painting frame......I next built most of the engine, fit it, and glued into place...because that is what the directions said...I was not really liking the order, but tried to follow the game plan

Test fit engine, and mounted it

frame and under frame

 Well...I was also working on my 55...so it got in the stream of photos...this will be in a different blog...but I was building the interior on the 50 here...not a great fit...and this being my 3rd car and first skill level 3...my not knowing what to do...showed...and some messy work found its way into the build

parts...freaking parts..

Tamiya Bronze

 I broke a whole lot of little parts trying to de-chrome  and sand and be cute...so...I left off a bunch of parts...I was very bummed...because I had a grand idea for the kit

I was a bit too excited as I tried to spray my chrome molding, and a did not let paint cure long enough..I got some tape residue...and some paint peeled off....but I was pretty happy with the results...even with the mess.....I learned I am very impatient, and need to chill...these cars take glue...unlike a gundam...which I love because of that fact...I learned if you are impatient, start a second kit to keep you busy(55)....

Car builders are pretty darn awesome modelers, I salute them...they make it look so easy...but it is a learned skill, much like Gundams, tanks, planes...what have you....I am not a Gundam expert by any stretch...but I can see the value in crossing over the modeling world to learn and build up skills...I still have my Sword to start...and in a future post...I will post up pics of the back log...and future projects..

50 Olds...and Sword Impulse....projects on the table

With the completion of the Junk Yard Dog FuKu....I cleaned up the hobby area for a new Project....It was going to be a 55 chevy monogram kit...but the parts were outta whack, and I put the body in a puddle of glue and melted the roof...So I shelved that for the time being and decided to go with the 50 Olds

Clean work space...Means....New Project

50 Olds

This kit is only the 3rd car model I have even tried to build since the early 80's....this skill level 3 kit has 197 parts... for me that is a lot of stuff to mess up...with Gundams....there is not a lot of gluing and sticky stuff...you weld parts with a light glue...I tried the welding on a few parts on the trashed 55...they were gooey and gummy and never cured...so I had to use my testors get you high glue...on the Olds...I have a few parts together...and will post stuff up in a future blog....It is going to be slow going...Fennie and I agreed to to do our very best on these car kits.... Hopefully he will post up his cars and a few of his Gundam builds in the near future...

Sword Impulse

 My Next Gundam will be the Sword Impulse....I am going to break plastic once I get all of my car parts sanded and ready for primer and paint....I am going to really have a Sword vibe for this kit, because one of my favorite bands...The Sword....check them out  http://swordofdoom.com/  will be giving me some rocking vibes....and good tunes and a good vibe make for good modeling....just saying

Later Dudes...

Junkyard dog FUKU

the FUKU...or the FitchenFOO kits bought by Fennie...

I was very happy that Fennie gave me one of his Zaku's that he purchased from the Foo.

It gave me an opportunity to try my hand at some weathering.

Captain America Who?...IT's FUKU..JYD

rust paint and stipple...with wash 

 I started off by taking the kit apart...it was prebuilt, and needed some sanding and touch ups.....Then I painted the parts a rust color, and added some stipple effects and a wash of brown/rust color

 next I did the salt technique...after painting a coat of acrylic clear and letting it dry...I coated the parts in hair spray...then coarse and fine grain salt and let dry

 then hit it with a few coats of my chosen color

salt rubbed off

salt applied after mentioned steps

these two photos show the before and after process...the left hand photo shows the part with salt...the above right hand shows after the paint was applied and salt removed....

Below we have two photos of the legs inner skeleton and outer parts...each part was done individually and sprayed with color of my  scheme

 The photo below shows the left side foot after my wash of a 10-1 thinned smoke wash...it is subtle  but I thought tied it all together nicely...I also used some blue masking gel  in the weathering process...I painted it on before I added the salt(let it dry completely before adding salt)

 the head unit I had a few issues with the clear shield not fitting over the mono eye...so I left it off

 I added some liquid weather solutions to get the dark rust on the thrusters and power cables...

I finished up with some weathering powders...

and this is what I got....

I learned that you just have to go with it...and try to do things the way you think they should be done...don't worry about right and wrong...Just have fun...learn...and get better each time you set up the modeling mat.................Skendo out...until the next time...questions, comments, critique welcomed.......

FUKU Junkyard Dog...full monty...coming soon

Complete build write up with plenty of pictures...coming SOON!!!!!

FUKU Junkyard Dog

40 Willys RatRod

bare plastic to start the show

 Got the 40 Willys for Christmas...and was in the middle of a Gundam Build...so I shelved it and waited
Once I got time...I hit with some primer(Nato black) because I had none at the time

Nato Black

Metallic Gray

 Then I hit with Metallic Gray...

Polly Maroon

Then a shot of polly maroon...the pic the paint is still wet...

Then I added Gloss red, and a silver hi-light (to hood only )

I sprayed the car Red..and hilighted the hood with silver...a practice at masking....
Then the weathering process began...I used lacquer thinner and dabbed off a few of the paint coats with a paper towel...some of the towel stuck in spots, but I left it....then I used Citadel brown and black washes...several coats each...in some spots I took off to much so I touched up with a dry brush and some metallic gray...I used some oil based paint for grease smudges and more rust....

Before dull coat

I completed kit, and hit with some Citadel dull coat I had laying around...the pic below has been dull coated, but looks like it is not....due to camera and the angles and lighting...all pics were done with my Iphone...

Added some of the non weathered parts, and the cool grill that came with the kit....I paint the chrome parts black for most of the engine, I was going to do rims as well...but decided against...still might turn them black

photo box pic...

 I took a handful of shots in the photo box...using the iphone , I did not get to tweak...my computer is not working well or I would have done some image adjustments...maybe in the Future

Zeon RatRod

a nice top view of my vision of a RatRod

This is only the 2nd car model I have built in a LONG TIME...learned a bit...had fun with the weathering...and kinda just did my own thing...and that is a major factor in modeling...fun, experimentation, and a half way descent result...

I might post up a few more pics of the other side of the car, and a few close ups...and maybe not...you get the jest of it