AB33 Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 (edited) Hi Everyone, Thanks for having me! I'm a total newbie to Britmodller or indeed posting models on any forum but this place seems to have some really high quality builders/artists. I want to improve my techniques so I'm here to learn from the best. I could quite easily just lurk on here, appreciating everyone's efforts but I've forced myself to post this in order to get better at this great hobby! Nothing like a bit of pressure to get the best out of ya! Like most, I stated modelling as a kid then had a short break of about 25 years. A few years ago, I got the Tamiya Williams FW14b 1/12 scale as a present. After such a long hiatus, I thought I best buy a couple of kits to remind myself what to do. I finished those over a couple of years then something clicked about a year ago and I've really got back into it. I've still not touched the Williams because I am a) scared and fully aware I don't yet have the technical ability to do the kit justice, or at least to the level I want. The great thing about coming back to modelling is being able to now buy all the cool kit that does make a big difference to the finish including airbrushes and really sharp knives which I wasn't allowed when I was 7. I mainly build cars as that's my interest but I do have some nice planes to build so I'll maybe do one of those next. So this is my fifth model since I started back and it's the fourth car. It's a Lotus Type 78 1977, Ronnie Peterson car. The kit is a Tamiya, which in my limited experience, are really easy to work with and excellently made. For painting, I used Tamiya TS-14 for the body with a (probably too thick) Zero paints 2pk lacquer gloss finish. I used Tamiya acrylics for all the parts that weren't metal. For all the metal parts, engine, gearbox, exhaust etc, I used various paints in the fantastic Alclad range. I did try to weather the exhaust with Alclad's 'manifold' paint as well. The photos are actually quite kind to the gloss black finish because I managed to get a good amount of dust under each layer. I have since read a great painting guide on here so I'm looking forward to using that on my next project. I'm still happy with the smoothness of the gloss, though I would say that's got a lot to do with how good the Zero paints system is. Anyway, feel free to make some constructive criticism as I am fully aware there is loads of work to be done yet! Edited March 10, 2018 by AB33 Spelling 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince1159 Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Beautifull job AB... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AB33 Posted March 10, 2018 Author Share Posted March 10, 2018 Thanks. I really enjoyed making it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BristolBlue Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Beautiful car of my favourite all time F1 driver. Super model of super swedes car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 What an IMPECCABLE,IMMACULATE and PRISTINE model.. looks very EFFULGENT and GORGEOUS in shiny black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triumphfan Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Looks very nice to me. Good build of a (now) very old kit. If you are looking to tone down the wet look appearance a bit, 2K clear is very hard wearing when fully cured and responds well to a wet sand with very fine wet or dry. (around 3200 grit) Polish back to gloss with T cut and wax polish to finish. This leaves a lovely shiny finish but tones down the 'super gloss' of 2 pack. I like your staining on the exhaust, you will soon be ready for that big Williams. Atb, Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AB33 Posted March 10, 2018 Author Share Posted March 10, 2018 Thanks Steve, yes, it's hard to get the right look of the gloss. It was my first go with the 2pk system and I think I just got excited by how shiny it was looking! But it's not very scale realistic. I have tried rubbing a finish down with micromesh and I wasn't happy with the result but, I think my technique needs more work. I use the Tamiya finishing polish kit which does seem to do a good job, but I guess it's all about leaving hte surface to dry for long enough and then not over doing it.... All part of the fun! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stringbag Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Excellent result. You can't beat a black and gold Lotus. Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikkita katana Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 That's a fine looking job of my all time favourite formula 1 car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Gorgeous job!! Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natter Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 What a finish, what a model. Gorgeous. I am thankful that F1 cars are so much safer now, but they'll never be as beautiful as they were back then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiny Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 I know just what you mean about coming back to the hobby and being able to make a better job now that you can afford (and are allowed) to buy the decent tools and paints. Not to mention age giving you the patience which was lacking age 10 or so. The car looks great and is a good advert for returnees everywhere - fantastic job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicarage Vee Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 That's a really nicely finished model. Which decal set did you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AB33 Posted March 19, 2018 Author Share Posted March 19, 2018 Thank you! The decals are in the Tamiya kit. Quite a few aren't used and there are choices as to who's version of the car you wanted to re-create (Peterson or Andretti) though due to the PC era we now live in, we aren't allowed to be given andy John Player Special logos! The Olympus decals on the side pods are not the best if I'm honest. They are one piece, inc the thin pinstripe line around the edge. Maybe I didn't do a good job of putting them on but they seemed a bit thick and didn't seem to sit well over the raised bolts/rivets, despite using micro sol and and micro set. I'm enjoying buying all the tools and learning the new techniques as I am actually building the things! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicarage Vee Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Ah, thank you. I hadn't realised that Tamiya had included 1978 decals in an issue of the kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Beautiful model of a classic racer, you've done a lovely job with the black paint as it's one of the most difficult to do. Just a tip, and this is no way putting your model down, if you can get the wheels off (I'm hoping poly caps) take some sand paper and just take the center seams off the tires, this gets rid of them but also puts a nice dull finish on the tyre as in the real thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AB33 Posted March 19, 2018 Author Share Posted March 19, 2018 Vicarage Vee, as far as I know, it's the 1977 car, named the Type 78. I know back then in GP racing, they would introduce new models of cars at odd times through the year and often used the same chassis with slight mods over a few years. Also, although there could be two cars in the team, they may have different sponsors etc. It was a much more interesting time of the sport! Colin, yes, I tried that and I just couldn't get the seams off. I've ordered a dremel and that's going to be one of the first jobs it will see action in. It was something my eye was drawn to and I'd love to come up with a great way of re-creating tyre wear, maybe some thinners?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicarage Vee Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 (edited) The Lotus 78 was indeed first raced in 1977 when Mario was partnered by Gunnar Nilsson. Ronnie rejoined Team Lotus for 1978 and the 78 was used for the opening rounds until Mario used the Lotus 79 in Belgium (after a brief debut appearance at Silverstone in The International Trophy) and both drivers used it from Spain onwards. The Olympus sponsorship started in Spain after which the 78 was used as a spare car when attrition took a toll of the 79 chasses. Ronnie drove the car as you have it in practice at Brands (albeit with JPS logos) and also in his final start at Monza (again with JPS livery). 78(2) was Ronnie's spare at Hockenheim where it would have been exactly as you so nicely depict it. Edited March 19, 2018 by Vicarage Vee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AB33 Posted March 19, 2018 Author Share Posted March 19, 2018 Awesome knowledge! I don't have it to hand but in the instructions, I think, this is the livery described at 'Qualifying for Silverstone'. Now you say all that, although it is described as a 1977 car on the box, it could well have been a Qualy car from another year, but then there's a story as to why it's not described as his race car.......... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicarage Vee Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 :-) too kind AB33! It would be British GP qualifying without the JPS that they carried in practice because they weren't on the telly then! Ronnie secured pole with his 79 but used the 78 on Friday I think. Ronnie was on Pole for the non-championship International Trophy at Silverstone back in the spring with the 78 but it had JPS livery in qualifying and pretty much just black and gold with union jack for the couple of laps he lasted in the race. Gosh. It was a loooong time ago now.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shood23 Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Fantastic work. That shine on the black, as many here know, is incredibly hard to get as good as that. Shaun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Jampton Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Great Model and a history lesson at the same time! Win win! Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 What an absolute beauty - very nicely done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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