WIP (sort of): Open Interface Tom's Lexus SC430

I've wanted to do a WIP on this project but couldn't since my camera broke and wouldn't focus correctly. :banghead: Well I borrowed another camera and I thought I'd show you all what I have so far, even though I'm almost done. I will be building the Tamiya Open Interface Tom's SC430. I'm also using a S27 PE set, and some S27, SMS and Modelers CF decals. I'm just going for a nice, clean curbside build. The level of detail is horrible and very un-Tamiya like, even when compared to their other curbside JGTC kits. :shakehead

Picture of the box:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/Open%20Interface%20SC430/tamiya013.jpg

Windows painted, grill PE meshed and CFed, rear wing CFed
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/Open%20Interface%20SC430/sc430005.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/Open%20Interface%20SC430/sc430006.jpg

Shot of the completed wheel with PE brake disc.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/Open%20Interface%20SC430/sc430010.jpg

Some pictures of the cockpit, the level of detail in this kit is terribly low. I spiced it up with some CF and photoetch belts. I covered the back of the seat with SMS kevlar decals but you can't see it. :shakehead
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/Open%20Interface%20SC430/sc430013.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/Open%20Interface%20SC430/sc430009.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/Open%20Interface%20SC430/sc430007.jpg

Body is primed with Dupli-color white sandable, then sanded with 800 grit sandpaper. Washed and dried over night, and then sprayed with Tamiya TS-30 silver leaf. The kit calls for TS-76 Mica Silver, but my LHS doesn't have any. Regardless, I think it looks alright. I sprayed 1 mist coat, 1 medium coat after 10 minutes, and a heavy coat after a couple of hours.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/Open%20Interface%20SC430/sc430001.jpg

I will mask off and paint the red stripe tomorrow. Before I leave, some mockup shots:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/Open%20Interface%20SC430/sc430016.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/Open%20Interface%20SC430/sc430015.jpg

Comments and critisms welcome! :)

Dramatic! Looking good :)

Very nice! Cant wait to see it finished. Ive been thinking of getting one of these kits, theyll look pretty good. Really like the wheels, me want :)

Well, disaster struck. :runaround:

After painting the red stripe on the bottom, I waited overnight to apply the clear. I used Duplicolor Acrylic Laquer clear and it melted the silver paint! :banghead: Dunno why but it didn't affect the red. Do I have to strip the paint completely, or can I just repaint the silver and red over it?

To prevent future disasters, what kind of clears are safe to use? Should I just stick to TS-13?

Too bad!! You can save it though, soak it in brake fluid and scrub. Might take a couple of tries though. I use Mr. Hobby clear laquer. Doesn't craze alot of paints and decals so I assume it's not too "hot" Still lay it on in mist coats though. C'mon mate, strip the paint off and try again!:wink:

Try soaking in it in 91%(or higher) Alcohol. Alchohol strips most laquers and is less toxic than brake fluid. It works in an hour or two on Duplicolor. Stick with Tamiya's Clear over their paints. I like TS-17 Gloss Aluminum for all silver cars. Silver leaf is to much like bare metal, not the Silver a car body is painted in.

Thanks 935k3, I will try that. Any kind of isopropyl alcohol from the drug store is ok?

I couldn't decide on what paint to get since my hobby store didn't carry anything above TS-55. :shakehead I settled on the TS-30 because I had some lying around from a previous project. I will grab some alcohol and TS-17 tomorrow and try again.

Also, do you think it would be better if I painted the red stripe on the bottom first before spraying the silver? It would mean a ton less masking.

Very nice! Cant wait to see it finished. Ive been thinking of getting one of these kits, theyll look pretty good. Really like the wheels, me want :)
It certainly is a nice looking car, but I wouldn't pay regular MSRP for it because of the lack of interior detail. But they have good deal at mshobbies (http://www.mshobbies.com/servlet/Detail?no=710) for $30, and it makes for a good easy weekend build (or so I thought :banghead:), so I said why not. It will look great sitting in my display case, and nobody looks inside the car anyways. :p

Thanks 935k3, I will try that. Any kind of isopropyl alcohol from the drug store is ok?

It has to be 91%, regular is only 70%

Paint is stripped and primed.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/Open%20Interface%20SC430/sc430019.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/Open%20Interface%20SC430/sc430020.jpg

Got the right paints this time.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/Open%20Interface%20SC430/sc430022.jpg

Ready for round 2. Hope I have better luck this time around.

Thanks to 935k3 for the advice. :)

Glad to help, just remember to clear the silver within a half hour or so or let dry a couple of weeks ,because waiting longer their have been some cracking issues with Tamiya clear over their paints. Also apply the clear lightly at first because putting it on too wet refloats the metal particles in the silver and makes it look bad. Also a light but solid coat of the silver is better than a heavy coat.

Also if you didn't paint it yet, don't paint the red on top of the silver as it will be a little darker than the decals. Nice progress.

Great work, I love it!

Glad to help, just remember to clear the silver within a half hour or so or let dry a couple of weeks ,because waiting longer their have been some cracking issues with Tamiya clear over their paints. .

Could you spray a coat of clear after half an hour, decal after 24 hours and then spray a few more coats of clear after a few days without cracking issues?

Thanks for the helpful tips guys. :) MidMazar, I saw your build of the same kit and it is fantastic, if mine turn out half as nice I will be happy.

I sprayed the red yesterday and will mask off and do the silver and clear tomorrow if it's not raining like it did today. I'm crossing my fingers hoping that it turns out good this time.

Could you spray a coat of clear after half an hour, decal after 24 hours and then spray a few more coats of clear after a few days without cracking issues?
Yes I have cleared over the clear the next day so it should be OK. I think it's only when the Clear is applied over other colors. Here is a Link to an article from Tamiya America on using their Synthetic Laquers.
http://www.tamiyausa.com/articles/feature.php?article-id=35

Some progress...

Sprayed the red, followed by the silver and then cleared and rubbed with tamiya fine compound. Masking was done with Tamiya tape, except for the front aerodynamic pieces are masked with Mr. Masking Sol. Window frames are masked and painted, and I attempted to darken the panel lines with a thinned black wash. The red decals and gold stripes are applied, quality Cartograf decals makes the job easy. Almost done now.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/Open%20Interface%20SC430/b52abebd.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/Open%20Interface%20SC430/475b0400.jpg

great job
your car looks fantastic
i think i'm gonna buy this model
keep up the good work

Car is done!

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/davezilla17/Open%20Interface%20SC430/63eb3943.jpg

Completed thread coming soon.

EDIT: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=5569118#post5569118