Porsche 993 - GT2 COMPLETE!

So it took a little time to wait for the paint and clear to completely harden before I started polishing, but finally have it all done!

I really like the way this one turned out. The paint and clear all wound up nice and flat.

The color isn't obnoxious like some of the newer GT cars, and it just looks understated, yet aggressive.

This one just went together with the usual ease of a Tamiya kit. Really no fitting issues, and with just some careful application of accent color, it really came out nice.

The gold accent on the wheels is a nice touch, and again, adds just enough color for visual interest.

The rollcage is a brighter shade of silver so it stands out a little bit, and the seats are bright blue with red 5-point safety harnesses. Hard to photograph through the side "glass" but adds just some color to the interior.
Had to add a Michigan license plate to finish it off. And I am glad that Michigan is a state that doesn't require you to run a front plate. I just think it ruins the lines of some really great cars to have this big, flat, add-on piece so you can stick a license plate out there.

You can see the seat colors a little bit from this one.

 

Already started the next one, and have been sitting on it for a while too.
Actually started it some time again, and recently changed my mind on the color.

It's going to be red..... stay tuned....

Completed Model Storage

So the question was posed to me, just where I store all of my completed models.

Simple, IKEA. More precisely some of the storage/china cabinets that they offer.

First off I have three of these.
They are the Detlof. Glass on all 4 sides, and 3 glass shelves.
Not entirely air-tight, they do require an occasional dusting to keep everything clean.

This one is little "washed out" as it is right next to the basement walkout door.

Lots of light coming in that day.

 

I actually have three of these all lined up next to each other.

Makes for a pretty nice "display wall".

I also have this other one, that is a little older, and has been carted around with me a couple of places.

It is also an Ikea, but I don't remember the kind. I think the even stopped making them.
This one only has glass panels on three sides, and also came with three glass shelves.
Once I had a permanent home, and started building in earnest, that one was quickly outgrown.
So I drilled some holes, and added some plexi-glass shelves in between the glass ones.
A couple of them sag a little bit from being a little too wide, and I bowed them to get them to fit.

I still have one more if the Detlof's in the box for when I need it.

So that's also pretty much a sneak peek of the entire completed collection.

 

 

 

More work on the Porsche GT2

Just a quick camera phone shot of the body mocked up on the completed chassis and interior.  Still lots of little bits to get sorted out, but definitely starting to take shape.

Porsche GT2 quick update

Managed to get a little bit of work done over the weekend.
Got the engine, suspension and chassis all put together.

I just love the ease with which these Tamiya kits go together.
Also just enough detail, in just the right places to make everything look believable when it all comes together.

Moving on to the interior next.....

Next Project - Porsche 911 GT2

So this is one that has been in my "stash" for a long time, and am a little excited to start on this one.
I have done one before, but it was the full race version, where-as this one is the road version.

Couldn't wait, and had to open the box. Now I need to re-organize my work area, and make sure I have the space to lay everything out.
A little stumped as to what color would look best on this one.
I like the white, but I have a Porsche 959 in the collection already that is all white.
Hmmm.... might have to think about this one for a while.

Not a whole lot of info to be found on the correct colors.

This generation was known internally as the 993 model. The last of the air-cooled porsches.
Originally based on the 911 Turbo, this version removes the all-wheel drive system in order to meet racing homologation rules. Creating a significantly lighter overall vehicle. The final year, 1998, the power output was up-rated to 450 HP. In car that weighs only 2850 lbs.

So it weighs about the same as a Honda Accord, but has more than double the horsepower!!

Here's a quick picture of it's track only sibling, decked out in Taisan livery.

Could have used another coat of clear, but I kind of liked the "stickers" look of all the sponsors.

I am anticipating progress on this newest one will be a little slow, as I want to do it justice. Though once I have a color selected, at least it will start to look like it is moving.

Busy, busy weekend

So the weekend itself wasn't busy, but I managed to carve out some good chunks of time, and got several more customized Hot Wheels done....

Hope you enjoy.

First off is a simple wheels swap. Had an orange Kombi (okay I have several, but this was the first one I opened up.) Added some "Real Rider" rubber tires. A little detail painting on the engine and surfboards, and it was back together.

Next was a little more involved. This one is a complete repaint. Flat military green and flat black.
Swapped the wheels and used the off-road looking ones from the custom Jungle Crawler from a while back.

 Did some extra detailing on the back where the surfboards and engine are.

Thought that one came out pretty well....

Next was a late model corvette that I had stripped the paint off, and wasn't sure what to do.
So I decided to try metal polishing it!
Worked better than the photo shows. Looks pretty close to being chrome finished.

Only problem is that a chrome finish is hard to photograph on a grey overcast day.

Next I decided that this one had a good body shape that would compliment the color/colors.
I painted this Honda S2000 using House of Kolor Chameleon paint. It shifts from green to copper.

Again, a hard color to photograph.

So this one is plenty easy to photograph.
Started as a Dodge Challenger Drift Car.
Just a nice custom mixed lime green color, and experimenting with my airbrush a little.

Painted the hood flat black along with the wing, and detailed the headlights and tailpanel, and that was about it for this one.

Next was one of two 65 Mustangs that I had removed all the paint from.

I liked the orange and black combination from a Kombi a little while ago and thought it would look good on this one.

Once I got it almost together, I decided that I didn't like the orange chrome wheels that it came with, so found these nice 5 spokes, with a chrome lip. Thought it all tied together nicely.

A little detail for the lights, bumpers, and few small bits and this one was done too!


Ahhh... the 62' Corvette.
I was very excited when I saw that this casting was coming out, and really like the teal color that Hot Wheels is issuing them in, but decided something a little more "classic" might look good too.

So metallic black with silver coves I feel really compliments the body lines. The oversized and low profile wheels add to an aggressive feel on this one.

So the next one, I had to go even more classic looking.

Red with white coves. Just the way Chevrolet would have offered them.

And since I had a "donor" laying around. I decided to use some Real Riders white wall tires for this one. Now that looks classic.

And lastly.... I still had one more 65 Mustang Fastback.

So why not....

A Hertz GT350 tribute. Shelby made a run of these black with gold stripe cars specifically for the Hertz rental car company back in the 60's.

The called it their "rent-a-racer" program. Came with all the Shelby high performance goodies. Thought there are stories that more than a few of them were returned with regular Ford parts where Shelby had made the upgrades.

The real riders tires are not quite the same shade of gold, but I decided to go with it, rather than repainting the rims. I also like the Goodyear lettering on the sidewalls. Adds that "racing" feel.

So it looks like I got a lot done this weekend, but to be fair, most of them were already disassembled and in primer already. Just needed to decide what I was doing with them.