bertiebeetle

After recieving pictures of Tamiya Beetles that are available in my first thread I have bought one! Just waiting for it to arrive. It's one of these...



And I'm hoping to make it into a Herbie
I need to start with getting some paint and stickers though. Does anyone know if there are a few shades of white & off-white colours so I can try and get one the same as the real Herbie?

p.s. can't wait for it to arrive!!

Carl

Kyo83

iTrader: (3)

I'm sure tamiya or pactra has the colors you'll need. You can get them at www.Towerhobbies.com Good luck on your project. Show us photos when its done.

snoopyrc

iTrader: (2)

I used Sprint white on mine, but the original Herbie is closer to Wimbledon White. You can use Testors Custom Laquer Series Wimbledon White and it will look great. Do not use Testors enamel for model cars.

snoopyrc

iTrader: (2)

Bertie I made my 53 circle in photoshop and then laser printed it. Then I glued it inside the body with XXXMain picture glue. You saw what it looked like.

bertiebeetle

Cheers Kyo83 I've saved that website I'll be sure to post pics!

Thanks snoopyrc, I'm going to go to a model shop and have a look what paints they have, it's a bit easier to see what shade it is than on the pc. Is Wimbledon White more of a duller off-white like this...


I have a question for you too... how you said you printed off the 53 and glued it inside, did you spray yours inside or did you mask off a circle so that you could see the 53 through the clear body? either way it looks ace!

oldguyzrule

iTrader: (78)

DO NOT PAINT THE OUTSIDE OF THE BODY!!!!!!!!!!.............paint the inside please.

snoopyrc

iTrader: (2)

Yes Wimbledon is kind of Ivory like that. My beetle was done in a pure white, but Wimbledon is what you are going for.

The 53 was glued on the inside. The paint was sprayed on the inside. only the HPI stickers went on the outside. Also if this is the first shell you have ever painted there is a clear film on the shell when you get it. Its there to protect the outside of the shell from paint overspray. When you pull the shell out of the box make sure it fits the car. If it doesnt then trim it to fit. Then wash it to get the molding oils and oils from your hand off it. Then when its clean and dry, proceede to paint it.

snoopyrc

iTrader: (2)

Here are some shots of my Herbie build.
1st one is with the 53 glued in and the stripes painted on.
The second one is with the white sprayed on, before the widow mask are peeled away. The mask are almost the same color as the paint. Dont go thinking that I painted the windows.
Last two shots are self explanatory.

bertiebeetle

I hope my model isn't already red when it arrives because I've seen a few in red - I'd struggle to paint it on the inside if this is the case. It's new so it'll be how they come from the shops

I can't believe how neat you got yours snoopyrc if all the stickers are on the inside, so I must remember to make sure it's clean from oils and that all my stickers are on it before I spray because in effect I'll be spraying over the stickers on the inside.

I'll have to find Wimbledon White elsewhere as Testors do not ship to UK has it is a hazardous product

bertiebeetle

That's a real help. After seeing that I shall definately paint the stripes rather than look for stickers. You did a real good job, I'm motivated to take my time with mine to get it looking really good too. What did you print your 53 onto because paper would soak through when you sprayed over it from behind in white?

snoopyrc

iTrader: (2)

I really expect the shell on that kit to be clear.

OK the 53 circle is the only paper that you will put on the inside with the paint job. It was printed on plain paper and then glued to the inside of the lexan with XXXmain picture glue. (They make RC products, but they like to make it sound like its pornographic) Here take a look at this. http://www.xxxmain.com/glue.shtml
You might be able to find something that serves the same purpose at your local hobby shop. Or you might find someone who can cut a vinyl mask out so you can paint the 53 instead of going the way I did.

Once more the 53 was laser printed on plain paper and then glued to the inside. The remaining stickers were applied to the outside after the paint job was finished and the overspray film was removed. The picture glue helps to keep the paint from soaking through, but just incase, make your first coat of spray paint very light and thin. Let it dry completely before you put on heavier coats of paint that way the thin coat will seal the paper and pervent the heavier coats of paint from soaking through.

In this shot You can see everything. On the inside the 53 was glued in first. then the stripes were painted in then the whole coat of white backs it all. On the outside you can see the VW, RSI, the vents in the rear valences and the tail lights are all external stickers.


I hope this helps.

bertiebeetle

That's a really big help, especially the bit about how u used the pornographic glue for the 53. Thanks a lot!

I'm feeling more confident for when it arrives now. I'm still seeking a good white from somewhere that will supply or post to the UK at the moment. But I shall also be buying masking tape for the stripes and will probably spray them too, or did you use a small brush?

snoopyrc

iTrader: (2)

Thats xxx for you. I guess you have to use sex to sell it. I sprayed the stripes after I got it masked off. I used 3M thin line tape to separate the space between the two stripes, and I covered one while I sprayed the other. I sprayed them since I have an airbrush. It would be expensive to buy a can of paint just for that stripe, but people have paid more for less. It probably wouldnt look that bad if you used a brush, as long as your mask is straight and you get the edges pressed down so that the paint doesnt bleed under the tape. If you go back and look at the larger picture, you can see where it was hard to get the tape to stay down. Thats where the overspray made the stripe get a little sloppy.

If you cant find the xxxmain picture glue then see if theres another picture glue you can use. I may have the 53 here on a jpg. I can post it and you can just print it out and resize it. Just let me know. If I cant find it I will make you another one.

bertiebeetle

thanks again mate, should be ok with the 53, will either make one or find one on google. i'm going to set about making up the chassis first in my spare time. i've bought some paint today and i've decided to paint my stripes because like you said it's cheaper and if i take my time with a steady hand it'll look good

i'll post up pics of progress

snoopyrc

iTrader: (2)

True but forget about the steady hand, just do a good job masking that area. I do want to see pics. I would come and help you but its a long swim across the pond.