Post by mike_t on Aug 28, 2019 15:15:49 GMT -8
Finally started this big thing. I've never built anything bigger than 1/16 before (never even finished that, either...long story). Anyway, after finally making it to vacation time, I can get this thing rolling. I actually started it a couple of weeks ago but started out with a big problem and wanted to get it solved before I started posting. So, here goes....
The seller warned me that the box had gotten wet at one time and said he was pretty sure everything was ok. I decided to take a chance and have him send it anyway. When it arrived, he was right. It looked kinda beat up, but I wasn't really concerned about the box, obviously. I was more concerned with the contents. My attention was on the decal sheet to begin with. I was thinking it would be shot and I wasn't disappointed...it was a mess. Stuck to a sheet of foil that was in the same bag and looking like a 28 year old decal sheet. No big deal, really. Ordered a replacement set from TB Decals and they arrived a few weeks ago. So that part is taken care of. The tire decals were just about in the same condition but again, no worries. I ordered a stencil to paint them on, anyway. Everything else in the box looked good. A small piece was broken off the body but that's an easy fix. Then I opened up the packaging that the tires were in and the fun began...
Notice the front tire on the right? Looks kinda different. That one and the two rears all looked the same. The front one on the left was the only one that looked "normal".
All three were wet and sticky feeling. Mushy, too. I squeezed the "normal" one and it bounced right back into shape. The others held the squished shape for quite a bit longer and in fact, one actually started breaking apart!!
Well, what to do? I contacted Tamiya and I was told that they only produce kits for 5 years after the release so spares were basically non-existant. Looking around online, I found more than one post about this problem and soon figured out that that is where all the replacements went! So, looking to buy a set, I did come across some...for anywhere form $75.00 and up! One site wanted $125.00!! I only paid $200.00 for the kit so I wasn't ready to pay half that again for a set of tires!
On we go.....I decided to cast my own. I tried making a two-part mold so I could get them done in one shot but, not being a master resin caster has it's disadvantages and they turned out ugly. So, half and half it is....
Not too bad for an amateur.....
Next, a little bit of filling and sanding...and filling and sanding....and a little more filling and sanding.
and we seem to have something to work with!
Now, since they are hard resin and not flexible rubber, I had to cut the rims in half to get them in the tires. After some more sanding and fitting, they're in!
Yes, that is how much resin I had to remove to get the rims to fit!!
Finally, a couple of coats of Tamiya's Rubber Black (XF-85) and I think I'm pretty close. They are actually darker in real life than they appear in the pics but I think that after the Goodyear logos are applied, I may do a coat of flat over them. We'll see.
And that's as far as I am. I'm waiting for the boatload of aftermarket stuff to show up before diving in hardcore. I'll probably tackle the body next so that it is good and dry by final assembly time. (about 8 years from now )
Thanks for looking and I'll see ya soon!
The seller warned me that the box had gotten wet at one time and said he was pretty sure everything was ok. I decided to take a chance and have him send it anyway. When it arrived, he was right. It looked kinda beat up, but I wasn't really concerned about the box, obviously. I was more concerned with the contents. My attention was on the decal sheet to begin with. I was thinking it would be shot and I wasn't disappointed...it was a mess. Stuck to a sheet of foil that was in the same bag and looking like a 28 year old decal sheet. No big deal, really. Ordered a replacement set from TB Decals and they arrived a few weeks ago. So that part is taken care of. The tire decals were just about in the same condition but again, no worries. I ordered a stencil to paint them on, anyway. Everything else in the box looked good. A small piece was broken off the body but that's an easy fix. Then I opened up the packaging that the tires were in and the fun began...
Notice the front tire on the right? Looks kinda different. That one and the two rears all looked the same. The front one on the left was the only one that looked "normal".
All three were wet and sticky feeling. Mushy, too. I squeezed the "normal" one and it bounced right back into shape. The others held the squished shape for quite a bit longer and in fact, one actually started breaking apart!!
Well, what to do? I contacted Tamiya and I was told that they only produce kits for 5 years after the release so spares were basically non-existant. Looking around online, I found more than one post about this problem and soon figured out that that is where all the replacements went! So, looking to buy a set, I did come across some...for anywhere form $75.00 and up! One site wanted $125.00!! I only paid $200.00 for the kit so I wasn't ready to pay half that again for a set of tires!
On we go.....I decided to cast my own. I tried making a two-part mold so I could get them done in one shot but, not being a master resin caster has it's disadvantages and they turned out ugly. So, half and half it is....
Not too bad for an amateur.....
Next, a little bit of filling and sanding...and filling and sanding....and a little more filling and sanding.
and we seem to have something to work with!
Now, since they are hard resin and not flexible rubber, I had to cut the rims in half to get them in the tires. After some more sanding and fitting, they're in!
Yes, that is how much resin I had to remove to get the rims to fit!!
Finally, a couple of coats of Tamiya's Rubber Black (XF-85) and I think I'm pretty close. They are actually darker in real life than they appear in the pics but I think that after the Goodyear logos are applied, I may do a coat of flat over them. We'll see.
And that's as far as I am. I'm waiting for the boatload of aftermarket stuff to show up before diving in hardcore. I'll probably tackle the body next so that it is good and dry by final assembly time. (about 8 years from now )
Thanks for looking and I'll see ya soon!