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Post by Joel_W on Jun 15, 2021 8:38:36 GMT -8
I’ve been working on my new build for more then a week now, and thought that it was time to start my build blog and 1st update. I’ve long loved the Mercedes AMG GT3 car series that runs in just about every GT3 series world wide in some form or another. The car started life as all race GT cars do as a regular production car for the street in 2014.  By 2016 the 1st GT3 racing versions were available to all teams for just the mere price of $420,000. The car came with the massive 6.2 liter fuel injected engine rather then the 4 cly. turbo model, and still uses that brute to this day. One such team that campaigned the big Merc was Haribu Racing with an all black car and striking decal scheme.  When I saw this car, I knew that I just had to build it. Tamiya produced the factory version Merc AMG GT3 car in kit form several years ago, which is the correct version of the car:  And SK decals finally produced the decals  So the stage was set for my build. The kit is nicely detailed even with no engine/trans nor full suspension is included. The body, ducting, and a full interior are rather complex in construction, but every single piece fits perfectly. Here’s the body shell ready for priming.  ![]()  I primed the body with Mr. Finisher’s 1500 Black primer but some how forgot to take any pictures. Once dry I air brushed the Black using ScaleFinishes pre-thinned lacquer. Here’s the body shell prior to prep for decaling.  Decaling has started, and it’s been quite an adventure, as working with the DK decals is nothing like working with any of the usual decal makers or kit decals I’ve used to date. Don’t take that the wrong way as the decals are fantastic. joel |
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Post by tatocorvette on Jun 15, 2021 9:23:21 GMT -8
Following this one for sure!
I love the looks of those cars. There are a few road going samples around here and they are gorgeous.
They also sound great! And that livery you chose is really nice.
Lots to love in this one!
Thanks,
Ismael
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Post by Ben_B on Jun 15, 2021 11:14:20 GMT -8
This is thread going to be good! I really enjoyed building this kit and I liked how well the SK decals performed. This kit is just as good as the Mustang GT4 kit; it’s like putting together LEGOs!
Ben
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 15, 2021 13:39:49 GMT -8
Ismael,
Always glad to have you along for the ride. So far it's been a typical Tamiya joy to build kit.
Ben,
I still remember my old lego sets. Loves building all sorts of thing with them.
As for the SK decals, I just finished session two, and they're amazing. As of right now, they jumped to the front of my decal AM company list. Even the Bear that had to go over convex, into concave surfaces, around the exhaust recesses worked perfectly on the 2nd one. The issue with the 1st one was me as I had literally no idea of how to apply it. Even then it looks good with a little touch up Tamiya Gloss Yellow paint. So far the white decals are perfectly opaque even over Black. Now that's really saying something for any decal, let alone ones as thin as they are.
joel
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Post by afx on Jun 16, 2021 2:27:24 GMT -8
Good looking project Joel.
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 16, 2021 11:19:31 GMT -8
JC,
I'm just finishing up the basic decaling, and those Gummy Bears are driving me to my local CVS for a supply to last the entire build. At one time at work I was literally addicted to them and Gummy Worms.
joel
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Post by afx on Jun 17, 2021 2:04:13 GMT -8
When you order from Scale Production he usually includes a small packet of the gummy bears.  |
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 17, 2021 10:55:44 GMT -8
JC,
That reason enough for me.
joel
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 18, 2021 9:02:51 GMT -8
Time for another update as I just finished decaling the body shell. As I posted earlier, when I saw a few pictures of the Big Merc AMG GT3 Team Haribo car that ran in the 2016 24 hour Nurburgring race, I really wanted to model that car. So when I read in the Spot Newsletter that SK decals had a sheet for it, it was a no brainer to order one. After all, just how many cars have you ever seen sponsored with a big Yellow Gummy Bear on every side of it? I’ve never used SK Decals before, so I was more then a little leery about the whole process, considering that the Bear actually goes through the exhaust recesses on both sides. I laid out my usual 3 part process of Micro Set, Micro Sol, and finally Solvaset, allowing the solutions to each work their magic, and only tamp or roll them with a Q Tip once the fluid started to dry. Any doubts I had quickly vanished as the decals were ready for application after less then a min in warm water. They’re super thin, yet quite strong, as they do take quite a lot of handling without tearing or stretching. I was really pleasantly surprised that the White, Yellow, and Red colors showed no signs of bleed though even though the body color was Black. Not one single decal misbehaved, or balked at any of the solutions. The Solvaset made quick work of sucking the decals into every nook and cranny. The hardest decals were those Bears which are printed in two pcs, the smaller piece is to decal the exhaust recess while the main decal dealt with all the concave and convex curves and shapes without an issue. Here’s a few pictures of the body shell only through the decal stage. It still needs a mild water bath, then when dry the clear gloss with be air brushed on, followed by polishing and the 1st coat of wax. joel      |
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Post by tatocorvette on Jun 18, 2021 9:17:41 GMT -8
While not a bear, Tony the Tiger would say it looks G-R-R-E-A-T!!!! |
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Post by Ben_B on Jun 19, 2021 1:28:02 GMT -8
That's looking great, Joel! SK decals is at the top of my go-to list, along with Shunko, Racing Decals 43, Studio 27, and Indycals.
Ben
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 19, 2021 6:50:08 GMT -8
While not a bear, Tony the Tiger would say it looks G-R-R-E-A-T!!!! Ismael, I'll gladly accept Tony the Tiger's comments joel |
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 19, 2021 6:53:36 GMT -8
That's looking great, Joel! SK decals is at the top of my go-to list, along with Shunko, Racing Decals 43, Studio 27, and Indycals. Ben Ben, I've never used Shunko or Racing Decals 43 but with your reco I'm going to give them a try when the need comes up. I love Studio 27 decals as they're about as close to SK as I've ever used. Indy Cals are much more labor intensive as you have to cut out every decal very carefully from the larger single sheet. They also have issues with Orange and Gold colors. Other then that I've been very pleased with them as I have more AM sheets in my storage decal boxes then all the others combined. joel |
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Post by Ben_B on Jun 19, 2021 11:36:52 GMT -8
I used the Racing Decals 43 decals on my Turner Motorsports M6 GT3. They were fantastic, the way they conformed around the compound curves. I consider Shunko to be equal to Studio 27 and SK. Good stuff!
Ben
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 21, 2021 4:40:19 GMT -8
Ben,
Thanks for your assessments of the major AM decal guys. It's giving me the confidence to use any of them to model what I'm interested in modeling.
joel
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