KevinM Posted August 14, 2023 Share Posted August 14, 2023 Don't kill yourself Rob it all looks good from here. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted August 16, 2023 Author Share Posted August 16, 2023 On 8/14/2023 at 5:45 PM, KevinM said: Don't kill yourself Rob it all looks good from here. I guess, its like with every model Kevin. When you build it, you know every weak spot and these exhaust tubes which feed the turbo will haunt me, but hey, I doesn't need to open the body . Cheers Rob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted August 16, 2023 Author Share Posted August 16, 2023 The rear section was mostly finished today and is ready to be attached to the engine. Again, the moving parts design proved to be a bit fiddly, but beside some very crude moldings, which needed lots of clean up and later lots of masking, all went together well. Have I ever mentioned, that I absolutely love Tamiya's LP5 semi matte black. It sprays so evenly and has the right near no shine to replicate plastic or metal black. I added some resin connectors again, which were drilled out and added silver braided line with inserted brass rods. Since the beginning of the build, I was pondering about de-chroming the wheels and wings, a process, I never did before. With my oven cleaner stripping was easily done in a minute on a test part and were followed by the rims, which didn't look real. The wings didn't look too bad with their plating, but then I decided to strip them too. Lets hope, I can lay on a decent finish. Cheers Rob 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted August 16, 2023 Share Posted August 16, 2023 Rob Nice work on the rear end portion of the Renault, details and paint work looks great. I'm right with you and just love Tamiya LP5 Semi Gloss Black and just as much, LP1 Gloss Black and LP3Flat Black - a perfect trio of the most needed blacks. Good call deciding to go with your own NMF/Chrome finish and some nice work on stripping the chrome off the parts with oven cleaner. I've tried this a few times and was very leery of the caustic fumes, wore a good mask and gloves, pretty dangerous stuff for sure. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted August 16, 2023 Author Share Posted August 16, 2023 Thank you Peter, these LP blacks from Tamiya are great, beside the matte, which is not matte enough for my liking and very close to the semi matte. The de-chroming was done without a mask, but outside, wearing goggles and rubber gloves. I used only a small amount of oven cleaner and brushed it on. I hope my chrome will turn out well. Cheers Rob 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted August 17, 2023 Author Share Posted August 17, 2023 The Renault is coming together. Yesterday, I married the rear part with suspension and gear case to the engine and added more braided lines to substitute the ugly thick vinyl tubing, Tamiya provided. The chassis is finished, except some details and the exhaust system, I can see the chequered flag . All the parts waiting for chrome paint, were airbrushed high shine glossy black. I thinned down the Tamiya LP color with ca. 75% of leveling thinner and it gave flawless results. I have to remember that mixing ratio for my John Player Special Lotus Type 79. Cheers Rob 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted August 17, 2023 Share Posted August 17, 2023 Rob Looking simply spectacular. Can't wait to see the Renault receive the checkered flag as she crosses the finish line. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted August 17, 2023 Author Share Posted August 17, 2023 Thank you Peter, I added more bits and pieces and painted Alclad chrome paint onto the gloss black based parts. I was fearing this, because chrome finish is so difficult to achieve, but all went well. Alclad is less durable than Extreme Metal, but as there is onl decaling and no further painting and masking involved, I hope, I leave the parts unharmed to the end. Black base, I love the Tamiya LP gloss black with 75% leveling thinner, looks like polished. Alclad chrome, misted in very thin layers with low pressure setting. It looks even better to the natural eye and much better than the plating. Cheers Rob 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted August 17, 2023 Share Posted August 17, 2023 WOW - fantastic. They look spectacular. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted August 17, 2023 Author Share Posted August 17, 2023 Near the finish line now with the Renault. With the added gearbox, rear wing and loose attached nose, this car becomes longer and longer. I added the decals to the chromed wings and glued them in place. I'm lucky, that I dared to strip and repaint the chrome, as it looks much better. The Cartograph decals again behaved perfectly well, important, because I didn't want to use any solvents other than water on the chrome. The exhaust installation was again a bit adventurous, due to ill fit and in case of the exhausts, only one contact point to glue. I used CA for that job. Many additional pars were added using super glue, because I didn't want to ruin my paintwork. What's left do do, is the installation of some lanes, where I couldn't find the place they end in the manual and of course the rims and wheels. Cheers Rob 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted August 19, 2023 Author Share Posted August 19, 2023 Chequered flag, yeah, after a bit more than a month, the Renault RE 20 is crossing the finish line. I added the wheels and still think about adding some chalk markings on the tyres, connected the last hoses and mounted the body onto the chassis. It was a pleasure build, with only a few letdowns, namely the huge amount of clean up and some overcomplicated subassemblies mainly around exhausts and turbo chargers. I will make some final adjustments and then step to the next project, but still have no idea, what it will be. Thanks for your support and help. Cheers Rob 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted August 19, 2023 Share Posted August 19, 2023 Just catching up on your Renault Rob and it's fantastic. Great job on the wiring and plumbing. Tamiya has stuck with their vinyl tubing for decades and should look at other materials and a better way to attach them. The chrome paint came out fantastic too and was worth the effort of stripping the original finish and re-doing it. Overall a very inspirational build. Makes me want to work on my MP-4/6 that I started in 1993. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackster Posted August 19, 2023 Share Posted August 19, 2023 I too have just caught up. Fantastic work Rob, truly awe-inspiring! Fantastic attention to detail, I would not have dared to strip the chrome, but it certainly paid off! A great looking model, are you inspired to do more cars? Cheers Kev 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HubertB Posted August 19, 2023 Share Posted August 19, 2023 The repainting of the wheels and wing certainly paid off. Far more convincing than the "chrome" plated parts. Hubert 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted August 19, 2023 Author Share Posted August 19, 2023 4 hours ago, BlrwestSiR said: Just catching up on your Renault Rob and it's fantastic. Great job on the wiring and plumbing. Tamiya has stuck with their vinyl tubing for decades and should look at other materials and a better way to attach them. The chrome paint came out fantastic too and was worth the effort of stripping the original finish and re-doing it. Overall a very inspirational build. Makes me want to work on my MP-4/6 that I started in 1993. Thank you Carl, why not finishing the McLaren? The tubing Tamiya supplies is really basic and would be ok, if you have the body closed, but with every kit, there is room for improvement. These F1 cars are relatively complex builds, because nearly everything of the real is included, no empty fuselage or hull. The scale is great for extra detailing and adding the tubing was pure fun with the drilled out resin connectors. The chrome stripping was a first for me and it came out good, another lesson learned and ready to recall for the next time. Cheers Rob 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted August 19, 2023 Author Share Posted August 19, 2023 2 hours ago, Jackster said: I too have just caught up. Fantastic work Rob, truly awe-inspiring! Fantastic attention to detail, I would not have dared to strip the chrome, but it certainly paid off! A great looking model, are you inspired to do more cars? Thank you Kev, I will definitely build more cars and have some interesting examples in my stash, but I like to change subjects a lot and the next build might be something different. I'm not decided as of yet. I can only encourage you to try stripping chrome parts and repaint them. All my fearful considerations did not materialize, but thorough preparation and application is the key. Cheers Rob 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted August 19, 2023 Author Share Posted August 19, 2023 1 hour ago, HubertB said: The repainting of the wheels and wing certainly paid off. Far more convincing than the "chrome" plated parts. Indeed Hubert, I feared this step, but it worked out perfectly, lesson learned. The plated parts always look a bit toy like. The final trigger to strip the chrome was the huge round oil reservoir? on top of the engine, The chrome part looked sooooo plastic . Cheers Rob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted August 19, 2023 Share Posted August 19, 2023 15 minutes ago, DocRob said: Thank you Carl, why not finishing the McLaren? Rob, to be honest I'm not really sure. Two of the tires have actually degraded and I missed out on the replacements made by MFH. Both times. I do work on it from time to time but I should just get it done. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted August 20, 2023 Share Posted August 20, 2023 Rob I've been on the journey with you since day one and have enjoyed reading every update plus your outstanding photography has complemented and describe your work to the "T". Every stage of the build has been perfectly done and your painting; top shelf. Awesome work from start to finish. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted August 21, 2023 Author Share Posted August 21, 2023 Thank you for the praise Peter, it was a fun build mostly and not too bad, given the kits age. Seeing the pictures, I noticed that I forgot to add a blister to the body, but couldn't find it anymore. I shouldn't have mentioned it, but there are no flawless builds out there, at least not mine . There were some new or relatively new things involved, like de-chroming and chroming, tubing with connectors and different tube materials, high gloss body painting, ... , so I have learnt a lot through the build an feel prepared now for some other car builds. Cheers Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted August 21, 2023 Share Posted August 21, 2023 Rob Always new techniques and adventures with each build. Just a pleasure to follow and enjoy. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belugawhaleman Posted August 30, 2023 Share Posted August 30, 2023 Nice build Rob! I remember when that kit came out....I wanted to build It, but the paint scheme scared me off. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted August 31, 2023 Author Share Posted August 31, 2023 10 hours ago, belugawhaleman said: Nice build Rob! I remember when that kit came out....I wanted to build It, but the paint scheme scared me off. Thank you Paul, the paint scheme was not overly difficult, but involved a lot of masking. I don't like the car itself too much, but the paint scheme adds a nice vivid spot in the display shelf. The old Tamiya kits are demanding, but not overly hard to build. You only need some patience for clean up and finish. Only yesterday, I added the last missing part to the body. There was a blister, I somehow mislayed, but found it recently. It was nagging me, but now I can shelf the Renault. Cheers Rob 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomber_County Posted August 31, 2023 Share Posted August 31, 2023 Absolutely stunning Rob, one day I’ll have a go at a F1 car, won’t be an anywhere close close to the finish you have achieved…… 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted September 1, 2023 Author Share Posted September 1, 2023 19 hours ago, Bomber_County said: Absolutely stunning Rob, one day I’ll have a go at a F1 car, won’t be an anywhere close close to the finish you have achieved…… Thank you Phil, you should do yourself the favor and build one. Some are available as re-pops with fantastic Cartograph decals. It's an interesting project for a change. Cheers Rob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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