Lotus Type 79 1979 "Martini" Tamiya 1/20

[joelw]

Greg,
for some reason I periodically get repeat posts so I easily get lost to where I actually am in some of the builds that i follow. Odds are it's my mail client as I've had this issue before. So please forgive it i reply more then once to the same post.

As far as primers go, do yourself a huge favor and standardize on type and brands. Go lacquer as it protects the plastic surface from all known paint bases. As I've said previously you can't go wrong with either Tamiya or Mr. Color. I've even mixed them without any issues. And whatever type and brand of color base you use, the 1st coat or two is always a tack coat. Super important not to skip that step. All the rest of the coats are smooth, steady light/regular coats and slowly build up the color coat. Enamels are the exact opposite in application and effect.

joel

[greg]

Oct 23, 2024 10:09:37 GMT -5 joelw said:

Greg,
for some reason I periodically get repeat posts so I easily get lost to where I actually am in some of the builds that i follow. Odds are it's my mail client as I've had this issue before. So please forgive it i reply more then once to the same post.

As far as primers go, do yourself a huge favor and standardize on type and brands. Go lacquer as it protects the plastic surface from all known paint bases. As I've said previously you can't go wrong with either Tamiya or Mr. Color. I've even mixed them without any issues. And whatever type and brand of color base you use, the 1st coat or two is always a tack coat. Super important not to skip that step. All the rest of the coats are smooth, steady light/regular coats and slowly build up the color coat. Enamels are the exact opposite in application and effect.

joel

Joel,

It's hard to keep up with lots of threads, don't worry about repeating yourself. According to my wife, that seems to be my new hobby.

I plan to follow your advice and stop playing musical primers, and it's lacquer all the way from now on (I didn't have proper venting back in 2011 when reentering the hobby, thus the acrylic and so-called acrylic lacquer primers). I do wish Tamiya was available in black.

I get so confused by all the Mr this and Mr that products. No clue what Mr even means. Are you referring to Mr Surfacer or something else?

[kyledehart5]

Oct 23, 2024 11:12:35 GMT -5 greg said:

Oct 23, 2024 10:09:37 GMT -5 joelw said:

Greg,
for some reason I periodically get repeat posts so I easily get lost to where I actually am in some of the builds that i follow. Odds are it's my mail client as I've had this issue before. So please forgive it i reply more then once to the same post.

As far as primers go, do yourself a huge favor and standardize on type and brands. Go lacquer as it protects the plastic surface from all known paint bases. As I've said previously you can't go wrong with either Tamiya or Mr. Color. I've even mixed them without any issues. And whatever type and brand of color base you use, the 1st coat or two is always a tack coat. Super important not to skip that step. All the rest of the coats are smooth, steady light/regular coats and slowly build up the color coat. Enamels are the exact opposite in application and effect.

joel

Joel,

It's hard to keep up with lots of threads, don't worry about repeating yourself. According to my wife, that seems to be my new hobby.

I plan to follow your advice and stop playing musical primers, and it's lacquer all the way from now on (I didn't have proper venting back in 2011 when reentering the hobby, thus the acrylic and so-called acrylic lacquer primers). I do wish Tamiya was available in black.

I get so confused by all the Mr this and Mr that products. No clue what Mr even means. Are you referring to Mr Surfacer or something else?

Mr this and Mr that. Lol. It’s all GSI Creos but the Mr whatever just depends on the product. One of my favorite primers. 

[greg]

Ooooooh....didn't know that comes in black. So GSI Creos is MrHobby? Thanks, I never knew that.

All these years, and I've used different thicknesses of MrSurfacer for brush-on spot filling, but I've yet to spray it on as a primer, even with all the raving reviews, including yours now.

And in the mini-tutorial that Paul graciously made for me, MrSurfacer 1500 is one of his two preferred primers as well. Paul thins 50/50 with MrLeveling Thinner, curious if you do? I'm only starting to learn how great that stuff is.

[joelw]

Greg,
As Kyle said just use Mr Hobby/Color 1500 Black primer. That's exactly what I use. As for White & Gray, It either Tamiya or Mr. Hobby/Color 1500. As a matter of fact I use either companies primers to make my light Gray primer.

When it comes to primers I buy them in lots of 3 for each color as I have to use online retailers, so I'm looking to save a few cents on shipping this way, and I never run out. To bad I keep on forgetting this advice when it comes to Tamiya LP9 Clear Gloss.

joel

joel

[greg]

Oct 24, 2024 8:35:19 GMT -5 joelw said:

Greg,
As Kyle said just use Mr Hobby/Color 1500 Black primer. That's exactly what I use. As for White & Gray, It either Tamiya or Mr. Hobby/Color 1500. As a matter of fact I use either companies primers to make my light Gray primer.

When it comes to primers I buy them in lots of 3 for each color as I have to use online retailers, so I'm looking to save a few cents on shipping this way, and I never run out. To bad I keep on forgetting this advice when it comes to Tamiya LP9 Clear Gloss.

joel

joel

Got it! And we crossed-posted again. I didn't forget that MrSurfacer was one of your two preferred primers (see my post two posts up)!

That's a good idea on lots of 3. I did that every 2 yrs or so when I was using Stynylrez. I might just place an order today and get it rolling.

Thanks!

[project510]

Greg, this is the black primer I am using as well on my Lotus. Mr Surfacer is so good. Lays down almost perfect even with an inexperienced airbrusher like myself.

[bronco67]

Sept 27, 2024 15:11:56 GMT -5 greg said:

Thank you, John! Delighted to be here.

Wow, turns out it was summer of 2022. Time's fun when you're having flies. I guess I forgot the boss had me packing stuff summer of '23.

Anyway, here's some pics from back then.

Having never plumbed a model engine, and having received a bunch of help and ideas from a GB elsewhere, I've been tempted to display the engine and call this one done. If I mess something up badly enough, I may still.

Apologies for not properly reviewing all of the open wheel gb individual threads yet. I have scanned enough to see there will be no shortage of talented builders to borrow tips and techniques from. I will dig into them properly time permitting. And thanks for having me as a part of this group.

This is amazing!!! wow wow

[project510]

Yea, that is awesome. Im not even going to try and do that... haha

[greg]

Thank you very much for your kind words, James and Bronco.

James, good to know you also use the MrSurfacer, thanks for that.

All, I can't find black MrSurfacer in stock anywhere, and can't recall where I ordered mine many years back. Where are y'all getting yours?

[arcticwolf]

Oct 24, 2024 11:00:20 GMT -5 greg said:

Thank you very much for your kind words, James and Bronco.

James, good to know you also use the MrSurfacer, thanks for that.

All, I can't find black MrSurfacer in stock anywhere, and can't recall where I ordered mine many years back. Where are y'all getting yours?

www.sunwardhobbies.ca/search-results/?q=mr%20surfacer%20primer

[greg]

Oct 24, 2024 11:21:15 GMT -5 arcticwolf said:

Oct 24, 2024 11:00:20 GMT -5 greg said:

Thank you very much for your kind words, James and Bronco.

James, good to know you also use the MrSurfacer, thanks for that.

All, I can't find black MrSurfacer in stock anywhere, and can't recall where I ordered mine many years back. Where are y'all getting yours?

www.sunwardhobbies.ca/search-results/?q=mr%20surfacer%20primer

Thanks, wolf. Unfortunately they show the black as out of stock just like everyone else. I'll keep it bookmarked for future reference, though.

[kyledehart5]

Oct 24, 2024 8:30:47 GMT -5 greg said:

Ooooooh....didn't know that comes in black. So GSI Creos is MrHobby? Thanks, I never knew that.

All these years, and I've used different thicknesses of MrSurfacer for brush-on spot filling, but I've yet to spray it on as a primer, even with all the raving reviews, including yours now.

And in the mini-tutorial that Paul graciously made for me, MrSurfacer 1500 is one of his two preferred primers as well. Paul thins 50/50 with MrLeveling Thinner, curious if you do? I'm only starting to learn how great that stuff is.

yes indeed. Levelling thinner is what I use for all my Tamiya paints, Mr hobby paints and any other compatible paints.

[kyledehart5]

Don’t forget gundam stores too!! Rattle can here

www.usagundamstore.com/products/mr-hobby-gunze-spray-170ml-finishing-surfacer-1500-black-b526?srsltid=AfmBOors-wUhTJOJOAi8eYnzgXUtLhdJnYwhYzsCDJsDiPcOJvtAjvIU

None of the places I normally order the regular bottles from have it right now. I’ve ran into this before so I’m going to send an alternative that is also a lacquer and that also goes down nice and smooth, in my experience. Really like the Gaia products too

houseofhobbies.com/products/gaia-surfacer-evo-black-gs-03

[bakster]

Michigan Toy Soldier sells the stuff too. Unfortunately, they show black out of stock.


Michigan Toy Soldier

[greg]

Thanks for the info, suggestion and link for alternate product, and link to supplier Kyle. Also for the confirm about Mr Leveling thinner...good to know.

Thanks, Steve. MI Toy Soldier has been a good place to get hard to find stuff.

I think I'll order from Sprue Bros. I think they are a sponsor here so that's another plus (I already like them), plus at least they offer to place on backorder and ship when received.

[greg]

After a couple weeks of messing around, applying some new painting techniques best I could, and maintaining a cleaner work area for re-decaling, I'm finally back to where I was a couple of years ago! Not much you can comment on, really, and I don't expect it. It's just a strip and repaint which it sounds like most of you are used to.

This is the nose that I was unhappy with due to sloppy decal work

And here is the result of my re-do.

Hardly perfect and I got the Martini sticker a bit crooked which is ironic because the main reason I redid this was the decal down at the bottom was crooked. Ha ha. (Truth be told, that is going to drive me Bat-S*** crazy, but to quote Newhart (RIP) from an old SNL skit, I need to stop it, just STOP IT)

Anyway, it's better than it was, I have some new techniques to work on, so I can start moving forward.

I'm champing at the bit to clear coat the body part shown, but I have prepare the other body parts first. Thanks to everyone who helped me through the re-do.

[keavdog]

That looks great Greg! Go with it

[handiabled]

That looks fantastic Greg!

[kyledehart5]

Oh very nice!! Excellent job getting those laid down. Don’t beat yourself up over the Martini decal!

[greg]

Thanks, John. Don't know if you recall but it seems like yesterday we were both planning to re-do the decals on the nose sections of of respective builds, for similar reasons if I recall. Hard to believe that was maybe 2 1/2 yrs ago. Actually, that's kind of scary.

Appreciate having you following along here, Handi. Thanks!

Thanks for your ongoing support, Kyle. My rationalization regarding the Martini sticker is it looks different from every angle you look at it from. That is pure BS, but it's my story and I'm sticking with it.

[project510]

Looks great Greg! How funny that we are building, what is essentially the same kit and had the same reason for sort of starting over. Dern decals man..

[greg]

Oct 25, 2024 10:46:15 GMT -5 project510 said:

Looks great Greg! How funny that we are building, what is essentially the same kit and had the same reason for sort of starting over. Dern decals man..

Thanks, James! And I'd thought about us both doing a strip and redo for the same reasons when you did it, then it slipped my mind. That is odd! (not that it slipped my mind, that is perfectly normal)

[moparman18064]

It looks great here , also Greg. I can only hope my Cosworth looks close to as good as yours. Finish er up!

[joelw]

Been out of the loop for a few days with another round of eye injections that so far seems to have done the exact opposite of what I was told. So I'm trying to catch up the best I can.

Gregg, the strip, repaint, and re-decaling looks outstanding to say the least. From my point of view, the time and effort was more then well worth it.

joel

[joelw]

I read a few posts that some of you are having issues locating Mr. Hobby/Mr. Color Black primers. I've also had that issue from time to time. I make it a point to always check the paints/primers at any site I visit and buy a few bottles whenever I can find it.

As a last resort has anyone tried to order paint from some of the Japanese online companies like Hobby Search?

joel

[greg]

Oct 25, 2024 14:08:52 GMT -5 moparman18064 said:

It looks great here , also Greg. I can only hope my Cosworth looks close to as good as yours. Finish er up!

 

Thank you! I'm really looking forward to watching you build that big 1/8 scale, I see you've started on the engine block.

[greg]

Joel, darn, hate to hear that your last round of injections didn't go as you'd planned. Wish you the best with all that. Meanwhile, you seem to be very resilient. That is an admirable trait which I sorely lack.

Thank you for your kind works and vote of confidence on my re-do on the nose cone, appreciate them.

On the MrSurfacer black, luckily I have no immediate need for same anyway so I'm just going to keep an eye on inventory at my usual haunts. Meanwhile, I just discovered I have a brand new bottle of MRP black surface primer that I haven't even test sprayed yet. I have every reason to believe it will lay down beautifully straight out of the bottle as all of their lacquers have so far. I'll need to test it while it's on my mind. It was your post that somehow made me remember the MRP black, so thanks! The real test will be how does it wet-sand compared to MrSurfacer and Tamiya.

[joelw]

Greg,
I only wish I could bounce back from these procedures no worse for the wear, but unfortunately that's not the case. I'm legally blind in my left eye as Wet MD creates a literally gray spot in the center of your lens that moves outwards, completely blocking the incoming light/images to your Retina. Since 2018 they've been monitoring my right eye as the disease is there as well, but basically dormmate after a round of injections in 2019. Not exactly sure when it became active again, but I kept on switching Retina Surgeons looking for shall I say the magic bullet. I've had different vaccines the last two times but neither even stopped the disease, just slowed it down. So far the current injections have done nothing. I'm going to switch back to my previous Retina Specialist as I had the most faith in him, as this is my last shot as saving what sight I have. At least he's been honest from the start with it being more of a hail Mary at 10% success rate.

I've reached the point in modeling that basically it's some form of curbside models at best, which is still better then nothing. I've already broken, damaged, or lost front suspension pcs on the Lotus 49 that can't be replaced as Ebbro is out of business, and the prices on ebay are insane.

joel

[greg]

Joel, that is a challenging situation you have. Again, sorry that you have to be dealing with it. Our eyesight is another one of those things that most of us take for granted. Though I think about it on occasion, overall I take it for granted, or whine because because my eyes don't work as they used to.