A Ratty Fat-Fendered Ford Forty

[vsuarez666]

There's still lots more to do to this body and fender wells to get it just right . . .

I'm still tinkering with the results . . . in terms of how the black smoke billowed out that passenger side window . . .



Again, this sucker was rescued just in time!

[Miscatonic_Supplies]

This is sooooo coooooolllll! I cannot wait how you will procede and how the whole little Creep will look like when you are finished. And this is an Grade A Example for an Tutorial. Brilliant!

Frank

[vsuarez666]

Here's a shot of the body almost where I want it . . . this build is not going to have an interior nor an engine . . . it's going to be gutted for the most part except for a few details, and, of course, the rolling chassis, which is going to be rusty and ratty as well . . .



I came back with a little black in the airbrush and sprayed the grill because later on I want to dry brush a little aluminum . . .



If you look closely at this next picture you can see all the foundational colors showing through, subtlely, I hope--well, not the rust-throughs!!!



I still have to apply pigment ashes to that burned out window panel . . .

Stay tuned in for more . . .

[vsuarez666]

Thank you, the best part is about having the fun, as you great builders on this forum already know . . . it's what keeps us energized, right?

[Miscatonic_Supplies]

Of cause! But it always gives me thrills when I see what some people do with this energy... !

Frank

[vsuarez666]

Me too!!!

Allow me a moment to wax poetic about my reasons for painting the body first, and also why I try to get most of the parts assembled and glued before primering and painting.

Most of us would think it is a mistake to do it this way, I know I thought so for many years, but with particular builds--this one is no exception--my fear always takes me back to my early days of building models when I would more likely than not goop up the glue, mess up a perfectly painted part painting it and THEN gluing it. A few years ago I had no idea how to use an airbrush (and I am not claiming I know how to use one now!) but now the aparatus has become more familar to me. In fact, I have lost every single iota of fear I had for it, which really helps. You know the saying, practice makes perfect!

Also, the fact that I was finally able to afford an Iwata Micron airbrush, and it's allowed me to really come in close and spray in tight spaces . . . which suddenly made it easier to assemble the parts first, doing so cleanley with Tamiya thin liquid cement, and then creative a smooth, unbroken canvas upon which to airbrush my paint . . .

None of the detail is really sacrificed much . . . of course, this would not work for an ultra shiney paint job!!! But it IS a perfect technique for extreme-weatherd vehicles. And I should add that although this might be new for car builders, it certainly is not for our friendly folk over in the military part of the hobby. They've been doing it and doing it well for years!!!

Oh, and one more word about helping you lose the fear of the airbrush. When I first got my Eclipse--the first Iwata I was really able to afford--I carried mine to work, kept it in the car while I drove and I would practice and the pushing-down-pulling-back motion of the trigger. You do this enough and your hand and finger gets used to the machine!

[dirk lehaen]

Amazing work and sbs
This technique is something worth a try.

Are you using acrylic paint for the sponge technique?
Could the same results be achieved when using Tamiya paint?

Dirk

[vsuarez666]

Hi, Dirk--thanks for the kind words, amigo.

I am using Jo Sonya acrylic paints because they are fine, though a bit pricey, but okay. The reason for thinning the acrylic paint with a little water and medium flow to be able to apply a few random coats of stippling. I would imagine the same technique would work with Tamiya paints but you have to thin it to the right consistency somewhere between a wash and an airbrushing mixture (low fat milk consistency!). The idea is for the sponging to go smoothly and for the paint to dry ultra flat and thin on the body. You don't want the paint to get gooped on . . . not to lose detail . . . etc . . .

I know some of my model car builder friends use craft acrylic paints which in the States you can buy for 99 cents, etc . . . at Wal Mart and other craft places . . .

There a not strict rules to any of this . . . I think these techniques have a spirit of fun and experimentation at their core . . . and so experiment and have fun. Heck, that's what I'm doing.

[ALEX_HELLAS]

This is awesome!
I like it very much!

[vsuarez666]

Thanks, Alex--I am in the process of making progress . . . stay tuned in for more . . .

[vsuarez666]

I forgot to say the other part of why I start with the body is that it gives me a solid idea of where I'm going with the build . . . I like the energy behind getting the body to look a particular way, then letting it sit there (for other ideas to come!) while I work on other parts of the build . . .

It's just a little trick to stay self-motivated, self-inspired.

[Siara]

This is the kind of stuff i like to do in the future- exactly the same thing, so it is very inspirational to me on so many levels.
Brilliant SBS of how it should be done.
Im just amazed by speed at which your modeling is taking place. You didnt really do it all today- did you?
Ill follow your build to its full fruitation- goo luck, an happy modelling.

[vsuarez666]

Speaking of staying inspired. Those of you who live in the States know that beaters, junkers, flat-paint customs, and rat rods area ll the rage now . . . and there are plenty of mags on the market, including my new favorite which just came out and you can see the premier issue right on top here:



You don't have to turn the pages very far in a magazine like AMUSIN KRUISIN to find gold! Pure gold!



And there I am, holding the magazine, turning it's pages . . .



And suddenly, your eye immediately goes that that second picture in from the left at the bottom . . . what? A beat up, rusty 1940 Ford?

And voila!!! INSPIRATION strikes!!!

[vsuarez666]

Thanks, Siara--no, of course I did not do it all today, but I got most of it started yesterday during my day off from work.

Thanks for the kind words.

[Sven_Frisch]

What an interesting approach, with a very convincing result ! Thank for sharing your thoughts and experiences. That's what it is all about. Also I found it quite interesting where people get their inspiration from. I would have never expected so much rust in such a kind of magazine.

Thanks again !
Sven