FullerPaint

[Steveonamission]

Thought I would start a thread for a novice painter... guess you have to start somewhere.

My first attempt which turned out ok, nothing special. Was quite happy with the bottom door lines, other than that... let the practising commence. Haven't finished the lights yet though, should of done them first.

And then roll on 5 years later when I might be half as good as the pro guys on here!

I'll also invest in a decent SLR camera if I improve enough to paint for people to display my work, if it turns out any good in future!

Steve

[bigred5765]

lookin good mate, the cheapest and easyest way to practice is on clear acetate from ebay 3=4 quid for 10-15 sheets a4 size or inside of a cola bottle free

[bigred5765]

PS reduce pic size before post its huge

[Steveonamission]

Oh dear! I accidently pressed submit before I sorted the post/picture out...

But yeah i'll give it a go, thanks for the kind comment.

[jonmiller]

hey steve, looks great, nice job dude! didn't go for your usual colors then bud..

[fmo]

I'll also invest in a decent SLR camera...

Your image misses light, not a DSLR. I would rather work on your image setup like getting rid of any crappy backgrounds, work with lighting, and so on before I would invest into a high-end camera system. It is astonishing what results you can achieve with little tricks and care.

Nice paint job btw...

[Steveonamission]

hey steve, looks great, nice job dude! didn't go for your usual colors then bud..

Ahh cheers, appreciate it... got a long way to go though!

I think I just went for them as that's what I had lying around :)

Your image misses light, not a DSLR. I would rather work on your image setup like getting rid of any crappy backgrounds, work with lighting, and so on before I would invest into a high-end camera system. It is astonishing what results you can achieve with little tricks and care.

Nice paint job btw...

Yeah I guess you are right, it was late, and there was no natural light about, will focus on taking the pictures in good light levels in the future.

Thanks!

[chris_dono]

looks good Steve, first time with an airbrush as well !!

[Steveonamission]

Working on my pin stripe lines first before I get too adventureous.
http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/4974/1008799.jpg (http://img714.imageshack.us/i/1008799.jpg/)

[/URL]

[URL="http://'http://img171.imageshack.us/i/1008838.jpg/'"] (http://img248.imageshack.us/i/1008806.jpg/)

[chris_dono]

looking good muller, keep at it :)

[jonmiller]

comin along nicely mate :thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

Cheers chaps, i'm becoming frustrated with my own ability already, after the 3rd shell !
I messed this one up! First go at freehanding. Onwards and upwards etc.

[Darren Wales]

Im looking at getting a new shell and although im new to this sport, these look great.

Have you got any early prices while you keep practicing?

B4.1 AE?

Darren

[Steveonamission]

Hi Darren,

That is a standard Jconcepts B4.

Appreciate the comment. Depends what you would like done really I guess, as I'm not anywhere near a good enough standard yet to charge.

[Steveonamission]

Painted a body for Cutting Edge, messed it up a little, became tired and should of stopped, but I kept going with it to get it finished . My photography skills are naff, apologies!

[bigred5765]

lookin good there steve, as i said earlyer for practicing stuff like fades and blends pin stripes etc cut a cola bottle in half i treat it as a shell,

[cutting edge]

Looks Very Nice Steve

Looking forward to using it Sunday Hopfuly :thumbsup:

[cutting edge]

And ill post a pic here when its all ready to race , Shells always look better with a few stickers and Names on , Did you leave the rear wing clear ? I sent it along incase you wanted to spray it up , I normaly run mine clear But i sent it so you had a toatal Blank canvas with me only saying what colours i would like front to back

Well done :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

Cheers, glad it's acceptable, will get it off to you in the morning, fingers crossed it'll get there saturday! Did it as fast as I could, it's hard when you only have two evenings lol. Yeah I left the wing clear, might look good black though.

[Mike Parker]

Steve!!

Some nice work on here fella :thumbsup: hope you're enjoying doing them & keep it up fella :)

[jo90]

Looking good mate, you coming to play at RR this weekend ?

[cutting edge]

Updated

[eyeayen]

Looks a nice clean job !

[Steveonamission]

10 months or so later my short attention span has brought me back to this...

I need help with freehand shading, everytime I go to do it and get close up, it splashes everywhere... lower PSI? So I end up just filling the area over.

Don't ya just love a bit of no natural light photography.

[julianb]

Cheers, glad it's acceptable, will get it off to you in the morning, fingers crossed it'll get there saturday! Did it as fast as I could, it's hard when you only have two evenings lol. Yeah I left the wing clear, might look good black though.


Hi Steve,

fancied a go yourself then! Not quite as easy as it looks... Good job though mate. My first attempts would never see the light of day.... :bored:

[julianb]

10 months or so later my short attention span has brought me back to this...

I need help with freehand shading, everytime I go to do it and get close up, it splashes everywhere... lower PSI? So I end up just filling the area over.

Don't ya just love a bit of no natural light photography.



Hi Steve,

yep, lower psi, thinner paint. Practice!

cheers

Ju

[Steveonamission]

Yeah it's blooming hard, makes me feel bad for hasserling either you or Jon@ RCS to get my touring car shell done!

I have no problem with scalpel lines it's just the paint bit :woot:

Ok thanks, I'll give it a go tomorrow evening.

[jonmiller]

nice to see you posting again bud!

[julianb]

S'funny, the design on your touring car is giving me deja vu... :thumbsup:

Keep at it bud, looking good...

[eyeayen]

I need help with freehand shading, everytime I go to do it and get close up, it splashes everywhere... lower PSI? So I end up just filling the area over.

Practice is really the key for this. You need to learn airbrush control, try it on the inside of a drinks bottle ( they're free and it doesn't matter if you mess them up ). Or try on some thick white paper / thin card. You need to practice, without watching how you're working it's difficult to offer advice.

If the shading is going every where I'd make sure you're not working above 40psi. Get the paint quite thin, the airbrush sort of does some of it for you. So don't paint straight onto the area you're trying to shade, start on the mask and flick out or around the mask depending on the shape you're trying to do. Because the airbrush gives a natural soft edge anyway it creates the shadow effect for you.

Also if you spray toward the mask the shape will be more defined, if you spray away from the mask the shape will be looser.

Practice more, see how you get on, come back ask questions.

[Steveonamission]

Thanks Jon!- Received your order yesturday too, rapid!

Julian- I remember trashing that on LAP 2 at Cotswolds in Modified as I flipped it down the slope they have there! I nearly cried.

Hello Ian - I don't think my airbrush control is too bad, I was trying it on acetone alot, and it was fine. Then I switched to a shell I was doing and it looked like someone just rained on my shell, almost as if the paint was like water... as I got close up to do a thin support line around a shape, maybe 60psi wasn't the way to go *laughs at himself*

Anyway thanks for your advice is great to have the pro guys comment on a novice thread.

I took some better pictures of the shell I created last night. All it needed I think was some freehand shading to break the front up and it would of looked much better. (Patio moss not included in the sale of this shell)

[eyeayen]

As a bit of an after thought, do you have a moisture filter on your compressor ? If a bead of water made it's way through it would cause that. I still do things like that every so often fella, it's the trouble airbrushing at higher pressures with a non absorbant surface that you can't correct mistakes on.

Shell looks good though, you should be pleased with that :thumbsup:

That patio and and moss pit board effect looks photo real what technique did you use to get them so good ? :lol:

[Steveonamission]

Yep, have a moisture filter attached, though I screwed it on at the airbrush end? Not sure that matters.

The technique is years of neglect - Can't take credit for the moss effect i'm afraid, it's a design I copied from a neighbour.

Anyway, came up with this nightmare, but I kind of like it. Reason I say nightmare was I brushed the liquid mask all the same direction which I've never done before and it became a right pain in the bum to cross paths when cutting out, and when pealing off too! I'll make sure I never do that again!

Lowering the psi to around 30 helped some what, but only with opaques, shading with some transparents didn't like it... I'm guessing opaques are easier because there full bodied colours? Onto the next anyway!

[eyeayen]

Unfortunately I think the body and your designs are getting lost with the reflections but I really like that ! Great colours, nice simple design, looks ace ! :thumbsup:

Stop painting bodies for an hour or so, play about thinning the paint, see if you can write your name with it or sign your signature, not stupidly small but quite fine. At some point you'll get to that sweet spot where it's flowing through the airbrush nicely and giving you enough colour but not doing the nasty spidery thing. That's where you need it, if you over thin it come back with some more colour to thicken it up again. It's a real art to getting it right, I don't both so much with these, splodge some paint in the cup, splodge some thinners in, mix it up a bit with my brush and spray. If I'm doing artwork though I mix each colour in a palette so I know it's exactly how I want it to spray.

[bobbyman]

Love the blue paint.
Awesome work .

[Steveonamission]

Thanks guys... I think I made it look like a duck though.:woot:

Finished this one... (It is available for sale, pm me or I'll put it in the for sale section later)

Wasn't too happy with it, but it's all good practice, thanks for looking.

[chris_dono]

looking good Steve ! where'd you get the montech shell from though ?!? :p

[Steveonamission]

looking good Steve ! where'd you get the montech shell from though ?!? :p

Akula racing distribute them, contact them:woot:

CPD racing of course! Who else ;)

[julianb]

Nice one Steve, defo getting there bud!

[Mike Parker]

Thanks guys... I think I made it look like a duck though.:woot:

Finished this one... (It is available for sale, pm me or I'll put it in the for sale section later)

Wasn't too happy with it, but it's all good practice, thanks for looking.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/FullerPaint/Picture017.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/FullerPaint/Picture018.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/FullerPaint/Picture025.jpg

I really like the design & choice of colours steve :) nothing beats a bit of practice mate, keep it going fella :thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

Thanks for the encourgement! Really means alot to know i'm not going backwards.

I'm back with some no natural light photography again, sure i'll take some pictures outside tomorrow morning once the window masks are off, unless I get knocked out by the plastikoat smell, but I was quite pleased with this effort as it's only my fourth touring car attempt. It's got stars in the white, but you won't get to see them until tomorrow:p. Even gave some lights a go!
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/FullerPaint/Picture050.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/FullerPaint/Picture052.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture055.jpg

[U1timate PigDog]

Looking real nice, Love the colours and love the design, Cant wait to see it in some decent light.

I love doing lights, I have a certain stlye that I like to do and come up with slightly different designs on each one (I have a ouple of pages of lights drawn out LOL), Infact its one of my favourite parts of doing the bodies :lol:

Anyway getting back to the paint looks reall gooood:thumbsup:

[eyeayen]

Great choice of colours, good clear bold design, looks cool :)

Photography is the painters nemesis ! I usually just use flash but the colours never come out right.

[Steveonamission]

I really like your touring car painting style, and recognise what you mean by your lights, so it's great that you think this one looks good, thanks.:) I'm pleased with how it did turn out as it was a mad rush job to get it all done starting friday evening for someone for a meeting on sunday.

I've tried taking some outdoor photo's but if anything it's not a true representation of the pink, it makes it look crazy! But it probably is anyway. Also it was picked up before I could take pictures of the removes window masks. Still needs work, but onto the next!
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture093.jpg

[bigred5765]

some nice work on the tc's mate keep it up looking good

[Steveonamission]

Finished this one last night. Took more positives than negatives with this one, just like the one above, like the sides and roof.

Lights don't work with it, by the time I got to them I already was in 'I don't care now just get it done' tantrum mood :p
Live and learn! Onto the next, thanks for looking.

[Steveonamission]

I've decided I don't like it now!:yawn:

Blue's too dark, and tc shells never work dark to light! Balls.

Next!

[jonmiller]

i like the colors mate.

perhaps some white design work in the black to break it up a bit and some texture of some sort in the blue

nice1 bud :)

[eyeayen]

It's neat and tidy Steve, I quite like it. There are 2 things that I don't like though. The front lights, you've got a red and an orange, that throws you instantly because as soon as you've seen it you have to check it's the front of the car ?

I like the pattern on the roof, the bonnet is cool and especially the way it goes around and over the wing into the side of the car, then you have the sort of lightning shape and then toward the rear you have the sort of tribal type shape. This is the bit that doesn't work for me, everything else has essentially been quite straight with the design you've used and then you have that curve. If it was one or the other I think it would look more consistent.

I like the colours and I think dark at the front to light at the rear do work but maybe it's not obvious enough on yours, one of the colours needs to be darker or lighter, that could well be the images / internet / my screen but I can't really see the difference front to back. As Jon already said some texture or effect in their might help to break it up a bit. And again as Jon said, the black could do with something to break it up, black is an extremely heavy colour so it needs to be used with something else to give it another dimension.

As I started in this post though, it looks neat and tidy, you should be pleased with it, I'm being picky with my comments above but I think you've clearly got the talent and what I've said above would be the difference between a good shell and an excellent shell.

[Steveonamission]

As always thanks for your comments, otherwise I won't learn. I've replaced the pictures (after posting this) with some slightly better daytime photo's to get a better viewing of what I was 'trying' to do. I think it looks a little less craptacular in natural light.

As I said I thought the blue was too dark, to go with the black, and sure enough looking at it, it looks flat, which I was dissapointed by. As Jon said a bit of texture would of brought it to life a little better. Maybe I could of done a white fade in the black? Not sure.

Someone else did comment on its lack of consistent design, which I totally agree with, something I'll make sure does not happen with the next.

I am quite harsh on myself and the previous shell was a big step in the right direction for me, but this one I felt I took a step back.:cry:

Crying over, got another to do now.:woot:

[U1timate PigDog]

Hey,

It doesn't look bad in fact it looks tho youve done it well which is always a good sign, I really like the roof that added bit of white brings it together really well.

The thing about painting is that it really is down to taste, some will love it, some will hate it and others just wont be fussed either way.

for me I'm not keen on the front, like you said I personally prefer a white front with the design going down the bonnet into the white and this body will look alot better when the wheels have been cut out due to the amount of blue at the front.

However, the best thing for me about mistakes is that you learn from it and the next is always better !!

And I for one cant wait to see the next. :thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

Hey,

However, the best thing for me about mistakes is that you learn from it and the next is always better !!

And I for one cant wait to see the next. :thumbsup:

Yep, that's what it's all about, I think the problem I have is I always want to get it done all in one go, which doesn't work out too well for me!

Oh give over... well your waitings over anyway.

Heavily based on Loic Jasmins design and colours with my own twist (twist = mess ups)

I'm finally a member of the static club now, I felt really left out:woot:. It came in bucket loads on the roof - could of easily said I did it for texture, but that wasn't the case, don't think it ruined it though, I like it!

You can probably pick up on the lack of shading part on the middle section of the black the front, not sure why I did that, it needed to go all the way. A manufactures sticker will only get plonked there anyway though i'm sure.


Dodgy pictures as always.

[U1timate PigDog]

You shouldn't be too hard on yourself it looks great especially the front, the design looks great.

I think it looks real nice :thumbsup: and if you didn't point out the front non shaded area I might not of noticed lol so would worry too much.

[eyeayen]

Never point out your mistakes to a customer, I looked at the shell before I read the text, didn't notice the shading error because it's the same from centre out so it looks right. You seem to be getting a long well !

[julianb]

Never point out your mistakes to a customer!

Wise words...

Looking good though Steve. The progression shell to shell is notable.

I'm never satisfied with any shell. Always room for improvement or things just don't work as planned...


cheers

J

[Steveonamission]

Heres another , thanks all.

Not sure where that white dot came from, but it's not on the shell as the other pictures show. Really pleased with how it turned out

[U1timate PigDog]

Very cool looking, I really like the design of the front (you may see this appear on one of my bodies sometime lol ;))

Like said very cool indeed.

is the dot not the reflection from the flash off the camera? or thereflection of light off the lense

[eyeayen]

That looks great ! Good design, great simple colouring, nothing too over the top :thumbsup:

I'd say that dot is the light coming from behind you and you've just moved slightly so it's coming under your arm or something. You really need to go and get some white paper though ! It will neaten your images up even if you still shoot them outside and have reflections in the body shell.

[Steveonamission]

Worked on the photography a little. Not my best one so far paint wise as it was a test to see how quickly I could do one in, (2hour 10 mins)... but my airbrush broke half way through it:( but as said before, each one I learn on my limitations, and what I need to work on.

[jonmiller]

comin along nicely dude! :thumbsup:

[AK.customz]

hi steve ive got one of these shells to do is the lexan thin in places on your one aswell,going to have to be carefull with the blade when cutting this one:)

[Steveonamission]

Hello you,

I think the sides are the thinnest point, but no thinner than a lightweight Protoform I thought. I know some painters don't even accept the lightweight's due to cracking along the cut lines, good luck, looking forward to seeing it.

[U1timate PigDog]

Hey Steve, body looks great I really like the colours and design and the lights look very cool, having seen the side view I can say looks just as good as the top nice work.:thumbsup:

I also agree the hotbodies are thinner lexan than the protoform bodies but not too thin, not had a problem with any Ive done.

[eyeayen]

Photography on white background has really improved things, you can concentrate on the shell now !

[Steveonamission]

Missed your comment Jon! Thanks for the encouragement.

Grahem, cheers as always, nice to have you comment.

Ian! Yep, there still not up to much, but better than the shell being swamped by a dodgy patio.

[eyeayen]

Dodgey patio :lol: :thumbsup: Nice back reference, shows your paying attention :lol:

Mixed thoughts on this one, overall I like it, if I were to be picky, which I clearly am I would say... the colours are good and go well together, the design is quite nice but on the roof you've put silver shadows which I really like but they're not on the rest of the car :( at first I thought it was because they were only on the purple area's not the black but the side of the car is purple. Also I like the fogged line around the front of the green but I don't know if purple was the best colour to go with.

So, overall good job, a few little extra touches would have made it a great job though. You can see you've got talent and you're listening to all the stuff everyone saying to you which means you're learning so I hope what I've said is constructive. Fell free to tell me it isn't though :lol:

[Steveonamission]

Bllody graphic designers! :yawn:.... :thumbsup:

I'm banning you from my paint thread...:lol:

Better not, otherwise I won't become a great painter without your comments. ;)

Agreed, purple probably wasn't the best choice, but it could of been worse,

One comment I have, is the camera decided to blend the blue into the green of the spikey things, so it looks like a solid colour, which it is not.

Never mind!

Thanks for posting as always, it is appreciated.

[eyeayen]

Bllody graphic designers!

Yeah there a nightmare aren't they :lol:

[U1timate PigDog]

Another nice body :thumbsup: I really like the design bt do agree with Ian and I woldn't of put the purple shade around the edge, I probably would of faded the green out into the white.

but still looks very cool :D

[Steveonamission]

Another quicky last night. Not too proud of it, but it's still another to look back on. I pulled half the design off not being very careful unpealing the liquid mask, so had to improvise with insulation tape, but it cuts quite well really! . Crooked stickers included.

[U1timate PigDog]

Looking good from here Steve, only thing I could mention and I maybe wrong is that the top picture looks though you sprayed the flo. pink lights on after the white tut tut tut :lol: (back the white with some silver next time and it wont show through).

Other than that looks great, I'm always partial to a bit of pink on a body, sometime I do pink lights just for fun lol. And one again great design.

[Steveonamission]

Haha, busted - I just forgot that part of the lights.

But to be fair it's not as bad as the picture makes out with the flash, I just got impatient trying to break my 2 hour record :)

Thanks again!

Going all out on the next one, to see what I'm capable of, might even take my time.

[Steveonamission]

Soooo, I took all that I learnt so far, with the combination of taking my time, this time:yawn: and I think I can say i'm satisfied enough with the quality of this one.

Thanks for looking as always and hope you like it.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture305.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture302.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture303.jpg

[AK.customz]

very nice mate good one:thumbsup:

[U1timate PigDog]

Awesome Job, I really like the contrast between the bright and darker colours, the orange/yellow with the green shaded around the edge looks very nice indeed and the pin stripes finish off a really nice peice of work.

Definately your best yet :thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

Why thankyou talented people.

Heres another . Not my design/colours etc apart from the lights, but i'm sure I pinched them from somewhere.:woot:

If I stick it on the white card it throws the green off totally :S

So these will have to do

[bigred5765]

looking good ste looks like one of my old ones ;) http://bigredlidz.weebly.com/2011-shells.html image 29

[Steveonamission]

Cheers Carl,

Phil Chambers painted his originally in orange I think.

He wanted more solid colours this time , so that's what he got... I think.
Back to buggys next!

[Steveonamission]

Question time..

Do I need to buy a new can of plasti-koat as I left it outside in the cold for about a week?

[U1timate PigDog]

That green certainly is bright :woot: and once agaain looking nice and clean.

Have you tired the plasticote to see how it sprays, probably worth trying it on some scrap first just to make sure.

[eyeayen]

Sorry I missed your original question ? Yeah as UPD says try it on something first. Is it clear or a colour ? It should be okay so long as it didn't actually freeze ? If the tin has started to rust it might taint the colour slightly but essentially as long as you keep it warm now and make sure you shake it for at least 2 or 3 minutes before you use it you should be okay. If in any doubt though get a new one.

Platikote works fine, don't get it on the windows though. I usually unmask the windows and then remask them, makes it easier to get off once you've put the solvent based paint on.

Make sure your shell is absolutely dry though and put the first 2 coats on real gentle otherwise you'll get a pickle :cry:

[Steveonamission]

I see you edited now, you can edit the one below :)

It is clear, i'll just try it on something scrap as UPD says, just didn't want it doing anything funny on me is all.

[eyeayen]

MODS - Please delete this post...

[Steveonamission]

Chris O'donoghue's 1 of 2 buggy thing. Inspired by the work of RCS for Chris.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture342.jpg

[Mike Parker]

Liking the B44.1 shell mate :thumbsup:

Quick word regards plasticote, you should be fine with it being solvent based, not as perishable as WB gear if left out in the elements by accident...

What I tend to do after the backing has fully cured I scribe round the window masks to break the paint seal, I just do it with a blunt scalpel blade I use for picking out the LM... Doesn't need much pressure :)

When spraying the backing coat, as Ian mentioned do a few drop coats with the plasticote to build it up, don't do it as one full 'wet' coat or it's game over. Oooh and after spraying turn the can upside down & just give it a quick squirt - Helps prevent blockages.

MikeP

[Steveonamission]

Yep, I always have sprayed it in light coats.

And the second, changed a few things around, looks sharper now in my opinon.

Having a serious problem when using black to back the silver. It turns elastic like the liquid mask, so I have to recut around the pins each time otherwise the paint pulls off and takes the silver with it when taking the mask off next to the pin section. Has done it to me ever since I started using a hairdryer to speed up the drying process I think, as far as I remember.

Edit- Haha just noticed the little black area that was'nt unmasked, bottom photo removed it, but isn't as good as a photo as the rest, so they'll stay.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture367.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture369.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture383.jpg
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture381.jpg

[eyeayen]

That looks really cool with the silver and green pin lines, really nice, your best one yet !

[Steveonamission]

Thanks for commenting Ian, nice to get a bit of recognition.

I thought I prefered painting touring cars, how wrong was I!

Quick one for Vince Menzies , clean simple effective not too crowded.



http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture407.jpg

[U1timate PigDog]

Hey looking good, the previous 2 were again really good though I prefered the first of the two (I liked the length on the design compared to the 2nd)

Moving on to that last body, Wow very nice indeed, love the colours, love the design and really like the stars, I did some similar ones on a skateboard and Ive been working on a logo that also has one similar so they must be cool lol.

Awesome work :thumbsup:

[eyeayen]

That 410 is real nice, I like the way you've picked that vent out too with the white coming out of it. Love the choice of colours too. What is it with everyone leaving the sunroof on the TD shells ? Is it so the driver can see out when he's upside down :lol: :thumbsup:

The only thing I'd pick up on this is the orange on the rear would have looked stronger with a dark pin line around it maybe going into the window line ? Looks really good though, your best one yet ? !

[Steveonamission]

Wow Grahem thanks! As you say it's all down to taste.

Ian, all suggestions greatly received. I'm not sure about the sunroof either, I just followed the marked out lines of it, and threw paint at them. Hope it's not my best going by time allowed on them! Flurescent Y/O/G Touring car on previous page is still my favourite.

Here is Ryan's set

Taken from a KG Graphics picture he sent.

[eyeayen]

Hope it's not my best going by time allowed on them! Flurescent Y/O/G Touring car on previous page is still my favourite.

Personally I think the buggy I commented above has the strongest design, it's simplicity and the way you've used the colours looks better than the TC. Individual taste though I guess.

[U1timate PigDog]

Another nice looking set matey :thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

I'm not a fan of simplicity, I wan't to master the complicated stuff haha. Though I feel my £10 airbrush isn't up to much now, it's got alot of play in the trigger, so might invest in a £20 one.:drool:

[eyeayen]

Though I feel my £10 airbrush isn't up to much now, it's got alot of play in the trigger, so might invest in a £20 one.:drool:

Can't you take it apart and adjust it to get another shell or two out of it, you paid a lot for it you may as well get your money's worth :thumbsup:

I hear the thirty pound ones are where it's at if you wanna push the boat out.

[Rodrego]

I have to say, Im really looking forward to getting my mits on my news shells.

Thanks again Steven. You've made an old racer very happy!:thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

Touring car should be a breaze after trying to cut this funny looking thing out.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture449.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture450.jpg

[eyeayen]

Simple and effective paint mate, very cool !

[terryh]

Touring car should be a breaze after trying to cut this funny looking thing out.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture449.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture450.jpg

Those colours look familiar mate........nice
:thumbsup:

[U1timate PigDog]

Seems like every new body you do lately we say the same but this really does look like its one of your best, nice job :thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

Seems like every new body you do lately we say the same but this really does look like its one of your best, nice job :thumbsup:

Suits me, it's what this thread is about, a natural progression in the quality of the work with a few mess ups along the way. And with the help of RCS products and peoples feedback of course ;)

I bought a £20 airbrush this time, it seems twice as good, maybe there's a pattern, i'll find out when this one blows up:drool:

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture453.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture461.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture462.jpg

[julianb]

Imagine how good things will get when you bite the bullet and avail yourself of an Iwata....

;-)

J

[U1timate PigDog]

looks very slick really like the front design and the colours are really nice too :thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

Imagine how good things will get when you bite the bullet and avail yourself of an Iwata....

;-)

J

Checking out the specs I was dissapointed they don't change the paint for you, so left it ;)

[coleman758]

Hey Steve,

That last shell looks wicked, You can see a clear step up in your shells :thumbsup:, That orange fade is tight as anything!

I just got a Iwata HP-CH nearly £200 so my work should be 10X better!!

[eyeayen]

Nice mate, great colours, good design, not too busy and you've got lots going on with the simple fogging around the edge of the colours :thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

Afraid my photo skills let me down alot as usual, in natural light it don't come out quite right, they'll have to do though. Design could of been a little better, but it should look pretty sharp mounted and stickered up.

Thanks for looking.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture416.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture450-1.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture434.jpg

[eyeayen]

Looks sharp mate, very very tidy ! Photo's aren't too bad mate, have you got a tripod for your camera, try setting a longer exposure on the camera rather than using flash. Still looks cool though, you need a bigger bit of white card so you can use it for the side shots too :thumbsup:

[U1timate PigDog]

looks wicked mate, nice and slick :thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

Not sure if this is much better? It's a bit crooked :drool:

Don't have a tri-pod unfortunatly, maybe I should pick one up?

Deffinatley need a bigger white or black sheet! I'll have a look around tomorrow lunchtime.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture469-1.jpg

[coleman758]

:thumbsup: Looks top!

That chrome pinstripe looks tight!!

[Steveonamission]

:thumbsup: Looks top!

That chrome pinstripe looks tight!!

Technically it's "silver & white" but appreciate the compliment, getting there, slowly :thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

Andy Murrays 2012 revamp. Green hasn't come out right in the pictures, it's a lighter, brighter green. Thanks for looking.
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture517.jpg
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture503.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture515.jpg

[eyeayen]

Looks cool mate, I especially like the green theme carried through into the headlight, nice touch !

[Steveonamission]

Looks cool mate, I especially like the green theme carried through into the headlight, nice touch !

Sweet, thanks!

Back with this.

As always thanks for looking and commenting.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture507-1.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture510.jpg

[Steveonamission]

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture523.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture528.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture529.jpg

[U1timate PigDog]

very nice work, love the use of the mesh looks real smart and great design, good stuff keep it up.

[eyeayen]

They look really good, you have an eye for colours definitely !

[Steveonamission]

Really? I think I struggle, maybe I'm not as bad as I thought. Need to get a few stencils going and try some ghosting to bring shells to life, or something!, feel that i'm lacking in so many areas.

[eyeayen]

feel that i'm lacking in so many areas.

WHY ? :confused:

You create good designs, something a lot of people who paint body shells seem to miss, they just chuck stuff down where as yours at least look designed ! The colours you use compliment each other and from what I can see in the pictures they look well executed. I'd say you should give yourself a bit more credit dude !

[Steveonamission]

Obviously I'm taking it too seriously, which is silly as it's just a hobby for me. I've always been quite harsh on myself with creative work, always telling myself it needs to be better, do it better! Why did you do it like that? etc :D

What I really mean is I can do the basics pretty well now (I think), but I feel I need to be adding more design elements to the work to have that wow factor, rather than just a nice looking shell.

WHY ? :confused:

You create good designs, something a lot of people who paint body shells seem to miss, they just chuck stuff down where as yours at least look designed ! The colours you use compliment each other and from what I can see in the pictures they look well executed. I'd say you should give yourself a bit more credit dude !

[Steveonamission]

Back with a couple more TC's. A pin around the triangle thing on the bonnet would of finished the orange one off better looking at it, not sure why I didn't do it, as I did the one on the back of the roof, meh! Pretty happy with it though anyway, personally felt it was a step in the right direction for cleaner work.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture535.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture556.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture550.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture554.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture552.jpg

[eyeayen]

DUde get a white sheet or a towel or something and drape it over the chair, will be much better for the photographs !

Liking the design on the orange one, the green one looks cool too but you've not shown the side shot ???

You're right a pin line would have just held that edge but it looks a good job without it, clean, sharp, good colours, what more can you ask for.

[Steveonamission]

Oww I got told off by the master :lol:

I'm too lazy obviously...

Added the side picture, nothing too exciting!

[eyeayen]

Oww I got told off by the master :lol

Who's that then ??? :rolleyes:

Side shot looks good ! ( Obviously barring the white sheet :p )

[Steveonamission]

Prefer the orange one out the two, looks smarter to me, all good practise though.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture591.jpg
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture605.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture607.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture621.jpg

[eyeayen]

You should of used a brighter orange :lol:

Both look very good.

I prefer the other one actually. Maybe more on the design side of things ? It's the pink pin line ( although i think that would look good in other colours too ), I think that and the same colour in the side detail make it, as I said though, both look cool.

[ginge]

Nice work. Both looks good

[Steveonamission]

Haha, thanks Ian.

Thanks ginge, appreciate it.

Lacking imagination I think, but I prefer the racey looking stuff.

[Steveonamission]

Keith's mini thing

Apologies for the poor picture.

[Steveonamission]

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture643.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture650.jpg

[eyeayen]

Nice to see someone using different colours ! Looking good dude :thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture658.jpg

[Steveonamission]

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture661.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture669.jpg

[U1timate PigDog]

Now that one I like, not as keen on the blue one but the last one looks real smart, Nice work.:thumbsup:

[eyeayen]

Love the blue and pink on that one but not liking the rear being so dark.

The pink purple green all go well together, good colour choices.

[Steveonamission]

Thanks Grahem, nice to have you pop in.

Ian - Expected it to go dark which I didn't want, but I didn't do anything to not let that happen! Never mind.

To anyone that actually takes a look at my thread, I'd like just to mention how helpful these two guys are with advice, especially Ian who took the time out to talk to me about how I should go about improving my level if I want to take it further. Though with studying, working and racing, it's a tough thing to do, maybe stop the shells for a while and pick up that airbrush technique book.

Cheers guys.

Adding to that, if anyone who does look in, I'd appreciate people giving constructive critism on what I need to improve on, though even I can notice my work has improved in quality, even if isn't to everyones taste and a little repetative in design.

[U1timate PigDog]

Cheers mate and no problem, Ian always gives great advice and like you say very friendly and helpful, in fact most of the guys on this site are which is what makes coming on here so good.

Your paint work has become really good and I often like looking at your designs, there bright, well done and in the main just my style, in fact I hadn't realised it had been so long since I last posted but I really like the ones you have previously done on this page, the orange is really nice and I love the design on the red one, thats very cool, then the next set of are also really nice designs and look very well done too !!

I wouldnt say your designs are repetitive, its just your style and having a style is what makes it your own. Keep up the nice work.:thumbsup:

[cutting edge]

Your shells are looking good mate :thumbsup: . A friend of mine bought one of yours from Ebay a couple of weeks ago and we both agreed that you need to put a bit of clear tape on where the wheel nuts are on a touring car shell , to make it easyer to cut it out and mount it ....

Thats my little bit of constructive critisism apart from that great stuff
and maybe do your own website to upload your shells to so people can see what you have done and maybe order shells in the colours they want

Just a thought mate you could get a weebly site up amd running in an evening

check out mine i know you have seen it before but its free and simple to do www.car69.me.uk

Trev

[Steveonamission]

Hey Trev,

I think sometimes I just forget, usually I square off a piece of liquid mask on the wheel arches, but noted, thanks.

Had a go at my scheme ...
Much better than my first attempt that's for sure , still work to do on the next attempt.

[Nas]

If i may say,the attention to detail is Beautiful!.

Great job.

Thanks.

[eyeayen]

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture703.jpg

I really like this except the white going over the roof, the idea is good but the rest of the car has different shapes where as the white on the roof is the same shape, if you've made the front and back different I think ( in my own opinion ) it would have made it better.

That said it's a nice paint job and looks well executed.

[U1timate PigDog]

Nice looking body, love all the touring car designs and theyre all looking great, really like the pink edge to this one :thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

You got the correct thread Nasir? Haha, thanks!

Ian- Totally agree, apart from it's silver rather than white, but the roof even looks like an after thought to me. Jon did an amazing version for me of the roof a while back, looked like ghosting, which haven't a clue how to do, respect to him haha.

Been discussing with Grahem about the design, possibly the front should of been pushed back as there's alot of black going on. I did alot of silver streaking in places but didn't put it down enough. I also don't like the shape of the top section of the bonnet, in between the two longer spikey things, looks like a little wiggle thing (wow i'm being technical), would of been better with a shaper shape.




http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture691.jpg

[julianb]

Hey bud, looking good. I think you need to make sure you back the lighter colours with white or silver, should help stop them muddying up as the darker colours go on.

cheers Ju

[Steveonamission]

Think it's time I put some money aside for some good equipment, barely coped last night with the cheapo set, airbrush sprays terrible now and the compressor took 10 minutes to get to 40psi, sick...of...it, you thinking that might be on the way out? :)

Anyway, just about managed a repeat design for someone.

[jonmiller]

Looking good Steve.

I am hoping to get some new brushes in soon so stay tuned ;) :)

[julianb]

Looking good Steve.

I am hoping to get some new brushes in soon so stay tuned ;) :)
Anything for fine detail mate?

My Iwata is going to be treated to a new nozzle and needle very soon, but a new brush for finer stuff might be nice...

cheers

Ju

[Steveonamission]

Looking good Steve.

I am hoping to get some new brushes in soon so stay tuned ;) :)


Oki doke, look forward to what you come up with, gotta be a drastic improvement on the crap I've been buying :woot:

[jonmiller]

Steve - haha..I would hope it would be :D

JB - They will be 0.3mm so are capable of detail and for medium coverage.

Note:They will be branded brushes, not Chinese chuckaway :woot:

[eyeayen]

Looking good Steve, especially if everything is as bad as you say it is ! You've done a cracking job and pulled it out if your compressor is failing ? Might just need a service ? You'll know if it's being over worked because they just stop...

[Steveonamission]

I've got something else to tidy me over for now, but will be looking at getting a budget bambi to replace it with at the end of the month.

Made a few mess ups with this one, sides are not as good as they should have been, but i'll make sure the next one will be better :woot:

[eyeayen]

I really like that ( but then again I am partial to blue and orange :lol: ), design looks cool, you should be happy with that.

[ginge]

Nice looking shell
Good work

[AK.customz]

Nice work love the colours, I've just got a Bambi bb24 very impressed and so quite you can spray through the night:woot:

[eyeayen]

I've just got a Bambi bb24 very impressed and so quite you can spray through the night:woot:

:lol: I'm not the only one then...

[andys]

Love the blue and orange touring car shell.
Very nice colour choice :)

Is it all liquid mask - if so there's a lot of very tidy - delicate cutting going on there !

How long does it take you to paint one from start to finish ?

[Steveonamission]

Yep all liquid mask

Depends if I've planned it out well or not, or the complexity of the design, but usually, 4 hours-ish maybe.

Appreciate all the nice comments, getting more confident doing them with each one.

[Mike Parker]

Really liking the last tourer Steve, good design & choice of colours - Looks really sound :)

When it comes to the design on the sides it looks good mate, only thing I would have looked at is continuing with the black shading between the white tribal & the flo orange.... Other than that tho lots of +'s to take away from it :thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

Really liking the last tourer Steve, good design & choice of colours - Looks really sound :)

When it comes to the design on the sides it looks good mate, only thing I would have looked at is continuing with the black shading between the white tribal & the flo orange.... Other than that tho lots of +'s to take away from it :thumbsup:

Ooo, Mr Parker stopped in! Nice to have you comment.

I've got the black shading between the blue and white, although I think a pin around the white parts would of been the ticket.

Anyway enough of that, next...

I've got an 8th scale to start this evening, a little scared of it if i'm honest! Looks a tad awkward to get paint/mask down the side gaps.

[eyeayen]

Looks a tad awkward to get paint/mask down the side gaps.

Is it an XB8 shell ? they're a whole load of fun :lol:

[Steveonamission]

Is it an XB8 shell ? they're a whole load of fun :lol:


Sorry, 8th scale on-road, Protoform 909 or something.

Only way I can see doing it is masking tape the fins and then liquid mask over the tape, as I can already see it being a disaster trying to remove liquid mask from such a deep tight gap.

[U1timate PigDog]

I think Ive commented but Yep that last body is very cool!!!!! :thumbsup:

and as for the fins just liquid mask them, providing you've put it on thick enough and its dry then it will peel just as normal.

Good luck and keep them coming!!!

[jonmiller]

lookin good steve.


8th pan are fine, it's the 10th pan you'll learn to hate ;) :lol:

[lochness42]

8th pan are fine, it's the 10th pan you'll learn to hate ;) :lol:

I belive you mean 12th pan car shells :p

[Steveonamission]

Couple of Tc's done.
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture792.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture793.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture804.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture806.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture805.jpg

[jonmiller]

Lookin good steve

Sorry, thanks for the correction pav! :D

[ginge]

Two nice shells:thumbsup:

[eyeayen]

Both quality but loving the design on the Pink / Purple one. That would translate perfectly too a buggy too, nice work !

[U1timate PigDog]

again both look great, personally I like the blue/green best but both look really nice. Good work !!

[Steveonamission]

What a nice pleasant bunch you all are =]

Had a bit of shocking time with this one, user error being tight with the liquid mask, just about saved it, sort of...

[eyeayen]

WOAH - You need to put a warning on that, HOW BRIGHT is it ??? :cool: Looks cool though, great colours :thumbsup:

[chris_dono]

Enough with the tourers Steve... where's that 8th shell ? :D

[Steveonamission]

It was too bright in my opinion!

I re-painted mine in a rush for tomorrow. I'm really happy with it compared to the previous effort, much how RCS did it for me, just not quite as good, but Jon is the paint master of the world so can't complain!

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture841.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture840.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture843.jpg

[jonmiller]

too kind buddy :lol:

yer getting there mate and an improvement over the first version as you say.
does look a little rushed as mentioned, like the red pins etc.

bash it, trash it n paint another! :)


just had to dig that one out to jog the memory. was quite cool looking through my pb album to find it, alot of shells i had forgotten about/not seen in awhile

http://s101.photobucket.com/albums/m56/jonmills/?action=view&current=Picture007-12.jpg

[Steveonamission]

Yep, it's not all there, just the style of it was what I was looking to improve on compared to the previous. Wanted to atleast leave 24 hours to cure.

Your one was epic, as was the revamp, which I don't think you took a picture of? Looked even better in the flesh.

too kind buddy :lol:

yer getting there mate and an improvement over the first version as you say.
does look a little rushed as mentioned, like the red pins etc.

bash it, trash it n paint another! :)


just had to dig that one out to jog the memory. was quite cool looking through my pb album to find it, alot of shells i had forgotten about/not seen in awhile

http://s101.photobucket.com/albums/m56/jonmills/?action=view&current=Picture007-12.jpg

[Steveonamission]

deleted.

[saintnitro]

lmao :woot::woot: everyone needs decals
yep its all mine cant wait cheers steve

Ginge

[Steveonamission]

And finally I bought myself a Bambi and it turned up yesturday, what a luxury to have constant pressure, although not sure it will make a difference in my ability but just makes for a much more enjoyable hobby

Col @ Kamtecs GT1


http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture873.jpg


http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture881.jpg

[colin367]

Cheers Steve, i'll get the next one to you in the next few days.

Looks brilliant

Col

[Steveonamission]

One for a local guy.
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture976.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture975.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture1001.jpg

[jonmiller]

nice :thumbsup:

[Sk3tch]

That blue looks brilliant. Nice work man!

[Zooberg]

Nice!

looks like sewdish driver Magnus Vässmars shell.

http://ets.redrc.net/wp-content/gallery/ets-1112-round-6-traiskirchen-austria/fri-mybergvassmar.jpg

[Steveonamission]

Nice to have some pro's comment, thanks very much! :drool:
For another local.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture1026.jpg

[Steveonamission]

Lol.... A buggy shell.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture1046.jpg

[U1timate PigDog]

Loving these last 2 dude they both look great, the lights are super cool on the tourer and the buggy just looks wicked.

Great work :thumbsup:

[jonmiller]

buggy looks very tidy mate, nice1 steve
:thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

Thanking you very much, maybe a bit of design work at the top would of improved things, but I was happy enough.

[Steveonamission]

Another for Colin @ Kamtec

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture1090.jpg

Also have a painting price list.

These are fixed prices and include unlimited colours and design of your choice.

Touring car - £20
GT12 - £15
4wd Off-road - £20
2wd Off-road - £15

Anything else please contact me.

[jonmiller]

Dont sell yerself short dude, your work is worth more than that ;)

[U1timate PigDog]

Dont sell yerself short dude, your work is worth more than that ;)

:thumbsup:

[Wynney]

Have to say, think those prices are way too cheap! £20 for a touring car; with the amount of paint they take!

[ralphee]

Agreed, your work is very nice indeed, and worth more for sure, love the TC shells on this page!

lee

[whittaker52]

Absolutely beautiful paint finishes on those touring car shells!

[eyeayen]

Nice jobs, all look good and clean. Your prices are half what they should be. A lot of us who do this are perfectionists and don't really feel happy with some of the jobs we do but it's no reason ( as Jon so rightly said ) to sell yourself short.

[Steveonamission]

I'm fine with the prices. Remember this is just an evening/ sometimes weekend hobby for me so i'm not relying on this as an income. Just thought i'd try to fill in the gap for intermediate level paint jobs, as not everyone can afford or want to pay £35 - 40 a paint job, unless it's truley amazing and right now even though I've started to produce nice work, they are in my opinion not worth 'Pro' prices.

But as always appreciate the kind comments.


- Sent from my HP

[julianb]

Hi Steve,

doing some nice stuff now bud, don't sell yourself short!!! - just a comment on your last post re: prices tho. Whilst it's only a hobby or part time thing for you, and isn't part of your income per se, spare a thought for the guys that do make a living at it, and might be undermined by such competitive pricing. I've had trouble trying to price stuff myself too, I certainly don't regard my work as pro level, so it's difficult to judge. How much should you charge? I guess my best retort when clubmates suck their teeth and say "What!", "How much!!!!", is to ask them how much they expect to earn for half a days work - and pay for the materials to do that work up front...certainly more than twenty or thirty quid I'd wager...

Having spent all my working life with high profile design consultancies, charging frankly, eye watering rates, it pains me to charge such a pittance for my creative skills. But the market is what it is. I'm not going to win many clients charging £20-30 an hour for custom paint.

I think we're all selling ourselves short tbh. As my old boss used to say, "Busy fools!".

Not a rant Steve, just an observation, hope you take it in the manner intended.

cheers
Ju

[eyeayen]

I have to totally agree with what Julian has said above. You might surprise yourself that you're still as busy even when you put your prices up !

If you worked in a Supermarket you'd earn roughly £50 for a days work. This however is skilled work that not everyone can do. You've had to buy paint and keep it in stock and you've also had to spend out on a compressor and airbrush. This is specialist stuff, it's not just people paying for your time it's paying for the knowledge to know how to produce what you do.

You're producing good quality work, and also, as Julian said, not a rant just an observation.

[andys]

Totally agree - I think the creative people on this forum price their time / work incredibly cheaply. I'd have to paint around 10 shells in one day to get near my normal day rate for my time. Impossible for me as it takes a day - or more to paint one shell.

I enjoy painting though - and enjoy sharing what I can do. No way I could ever make any money at it !

It would be nice if all the plumbers / electricians / mechanics etc offered their services to other forum users for around £30 a day - just a thought ;)

[Steveonamission]

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture1149.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture1148.jpg

[whittaker52]

Absolutely beautiful work!

[jonmiller]

very nice steve ;)

[Steveonamission]

Thanks guys.

Trying to improve with each one I do.

I got a Shop UFO touring car picture sent to me to do and I don't even know where to start with it!:(

And Jon clear ya inbox(:

[eyeayen]

Looks good Steve.

If you're trying to deconstruct another person's just just break it down into individual parts or every colours, forget the fades and stuff just look at the area's, then look at the detail.

Give me a shout if you're really stuck ?

[U1timate PigDog]

As previously said that body looks great dude, Very nice design and striking colours.

And the shop ufo paint jobs are amazing, would be nice to see a side by side comparison when your done with it matey :)

And best of luck.

[Steveonamission]

It's the detail of it that I don't think I'll get close to (the design isn't anything I can't cut out), but I don't think I've ever pushed myself since starting this (I've just tried to do simple and keep it clean,) so I'd like to give it a go.

Ian you will have PM =].... Email rather.

[Steveonamission]

Also I've tried to put more detail in my lights, but I struggle with mutliple radius circles when freehanding, so I tried putting my scalpel in a compass, but that didn't work too well! Any tips? If it's just practice, I don't wan't to hear it ;) I guess vinyl cut ones would be a right treat, a vinyl cutter would be a treat even, Santa?!

[jonmiller]

inbox cleared out a bit

get various sized vinyl circles for the lights

[julianb]

I use an olfa circle cutter - readily available from the stationers or craft store, and some vinyl mask - Oramask 810. John sells a similar product.

Give it a try. Easy as 3.14 recurring...

Oh, best job yet mate. Very nice!

[Steveonamission]

Oki doke, thanks Jon and Julian, always something else to buy....

Received a fantastic email from Ian (nearly a page long) regarding a break down of the SHOP UFO design, what an awesome guy. But I need practice with transparants/fine detail first....

Will make sure I post up the original for a comparison.

And to all that have commented, much appreciated.

[andys]

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture1149.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture1148.jpg

Love it !!!!

[Steveonamission]

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture1182.jpg

Supastox pairing with the same design, just different colours.

[Steveonamission]

The price of a painted Supastox shell has gone up to £20, simply because they take just as long as a TC.

Thanks.

[Steveonamission]

Double post.

[Steveonamission]

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture1397.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture1391.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Picture1389.jpg



A repeat order for Don Irvine.

Half of the credit goes to Ian (Paint by Ian) as he's been helping me through multiple emails. Looks pretty good in person, much happier with the sides compared to the last attempt, give or take a couple of bits that could still do with improvement, but that's just me being too critical probably.

[eyeayen]

That looks like it's come out well Steven ! :thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

It did, thankyou, always looking forward to improving though.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/edited80-1.jpg

[eyeayen]

Looks nice Steven, lots going on, some neat lines there !

[Steveonamission]

An appalling phone photo of Simon Hibberd's. He collected it straight away, 10 minutes after I finished it at night, so it's not my fault :p.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Edited_zps12ded3e7.jpg

1st Of Colin Mulligan's (the next few to come shortly)

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/edited_zps142b7f6d.jpg

[julianb]

The price of a painted Supastox shell has gone up to £20, simply because they take just as long as a TC.

Thanks.

Still waaaay to cheap dude. There's no way I'd slog my guts out for several hours inc. materials for twenty quid!!!

Painting's looking good btw...

regards

J

[Steveonamission]

An appalling phone photo of Simon Hibberd's. He collected it straight away, 10 minutes after I finished it at night, so it's not my fault :p.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/CIMG0112.jpg

1st Of Colin Mulligan's (the next few to come shortly)

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/edited_zps142b7f6d.jpg

Still waaaay to cheap dude. There's no way I'd slog my guts out for several hours inc. materials for twenty quid!!!

Painting's looking good btw...

regards

J


I know, even the pro painters like yourself charge too little...

I'll re-think the prices when I've finished my website .

Thanks a lot.

[eyeayen]

I think the pricing of these is always difficult. There are a lot of factors to take into account. One being, what's going to win me the race a set of new tyres or a fancy shell paint job, in that sense the new tyres will literally win every time.

The other thing is these are TOY CARS I don't care what anyone says they're not scale models they're just expensive toys for those of us that don't like growing up, me included and I'm 40 next year :cry: so because they're toy cars it's just a hobby to most of us and therefore probably can't afford to pay a fortune.

Other than that the hours it takes to do these is incredible, well for a lot of people I know, obviously there are the super quick overly talented types that bang many out a day but for me I can just do them at my own pace, it's not my job so I just charge some money. You can't equate a proper hourly rate to them, I think mine averages about a pound an hour when I've taken into account design time, marking out the shell and then the quickest part of the job the paint work.

So fair enough if you or others on here don't want to charge people much so be it, I guess we're all price conditioned by each other but none of us are charging enough.

[Steveonamission]

:) ..

[julianb]

I think the pricing of these is always difficult. There are a lot of factors to take into account. One being, what's going to win me the race a set of new tyres or a fancy shell paint job, in that sense the new tyres will literally win every time.

The other thing is these are TOY CARS I don't care what anyone says they're not scale models they're just expensive toys for those of us that don't like growing up, me included and I'm 40 next year :cry: so because they're toy cars it's just a hobby to most of us and therefore probably can't afford to pay a fortune.

Other than that the hours it takes to do these is incredible, well for a lot of people I know, obviously there are the super quick overly talented types that bang many out a day but for me I can just do them at my own pace, it's not my job so I just charge some money. You can't equate a proper hourly rate to them, I think mine averages about a pound an hour when I've taken into account design time, marking out the shell and then the quickest part of the job the paint work.

So fair enough if you or others on here don't want to charge people much so be it, I guess we're all price conditioned by each other but none of us are charging enough.

+1 but my old gaffer would call us 'busy fools!'

cheers

Ju

[Steveonamission]

I understand, but I'm just an intermediate level painter so I charge intermediate paint prices at the moment. Haven't been painting that long, maybe a year in total, might not even be that and I'm grateful to the people who do come my way for a paint job.

I think the effort I put into each one for the prices I charge reflect it anyway, if I was being paid £40 for a touring car etc, I'd go all out on it. Maybe that's not right the attitude, but you get what you pay for as they say.

What's crap is I don't have time to practise much! :(

[julianb]

I'm by no means a pro painter either, and agree with everything both yourself and Ian say, but it just pains me to see skillful creative work valued so poorly, but i guess the market is what it is. I'm jacking in painting for anyone other than my lad or close friends - I have little time too, so it suits me better that way, just to scratch the creative itch when I feel like it.

Enjoy your painting, I guess that's really what it's all about...

cheers

J

[eyeayen]

Enjoy your painting, I guess that's really what it's all about...

Yeah whatever you charge you need to enjoy it and I think that's the best thing that's been said on here.

@ Julian, sorry to hear the above news fella.

[julianb]

Yeah whatever you charge you need to enjoy it and I think that's the best thing that's been said on here.

@ Julian, sorry to hear the above news fella.

Cheers dude,

not an earth shattering epiphany, just realised i was getting a bit burn't out with trying to keep up with requests, and have had my good nature taken advantage of on a couple of occasions recently which has left me out of pocket. I imagine it's a fairly familiar story to most painters on here. I do love the painting, but find that I tend to be a little more creative when it's my own shell and there's no pressure to avoid cock-ups.

Here's a tecchy question btw, I used black Plasticoat straight over the top of Chrome on two shells recently, and with the rough and tumble of racing, some of the chrome has flaked off. Would I be better to back the chrome with a waterbased black first, or is it more the case that the chrome wasn't cured enough before applying the Plasticoat. Never happened before, and keen to avoid it happening again.

cheers

J

[MrMagoo]

Assuming it's RCS or Alclad chrome, I always go with two light coats of waterbased black before any other colours. I've had some slight issues with chrome pins lifting when removing surrounding mask if I get a bit carried away, but never with it flaking in a crash.

TBH chrome gives me fits all round. Love the effect, hat working with it lol.

Julian, I know where your coming from mate. Ian and I were chatting about it on Sunday at TORCH. I'm getting back into painting ATM, after being out for a couple of years to concentrate on racing. Now I'm racing a bit less, and have more time in the evening (electrics take up so much less time than nitro:lol:) I'm looking to do more spraying. Constantly having to be 'on form' and producing the goods in terms of design and spraying is a lot more pressure than anyone who's never done it can imagine.

[eyeayen]

Guys we've hi-jacked Steve's thread :yawn:

We should let him have it back now !

Mods if you want to move the last 2 or 3 posts to a new thread called old guys talk rubbish please feel free.

[Steveonamission]

Doesn't bother me at all...

I have a technical question regarding chrome... Does it smell bad?

I paint in an abandoned conservatory you see , which is fully heated, but obviously connected to the house still and don't want smelly paint smells entering the house and intoxicating the rest of the family. I'm wondering would I need to run into the garage to spray the chrome, although the garage is not heated, so not sure if that would do the chrome application any good...

[eyeayen]

It is solvent paint so it will smell, the thinners you need to wash the brush out with will smell more.

And your right it will go on better if its warmer ! Just use the heat gun.

[julianb]

Cheers for the feedback, actually, I cheat and use Fastrax aerosol chrome. I find a few dusted coats flashed off in-between with the hairdryer works a treat, and then I don't have to worry about the solvent stink cleaning the airbrush. A bit of googling backs up your theories that it needs backing with waterbased first though.

The Plasticoat is just to waterproof the whole job. Works well, but has to be dusted on and flashed off immediately much like the chrome. Perhaps it etched into the chrome and loosened it from the polycarbonate surface, or made the paint more brittle in some way. Whatever, I've a touch up job on my hands!!!

[Steveonamission]

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/edited3.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Edited1.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/edited2.jpg

Not my design, it's a SHOP UFO's that someone liked and wanted me to give a go for them, I just remixed it a little.

[jonmiller]

nice1 buddy :)

most peeps won't appreciate it but a fair bit of work goes into a paint job like that ;)

[eyeayen]

Not my design, it's a SHOP UFO's that someone liked and wanted me to give a go for them, I just remixed it a little.

That's come out real well Steve, glad you got it done in the end ! As Jon said, lots of work in that, quite technical to get it correct, you've made a real nice job of it too !

[MrMagoo]

Lovely and clean, really liking the tourer. The colour combination is excellent.

[Steveonamission]

Thanks chaps, it did take too long. 10+ hours maybe...

[Steveonamission]

Nice bit of paint lifting went on in this one.

[Bosscat]

Steve,
'Scuse the ignorance but "paint lifting"??


Keith

[Steveonamission]

Let's assume you have backed a silver section with black, and you don't leave it enough time to dry (Steven zaps it with a hairdryer a little) . You go to lift the section off next to this backed silver and the black backing comes with it, leaving the silver naked :)

Hope this explains it :)

[Bosscat]

OK that makes sense Thanks

Are you allowed to use the term naked before the 9pm watershed??:lol:

[Steveonamission]

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Andysshell2_zpsf57d6d8e.jpg

[Steveonamission]

Andy Murrays set. Glad he went back to his old colours as I hate green.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/P10109162_zpse1efab11.jpg

Removed that silly white line I did going through the middle on his 1/12 on this one.


http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/P10108512_zps1688c55b.jpg


http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/P10109022_zps23ab8ae8.jpg

[Steveonamission]

Let's assume you have backed a silver section with black, and you don't leave it enough time to dry (Steven zaps it with a hairdryer a little) . You go to lift the section off next to this backed silver and the black backing comes with it, leaving the silver naked :)

Hope this explains it :)

Sorted that now, I just leave silver pins to dry 24 hours before removing the mask. Don't let people rush me anymore;)

[Steveonamission]

In the for sale section

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/P1010982_zps625cb1e3.jpg (http://s371.photobucket.com/user/Steveonamission2/media/P1010982_zps625cb1e3.jpg.html)

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/P10109882_zpsfa73bb04.jpg (http://s371.photobucket.com/user/Steveonamission2/media/P10109882_zpsfa73bb04.jpg.html)

[andys]

That tourer is Fan bloody tastic - love it :)

[U1timate PigDog]

That tourer is Fan bloody tastic - love it :)

Agreed very nice, especially the front section very nice work :thumbsup:

[Steveonamission]

Thanks very much, it is appreciated.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/Edited_zps7f925886.jpg

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/Steveonamission2/edited2-1_zps434d78da.jpg