'66 Chevy Impala

**Rata** · #1 09-22-2019, 04:58 PM

Up until recently my nephew owned the real thing but had to sell her to fund a deposit on a home for his wife and young family.
This Revell 1/25 model was about 90% complete but shelved when I took up paper modelling. I dusted it off and finished it yesterday and will present it to my nephew as part of a house warming gift.
It's pretty close to how his full size actually looked. Paint is cheap artist's acrylic, thinned with Windex and airbrushed on. Oversprayed with Future Floor Polish and polished with Tamiya compound.

**gotham** · #2 09-23-2019, 03:40 AM

Nice, clean work.

**Rata** · #3 09-23-2019, 04:35 AM

Thanks gotham.

**panzerlite** · #4 09-23-2019, 10:48 AM

Hmmm... I must have a heavy hand... Everytime I try to polish out the clear coat I burn through the edges.
(Did you use Bare Metal Foil for the trim... or is that paint?)

All my best!

**rockpaperscissor** · #5 09-23-2019, 10:56 AM

Beautiful job. The extra detailing under the hood really makes her pop. Is the Windex you use clear or blue? Do you prime the model first? How many coats are needed for adequate coverage? I wonder if your painting technique would work on military vehicles (except for the Future top coat).

**whulsey** · #6 09-23-2019, 11:02 AM

Nice work on the Chev. Will keep the idea of artist acrylic with Pledge overcoat in the tricks bag. Only negative is a personal taste in that I can't stand most of these new style big wheels. Those look better then most.

**Rata** · #7 09-23-2019, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panzerlite

Hmmm... I must have a heavy hand... Everytime I try to polish out the clear coat I burn through the edges.
(Did you use Bare Metal Foil for the trim... or is that paint?)

That's the BIG downside with this painting method. Until that clear coat(s) goes on the paint has virtually zero durability. And when polishing, the only real way is to not rub too hard on the edges.

I ran out of Bare Metal and it's getting so damn expensive here I tried the old household aluminium foil stuck on in oversize strips with PVA white glue and trimmed with a new SHARP hobby blade when dry. Excess dried glue is gently removed with a damp cotton bud (Q Tip). Aluminium foil is slightly thicker than Bare Metal but seems to retain it's 'chrome' look better with age.

**Rata** · #8 09-23-2019, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockpaperscissor

Is the Windex you use clear or blue? Do you prime the model first? How many coats are needed for adequate coverage? I wonder if your painting technique would work on military vehicles (except for the Future top coat).

The Windex is blue which doesn't seem to affect the paint colour.
With reds and yellows I 'prime' first with a medium grey acrylic. Does nothing for durability but the top colour is more solid looking and even.
I guess you could use this paint on military models, but often the colour range with these paints is limited.

**Rata** · #9 09-23-2019, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whulsey

Only negative is a personal taste in that I can't stand most of these new style big wheels. Those look better then most.

I hear ya. These wheels are only on there because the real car had similar.
Maybe I'm too old school to me these look MUCH better:

**whulsey** · #10 09-23-2019, 08:05 PM

Now there's some proper 60's wheels!