Airfix Model World – September 2019

ADVANCED BUILD
MERCEDES-AMG GT3

ADVANCED BUILD

MERCEDES-AMG GT3

http://www.airfi xmodelworld.com 57

rings and AMG calliper sides.

A thin application of Citadel

Nuln Oil shade muted these

items and added scale depth,

and the suspension springs

and dampers were painted in

accordance with the instructions.

Although supplied as decals, the

wheels had their front and rear

‘colour coding’ hand-brushed

onto selected spokes with Mr.

Hobby H-26 Bright Green and

H-43 Wine Red. Tyre contact

surfaces were scrubbed with a

rough sanding stick to replicate

wear, before each wheel and tyre

assembly was masked, so the

PE template could be positioned

in readiness for a light airbrush

of X-8 Lemon Yellow. The result

proved so much better than

decals and featured a convincing

feathering to the edges. Wheels

were attached via poly caps and

then both the lower chassis and

interior were mated, followed by

a quick test-fit of the body before

final construction.

“Taking their time...”

The main body was set aside to

cure while work continued on

the interior, after which Studio

27’s carbon fibre decals were

applied around the windows and

onto the front aerodynamics.

The rear wing assembly received

its carbon areas at the same

time, with the aid of Mr. Mark

Setter/Softer NEO solutions

and a hairdryer. The quality of

these carbon decals was superb

• thin enough to conform to the
  complex curves of the body and
  other shapes, but sufficiently
  robust to survive handling.

A combination of SK Decals

SK-24077 and Slotfabrik SF-D24-

001 decals was applied over

several evenings. This was my

favourite part of the project, as

the scheme was built in stages

towards the big finale, and

everything was sealed with H-30

Gloss Clear, after which the body

was set aside for a week to cure.

Tamiya Polishing Compounds

(87068 Coarse, 87069 Fine and

87070 Finish) were employed

to buff the shell to a gorgeous

shine using the corresponding

87090 Compound Applicator

cloth. A Pentel 0.03mm pigment

liner gave scale depth to the

of X-8 Lemon Yellow. The result

proved so much better than

decals and featured a convincing

feathering to the edges. Wheels

• thin enough to conform to the
  complex curves of the body and
  other shapes, but sufficiently
  robust to survive handling.

the scheme was built in stages

towards the big finale, and

everything was sealed with H-30

Gloss Clear, after which the body

shine using the corresponding

87090 Compound Applicator

cloth. A Pentel 0.03mm pigment

liner gave scale depth to the

“A Pentel 0.03mm pigment

liner gave scale depth to

the panel shut lines”

 The manufacturer’s logos were sprayed onto the tyre walls via a PE template; contact

patches were distressed to show wear, while the green and wine-red spokes were hand-painted.

 The body shell also received carbon fibre decals on the window surrounds and front

aerodynamic areas.

 Side-by-side comparison of the kit-supplied radiator (left) and Hobby Design’s multi-part

PE item (right), highlighting the latter’s refinement.