SPA Modeler

Many thanks John for the very detailed and informative information regarding how to build the IP panel!



Can hardly wait to see the next steps regarding the clear acetate and how it will be attached --


- Kari

Continuing with the assembly of the Aires instrument panel, the major pieces are spray painted RLM 66 Dark Grey. This is also the appropriate time to do some detail painting. I've chosen to highlight the bezels around each instrument primarily in black but also one in yellow and couple in blue.


The clear acetate is stuck face-down onto the sticky side of a Post-It and the gauge areas are sprayed in white.



When you flip the acetate over, you'll see that the white provides necessary contrast with the black print to create finely detailed instrument faces. And the shiny side of the acetate replicates the glass instrument dials nicely.


A quick check of the center instrument cluster to see how the acetate lines up with the painted photoetch. You want to finish the photoetch parts at this stage, including the flat coat, in order to preserve the shiny acetate faces of the dials.


The acetate instrument clusters are carefully cut out using scissors and glued onto their corresponding photoetch panels, making sure that all of the the instruments are centered. I used white glue for this step.


I haven't glued the photoetch panels to the resin instrument panel since there is some detail painting that I still need to do on that resin piece.

Looking real good John. Those IP PE & acetate sandwiches do look the part.

That looks amazing and thank you for walking us through your procedure.

Many thanks John,

For me this has been really a big learning session ! I have never even thought of adding paint to the acetat, but makes total sense!

Really helpful instructions, appreciated a lot!

- Kari

Looks great! See what a new car can do for you?

KSaarni wrote:
For me this has been really a big learning session ! I have never even thought of adding paint to the acetat, but makes total sense!

Another option is to put a matching size piece of white sheet styrene, or even white paper, behind the acetate to do the same thing.

Another option is to put a matching size piece of white sheet styrene, or even white paper, behind the acetate to do the same thing.[/quote]

Aah, a great idea that also, thanks Carlos!



- Kari

Wow....

Thanks guys! I appreciate the comments. Played some poker for the first time in over a year last night but should be able to hop back onto this build over the weekend.

LyleW wrote:Looks great! See what a new car can do for you?

Yup! Enjoying the new car buzz!