Two Audi R8, berlinetta and spyder

[Rich Chernosky]

This project started back in 2008 when I aquired the Revell of Germany berlinetta kit.  It was sprayed then. When I aquired the spyder kit a few years later I stripped the berlinetta and painted them both the same. Color is a Wet "n" Wild nail polish called Bijou blue. It was sprayed over Mr Color #8 gold (70%) and Mr Color 317 grey (30%). Nail polish is slightly translucent so some of the base shows through. Both kits were polished last year and that was the incentive to finish them.  While both kits were made by Revell and look like they might share some parts there was very little they actually had in common other than being able to paint a lot of the parts at the same time. Assembly was a little time consuming because of the differences. But both kits came out to my liking . More info in the picture captions.

This is the v8 engine in the berlinetta. The spyder has a v-12 in it. Very little of this shows in the opening engine covers of both cars. But it has some nice detail. 

Interior of the spyder. There were many simialarities in this area so they were painted the same. Color is a mix of Tamiya LP's to get a soft blue grey. Brown insert is also and LP color. 

Side view of the berlinetta. I did not care for the dark "sail panel" that is in the middle of the real car. I filled in the lines and scribed a new panel line. Gives it a cleaner look in my opinion.

Back end of the berlinetta. Som,e nice detail here. The tail light over the rear engine cover was a real pain to fit.

Ride height and chassis fit on both kits was spot on and assembled no problems. 

Same for the spyder. Note the different wheels on both cars. Spyder has a seperate insert to cover the bolt pattern. Kinda cool. 

Window frame and rear louvers on the spyder were AK Stainless steel.  This stuff airbrushes sooo good. 

Spyder came with a removable soft top which I sprayed to match interior inserts.

Both kits together. If I had a choice  between both models it would be a hard decision. 

 

 

 

[Rattlecan Dan]

Nice-looking builds Rich. Nice clean job.

[Jim B]

Nice looking Audis.  Well done.

[espo]

Both are beautiful looking builds. I also agree with you on Audi's painted sail panels, thought they looked awkward. Great paint finishes and clean looking body trim. 

[slusher]

Great looking Audis!

[ChrisR]

Very nice!!

[70 Sting]

I like ‘em both.  Cool idea regarding the sail panels… they seems outta place for some reason.  Looks like the nail polish laid down beautifully - nice job with the polishing.  AK Xtreme Metalizers are awesome… just a little fragile.

I’ll bet those two look awesome side by side on your shelf.

[XYHARRY]

Great pair of R8s there Rich, and nice choice of colours too. Well done.

Cheers, 

David. ??

[Rich Chernosky]

21 hours ago, Rattlecan Dan said:

Nice-looking builds Rich. Nice clean job.

Thank you

 

19 hours ago, Jim B said:

Nice looking Audis.  Well done.

Thanks Jim

 

17 hours ago, espo said:

Both are beautiful looking builds. I also agree with you on Audi's painted sail panels, thought they looked awkward. Great paint finishes and clean looking body trim. 

Thank you David.  Glad to see I am not alone in my distaste for that styling cue. 

 

6 hours ago, slusher said:

Great looking Audis!

Thanks Carl

 

6 hours ago, ChrisR said:

Very nice!!

Thanks

 

4 hours ago, 70 Sting said:

I like ‘em both.  Cool idea regarding the sail panels… they seems outta place for some reason.  Looks like the nail polish laid down beautifully - nice job with the polishing.  AK Xtreme Metalizers are awesome… just a little fragile.

I’ll bet those two look awesome side by side on your shelf.

Harry....nail polish is difficult to spray. It dries way too fast when sprayed, most of the colors are translucent so what you spray over is critical and runs are a problem, plus it dries rock hard. Most pearlescent finishes can't be sanded any way. On the plus side there are thousands of cool colors to pick from and are relatively cheap. But they have to be clearcoated and luckily they are compatible with most. And ...yah.....,they look great in my Audi section.   Thanks. 

 

3 hours ago, XYHARRY said:

Great pair of R8s there Rich, and nice choice of colours too. Well done.

Cheers, 

David. ??

Thank you David, I have a huge selection of nail polish colours to choose from. 

 

[70 Sting]

7 hours ago, Rich Chernosky said:

 

12 hours ago, 70 Sting said:

I like ‘em both.  Cool idea regarding the sail panels… they seems outta place for some reason.  Looks like the nail polish laid down beautifully - nice job with the polishing.  AK Xtreme Metalizers are awesome… just a little fragile.

I’ll bet those two look awesome side by side on your shelf.

Harry....nail polish is difficult to spray. It dries way too fast when sprayed, most of the colors are translucent so what you spray over is critical and runs are a problem, plus it dries rock hard. Most pearlescent finishes can't be sanded any way. On the plus side there are thousands of cool colors to pick from and are relatively cheap. But they have to be clearcoated and luckily they are compatible with most. And ...yah.....,they look great in my Audi section.   Thanks. 

 

Thanks for the info Rich.  I've been meaning to give nail polish a try.  Tell me, do you test the colours on your nails while in the store?  ?

[Rich Chernosky]

29 minutes ago, 70 Sting said:

Thanks for the info Rich.  I've been meaning to give nail polish a try.  Tell me, do you test the colours on your nails while in the store?  ?

Harry...now that made me smile.  Nooooo...I don't. I usually do a test swatch over white cardboard. I will lay down a variety of base coats then spray over all of them and pick the one I like best.  Most of my nail polish has come from ex-girlfriends and ex-wifes of which I have a few.   I have a lot of extra and you are welcome to it as most  women never even come close to using it all. This will save you the embarassment of having to go to the store and buy it.

[70 Sting]

11 hours ago, Rich Chernosky said:

Harry...now that made me smile.  Nooooo...I don't. I usually do a test swatch over white cardboard. I will lay down a variety of base coats then spray over all of them and pick the one I like best.  Most of my nail polish has come from ex-girlfriends and ex-wifes of which I have a few.   I have a lot of extra and you are welcome to it as most  women never even come close to using it all. This will save you the embarassment of having to go to the store and buy it.

Might be cheaper to buy directly from the store rather than going the girlfriends/wives route.  ;^)

Isn’t nail polish kinda thick?  Do you thin it with acetone or nail polish remover?

[Rich Chernosky]

3 hours ago, 70 Sting said:

Might be cheaper to buy directly from the store rather than going the girlfriends/wives route.  ;^)

Isn’t nail polish kinda thick?  Do you thin it with acetone or nail polish remover?

Harry....straight acetone thins it the best. Nail polish remover has other additives in it.  Yes its kinda thick so it has to be thinned a lot. A heavy nozzle on the airbrush is recommended especially for the pearlescents. Spraying the pearl over a dark base also brings up the color faster. Spray at the lowest pressure possible. The more air in the stream the quicker it dries. I have had it dry so quick in the airstream that it spider-webs.

You are right...ex-wives and girlfriends was a very expensive hobby. Model cars is much cheaper which is all I can afford now. 

[70 Sting]

2 hours ago, Rich Chernosky said:

Harry....straight acetone thins it the best. Nail polish remover has other additives in it.  Yes its kinda thick so it has to be thinned a lot. A heavy nozzle on the airbrush is recommended especially for the pearlescents. Spraying the pearl over a dark base also brings up the color faster. Spray at the lowest pressure possible. The more air in the stream the quicker it dries. I have had it dry so quick in the airstream that it spider-webs.

You are right...ex-wives and girlfriends was a very expensive hobby. Model cars is much cheaper which is all I can afford now. 

Thanks again, Rich. ?

[PappyD340]

Very nice Audis!