I recently purchased a Revell 1/24 scale new VW Beetle and I’m looking at customizing it a bit to make it more unique. What I’m looking at doing is doing up the front seats so they look like they have seat covers. And on those seat covers I’d like a picture of WB’s Tweety Bird. (I’ve checked out the links on the forum for custom decal products)
I’m assuming I’d use a decal for the image on the seat cover but I’m not sure how to make it look like an actual seat cover and not just a painted seat with a Tweety decal on it.
I’m not overly new to model making, I did it years ago as a kid and now am starting to get back into it so I’m not a complete beginner, just a little rusty. 
Thanks!
I’m assuming you want to simulate cloth?
Welcome to our crazy little corner of the web [8D]
Check in the auto forum. I remember reading about a technique over there about using tissue to realistically simulate carpeting. I think it used tissue paper and white glue. I think someone also mentioned that some company sells scale flocking material that looks like carpet and other material.
Assuming I didn’t imagine the whole thing, it should work just as well for a seat cover.
-Fred
I seem (seam?) to remember that too, Fred.
There is another technique that I have used with some success. Find some very fine screen mesh, around 200 mesh or finer. Wet it with solvent cement, and press lightly against the area you want to look like cloth. This impresses the mesh pattern on the plastic. This has the advantage that you can apply decals over it.
Thanks for all the help! I did check out the auto section and have now decided to try some flocking as well! I’ll try this on the floor first then I’ll decide if it’ll look OK on the seat cover. I found a lot of these techniques but I’m curious how I can apply the image. Whether I glue actual fabric to the seat, use the first aid tape, flock it or something else entirely, how can I put the image on there? If I made a customer decal, would it stick to the seats after they’ve been customized? I may try out the first aid tape thing, and using the iron on transfers do up the Tweety image. I guess the best thing I can do is experiment.
Also, do you have to pick up flocking at a model store? Or can you find something similar at say a Walmart or Canadian Tire? The reason I ask is because I live in a small town without any hobby stores. Our nearest one is like an hour away and I can’t keep running there all the time.
Only solution for sure that I can tell you would be to attach some flocking to some sheet styrene (the same way you’re going to be attaching it to the car seat) and make a couple of tweety decals and just try different methods.
There is one way that I can think of and I know it’s going to sound way strange. Try making a scaled seat cover from an old cotton t-shirt, then create the decal as an iron-on.
Or, and this my be an easy cheat, take same low grit sandpaper and really scuff up the seat so it appears to have texture. Next, paint the seat whatever color you want the seat cover to be. Then soak the decal in decal setting solution to soften it up and apply it to the seat. After it’s had a bit of time to start drying (but not dry), soak it in solvent so that it really conforms to the seat.
Just some half-assed ideas.
-Fred
I tried the cloth tape and iron transfer method with some success. I did up a quick tutorial as well. (Mostly as reference for me for the next time I want to do seat covers. LOL)
The URL is: http://www.nightcat-online.com/otherdownloads/CustomizedSeatCover.pdf
Here’s some pics of the end product:
I think that looks really sharp! I’m gonna try your method on a practice model I have laying around. It’s always good to have another technique tried and proven and ready to go!
That’s awesome! Nice job on the tuturial too…
Testors Lacquer paint has a Fabric line in sprays and bottles for airbrush. It actually makes a fabric texture on whatever you spray it on. I think it comes in white, black, grey , and tan. It works pretty well, you can achieve different amounts of textures by varing how far you hold the spray can from the surface. They also have a vinyl roof spray too. Scale motorsports has a line of decal upholstery that looks good as well.
Thanks for the info. I’ll have to check it out the next time I’m in the hobby shop.
Those seat covers look pretty good. Im building an International Scout II for my dad and I was thinking of doing something like this. I got the same problem living in a small town and not having any LHS, it’s usually scavenging around the recycling and backyard for my materials.
Post some pics of your VW when your finished, I dont think Ive ever met a female modeller other than a sculptor. Itd be nice to see your work.
Sure, I can take some pics when I’m finished. Most of today was spent fighting with the spray paint for the body. All the coats went on fine except the last one, it had that lovely orange peel effect so now I’m working at smoothing it out.
Also when I was at the hobby store yesterday I met a guy there and this weekend they are having a display at the science center so I’m planning on going there and have a look around. And apparently this club is having a modeling competition in the near future so I’m hoping that I can get this car finished and if it’s good enough, I may just enter it in. I’m a bit apperhensive because it’s been years since I did my last model and I’m trying a bunch of new things out. The last thing I want is to come across as a newbie trying to pass as a seasoned modeler! LOL
In regards to your orange peel. Have you tried a high grit sanding/polishing system? Gurantee that it will remove that orange pee and also give you a professional automotive finish when you are done! Way better then Future Floor Polish will ever get your! I used it on a practice model that had orange peel and was just stunned and the transformation! There are several different companies that you can get it from rangeing in price from 8 bucks to 20 bucks. I got the more expensive one because I didn’t know about the cheaper ones and will get the cheaper ones next time! Good luck!
Matt
I pretty much got rid of the orange peel by sanding but had a bit more problems getting rid of the air bubbles. It almost looked like little craters in the paint. I sanded those out and used an exacto knife when they were a bit deeper but I think I’ve solved the problem. I’ll find out tonight when I try to repaint it.