VIA F40PH-2D modelling by Tim Hayman

June 1, 2024 - Here is the latest work from Master Tim, this time involving a tune-up on factory-painted Rapido CBC 6403. While he had earlier painted two wrap units (Kool Aid and Telus shown below), Tim never felt overly keen on the idea of painting a CBC unit due to the more complex colour fades in various places. Fortunately there was not much tune-up work needed on this RTR beauty. The main thing was to mimic the removed sunshades by taking the provided sunshade parts and cutting off the majority of the shade itself, to leave the appearance of the track remaining in place. Beyond that it was just the usual changes, like adjusting the wipers, making sure the uncoupling levers were appropriately angled, swapping out/painting the couplers, wheels, wipers, bug supports and other weathering by component.

The bulk of the remaining work involved detail painting and weathering, starting with grey paint on some latches and small vents behind the air filters. Tim opted to simulate air filter replacement with new silver frames by painting those and the bolts so they stand out.

Tim masked off the air filters, dynamics and radiator grills & airbrushed the rest of the body using Vallejo NATO black. More weathering was hand-applied using Tamiya panel line wash around all of the seams, latches, step wells, etc. followed by cleaning off the excess with a Q-tip and Tamiya enamel thinner after it all dried. Finally Tim sealed the whole model with a mix of Tamiya flat and semi-gloss clears followed by body weathering. The latter was accomplished with a home-brew mix of a few Tamiya colours - various browns on the underside, and flat black around the roof. Outstanding work, Tim!

December 9, 2021 - Tim prepared this diagram to illustrate the correct concept for F40 wiper orientation versus the incorrect straight-down HO factory installation.

November 22, 2021 - Tim weathered and improved Rapido modern day ren rebuild VIA 6437. Work included the addition of crew figures to the cab, painting sections of the radiator borders teal, improving the rear carbody filters with a dark wash, coupler replacement and trip pin removal, paint behind the pilots black, darken the emergency horn caps, add a red outline to the 3rd HID light, add fuel spills and darken all recesses and ribs.

October 25, 2021 - Tim kitbashed a Canada scheme Rapido unit into the unique and short-lived 2006-10 CAD rebuild VIA 6400. Click image for PDF photo/text tutorial!

May 18, 2018 - Tim also custom painted and decalled Telus 6429 with revised "2010 Olympics" banner circa-2003-10. This one started out as a regular schene Rapido model that Tim stripped and custom painted one week before Rapido announced their 2002-03 version of Telus 6429 along with several other various advertising schemes.

July 18, 2016 - And of course, Tim custom weathered Rapido Kool Aid 6404 and custom decal for the air conditioner "Genesis" name circa-summer 2000. Note this was done long before the RTR circa-2019 ad releases by Rapido, meaning this unit was custom painted and decalled this way. Lots of great weathering touches here along with re-profiiling the wipers.