I was fortunate enough to combine my hobby, that is, miniature cars
and my other passion, my day job, bodywork and painting.
For me, creating personalized models for people
is the perfect way to bring these two passions together.
Each project starts by exchanging a few messages
with some photos, so I can get an idea of what the client is looking for
and gather the supplies, either by improving upon ready-made ones,
or, if need be, starting totally from scratch,
by creating a mold or using 3D printing.
The state of mind is really important: you have to be calm,
able to visualize things well in advance,
and anticipate everything leading up to the end product.
Each little step impacts the quality of the finished model.
We start by choosing the appropriate base model,
which then arrives at the workshop and gets taken apart piece by piece,
so that each individual part can be improved, be it the interior, the motor...
After breaking it down, we move on to sanding.
It’s more or less the same as sanding down a real car.
These are all basic steps in bodywork.
The model is painted in a spray booth, just like the original.
The composition of the paint is the same as well,
so other than the size difference, nothing really changes.
It’s important to have a good paint job with a good finish
because it’s the first thing you see.
When the client receives the model and opens the box,
they see the color, the smoothness of the varnish
and that’s what’s going to make them want to open the car and see all the details.
While my work is restricted to models, we can go into much more detail
than traditional models on the market, by choosing different textures,
different materials, that are a little more interesting.
You can also change the color of the seat belts, add buckles,
add a safety harness, if the car is normally equipped with one,
or a roll-cage if it’s a race car,
you can change the color of the speedometer, put in a white background...
Different materials can be chosen based on the look you’re going for.
It’s an important step, and it’s what makes the difference
between a toy and a tailor-made replica.
The leather has to look and feel like leather, and not just painted on
like you find with most basic models.
We have special kinds of paint with highly realistic textures,
for leather, Alcantara...
With decals, you can add designs and patterns to the upholstery,
or add a chrome wrap. The window gaskets get done as well –
when you open the door, it’s always nicer to have the gasket rather
than just a piece of unfinished metal.
All these little details make a huge difference in the finished product.
Certain accessories you can’t find ready-made,
so, thanks to advances in technology, especially 3D printing,
we can make a computer model and then print them with astounding precision.
Once all the pieces are painted and ready to go, you can start putting it together.
In a nutshell, it’s the reverse of what was done before painting,
taking it apart.
So we put all the components back in place.
Often there are small adjustments, due to the thickness of the paint,
or because things no longer line up properly.
Once everything’s been reassembled, we can add all the finer details,
the final touches that really give the model its character and intended look.
At first it was just a hobby, and today, it’s a career.
It was a childhood passion that decorated my room,
and today, it’s become a full-time job.