Box Art Or Creativity?

[Victorious Secret]

Hello Gentlemen,

Last night I was talking to a good friend and a member of this forum. We were discussing whether the body shell should be painted like the box art or custom job. My friend wishes to paint his body shell custom color however in my humble opinion I think if you have only one body (especially vintage), it would look alot better if you go with box art. After our conversation I still think about this question. I guess the reason being I think Tamiya actually did some research and design on the color before making it the "box art color". It is very appealing to me. Of course there are exceptions, but majority of the time I think Tamiya did a great job. What do you gentlemen think?

VS

[blakeatron]

I too have thought long about this subject on occasion, and yes i dont think there is a Tamiya Box art that doesn't look good.

However if we all followed the 'rules' surely that would take away some of the relationship and personality of your models - i mean you can add hop-ups and make extras but your real personality and skill come through in the finish and design of your paintwork, it is the thing everbody sees first.

For re-sale i would assume a standard box art vintage would go for more than a custom job, but will this make me paint my sandrover orange? No.

At the end of the day we are all in this hobby for a reason - some people only go boxart and some dont even read the instructions, each to their own and thats how it should be

[Victorious Secret]

Hi Blakeatron,

Yes I know what you are saying about creativity... your custom job on the Scania looks really great!

Not concern much for resale values but just the way the box art look so inticing (Brusier, Willy's Wheeler, Lunchbox, Porsche 959...etc). I have done my fair share of custom paint bodies too but I'm rarely satisfy with them. After finished a custom paint work I cant help but with a nagging feeling of "what if I go with the box art" mentality lol. Therefore now I would build box art first and if I really like the body, I buy another spare for custom job...hence all bodies and no chassis hahaha

VS

[yamita]

Box art for shelfers and my own version for runners.

[Old Skool]

I think box art looks good,But if everyone did it I would get tried of looking at blue and white Scorchers etc. I like to see all the different looks and personalites that people come up with. Dale

[NIB MAN]

Hello All,

I like the box art on only a few models. Tamiya seemed to be hung up on the color red for some reason. I think when you have as an example..lets say there are 10,000 Hilux's left in the world...I think 9000 of them are red. It is very boring to see so many of the same color. If I go to a show and there are

10 Monster Beetles and they are all red that will put me to sleep...if you've seen one...you've seen em all. Other than a few bad paint jobs or decals that didnt set right. I think everyone has there own favorite color but they are afraid of what the collectors might think. So what! Be creative, be different, otherwise its a very boring list of clones that have been done to death.

[Tamiya1/10]

box art is playing it safe and nothing wrong with that. Is like a Ferrari to me has to be red.

Other color scheme is refreshing provided the artist used a nice color combination or even slightly modify the box art.

Adding details like window trims, lines, lights, wiper, exhausts, disc brakes etc... will put a nice overall finishing touch and make it more stand out form the rest.

In the end is your baby and so long as you like it that's all its matter.

[Hibernaculum]

I'm a huge fan of box art, and I agree with VS about how Tamiya have clearly put a lot of effort into their original designs. When comparing Tamiya's designs with people's custom designs, it might be worth remembering that not only did Tamiya design the colour scheme and decal layout, but they designed each car as well - both body and structure. This means that during the design process, if they needed to adjust the shape of the car to fit the "look" they were aiming for, then they had the luxury of being able to do that. If a wing needed to be 5mm wider to make a large sticker stand out better, they would have been able to adjust it as they went along, to really come up with a style that worked.

This is why I think coming up with an original design is hard, and why Tamiya had a slight advantage over anyone who tries to create something totally new. I fully admire those who do it well - there are some amazing designs out there, and awesome paint jobs. But I have to admit there aren't that many original designs I like.

But I like the original box art so much, that I am probably biased toward it. Unlike some people, I never get tired of seeing box art cars. I get more tired when I see half-hearted, quick sprayjobs done in whatever colour was at hand (Which is something we've all done at some time, including me)

I actually see the box art as being "team colours" too, not just box art. So for example, you have the Frog Racing Team. If it isn't pink and white, then it just doesn't quite seem like the Frog to me. The colour schemes were part of the marketing of these cars too, and are what make them instantly recognisable. Tamiya know this, because whenever they pre-paint any models related to these cars, they do them in the well known box art colours, and not just some random colour and hope everybody knows what car it is. So you have things like the XBs, Tamtech buggies, and Q Steer miniatures, all in the box art colours.

My "team colours" preference for Tamiya's original cars, is really just an extension of what most people do for the cars that Tamiya based on real 1:1 cars. So look at all the rally cars Tamiya made - they're famous cars, so fewer people attempt to paint them in anything but the box art (real world) paint/sticker scheme, because it doesn't look right and/or simply isn't faithful to the real car. I guess I just look at Tamiya's buggies and various original cars with the same sort of mindset.

cheers,

H.

[Victorious Secret]

I'm a huge fan of box art, and I agree with VS about how Tamiya have clearly put a lot of effort into their original designs. When comparing Tamiya's designs with people's custom designs, it might be worth remembering that not only did Tamiya design the colour scheme and decal layout, but they designed each car as well - both body and structure. This means that during the design process, if they needed to adjust the shape of the car to fit the "look" they were aiming for, then they had the luxury of being able to do that. If a wing needed to be 5mm wider to make a large sticker stand out better, they would have been able to adjust it as they went along, to really come up with a style that worked.

This is why I think coming up with an original design is hard, and why Tamiya had a slight advantage over anyone who tries to create something totally new. I fully admire those who do it well - there are some amazing designs out there, and awesome paint jobs. But I have to admit there aren't that many original designs I like.

But I like the original box art so much, that I am probably biased toward it. Unlike some people, I never get tired of seeing box art cars. I get more tired when I see half-hearted, quick sprayjobs done in whatever colour was at hand (Which is something we've all done at some time, including me)

I actually see the box art as being "team colours" too, not just box art. So for example, you have the Frog Racing Team. If it isn't pink and white, then it just doesn't quite seem like the Frog to me. The colour schemes were part of the marketing of these cars too, and are what make them instantly recognisable. Tamiya know this, because whenever they pre-paint any models related to these cars, they do them in the well known box art colours, and not just some random colour and hope everybody knows what car it is. So you have things like the XBs, Tamtech buggies, and Q Steer miniatures, all in the box art colours.

My "team colours" preference for Tamiya's original cars, is really just an extension of what most people do for the cars that Tamiya based on real 1:1 cars. So look at all the rally cars Tamiya made - they're famous cars, so fewer people attempt to paint them in anything but the box art (real world) paint/sticker scheme, because it doesn't look right and/or simply isn't faithful to the real car. I guess I just look at Tamiya's buggies and various original cars with the same sort of mindset.

cheers,

H.

When I wrote this topic this is exactly what I wanted to express. I'm not too good with words and good Hibernaculum says it all. There might be 10,000 pink and white frogs out there, but at the end of the day you only see one piece of history on your shelf (replica of real race car or Tamiya original). And that's quite satisfying.

VS

[Live Steam Mad]

It is noticeable how if you see a familiar model (which you previously didn't like the look of in box art) painted a completely different colour(s) then suddenly it can grow on you and it can become quite good looking.

Also whenever I see box art models being sold on Ebay I steer well clear of them as I cannot bring myself to strip the thing down and repaint it, so therefore I don't get a chance to paint it, so I have 'missed out' on that experience (I like a challenge LOL) and thus I feel almost cheated, it feels very much like the eXpert Built Tamiya models and the RTR stuff, I can't bring myself to buy it, since I wouldn't get to muck about with it (i.e. build it, paint it).

Box art colours don't really bother me that much, I like to see different colour schemes, it adds a new twist to an old friend and can make you appreciate an RC model more.

Cheers,

Alistair G.

[Biscuit]

I know what you are saying, but I always think it has to be box art, it takes you back in time, thats how Mr Tamiya made them, I have a friend with a 959 he cant stand those yellow wheels and changed them for an alloy white set, but its not right, whats the first thing you remember about that 959 ??

Yes those yellow wheels, thats how they were and in my opinion thats how they should stay.

Biscuit

[qatmix]

I like boxart for rally / f1 cars as I want them to be the car on the box. But std saloons / buggies I always prefer to do my own thing with.

[Mad Ax]

I take each and every model on its own merits. For example, generally I will paint everything in my own custom colours, but then I only buy modern runners or re-re shelfers anyway, I don't have money to spend building vintage NIB models.

My Hotshot re-re is a good example. The red HotShot looks great, and is instantly recognisable - but I wanted mine to be different from the stampede of red ones that hit the showrooms after the re-re was put on sale. I looked around for some good examples of alternative paintwork, and in the end decided to do something that I'd not seen before. Colour choice is severely restricted with the HotShot because of the red plastic and yellow decals. It's basically gotta be red or yellow or something that fits with those colours. In the end I chose silver with black stripes, because anything goes with silver and black; and careful positioning of the stripes meant I could still use the 4WD wing logo without losing the shadows (if I cut it about a bit).

That's the sort of thought I like to put into all of my designs. For my TTG Porsche, I wanted a streetcar look - so I painted it white and didn't fit any racing decals. IMO if you're going to fit racing decals with any scale replica like a rally or F1 car then you have to go with boxart or a more detailed version thereof, otherwise it looks daft. But most of Tamiya's decals (especially their buggies) come from a fictional race team anyway, so your paint job is open to your own interpretation.

OTOH, if I was to buy a vintage NIB buggy, I would probably have to go with boxart, for purity's sake, because to me vintage is about keeping things as they were intended to be all those years ago. Vintage car, vintage radio, vintage hop-ups, vintage decals on a vintage box-art paint-job. Re-releases can be painted however I want.

On the flip-side of that, I am going to go boxart on my RC10-based Grasshopper. The reason is that it should look like a Grasshopper, complete with Grasshopper wheels, tyres, shell, driver, etc - only the drivetrain will be different. So from a distance everyone will be wondering why I'm whooping them with a standard 'hopper

And that is what it's all about

[markbt73]

I didn't paint them box-art back then, so I see no reason to do so now. I had a sky-blue Grasshopper and a two-tone orange and yellow Falcon. (My Blackfoot was black, but only because it wasn't painted at all. And I didn't put the decals on.) I never really considered the box-art paint scheme to be an option, because I figured everyone else would go that route. I want my cars to instantly recognizable as mine.

Now, my 'Hopper and my Lunchbox are both currently "naked," because I don't have a place to spray paint hard shells. The Hopper is going to be flat black with hot rod pinstripes, and the LB will get made up to look like either a Winnebago or a plumber's truck (I haven't decided). My Hotshot is bright blue, which I think looks great against the red parts.

The only vintage car I'd really be interested in would be a Fast Attack Vehicle, and those pretty much have to be some form of camo to look right, but I'd still vary it somewhat.

[madaz75]

My Hotshot re-re is a good example. The red HotShot looks great, and is instantly recognisable - but I wanted mine to be different from the stampede of red ones that hit the showrooms after the re-re was put on sale.

I have to agree..

It is refreshing to see something different now and then.

Though for the sake of a Collection "vintage" should realistically be NIB, or Box Art.

And it is quite true that the Hotshot can limit what you can do to deviate from 'Box Art'.

But what of Box Art from a different Tamiya Car?

Take my Hotshot for example: Here

Not particularly creative, but I like it,

and it's instantly recognizable as mine in a sea of Box Art 'Shotters

[andi4x4]

Box art or creativity ?

Well - Both !

Box art is great - I agree with the comments that a lot of people have made regarding vintage being the way they were designed, and, to a certain extent, the same applies to new and re-re kits too, as, some of those are tomorrows vintage kits.

But, creativity is just as important in my eyes, again on vintage or new kits, as it is the creative elements of the hobby that produce the hop-ups of the future. If people didn't modify their kits, either for performance sake or for appearances, then there wouldn't be any hop-ups or upgrade parts.

I like Box Art - especially on the Sand Scorcher - simply because it looks right ! I also like Box Art with period ( or modern) hop-ups and accessories - for instance, there are several SS's kicking around with custom made aluminum "Box Art" bumpers and rear guards - they are not as Tamiya intended - but they look fantastic and much better than a "standard" Box Art model !

But, I also like to see other peoples designs - it shows their individual creativity, and also shows that kits can look just as good done differently. It also gives other people ideas for cars they are doing - either of the same model or different ones, the main example being the sudden rash of people putting bodies onto chassis's they were never designed to fit, and in particular, the recent thread about someone "modifying/adapting" a TT-01 on-road chassis into a capable off-road chassis. It is this inventiveness that keeps this hobby rolling along.

Box Art is Great - but Creativity is Essential ! It is what keeps this hobby interesting and moving forward !

My way would be to have one of each - if I had the money !

Oh, and on the Red Ferrari -- I always thought they should all be red too, til I saw a 1970 Ferrari Dino - in Yellow ! Gorgeous ! Now , to me, every Ferrari should be Yellow !

[Shodog]

Painting is such a personal choice. For me there are only a few box art paint jobs I would do. The Rothmans 956 and 959 come to mind. But other than that I rarely do a box art paint job. They just look so much cooler and as madaz said, it makes them stand out from the rest of the crowd.

[DeeMiller]

Well, you can modify the body with little extra details within the box-art style like I did on many bodies.

If it looks better, it's ok.

But h, it's your property...so who cares?

Grtz Dee.

[Lemming]

I prefer box art on certain models (SS, RR etc) but like something different on others. Prime examples are Top Force and Dyna Storm. I have seen some superb examples on here in non-standard colours, which lead me to paint mine in non-boxart colours.

I guess each to their own, but for me the model in question answers it each time (Avante should always be blue!!!! )

Steve

[RichieRich]

If the boxart decals are really smart, I'll do a boxart body. Most of the time I just create my own paintjob/decal work. Maybe one day I'll learn to use an airbrush.