Aston Martin ONE77 Building Guide — Part 2: Dry Fitting & Surface Preparation

Alpha Model AM02-0086 · Build by Orange Peel Little

Operational Steps: Dry Fitting and Surface Preparation of Parts

Before any paint touches the model — verify the fit, then give every part a chemically clean start.

Step 1: Dry Fitting Test to Verify Fit Accuracy

Pre-assemble all resin parts in accordance with the assembly logic — without any adhesive fixation — to test the fit of each component.

Feature description: This kit boasts excellent fit accuracy, with joint gaps between parts of no more than 0.1mm. No additional sanding, modification or gap-filling is required, allowing a direct progression to the next step.

Step 2: Surface Cleaning to Prepare for Painting

Wipe the surface of the parts with a specialized model cleaner — for example, a neutral resin cleaner — to remove release agents, dust, fingerprints and other impurities.

Purpose: Ensure the part surfaces are clean and free of oil stains, which enhances the adhesion of the subsequent primer and topcoat and prevents issues such as bubbles or peeling after painting.

Tip: Never skip the degreasing step on a resin kit. A quick wipe with a neutral resin cleaner removes the mould-release film that otherwise causes fisheyes, orange peel and paint lifting days after you finish.

Once every joint checks out and every part is clean and grease-free, the build is ready for paint.

Next article: Painting Process & Decal Application

Aston Martin ONE77 Building Guide — Part 3: Painting Process & Decal Application

Alpha Model AM02-0086 · Build by Orange Peel Little

Painting Process: Primer → Base Coat → Clear Coat

A disciplined three-stage paint schedule — patience between coats matters as much as the paint itself.

1. Primer Application

Opt for a two-component epoxy primer compatible with resin materials, applied in 2–3 light, even coats using a 1.0mm nozzle airbrush. This seals micro-porosity on the resin surface, enhances intercoat adhesion and masks minor surface defects — laying a uniform foundation for subsequent layers. Allow 24 hours at 25°C for full curing.

2. Base Coat Application

Once the primer has cured, apply the factory-matched base coat in thin, overlapping layers — 3–4 passes typical — to ensure complete coverage. For curved surfaces such as body panels and contours, maintain a 45° spray angle to prevent pooling or unevenness, achieving consistent colour intensity across all areas. Let it dry for 48 hours before proceeding.

3. Clear Coat Application

Finish with a high-solids clear coat, applied in 2 coats — a first mist coat followed by a wet coat — to build a protective layer. This enhances gloss, resists scratches and locks in the base coat. Cure fully for 72 hours at ambient temperature for a durable, professional-grade finish.

Decal Application & Clear Coat Sealing

1. Carbon Fiber Decal Application

Position the carbon fiber decals precisely on the target surface — for example the chassis and body panels — and use a soft brush to gently press out air bubbles and excess water, ensuring full adhesion. For curved or irregular surfaces, apply decal setting solution to soften the decal, allowing it to conform tightly to contours without wrinkling. Let the decals air-dry completely, typically 1–2 hours at room temperature, to prevent shifting during subsequent steps.

2. Clear Coat Overspray

Once the decals are fully set, apply a light coat of compatible clear coat to seal and protect them. This step not only locks the decals in place to resist peeling, but also blends the decal edges with the base surface for an integrated look. Use a 0.8–1.0mm nozzle airbrush for even coverage, and allow 24 hours for full curing to achieve a smooth, durable finish.

Tip: The clear overspray is what makes carbon decals disappear into the paintwork — it buries the decal film edge under fresh gloss so the weave reads as part of the body, not a sticker.

Next article: Interior & Wheels

Aston Martin ONE77 Building Guide — Part 4: Interior & Wheels

Alpha Model AM02-0086 · Build by Orange Peel Little

Interior Detailing Process

While the body cures, bring the cabin to life — colour separation, a matte finish and PE detail work.

1. Interior Colour Separation

Colour-code the components — seats, dashboard, center console and so on — according to function: use leather tones for the seats and metallic accents for the gauges. Mask edges with fine tape, brush-paint the small parts, and spray the larger areas with a 0.3mm airbrush for even coverage.

2. Matte Clear Coat Application

After the colours have dried, apply a matte protective clear coat to replicate the authentic interior texture and safeguard against scratches. Apply in 2–3 light passes to avoid runs.

3. Detail Installation

Glue the PE parts — dashboard trim, vent grilles — into place using CA adhesive, ensuring precise alignment. Cut the seatbelt webbing to scale, attach it to the pre-drilled holes on the seats, and add subtle folds for realism.

Wheel Manufacturing Process

The wheels of the One-77 deserve their own coating schedule — metallic paint, baking and a UV-bonded PE hub cap.

1. Wheel Coating

After sanding the wheel surface with sandpaper, apply epoxy primer — 2–3 coats at 20µm thickness — and let it cure for 12 hours. Apply metallic paint with a 35% aluminium powder content in 3–4 light coats to ensure uniformity.

After the base coat has dried for 24 hours, spray a high-temperature-resistant clear protective paint at 30µm and bake at 60°C to accelerate curing.

2. Wheel Hub Cap Composite Process

After deburring and degreasing the photo-etched parts, precisely position the decals in the grooves of the PE parts, spray on decal setting solution and let them dry.

Apply UV adhesive (viscosity 500cps) by spot coating to bond the photo-etched parts with the wheel hub cap, then cure under a UV lamp for 10 seconds to form a transparent, high-strength bonding layer.

Tip: Ten seconds under a UV lamp is all it takes — the 500cps UV glue flashes into a crystal-clear, high-strength film that locks the PE hub cap perfectly flush without smearing the decal underneath.

Next article: Body Polishing & Final Assembly

Aston Martin ONE77 Building Guide — Part 5: Body Polishing & Final Assembly

Alpha Model AM02-0086 · Build by Orange Peel Little

Car Body Mirror Polishing Process

The final stretch — turning a cured clear coat into a concours-grade mirror, one grit step at a time.

1. Rough Grinding Treatment (Tamiya Coarse Polishing Paste)

Pre-grind the car body surface with 3M #1000–1500 grit sponge sandpaper to remove release agents, paint runs and other defects. Apply an appropriate amount of Tamiya Coarse Polishing Paste (P1200 grit) to a microfiber cloth, and polish evenly in circular motions with moderate pressure, treating each area for about 30 seconds until the initial improvement in surface gloss is achieved.

2. Gradient Fine Polishing System

• 2000 Grit Stage: Switch to 2000 grit sponge sandpaper for wet sanding (water temperature 25°C ± 2°C) to eliminate the previous grinding marks. Control the water flow rate at 500ml/min to ensure immediate removal of grinding debris.
• 4000 Grit Stage: Use 4000 grit polishing paste with a wool polishing pad (1200rpm rotation speed), performing unidirectional linear polishing along the body lines. Stay on each area for no more than 15 seconds to avoid local overheating.
• 6000 Grit Stage: Replace with a suede polishing pad (rotation speed reduced to 800rpm), apply 6000 grit polishing paste for fine polishing, and monitor the surface temperature with an infrared thermometer to keep it under 40°C, preventing resin deformation.
• 10000 Grit Ultimate Polishing: Use a dedicated nanoscale polishing agent (particle size under 100nm) with a silk cloth, hand-polishing in an infinity-shaped trajectory. Control the pressure at 2–3N/cm² to achieve a mirror reflection effect.

3. Water Wax Sealing (Tamiya Premium Water Wax)

Place the car body in a dust-free environment (Class 1000). Apply 0.5ml of Tamiya Premium Water Wax evenly to the polishing pad, and rotate the pad at 600rpm, working in the order of roof → hood → doors → rear spoiler. Cover each part 3 times, with 30 seconds between each pass. After application, let it stand for 2 hours, then gently wipe the surface with an electrostatic dust cloth to form a hydrophobic protective film approximately 5µm thick, achieving 5H pencil hardness scratch resistance and a 110° contact angle.

Tip: Coarse grind → fine polish → wax seal. Never skip a grit stage, and always let the Tamiya water wax cure the full 2 hours before the final wipe — the 5µm hydrophobic film is what keeps that mirror finish looking factory-fresh.

Prepare for Assembly

With the body at full mirror gloss and the interior, wheels and PE details all finished, every painted and polished component is laid out and fitted in sequence for the final build.

The Finished One-77

Seventy-seven cars in the world — and now, one in 1/24 scale on the bench.

Thanks for Watching

Thank you for following along with this build of the Aston Martin One-77. If you enjoyed the process and the finished result, please leave a like and a comment — and be sure to follow Orange Peel Little on social media for more scale model builds.

Thanks,
Orange Peel Little

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