You have done it what seems like a thousand times. You buy a new model car, open the box, assemble, paint, and then done and on to the next one. Yes, it can be rewarding in its own way the first several times you get a model out with its neat list of directions and pictures to follow along with. What happens if you decide to do something a little bit different though? What if you want to design some of your own customizations for your new model? The best way to think through the customizations you are considering is to draw them out. A sketch drawing will allow you to try out different looks before you actually begin the building process that way you won't have to worry about something not working out and having to be cut loose or changed after it has already been attached to the model car.

What you will need to do this is just a pencil and a couple sheets of paper. The first thing you should do is to sketch a picture of the car as it would look fully assembled. Work from the pictures on the box or in the directions if necessary. This will give you a good base to work from. Once you begin drawing your different ideas for your changes you should do so down the margins of the paper nearest the part of the car to receive the new treatments. This will allow you to begin visualizing what those changes will look like once the car is finished. One thing to remember is that you should not just draw one change for each section. Get creative and sketch out a few different ideas for each part you wish to change. This will allow you some leeway in your creative process.

You will also want to draw your model car from several different angles or views. This will allow you to see your intended modifications as they will appear and to see exactly how they can best be adapted to the car. Something else to consider is that by customizing your car like this on paper before you actually begin the assembly process will also let you experiment with different paint schemes as well. By using colored pencils to add color to your sketch you can try out many different styles such as adding flames or pin striping without having to try it out on your model first.

Once you have chosen the different modifications that you wish to incorporate into your model sketch the finished design out on a separate piece of paper along with the paint job you are going to use. This will allow you to see how the model car will look when finished. One thing to remember is that you should attempt to draw your car as close to scale as you are able. If you do not then the modification you wish to make may not fit once you attempt to add it to the car. Now that you have the concept of drawing your desired modifications the next step you might come to would be to design your own model car. Happy modeling!