Shadowbox for Renault R25


I love creative social networks like Instagram and Pinterest. They’re my go-to places for gathering ideas and finding inspiration for my projects. One of my favorite things to do is decorate my scale models in unique ways, ensuring each one not only looks cool but also complements the interior space where it’s displayed.

One day, I came across a brilliant idea: placing a 1/43 scale model inside an Ikea shadowbox. The concept involved combining the model with a beautiful backdrop—whether it be a painting, color splashes, or even a map of a racing track.

Initially, I tried creating vector graphics for the background, but I quickly realized that digital art isn’t my strong suit. That’s when I switched to using a racing track map instead. Since my latest model was a Renault R25 replicating the Chinese GP version, it made perfect sense to use the Shanghai circuit as the backdrop. I found a track map online and made some custom modifications, like photo editing and adding captions and graphic elements.

Next came the meticulous process of measuring and adjusting the design to fit the 25x25 cm frame. It took over 10 test prints before I finally got the scale just right!

From a past project involving an FDM 3D printer, I had saved several F1 track models on my computer. I decided to incorporate one of these into the shadowbox, so I asked a colleague to print it for me. Since FDM prints aren't as smooth as resin, I had to go through the usual modeling steps: applying putty to smooth out the surface, sanding, priming, and painting. Nothing new for a seasoned modeler like me!

After all that, I printed the final version of the track map at a photo center (where, of course, they messed up the colors and scaling—lesson learned for next time), and assembled everything into the Ikea shadowbox.


Now, this little piece of art hangs proudly on my wall, and it brings me joy every single day!

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