THIS is what I call a milestone...

Is this what you call a milestone?

ClemsonTiger1988® · 2025-04-10T10:16:26.431Z

It seems like a milestone. Yesterday was a great day for me. I shot 4 coats of high build primer on the car shell. The first 3 were straight up but the 4th got reduced by ~10% to help flow and hopefully fill in the orange peel so to make the sanding a bit easier. The left quarter wheel well patch is close enough to perfect that even black won't show it's not factory produced. I couldn't start painting until about 11:30 am so after waking up at 5:30 am I wasn't sure I'd make it. I dragged my butt out of the shop at 5:30 pm and honestly each cheek left a distinctive track in the dirt. When I got the gun clean I turned and saw the lower headlights trim, the fuel flap and the exterior A-pillar trim hanging with not a speck of high build on them. The fuel flap probably doesn't need the HB but the other pieces look like someone drove behind a AA fueler on a gravel road. I'll start sanding the detachable body parts today while the morning is cool and as soon as the metal reaches 55 degrees I'm smear a little body putty in the places on the small trim that got a gravel mark. I did the 2K epoxy primer on them yesterday so maybe I can finish the HB on them today. I really can see the finish line on the painting activity now. Still no predictions on the end of the end.

I've found that the lunge tires quickly when I do daily updates. I'm slow, intentionally, so I won't do something difficult to undo. I shot about a quart and half of primer yesterday. That's not a big deal to someone versed in auto painting but it was a feat to me.

I had to guess when each of the 1st 3 coats flashed off, meaning when they are ready for another coat without trapping stuff that will someday work it's way out of that layer of paint.

I was deeply concerned about mixing enough paint for the 3rd and 4th coats because one mix wouldn't work for them and one mix would have expired before it was time for the 3rd coat. So I mixed paint three times.

The first mix got the first two coats, almost. I ran out with one quarter panel left so I mixed enough to finish the 2nd coat and do the third. I wasted about 300 ml of paint doing this but it's my second gallon so I've plenty and plenty enough to waste a bit.

I got real close on the 4th mix. I only had about 50-60 ml left when I finished it. That's about how much reducer I added to the paint so the accuracy was astounding for a first time doing this much at one time.

You won't get a lot of photos for the next couple weeks. I'm calling this period 'Sanding to GLORY!'

I'll do the fenders, doors, sunroof and trunk lid first. There wasn't much body work on them as far as pecking out dings and smoothing them over with body putty but that hood and top of the cabin looked like they sat under a walnut tree for a decade.

If they turn out good I'ma gonna strut a bit!

ClemsonTiger1988®

Ultimate Clemson Legend [102348]

TigerPulse: 100%

Posts: 98907

Joined: 2009

This car is a gift to my most precious daughter.

Apr 11, 2025, 3:42 AM [ in reply to Tires look a little flat. ]

She is married to my oldest son and the finest woman who I've ever know. The other five are just like their mothers. She never half-asses anything and I'm not giving her a half-assed graduation gift. When I asked her what she wanted for college graduation she said, 'That black car.'

The original engine was gas, I replaced that with the om617 5 cyl diesel/transmission combo from my 84 Benz, a 1 million mine motor and I have a building full of replacement part including an original Bosch injector pump to ensure it outlast her.

No, when it's over I'm finding an old truck body to put my 1964-5 283 v8 chevy engine and the powerglide transmission in and I'm starting a business selling scrap metal. I plan on becoming an artist who makes wrought iron ornaments and furniture/fence gates and such.

I'm sworn to die with my boots on and in the saddle, I hope.

The tires are 12 yr/o Michelin which were on my 84 SD. They've been dry rotted for two years. I let the air out of them to ensure I could reach the middle of the cabin top and hood without touching the rain gutters on the sides. One brush with anything and the paint is toast.

I shoot from the bottom up on one side and end in the middle of the top, go to the other side and shoot from the top center and down the other side. It's not necessary with primer but with base and clear coats going bottom up on both sides can leave a lap mark right down the center of the cabin. It's likely to be in the upper 80s when I base/colorcoat and clearcoat this project.

It was a learning process in which I replicated the finish paint and practiced doing it without brushing against the rain gutter on the second side I painted.

Noticing the tires were flat is a keen observation. Thanks, it gave me a chance to explain more about my technique.

flag link

military_tech

thumb_down

thumb_up

Is this what you call a milestone?

That's looking great! Keep the updates coming

NIce!

Re: NIce!

Don't judge the whole lunge based on a few posters

Father, I've photos of everything I've done from the beginning.

Now is the most dangerous time, Grashopper. You must exercise PATIENCE now.

Nobody tells me what to do

I've seldom went against your advice.

That's the law and good advice.

Nice! That Fruity Pebbles wrap is really going to look sharp!***

Tires look a little flat.

Hes going to have a car too nice to drive.

This is why I only drive disposable Chinese cars I order from Alibaba.

This car is a gift to my most precious daughter.

Getting there!!

I only have to sand the entire car four or five times.

I can't help myself here. This project is juuuuuust like

That's an insult.

Admire your work.....

TigerBoard POTD