Break me in gentle

[clxfiles]

Hey guys,
thought I may as well post what I been working on. I know it ain't pimp worthy but the noobs gotta start somewhere. Obviously I need advice on painting and body work so I'd appreciate any constructive criticism and most of all helpful tips. I tried following the tutorials like masking and scoring and even strokes and what not, I guess I just need to practice. Please go easy on me, I'm still a virgin...





And here's a before shot. Starting to wonder why I ever messed with it.

[Tuner1989]

Your being too hard on yourself, i think its looks great for a newcomer!

[Maxximum Attack]

yeah you did good. Took me REALLY long to do my first wheel swap. I have those same rims on a supra that I'm thinking of working on.

Good job, just keep practicing
Maxx

[CaboWabo]

What they said, keep practicing.
Practice on bodies that don't mean as much to you.

I've always had a hard time getting brushed on paints to look good.

[ynad]

looks good. nice color and rims match real good. keep going in that direction

[HirotoR34]

I would say that it's definitely not beyond saving. I'd wait until the paint is fully cured then wetsand it. Keep practicing on old shells.....trust me, I went through many before I finally got it. For a first time, it came out pretty good. Don't give up!

[clxfiles]

Thanks for the encouragement pimps...

I had another Vette body and after I did the wheel mod, they were the only ones that fit on the chassis without having to create more clearance in the wheelwells. They still sat a bit high so I tab lowered it. I still wanted it lower so I decided to try the ground effects kit. How the heck do you guys make it look all one piece?

Cabo - It's mostly spraypaint until I clearcoated it. That's why I'm so bummed. I guess it would help if I didn't drop it and get all kinds of lint on it.

Hiroto34 - Wetsand is when you put some water and sand with a fine grit sandpaper, right? What do I do next? wipe it down then clearcoat?

[CaboWabo]

Cabo - It's mostly spraypaint until I clearcoated it. That's why I'm so bummed. I guess it would help if I didn't drop it and get all kinds of lint on it.

That'd do it, chalk it up to learning experience.
Even a mistake. I've dropped plenty of freshly painted bodies, dont let it get ya down.

Hiroto34 - Wetsand is when you put some water and sand with a fine grit sandpaper, right? What do I do next? wipe it down then clearcoat?

I ain't Hiroto, but... wet-sanding is sanding with some super fine grit sandpaper under some running water.
Typically, you would wetsand, rinse it clean, dry it off - completely.
Paint another coat.
Then hopefully you're ready for clear-coat.

[99skyline]

I like it. i was thinking about getting that Corvette pack last time I was there but instead I got the Dodge Challenger/Yenko pack and my friend got the blue Yenko so I got the orange Challenger. What did you use for the bodykit?

[clxfiles]

I used ZipZap packaging plastic and superglue. used the dremel to try and shape it. I tried to sand the seems but after painting, you can still see them. Ah well, like Cabo said, chalk it up to a learning experience.

I just changed the rims on my Yenko and now need to clear some space in the wheel well for the fat tires. The fronts were wobbly but I used the bearings from some old floppy drives (luckily my work is tossing out a bunch of old laptop floppy drives) and was able to save it. It's noticeable but it drives straight.
The SS body is on the chassis in the pic but I've swapped it to the Yenko since I have a few of those bods and it's my next project for paint and stuff.

[betty.k]

lookin' good

just remember, for every dopin' ride you see there's probably 10 turkeys behind it!

[steelwoolghandi]

Nice work for a first timer we all had to get wet at one point to get where we are. Heck I have dropped, messed up, fingerprinted, and basicly trashed many a car body learning and I still mess one up now and then so I cry and move on.

I like the color man keep up the great work!

[crazydave]

Hiroto34 - Wetsand is when you put some water and sand with a fine grit sandpaper, right? What do I do next? wipe it down then clearcoat?

If you're useing enamal you'll have to recoat to get your gloss back, but if you use automotive touch up laquers like I do you can just finish it off by starting with 600, then 800, then 1000 grit sandpapers. Maybe finish with 1500 if you have it, then move to rubbing compound. I use 3M compound. Finish with some natural carnuba wax, like Meguier's. If your very careful not to sand or rub through (avoid raised body lines, watch for color on your rag), and sand/rub in little circles, you should end up with a glass like surface.

That last Silverado I posted was a clear coat nightmare, but I just did as I just described above and you'd never know it.

[hue35]

And here's a before shot. Starting to wonder why I ever messed with it.

'Cuz now it looks like this...


Yeah, you got some paint job issues to work out, but the re-work has WAY more style. That looks badass, man... nice body kit, nice wheel mod. I dig it.

[clxfiles]

Thanks fellas...
Props are huge comin from some masters like yourselves.
I'm gonna try the wetsand tonight or tomorrow to see what I get. It is regular enamel. It's that House of Kolor stuff from Walmart. It was on sale from $5.47 to $3.00 a can. I actually bought some more colors today. I would have posted it in the hook up page but it seems to only be on clearance at the Walmart by my work (Pleasanton, Ca). The ones by my house don't have it on clearance.

Thanks for the props on the wheels and the body kit. I thought they were decent I just jacked it all up by trying to paint it a color that needed a shimmery undercoat and a candy top layer. My friend said I should have just painted it black, but I figure if I hope to be able to hang by next December's year end blow out, I better take on some ambitious aspirations.

I've toyed with the thought of puttin a wing... What do you guys think about that?