My first build: Kobra

[Lucky@LeMans]

Originally Posted by clinkadink

Cheers Lucky. I will keep trying, especially now I have the kit and quite a bit left of unused paint.

When you say spaced in the arch, are you referring to wheel spacers or something else?

You need to offer the wheels up with the splined adaptors to see how they fit. The front wheels will fit upto the edge of the arch, the rears might need an extra spacer to achieve the same position. Its only a subtle change it can make a big impact on the final look of the car.

[WorldClassAccident]

I am going for a 9.6cfm compressor matched to a spray gun that requires 6cfm with the hope that the match should let me spray a reasonable job.

Mine is going on my latest project which is a 1953 piece of shit that I am using to learn the techniques with the hope of doing a decent restore in the future.

[clinkadink]

Thanks Ian. Didn't even consider metallic would be more difficult. Suppose its obvious thinking about. See ... lots to learn!

I am struggling to envisage a washing machine, connected up to a fire extinguisher, whilst powering a compressor. The mind boggles.

I did my apprenticeship in a dusty, old classic car garage in the late 80's. Just me, a senior mechanic and the boss. The latter being a mechanic in WW2. He used to tell me how he (and the rest of them) used to hand paint cars with 7 layers of cellulose, then rub them down. The finish was remarkable. Whilst there I prepped a few classics; austin healey, frogeye sprite, morris oxford and hillman minx. He would never let me spray mind. Probably just as well!

[IanA]

With metallic, the undercoat colour affects the top coat shade. Then providing the metallic finish is satisfactory, as many coats of clear (or tinted) lacquer as you want will provide the final finish.

That "Hoover" rig was a very compact device mounted on the top loader chassis. I used cellulose for that job.

I borrowed a "proper" compressor for my 2nd spray job- Starsky & Hutch red/white on an HB Viva. The previous user had done a blue/purple flip/flop metallic job on his Capri. We ended up with a few of those flakes on the Viva. But again, plenty of top coat (acrylic) allowed us to flat down and polish to an acceptable finish.

"...tell me how he (and the rest of them) used to hand paint cars with 7 layers of cellulose, then rub them down..."-

You mean to say they didn't use the 12-coat Valspar method that was popular at the time? I think that was an alkyd paint similar to household gloss.

[clinkadink]

Thanks. When I have the wheels fitted, i'll take a look and see if they need them. I will post on here for all to see.

Cheers.

[Lucky@LeMans]

It is down to personal choice at the end of the day and I'm sure your car is going to look first class at the end of the day.

Did you find a local paint shop in the Swindon area to do the job ?

[clinkadink]

Ian - how ever many coats he used, I think we can safely say it was sponsored by GlobalWarming.com ... full of lead and other nasty stuff no doubt.

Lucky - yes, only a couple of mile from me. He's Polish, a nice chap and a right grafter.

[IanA]

[QUOTE=clinkadink;100754]Ian - how ever many coats he used, I think we can safely say it was sponsored by GlobalWarming.com ... full of lead and other nasty stuff no doubt. /QUOTE]

Agreed- lots of lead in household paints of the era.

Cellulose paint- developed from gun cotton used in WW1 munitions.

Acrylic paint- developed from WW2 aircraft canopy materials.

[WorldClassAccident]

Idf we survive WW3 I wonder what paint we will be using then?

[peterux]

Originally Posted by WorldClassAccident

Idf we survive WW3 I wonder what paint we will be using then?

Watercolours

[DaveP]

Chris,
Thanks for taking the trouble putting your thread up. I am really interested in seeing the look of the Kobra on the MWS wheels. Also like the overriders too.
I sprayed my build very badly with black rattle cans (matt) which made it a 100 yard paint job. Spending on a pro job has its rewards in quality but not on the wallet
Thanks for the binge read. Looking forward to the updates.
There are a few tributes about this area (I’m in Reading and know of two in Bristol) we’ll have to get a photo shoot one day
Thanks again
Dave

[clinkadink]

I wasn't 100% sure to update the interior. I have seen loads of folk leave it as-is. It is certainly tempting. But, with the car still in the spray shop (6 days to go!), I thought I'd have a go.

I went down to the spray shop, took some interior dimensions and removed my door cards. He doesn't need them.

I made a new door card out of some 4mm hardboard, using the old door card to draw round. I purposely didn't factor in the 'speaker humper', close to the front door pillar (bottom left of the existing door card below) ...

[clinkadink]

I had about 4 metres of blue vinyl left over from the last job.

Sadly, this is all I managed to do, before I was told to go and get a curry for the family.

[clinkadink]

Originally Posted by peterux

Watercolours

Ironically, it would appear that I am

[clinkadink]

Yes, a little Gouache !

[clinkadink]

Thanks DaveP, sounds like a plan

I know what you mean, the balance between cost and quality. I am too far in now. Hence forking out for someone else to do it.

[clinkadink]

Cheers! I just hope I haven't bitten off more than I chew with the dash. Haven't started on that yet - but plan to once I have the car back.

[Paul L]

Very high tech mock up of the interior / dash.

Nice work on the door cards too and they should go well with your paint colours.

[clinkadink]

On the way back from work I decide to pop in to the spray shop, and see how he's getting along.

I was greeted with a sense of de-ja-vue.



I just hope he can put it all back together

[clinkadink]

A pair of these arrived today too. I was sceptical being 6'2", but they are very comfortable.