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Okay, today was mainly taken up with other stuff but I did manage to get hold of some vinyl paint to lighten up the interior of the car. I wanted a light tan or sand colour but all I could find was Humbrol Dark Brown. I thought I would try it anyway on a spare scrap of vinyl.
I wouldn't describe that as Dark Brown. Perhaps "Hearing Aid Biege" would be closer. We will be kind and call it 'Light Tan' which is actually close to what I was after so I am happy.
Now I need to decide which bits to colour and which bits to leave black. I don't want to over do it.
More pictures tomorrow possibly but as it is my birthday i am not allowed to do what I want, I have to be happy sat inside being given stuff I don't want or need. I was asked what I wanted for my birthday and gave a list of stuff priced between £5 and £50 but apparently there were rubbish ideas as they were stuff I needed.
I have used the vinyl/leather dyes before. I found it can look good when you first do it but a couple of months later it looks awful. It seems to attract the dirt more so seems to always a have ingrained dirt in it.
Best to stick to the original colour and keep an eye out on E-bay for a second hand interior.
I think you should also go back to the original center console, sorry!
Well today I drove Southampton to Stoneliegh and back. It wasn't 'total' sunshine but the roof was down both ways.
I can confirm that the rain stays out of the cabin at speeds of over 50mph. The wipers, however, move the water to the side of the screen where it runs up to the top and runs along the top of the door glass spraying gentle in your face.
I can also confirm that the wind turbulence is enough to pull a beanie hat off your head at speeds of over XXXmph*. Fortunately it gets blown into the passenger foot well.
*The speed is dependent on the tightness of the hat and should always be within the speed limits.
That's coming on nicely. I'm sure it would look good in black but that's a very unforgiving colour to paint as it requires very straight panels and perfect preparation otherwise every tiny blemish appears exaggerated, which you'd get away with if painting other colours.
Lost your fingerprints yet ;-)
Unless you've already had quotes, a straight colour, like the traditional blood red, will cost a heck of a lot less than a fancy metallic...
Also, if you go for a modern metallic, the prep will have to be spot on, the same as if it were jet black...
Metallic = Lots and lots of spot on prep, priming, sanding, then possibly tinted primer or groundcoat, a number (anywhere between 3 and 6) of basecoats, then 2 or 3 clearcoats....
Straight colour = Reasonable amount of prep, prime, sand, then bang on 2 coats of colour, job done.....
BUT, its your car so paint it whatever colour makes you smile....
