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[Pia]

Oh my Nancy is watching with great interest as you embellish the beetle

[Mr Franz]

Oh my Nancy is watching with great interest as you embellish the beetle

Well, we're getting there. This is turning into a one step forward two steps back proposition...
Decided to go with Rustoleum Ultra 2X. This stuff is great. On plastic it works something like 3M primer, softening the surface and bonding with it. Problem is, the spray nozzle is meant to cover large areas quickly. So on a project like this, it's really hard to control. That and it takes about a week to fully cure.

Well, got my thin guide coat on without incident.

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Let that tack-up for an hour, then went in with a heavier 2nd coat. I was hoping that would suffice and I could just color sand after the paint fully cures. On closer inspection though, looks like I've got a couple runs to deal with.

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So now I need to wait for the paint to fully cure, before I can tend to the runs. With any luck, I can get away with color sanding after that and get this thing back together. However, if it turns out I need another light coat after leveling, that'll mean another week before final assembly.

[gogodolls]

It looks very professional! ...like a real body shop!

I love this kind of project! BRAVO!
Cheers!

[Mr Franz]

It looks very professional! ...like a real body shop!

I love this kind of project! BRAVO!
Cheers!

Thank you sir! Well this ain't my first rodeo. Painted quite a few rides in my day. This is much the same, just on a smaller scale. Tell you what though, a lot easier painting the real thing.

The original Beetle came with pink inserts in the front seats that match the car's exterior. Since the back seat doesn't have them and is just plain black, I was going to do up the front buckets to match. Ah, but you know me. Never one to leave well enough alone. So, I decided to not only paint the front seat inserts white, but give the back seat the same two tone effect.

Fresh from the paint booth. Fingers crossed I sanded the vinyl plastic well enough for the paint to adhere...

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[Pia]

That will be fine looks very good

[Mr Franz]

That will be fine looks very good

Okay, not super, deluxe wonderful, but not bad either.
Paint didn't stick as well on the back seat. Oh well, it's just for show anyway.

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[Billiam]

Awesome!

[gogodolls]

WOW! Looks fantastic! Real artist!

BRAVO!
Cheers!

[Mr Franz]

Awesome!

WOW! Looks fantastic! Real artist!

BRAVO!
Cheers!

Thanks, guys!

Well, we're getting there. Not a drop of pink in sight! Paint's not completely cured, but close enough to remove the masking and do some touch-up. Just need to work up enough nerve now to wet sand a couple paint sags.

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[Billiam]

This is gonna be so epic when you're done!

[Mr Franz]

This is gonna be so epic when you're done!

Epic? Hell, I'm only shooting for decent, but I'll settle for good enough!

Anyways, decided to trudge forward and do the job I've been most dreading.


Here's those paint sags I was talking about. Let's see what I can do with them.

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First thing I'm going to need is a mini sanding block with some 320 attached.

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Now, let's see if I can dry sand the sags without disturbing too much of the surrounding area.

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Huh... that went better than expected. Let's clean up the scuffs with a little soap and water wet sand.

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I'll be damned. Paint sags gone! Unfortunately so's a lot of the gloss...

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No worries. A little polishing compound will remedy that.
Yep. that's tooth paste I'm using. Old modelers trick. Makes a great polishing compound and leaves your model minty fresh! 9 out of 10 dentists recommend it.

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TA-DA!

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So, what I thought was going to be a hard job, ends up being the easiest. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[ShadowFun]

Boy… I hope that good luck with the paint is contagious!

My own RC mod projects are stalled at the disassembly and prep for paint stage. Painting makes me panic!

Really glad to see the bug success!

[Mr Franz]

Boy… I hope that good luck with the paint is contagious!

My own RC mod projects are stalled at the disassembly and prep for paint stage. Painting makes me panic!

Really glad to see the bug success!

If your RC's are thin polycarbonate, I suggest Tamiya PS paint over Rustoleum. I only used it because Barb cars are pretty thick plastic and I wanted something that would bond well and not chip easily.

Well, looky here. While all the good boys and girls were fast asleep, the auto trim fairy came and started fitting out my bug.

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[gogodolls]

WOW! Looks fantastic!

Very nice work, BRAVO!
Cheers!

[Mr Franz]

WOW! Looks fantastic!

Very nice work, BRAVO!
Cheers!

Thanks, gogo! It's been a good little project. Not too many surprises. Pain in the butt trying to get it back together though. Should have seen me trying to get the body back on the chassis last night. There's 17 points that have to simultaneously line up or nothing fits! Who the hell designs this shit!