Good morning Group,
I’m currently kit bashing an AMT '71 Monte Carlo “Low Rider” into Bobby Allison’s #12 “Coke Machine”, which is red and gold. In the distant past, when applying the Gloss Coat on gold paint, it caused the gold to “melt”.
Does anyone have a suggestion about how to avoid this, or even a substitute for the gloss coat finish, that will make the finish look good, without risking a melt down of the gold (and my temper)? [;)]
Thanks in advance…
Frank
Frank -
You might try using Future w/ an airbrush - mist it on in several VERY FINE coats instead of shooting it in a couple of regular topcoats. Let the Future tack up between coats. I think because the Future is acrylic-based you should be okay. Once you’ve got a good foundation, you should be able to shoot for a finish coat. Also remember that Future is self-leveling, so that should help out also. BTW - what you’ve got so far is looking pretty good. Can’t wait to see the “finished” product ( are they ever truly finished? ).
lowdog
Thanks lowdog!
I am currently allowing a couple “test” pieces to cure out, so I can experiment with raising a nice finish, and will use your recomendation.
I found an “accurate” set of decals for that car, which I’ve been wanting to build for 32 years, so I want it to come out good.
Got to see Bobby race this car during the '72 Southeastern 500 at Bristol, which was my first time attending a race, at age 12. Before they started, the cars were lined up on the back stretch pit road, and as each driver was intoduced, he’d drive his car around to it’s starting position on the front stretch. Remember seeing the white raised letters going round and round on Bobby’s (who was the pole sitter) tires at slow speed, and thinking, “Why, his tires are coming apart!”
Below is one of my favorite newspaper articles which I saved thought the years, with the words re-written for clarity. To a 12 year old boy who loved racing, it was about the coolest thing I’d ever seen! [:D]
“Gentlemen, start your APU’s”
Thanks again topdog,
Frank
Frank -
No problem - hope I was able to help. You and I sound like we’re about the same age; older’n dirt, and remember when the drivers were characters and the cars were actually Fords, Chevys, etc. Like I said before, I’m interested in seeing the car when you get it completed. Good Luck!
lowdog
(Rob)
Just got the decal sheet in the mail, WOW! This is gonna be great, and EXACT! Now I have what ammunition I need to finish the project… will keep the Group photographically informed as the work progresses.
I’ve also been keeping a list of trouble spots in modifying different kit parts into stock car, circa early seventies, configuration, and make available should anyone else like to do this kit, including a list of sources.
Done a test squirt on the gold paint last night, but haven’t went out to check it yet today, hopefully I can get this resolved so a nice overall finished may be achieved.
“Gentlemen, start your APU’s”
Frank
Oh Yeah…
Here’s the picture of the decal sheet, which has decals for the Monte Carlo, Malibu, and the Ford Torino/Talladega.
Also relate to what you said about the drivers being characters, and they certainly were; remember how bad mouthed Waltrip use to be around that time period? People throwing beer cans over the fence at his car… WHILE THE CREW WAS ROLLING IT OFF THE TRUCK!! [:D] And the time Bobby slid his car off the track in turn 3 at Daytona, got out, and proceeded to kick Cale’s ****** for picking on his Brother! hahahaha How Bobby and Richard use to beat their cars up so bad you could hardly read the numbers, but they never took half the field out, and rarely themselves in the process!
Yep, it’s changed a LOT since then, and I’m not so sure those changes has haven’t hurt the true spirit of racing, now days, when you’re basically watching one of the old IROC races, and thinking how unfair it was (back then) to have 12 cars prepaired EXACTLY the same… it seems it took away a lot of the competition, both on the track and on pit road, where everyone does 35mph, and everyone is basically set up the same (according to Nascar specifications), which makes EVERYONE a competitor! Thus… no more Characters. They try stuff like they got away with back then, today, and it’s legal penalties, Sponsor, Media Reputation, career, BIGtime!
Allright, I’m off my soapbox… [^]
Frank
Here’s some pictures of the “Coke Machine’s” finish!
When testing the application of Gloss Coat on cured Gold paint, I discovered there was no “melting” of the paints’ integrity, but I also discovered an important condition of this; If you apply a decal straight to the gold paint, THEN apply the gloss coat, anywhere the decal film is transparent, will create a “Haze” against the gold. Solution: Spray a coat of Gloss Coat on the model, let it cure out good, apply the decals on the slick surface, THEN apply another gloss coat layer!
This allows the decal to adhere to a smoother surface, eliminates any “hazing” affects, and after the gloss Overcoat, makes the decals seem PART of the finish itself! [:D]
“Does aftermarket parts save you trouble?” “Only if you’d rather spend less time Modelling!”
Frank
Frank -
Looks great! Appears to be a really slick finish. I’m happy the Future worked for you. Ain’t it great when things come together like you planned? You did a good job!
lowdog
(Rob)
Hi Lowdog,
Thanks… it is very slick, but it will take on a better appearance after the rubbing compound. Thanks for your recommendation about using the Future. I got a bottle, had my airbrush all set up to use, then decided to shoot a coat of Gloss Coat on one of my practice pieces, and the gold was only affected under transparent sections of decals, where it hazed enough to be noticible. It was so long ago that I had the “melting” experience, it may have been on silver paint, or the compound may have changed… or more than likely, I just forgot![B)]
Yes Sir… if I could have got my hands on something like that back in 1972, I would have thought I’d done died and went to heaven! This is probably the model I’ve wanted to build the longest, so yes, it’s nice when things come together as they have! I wish the “guts” had gone as smooth as the body has… that’s been one major work, modifying existing parts and making the parts I couldn’t modify, so they “fit” into the body properly.
Thanks for your help, I will post some pictures when I get this finished… I’m going to mount it in one of those 1/24/25 display cases, and I’ve even considered “speed fading” the raised lettering on the tires and speedfade the track, wall, and fence/fans picture as a backdrop in the case… so the model will appear to be in motion… ?
We’ll see…
Frank
Cool i love those old nascars i hate nascar now cause of all the Politicly Correctness oh well iam liveing in the past with every thing else LOL.