This May Be The Last Project

[Lona]

Today, I was able to paint the accent bands on both doors and the hood top panels. Got both the dark brown base plus the clear coat done. Next step is to scuff the bands and paint the pin stripes soon as my pin stripe tool arrives early next week.

I'm pleased with how the bands turned out. Nice smooth finish and gloss level that reflects the flourescent light fixture from above.

 

[Lona]

I guess every project has its setbacks and I've just had one that was self-inflicted. It seems in my desire to save cost, I did not lay down enough 2K primer on my fenders or I sanded too much off prepping for the base coat. The result became evident when I shot the first fender with black base coat. Not only was the primer too thin, but my first coat of base was too heavy. This caused the solvent in the base coat to go through the thin primer giving a crinkle spot plus an entire fender with a base coat that would not harden, even after four days. At least that's what I think happened........input from the pro painters welcomed.

So, my intention is to completely strip the defective base coat and primer and start from scratch on that fender. Plus, I will shoot an additional coat or two of primer on the other fenders that have thin coats of primer to hopefully resolve this problem in the future.

 

[Lona]

I stripped off the initial base coat on the fender that had the serious chemical reaction. Then, re-primed it and the other three fenders with two coats of 2K. I base and clear coated the bad fender and am pleased with the result. It was my first attempt at painting black, a color many consider the most difficult to get right. While not perfect, it turned out really well.

Two small gnats decided to land on the wet base coat and, rather than messing up the already sprayed finish, I let the base dry and laid down two coats of clear over the miserable offenders. Once the finish hardens, I'll be able to sand them and buff them out.

The next several days are expected to have highs in the mid-forties so nothing will be sprayed until the weather warms up a bit. I really can't wait too long to finish painting the fenders and other small parts in the attic because with higher temperatures outside and sun on the un-insulated attic roof, the space will go up over ninety and that will be too hot to spray.

There's still plenty to do even if I can't paint during the next few days. Specifically, the new pin striping tool arrived and I can spend the time experimenting and learning how to use it.

 

[Lona]

Making progress, but it's slow. Now have both rear fenders, hood side panels, fire wall, car interior, engine compartment, undercarriage and six wheels done as well as both front fenders primed and ready to spray. Also, I pin striped a test on one of the hood top panels using the new pin striping tool. Turned out nice but with a little inconsistancy in the line thickness which should improve with practice.

The photo of the hood piece looks strange but it's the process i'm using to protect the pin stripe and eliminate the physical step at the color separation between the raised brown body band and the yellow of the panel. Spraying the final clear coat over the entire panel will bury the pin stripe as well as the color line separation. A first coat of clear was sprayed over the body band dark brown base coat and then scuff sanded to accept the pin stripe paint so the true color of the band is not evident in the photo.

The pin stripe tool is shown against the hood panel.

 

[Lona]

I haven't posted for a week or so but that doesn't mean I am not working on the paint project. Prepped several smaller parts and finished sanding the body. Also got the two front fenders finished. Not perfect, but they look pretty good. All the black is done now except for the splash pans over the running boards which I will paint while attached to the car.

Tomorrow, I will be spot priming sand-throughs and bare metal spots so I can then move the car outside the garage to tape and drape the car and spray a coat of prime over the entire body. That's if the weather cooperates and it's not too windy.

 

[Lona]

I planned to get the car out of the garage to prime bare metal spots and sand-throughs. I knew the gas tank was dry so I dumped two gallons or so into the filler hole. Turned the gas on and it leaked out of the glass sediment bowl which I had forgotten to tighten after cleaning and replacing it. So, after fixing that, I got in the car without the seat and found my butt was so low I couldn't see over the cowl. Found the seat in the garage closet and threw it in. Found the handle for the cutoff switch and screwed it on. OK, now I'm ready to roll out. Turned on the key and reached for the GAV........and it's not there. Found it in the box of misc parts I had removed and installed it. Now, I'm really ready to start the car. Cutoff switch on....ignition on.....spark lever set properly.......gas lever one notch down and here we go! Rotated my right foot to engage the starter button.....oops, it's not there. Darn, it's in the same parts box. Installed that starter rod and fired it up.

I bought my first Model A 70 years ago....you'd think I would have remembered to check all those things before trying to start the car. Part of getting old, I guess.

Anyway, I backed the car off the lift and out of the garage and managed to get everything spot primed. It took less than one can of 3K primer, making me think I could have primed the whole body with only two cans. But, the coats would have been too thin so I scuff sanded the spots and am ready to finish taping and wrapping the car tomorrow for two coats of prime, weather permitting.

Things are moving along nicely, although a bit slowly.

Glen

 

[Big hammer]

Practice, Practice, Practice !!! I hadn’t started my Tudor for about two months, cranked no start, checked key on, gas on, timing lever set throttle set, cranks no start ???? Pull the choke and it started !!!

 

[Flathead]

At least the brake pedal was still in place!

 

[Lona]

Yesterday was a good day. I managed to get the body all taped and plastic sheeted in the morning and ready to prime in the afternoon. But the day was hot in the mid 80's and I don't have any place in the shade that's not under trees. Not a good place to paint in the spring with pollen, bugs and birds. With the body surface up to 135 degrees measured with my laser thermometer, painting anything at that temperature was a no-no.

So, I was going to put the car back in the garage and hold off until this morning to prime it. But, I decided to wait until late afternoon to see if the surfaces would cool off enough to spray. As the sun was setting, the temps dropped below 100 so I was good to go. I was able to get two good coats of 2k primer on before dark.

With the car already draped, I didn't want to remove the sheeting to be able to sit in it and drive it into the garage so I towed it in with my riding mower.

Today is planned to sand the prime and, hopefully, get the body bands painted the accent color and ready for pin striping them.

Glen

 

[David in San Antonio]

Lona, Thank you for describing the process you’re going through. Your good humor comes through.

 

[Lona]

Like so many others who have started projects, life got in my way just as I was making good progress on the paint job. The result was that I have not been able to find enough time to work on the car until this last week.

One of the last things I did was to spray the accent bands around the doors and body. When they were done, the result was not what I expected. The dark brown I had my supplier mix turned out to be much too dark. Viewed up close, it looked like dark brown but at any distance, the bands looked like they were painted black. The color needed to be changed.

I had two more cans of a lighter color brown base coat mixed up and and I sprayed over the black bands and followed up with a single clear coat. At this point, I'm ready to start painting the yellow pin stripes over the new brown bands. I have a pin striping tool to help me do that since 87 year old hands aren't as steady as they used to be. With no experience painting stripes, I'll be taking my time to try to do it well.

The Memorial Day weekend will find our home filled with our kids and grand kids so it doesn't look like I'll be getting back to painting until after the holiday. I pulled my boat out and trailered it next to my garage to replace the water pump in the 200 hp Yamaha so we'll have a boat for the weekend. Just one of the several things that got in the way of the paint project.

Attached photos of the black bands and the new lighter brown replacement color.

Glen

 

[Lona]

To take a line from Monty Python.......... I'm not dead yet! I'm still healthy but haven't posted for two months because life got in the way again. Can't believe painting this car has just had an anniversary.

I got handed a new project by the family to design and manage the construction of a large pool house at the family summer home. Given a deadline of mid-May, 2027 to have the project complete, I have a comfortable amount of time but needed to put the Model A painting aside until I can get the design and construction drawings done, get zoning and building permits and get the job out to bid for general contractors.

I could normally squeeze in painting time but meanwhile, I had cataract surgery in both eyes and won't be getting new glasses for another several weeks. Tough painting when everything is blurry.

Today, I managed to get the whole car sanded and ready to pin stripe which I hope to get done in the next week or so in spite of the vision problem. It has been slow work but I would guess there are a lot of folks on the forum who have had their projects delayed far longer than mine.

Glen

 

[old31]

Between Monte and Clint, I can see you doing another 8 or 9 projects. I love your attitude and tenacity. Keep up the great work.

As far as the rims go, I have had great luck letting the air out and masking the tires.

 

[Lona]

Between Monte and Clint, I can see you doing another 8 or 9 projects. I love your attitude and tenacity. Keep up the great work.

As far as the rims go, I have had great luck letting the air out and masking the tires.

I guess the old hand is still fairly steady as I was able to free hand the rim painting with an artist brush at the tires without getting any paint on the white walls.

 

[ModelA29]

Inquiring minds want to know

 

[Lona]

Inquiring minds want to know

It's a 1936 Auburn Boattail Speedster replica built by Speedster Motors. Several companies built them from the early 60's into the early 2000's. This is one of the more desirable ones, not a kit car or one built on a doner frame but built at the factory entirely from scratch. It has a GM 5.3 L V8 and drive train plus AC, power windows and automatic transmission. The only one I know of with windows instead of side curtains as the original car had.

Thanks for asking,

Glen

 

[Husker402]

Look like it’s coming long nicely. I’m working on 3 vehicles at one stage or another in their restorations with many more laying in wait. Keep up the good work!

 

[Smokedtires]

That Auburn is gorgeous. The Roadster is coming along great, I too will be in that position as mine was painted long ago without primer, so the paint is lifting off the body. Truly inspirational, thanks for sharing.