Post #1
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Monday, 30-Jan 2012 @ 2:19pm
So it's taken a couple of ownership changes and a few months, but I finally had the Old Girl resprayed on the weekend.
Initially the paint job was intended to be a quick and temporary one to cover the exposed bog and bare metal left on the poor girl after Todd had to move her on. I decided on going back to the original grey, or a colour close enough to it, so the plan was to lay a gunmetal grey basecoat and then redo her properly down the track (i.e. after paying off the funeral loan, wedding and housebuying was sorted). Luckily a very good friend of mine, a spraypainter by trade, had a tin of 2-pack he'd concocted for someone that ultimately changed their mind. The colour is like a gunmetal metallic, with a very subtle blue pearl flip.
So after psyching myself on Friday arvo to prep the Old Girl in my carport, on a 42 degree day with no wind, I started rubbing her back and laying primer over her still exposed "pink bits" and de-surface-rusted exposed bare metal, ready for the basecoat. I wasn't concerned with the small, but numerous rust bubbles coming through her because after all, it was always only going to be a temporary job.
Cut to Sunday - paint day. I was at my mate's place at 7am to do the final rub-down, mask-up and clean, ready for the basecoat. After two coats of paint have been laid, we both stood back and agreed that seeing as it came up way better than expected, she deserves to have a couple of coats of clear laid down.
...And so it was done.
...And the masses (the two of us) said, "Yay".
Sure, there are imperfections on nearly every panel, but one day I will still get rid of all the rust, smooth the body and respray the engine bay/cabin. At least for now though (and probably for at least the next couple of years!) her body will remain protected. This of course will allow me to concentrate on things like rubbers/seals and trimming without having to stress about watching her body deteriorate, not to mention feel my smile widen further as I'm putting around in her!
Initially the paint job was intended to be a quick and temporary one to cover the exposed bog and bare metal left on the poor girl after Todd had to move her on. I decided on going back to the original grey, or a colour close enough to it, so the plan was to lay a gunmetal grey basecoat and then redo her properly down the track (i.e. after paying off the funeral loan, wedding and housebuying was sorted). Luckily a very good friend of mine, a spraypainter by trade, had a tin of 2-pack he'd concocted for someone that ultimately changed their mind. The colour is like a gunmetal metallic, with a very subtle blue pearl flip.
So after psyching myself on Friday arvo to prep the Old Girl in my carport, on a 42 degree day with no wind, I started rubbing her back and laying primer over her still exposed "pink bits" and de-surface-rusted exposed bare metal, ready for the basecoat. I wasn't concerned with the small, but numerous rust bubbles coming through her because after all, it was always only going to be a temporary job.
Cut to Sunday - paint day. I was at my mate's place at 7am to do the final rub-down, mask-up and clean, ready for the basecoat. After two coats of paint have been laid, we both stood back and agreed that seeing as it came up way better than expected, she deserves to have a couple of coats of clear laid down.
...And so it was done.
...And the masses (the two of us) said, "Yay".
Sure, there are imperfections on nearly every panel, but one day I will still get rid of all the rust, smooth the body and respray the engine bay/cabin. At least for now though (and probably for at least the next couple of years!) her body will remain protected. This of course will allow me to concentrate on things like rubbers/seals and trimming without having to stress about watching her body deteriorate, not to mention feel my smile widen further as I'm putting around in her!
When the "D" hits your eye, like a txt smiley guy...
