2 doubts...

[Drago]

Hi guys....

I have two doubts about the car paintings schema:

1) How to paint a '50-'70 car underneath? I saw models that in middle of the tunel the color is gray and others painted with all same color. Which is the correct one? Which decade each technique is applied? Why (in the first option) is the gray color?

2) Somebody knows the name of the manufacturer and its codes of the red and blue colors of So-Cal Speed Shop? (I intend to make the 34 Ford Coupe that ran in the salt lakes)

Thanks in advance (and sorry fot the possible grammatical mistakes )

[forwardlook60]

Hi Alexandre,

With regard to your question(s) regarding the painting of undercarraiges,

each manufacturer did it differently. I can help you out with question

one to a certain degree (I am not that familiar with Ford and GM) and I'm

sure that some of the other guys can pick up where I've left off.

I can speak to the question as it applies to Chrysler products. However,

if you have seen Fords or GMs with the same appearance, it probably is

as a result of the same process explained below. After 1960

all Chrysler Corporation cars (with the exception of Imperial) were

manufactured in a monocoque (single shell) fashion. Chrysler called it

Unibody construction. This means that the body, floorpan and chassis are

all one piece and as a result were painted as one piece. The body, after

being dipped in rust inhibitors, was painted with grey primer...then when

the sides were painted, overspray of body color found it's way onto the

chassis. The reason why you may see cars with more paint and less

primer showing (...or sometimes the obverse) is simply because of

inconsistency during the painting process.

Now, the way you would achieve this effect in scale is like this:

(Assuming that you are painting a Unibody car)

Look carefully at several 1:1 pictures of the car you will

replicate to get the 'feel' for that look you are going for.

*** Do not apply the front/rear suspension parts/assembly(s) or

the exhaust/mufflers ***

*** Mask the gas tank ***

1. Prep your chassis for painting.

2. Primer the entire chassis with medium grey primer.

3. When the primer is dry, you will apply your body color.

Do this by spraying at a low angle to the sides of the chassis

and mist the color onto the chassis as you move from fron to back.

Be careful not to make the coat(s) heavy. The look that you

are trying to get is the appearance of a heavier saturation

of color on the sides and misting or fading to grey primer down

the centerline.

I would practice this technique on an older chassis first before you

attempt it on a real build. After a while you will have the 'touch'.

As I said, it would be my guess that other cars manufactured

Unibody fashion would also have been painted simularly.

Hope this helps.

Steve