Aging on Transparent Steering Wheels

[StevenGuthmiller]

If you're ever planning on building a '60s Pontiac or Mopar with a transparent steering wheel and you are looking for an easy way to achieve that slightly yellowed look that they inevitably had, look no further than a can of Testors clear gloss enamel spray paint!

It comes right out of the can a nearly perfect match!

 

I've finally discovered a good use for this subpar product! 

 

Before.

 

 

After.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

 

[stavanzer]

Great Tip.

[gotnitro?]

Very cool this will come in handy 

[Tom Geiger]

Ah! That 1960s combo of sunlight and nicotine! ?

[El Roberto]

Nice, I like that look.  Thanks

[slusher]

Great tip Steve!

[StevenGuthmiller]

Thanks guys!

 

I know that this is something that will rarely be used by most modelers, but strangely enough, I've converted quite a number of old Johan Mopars and AMT and MPC Pontiacs to transparent steering wheels.

I wish that I had thought about this a dozen steering wheels ago.

 

 

 

 

Steve

[OldNYJim]

I never used that Testors enamel from a spray can before - is it pretty thick and syrupy like the stuff in a jar or does it go on in pretty light coats?  

Cool tip either way - definitely storing this one away for future reference!

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, CabDriver said:

I never used that Testors enamel from a spray can before - is it pretty thick and syrupy like the stuff in a jar or does it go on in pretty light coats?  

Cool tip either way - definitely storing this one away for future reference!

It's about the same as other Testors gloss spray paints.

 

In all honesty, it's a pretty good clear coat for certain applications.

It levels very well and shines like crazy straight from the can.

On the other hand, it's enamel and takes forever to cure completely, and absolutely, DO NOT try to use it on any remotely light colors!

It also yellows like crazy........as you can see.

 

 

 

 

Steve

Edited May 16, 2020 by StevenGuthmiller

[OldNYJim]

8 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

It's about the same as other Testors gloss spray paints.

 

In all honesty, it's a pretty good clear coat for certain applications.

It levels very well and shines like crazy straight from the can.

On the other hand, it's enamel and takes forever to cure completely, and absolutely, DO NOT try to use it on any remotely light colors!

It also yellows like crazy........as you can see.

 

 

 

 

Steve

That’s really helpful info, thank you Steve!  

[Rodent]

I have an original AMT 72 Nova and an original 72 GMC stepside that are Testor's silver with glosscote. After all these years, they have a greenish tinge to the normal yellowing. Kind of look like olive green metallic. Hope your steering wheels don't turn green!

[StevenGuthmiller]

56 minutes ago, Rodent said:

I have an original AMT 72 Nova and an original 72 GMC stepside that are Testor's silver with glosscote. After all these years, they have a greenish tinge to the normal yellowing. Kind of look like olive green metallic. Hope your steering wheels don't turn green!

My original thought about the aging for the steering wheel harkened me back to a '37 Chevy coupe that was molded in a very light beige that I sprayed with Testors clear enamel probably 30 years ago.

It's still this glorious shade of yellow today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

 

 

Edited May 16, 2020 by StevenGuthmiller

[Tom Geiger]

Steve, what kits have clear steering wheels? I know the custom wheel in the old Riviera kit.. that one is in my 1950 Ford pickup ratrod... other sources (and / or aftermarket)?

[StevenGuthmiller]

6 hours ago, Tom Geiger said:

Steve, what kits have clear steering wheels? I know the custom wheel in the old Riviera kit.. that one is in my 1950 Ford pickup ratrod... other sources (and / or aftermarket)?

The one above is from the AMT 1962 Pontiac Catalina kit.

The Moebius '61 Pontiacs also have them.

The rest that I have done on old Johan Mopar kits have been converted.

Not that hard to do really.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

Edited May 17, 2020 by StevenGuthmiller

[charlie8575]

On 5/16/2020 at 1:58 PM, Rodent said:

I have an original AMT 72 Nova and an original 72 GMC stepside that are Testor's silver with glosscote. After all these years, they have a greenish tinge to the normal yellowing. Kind of look like olive green metallic. Hope your steering wheels don't turn green!

I suspect the greenish tinge comes from the metallic particles interacting with the clear, or the way the light refracts through the yellowed clear, and picks up the blue spectrum.

Charlie Larkin