Lead City Customs

[Cool Hand]

17 hours ago, Steve H said:

No pressure, but I hope when you start assembling all these beautiful cars that the Camaro is close to the front of the assembly line.😉🤞😄

Ha ha, all in good time mate.

After the Camaro what would you like to see get built ??

[Cool Hand]

Fresh out of the 3D printer, a set of Centreline style wheels for the Midnight Mist Purple LJ Torana and a set of Weld Draglite wheels for the red LC Torana.

Also some disc Brakes for the 2010 Camaro if the size looks right in the wheels.

[Steve H]

16 hours ago, Cool Hand said:

Ha ha, all in good time mate.

After the Camaro what would you like to see get built ??

Holden LX A9X Torana! I love that thing. I had not seen one of those before.  Is it another DDA kit?  
It’s interesting watching other people’s build process. I always leave final paint as long as I can in a build, for fear of damaging the finish during construction. Many others, like yourself, paint first. I do think however, that seeing the painted body on the desk, would be good motivation to finish a build…🤔 Your paintwork is always spectacular Luke. Look forward to watching all the progress in whatever order you choose mate. 
 

Cheers, Steve

[Cool Hand]

7 hours ago, Steve H said:

Holden LX A9X Torana! I love that thing. I had not seen one of those before.  Is it another DDA kit?  

Okay, I applied the clear coat to the A9X body and some other components today. So that will be at the front of the line for completion.

Yes its a DDA kit, there is 3 versions of the LX A9X it has the fenders flares.

 

And there is 2 versions of the LX SS, no fender flares.

 

 

7 hours ago, Steve H said:

It’s interesting watching other people’s build process. I always leave final paint as long as I can in a build, for fear of damaging the finish during construction. Many others, like yourself, paint first. I do think however, that seeing the painted body on the desk, would be good motivation to finish a build…

We all have our own method to our madness, all depends on the kit and the type of build as to when I will paint the body. 

With the DDA kits I prefer to paint the body after initial mock ups and setting of the stance, that way the paint will have plenty of time to fully cure, which is important if I have to wet sand and polish. And in the mean time I can work on the rest of the kit. Or paint something else.

Getting the body prep and paint done first can be helpful, as its usually the most time consuming and important part of a build. After that the flow of a build is generally quick and easy to get finished. 

Also having 2 of the same kit allows for the unpainted kit parts to be used for test fitting during the wip stage of a build 😉

 

7 hours ago, Steve H said:

Your paintwork is always spectacular Luke. Look forward to watching all the progress in whatever order you choose mate. 

Always appreciate your kind words Steve, and appreciate you commenting and following my builds. 

[Cool Hand]

Applied the clear coat to 4 builds.

The clear certainly bought this SMS paints Ice Blue pearl colour to life.

 

Really liking this Outlaw paints Cherry Mica.

Plan to apply the clear coat to a few more over the next couple days. 🤞

 

 

[STU111]

Nice work there Luke. I particularly like the cherry mica on that GTR Torana.👍🏻

[Mattilacken]

Nice paint work! That LX Torana is something I could see myself driving.

[Zippi]

That clear coat did the trick Luke.  I'm really liking the Cherry Mica.

[Cool Hand]

3 hours ago, STU111 said:

Nice work there Luke. I particularly like the cherry mica on that GTR Torana.👍🏻

Cheers mate, now im looking forward to detailing and painting the engine for LJ. All the chrome and polished aluminium will look good against the colour I think.

 

3 hours ago, Mattilacken said:

Nice paint work! That LX Torana is something I could see myself driving.

Thanks Anton, the Torana hatch backs are great looking cars. Ive always liked the white with black outs, thats a planned idea for a future build.

 

2 hours ago, Zippi said:

That clear coat did the trick Luke.  I'm really liking the Cherry Mica.

Yeah Bob, nothing like clear coat to bring the pearl and metallics colours to life.

Will be using the Cherry Mica on a few future Holden builds. 

[Cool Hand]

Got the wheels painted for the red LC.

And mocked up the supercharger I 3D printed to see if the scale is about right and get an idea of how its going to look.

 

[Cool Hand]

Painted the wheels for the midnight mist LJ.

 

[Cool Hand]

Fresh out of the 3D printer, some more centreline style wheels possibly for future builds and a new set of wheels for the Hakosuka.

 

[Cool Hand]

Applied the clear coat to 4 Torana bodies and components.

2 more bodies and components will have a clear coat applied tomorrow.

Finally nearing the end of my painting journey, or maybe il decided to paint some more 🤣

 

[Cool Hand]

Have a newly released DDA kit incoming sometime this week, so I will build this sedan version along side it.

 

 

 

Edited March 10 by Cool Hand

[Cool Hand]

Applied the clear to the LJ Torana and XY GT Falcon.

 

So now I am nearly finished with all the paint work.

The shark nose will receive its colour coat tomorrow, then I will prepare the XW's. Once the paint process is complete for those 3 I might actually try finish a build 🤣 

[Mattilacken]

Man thats a nice paintjob, and so flat! I have't managed to lay it down that flat with the AB yet.. any special metod you use or just practice? 

[Zippi]

The LJ Torana and XY GT Falcon are looking Awesome there Luke.  Nice and shiny.  

[Cool Hand]

3 hours ago, Mattilacken said:

Man thats a nice paintjob, and so flat! I have't managed to lay it down that flat with the AB yet.. any special metod you use or just practice? 

Thanks Anton.

Its not 100% flat like you would see with 2k clears. Has a very slight micro orange peel. Which is easily removed with a light wet sand and polish. The type of clear I use when fully cured sands and polishes out very well.

 

 

Yeah practice does help, no special method. I think its has more to do with the type of clear, thinners and airbrush.

I use this brand of clear.

And thin 1:1.5 with this.

And use a fan cap on this airbrush at 25psi, helps to get a wider spray pattern. And being a .5 needle the output is perfect for wet coats.

 

 

 

3 hours ago, Zippi said:

The LJ Torana and XY GT Falcon are looking Awesome there Luke.  Nice and shiny.  

Thanks Bob, plan is to wet sand and polish. That should make the finish a bit smoother and more reflective 🤞

[Cool Hand]

3D printed some more centrelines, I prefer these American Racing style CL's as im after a specific look for my XW Falcon builds. Just need a bit of testing to dial in the size that looks just right. 

[Cool Hand]

Painted the new wheels for the Hako.

[Cool Hand]

Applied the colour coat to the shark nose 210 Skyline.

[Steve H]

12 hours ago, Cool Hand said:

Painted the new wheels for the Hako.

Yes, yes, yes! Very tasty looking.

[Steve H]

16 hours ago, Mattilacken said:

Man thats a nice paintjob, and so flat! I have't managed to lay it down that flat with the AB yet.. any special metod you use or just practice? 

Anton, I’m convinced it’s something to do with the gravitational pull in the land down under.😂 That, and …. well, Luke seems to maybe know what he’s doing.
Consistently crazy beautiful paint Luke, it’s fun to watch sir.

[NOBLNG]

Yes beautiful paintwork Luke! And so prolific…do you have a conveyor belt running through your paint booth?

[Mattilacken]

On 3/10/2025 at 4:47 PM, Cool Hand said:

Its not 100% flat like you would see with 2k clears. Has a very slight micro orange peel. Which is easily removed with a light wet sand and polish. The type of clear I use when fully cured sands and polishes out very well.

Thanks! I use Tamiya LP clear and same thinner as you, probably on your recommendation at some point! I do have a smaller needle, only 0,2 mm, the last times. I will go through my 0.4 and see if it lays flatter thanks to the width difference.