1964 Pontiac Lemans Convertible.

[Anglia105E]

Best looking soft top I've seen Steven . . . Very nicely done, also lots of detail inside and outside too. Certainly worth moulding and casting as someone suggested (david espenshade)

David W.

[Curt]

Really nice work on that top, Steve.  Another masterpiece in the making.

[Kah puts]

Looks great Steve, well done ?

[BDSchindler]

Simply amazing!

[StevenGuthmiller]

Thanks everyone!

 

Got the top seams in.

I think they look pretty good, and it finishes the top off nicely!

 

Still have to address a few sanding scratches in the center panel, but I think other than a final paint color, it's nearly complete.

I'm pretty pleased with the results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

 

Edited December 17, 2023 by StevenGuthmiller

[Bucky]

Absolutely primo! Great modification. Certainly doesn't resemble the part that was languishing in my parts bin! LoL 

[StevenGuthmiller]

8 minutes ago, Bucky said:

Absolutely primo! Great modification. Certainly doesn't resemble the part that was languishing in my parts bin! LoL 

Thank you Keith!

 

I appreciate your contribution!

Although it required quite a bit of work, I'm glad that I made the attempt.

Now I have options with other convertibles in the future.

 

Before:

 

 

 

 

After:

 

 

 

Steve

Edited December 17, 2023 by StevenGuthmiller

[Bills72sj]

That turned out quite impressive. Now that I have seen you make the frame bows, if you ever endeavor to make a folding top, i was think the material from a black umbrella might work.

[customline]

Wow! It looks absolutely real. Fantastic! I think it's alien technology ?. The truth is out there.

[absmiami]

yup

[Trendsetta68]

That turned out awesome! ??

[NOBLNG]

On 12/14/2023 at 10:54 PM, StevenGuthmiller said:

Probably still a little sanding and tweaking here and there, and then a couple of coats of primer/filler down the center to create the seams, but I'm quite happy with it!

 

 

Steve

 

On 12/17/2023 at 2:08 PM, StevenGuthmiller said:

Got the top seams in.

I think they look pretty good, and it finishes the top off nicely!

 

 

Steve

 

Quite the transformation there Steve! Well done.? So those seams on the roof are made only of primer???? That turned out better than I had imagined.?

Edited December 21, 2023 by NOBLNG

[espo]

Very impressive realistic looking convertible top. 

[DoctorLarry]

Is that just primer, or do you have a technique to texture the top material? Fit looks great.

[StevenGuthmiller]

4 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

 

Quite the transformation there Steve! Well done.? So those seams on the roof are made only of primer???? That turned out better than I had imagined.?

The Duplicolor “filler primer” that I purchased turned out to be a bust.

It was cracking and lifting the primer under it.

So I sanded it off and just used a couple of coats of Duplicolor paint instead, and then primed it again.

I ended up with a few deep scratches that I hadn’t noticed initially, so now I’m sanding and priming again. ?

 

 

 

Steve

[StevenGuthmiller]

49 minutes ago, DoctorLarry said:

Is that just primer, or do you have a technique to texture the top material? Fit looks great.

As I stated above, the filler primer wasn’t working for me, so I used paint instead.

I’m really not looking to add any texture at all.

In 1/25th scale, the texture of the cloth would be virtually undetectable.

 

 

 

Steve

[TransAmMike]

That top is just incredible Steve, you are a master of detail!

[absmiami]

Paint !!

[StevenGuthmiller]

2 hours ago, absmiami said:

Paint !!

Just Duplicolor “Perfect Match”universal black from a rattle can.

 

 

 

Steve

[absmiami]

No. I didn’t mean “paint” ??

i meant …

Paint !  !!

as, in …

Paint !!

[Duddly01]

That convertible top looks absolutely amazing!

[StevenGuthmiller]

Thanks everyone!

 

I believe the "homemade" rag top is finished for all intents and purposes.

I will add the little chrome caps at the ends of the rear top bow at some point, and possibly a little paint detailing if required, but other than that.....

 

I did add a little texture.

Do you think it's too much?

I can always smooth it out a little with another heavier coat or two of black.

 

I'm pretty happy with it.

I feel that it certainly looks better than the Polar Lights '64 GTO top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The "before" photo.

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

[Rattlecan Dan]

Great job! I liked the dark primer look more than the glossy final coat. Seemed so realistic. 

 

[Curt]

The top is very realistic; hard to believe the difference from the '65 hardtop you started with.  I would go with a smoother look, though.

[StevenGuthmiller]

42 minutes ago, Rattlecan Dan said:

Great job! I liked the dark primer look more than the glossy final coat. Seemed so realistic. 

 

The gray might work for a very weathered top, but that's not the affect I was going for, and I definitely don't want a gray top on a pale gold car.

The finish is actually not a glossy paint.

It's nothing more than Duplicolor black primer, but it does have a little shine to it.

That said, I feel like it should have a bit of a shine to it, but in the end, I could always hit it with a little dullcote for a dead flat finish.

 

 

 

Steve