Which method of making your own vinyl top looks the most accurate?

[Monty]

Over the years, modelers have used a number of ways to create vinyl tops for their kits. I've read recommendations for everything from spraying a flat color at a greater distance to springing for the entire Testors' vinyl top system. IIRC, there was also a method that involved using masking tape and...? (Apparently I don't recall).

Recommendations are one thing, but pictures make your point. Let's see what you've got.

[Monty]

Seriously? Fifty-some people read this but it only gets one response? (Thanks, Jacen!)

All the methods I listed above were things I've read about on this board, so where are all the practitioners of the ersatz vinyl arts?

Edited August 1, 2012 by Monty

[MrObsessive]

Give your thread a chance.............vinyl roofs aren't everyone's forte. Here are a couple I did------the first one is the Johan Turbine Car. Now the vinyl material was already molded on the roof, so it was a matter of getting the right shade without it coming off as looking too gimmicky or shiny.

I used Polly Scale's Engine Black in this case, and it went on beautifully! It has just the right sheen for vinyl roofs or leather seats, and can be brushed on with little or no brush strokes or airbrushed.

The other one here is the AMT '66 Chevy II which I built back in 1997-98. IIRC, I used Detail Master's vinyl top kit, which is nothing more than heavy masking tape painted black. I think this was my first attempt at a vinyl roof, and in hindsight, the seams are a bit out of scale. After 15 years, the tape is starting to lift as well, so while this is a nice idea------keep in mind that tape of course dries out, and will start to lift in spots, especially if you live in a high humidity area.

Hope this helps ya out!

[rickd13]

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=27431&hl=vinyl

This is a great way to do a vinyl roof. I just did a white vinyl roof on a 1970 Dodge Super Bee using this method and it came out great.

[Custom Mike]

I did a replica of a buddy's '68 Satellite recently, and had to add a vinyl top to it. Having never done it before, I searched out all the methods available, and finally settled on using masking tape. I laid down some styrene strips for the seams, then polished the area the top would be on with 4,000 grit sandpaper to make sure the tape would stick well over a long period of time. I bought a roll of 4 inch wide 3-M Blue Painter's Tape, because the texture is a nice match for a vinyl top, but Tamiya tape will do well also, the 3-M is just cheaper cost-wise. I laid down the tape, burnished it down along the seams and window trip, then trimmed the excess off. Then I sprayed it with some Dupli-Color White Primer, and added my foil. It came out really nicely, I'm surprised I haven't tried this before!

Here's a link to the WIP here so you can see how I did it, the vinyl top work is on pages 1 and 3...

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=46717&st=0

[espo]

Lots of good ideas here. I'm not much on vinyl roofs, but I did a '50 Ford Crestliner a couple years ago. I used Rust-Oleum Textured indoor/outdoor paint. It looked very real with a low sheen and a nice vinyl looking texture. I would apply it after everything else is done. You would never be able to get polishing compound off of it and masking tape will not stick. I used black but they had other colors on the shelf at the time. Good old " Wally World ".