Here is an example of an inset stencil in a patina job... The stencil is applied in between the first base coat, and the color coat so when you sand down into the layers the stencil is revealed in the color, and not the patina.
Oh the difference the clear coat makes! When I am working the different base colors on any job, they are not shiny, the metallic isn't very visible, and it is easy to take pictures of. Then once you add the shiny clear, things go nuts!
Moving off of the Rat-MINI pic's since it has its own thread... Sometimes just giving some trim a little love is all that is needed... Maybe some tint to the tail light lenses.. Or an eyebrow on the headlights... Coloring the fog lights with a candy pearl is quick, easy, and can make a big difference... Using a candy pearl instead of a toned clear doesn't alter the light output as much as you think either... Color matching all the trim to the body, just doesn't agree in my mind, so sometimes I like to change the color just enough to notice, but it's still close enough to blend in at a distance... Thats about it for my MINIs...
Now for some of the "not mine" work I have recently done... Sometimes, people go pink... Yep not ashamed to admit it, I have done it... Even wore them around town for the morning before they were delivered to the owner! But they look much better on the right car... They are also done in a candy, so the color shifts quite a bit.
I love it when people give me a part, an idea, and very loose guidelines... It lets me take this... And let my inner Re-Re out, turning it into this! It was done in a bit of a different inset stencil/and light patina technique, using Chili Red, red flake, black, and a gunmetal candy pearl. First was the flake over a black base, so the stencil was under the other coats. (Using black under any bright flake makes the flake pop more. ) Then on went the stencils... And the base coats... (Sorry no pic of the red base) Then another set of stencils to make a shadow, followed by the gunmetal candy... And the sanding began... And the clearcoat to bring it to a finished piece... I will get some more pic's of this, as soon as it is installed in the 400HP Mazda it belongs to!
I've got some stuff lined up in the coming weeks this month. Mostly small things, tinting lights, clearcoating an old helmet that got some Sharpie artwork, and other stuff. Also waiting on a couple bigger jobs... Might be doing a good bit of stuff on an F56, and a hood respray on an R53. So stay tuned!
Waiting on my 4:00 to get here... Nothing major just some scuttle lights on a Countryman getting some metallic tint.
Eventually Chris I will! Building up a small base of clientele now makes it better for when I can finally set up a small shop at the base of the Dragon. That is my main goal.
Thats the plan Jeff, just need to make it happen! So my 4:00 is done! In and out with a smile! What was a simple tint job changed a little bit though... Before: And After: Due to the storm clouds that came over the addition to the normal tint doesn't show up very much. But heres what was done... Then the tinted clear went on, and was scuffed back down with a single 1/8th inch wide stripe of red flake added. After that, they were just shot with straight clearcoat, and done! Installed close ups... And there you have it, I'm calling it a day, and going to a friends house for some beers.
Dick, you probably have enough stuff to start a website with a gallery, depending on how much time you have on your hands....
I've got a really cool mirror cap job coming down the pipe... Not at all my style, but hey if anybody can pull off what she wants done, I'm the guy for it! All I am going to say is, its going to be a fairly labor intensive job involving a lot of these (see attached pic VVV) and lots of sparklies.
Just ordered another $70 worth of various flakes and pearls for upcoming projects, and to buildup a small stock of commonly used stuff. Having all the different colors on hand will cut turn around times by 3 days or more.
I decided to paint my POS Mustang II when I was 16. On the positive side, the paint stuck to the car. It also had a bit of texture to it. It didn't look bad... at night, from fifty feet away. Another teenage "learning experience." :frown2: CD
Got another custom job coming down the pipe! Its a Greene Performance coolant tank getting some love for a member here this time. Not naming names, but most of the regulars here will figure it out when the paint starts going down.