V8 Super Beetle Project

[CMD]

Nov 7, 2010 9:27:03 GMT -5 V8 Super Beetle said:

After about 24 hours of masking, painting and waiting between coats, I finally have her in color!

I'll bet you can't stop smiling!!!! ;D
It looks, well..................SUPER!

CMD

[302bug]

Are you kidding, I can't stop smiling!!!! This thing looks awesome. I am so sinning right now because I am so envious. Great job man. Ready to see it on the road now.

[Mock1racer]

Lookin good.
24 hrs? Dang.

[V8 Super Beetle]

Thanks guys! I'm pretty happy to say the least.

LOL, yeah. I wouldn't have taken near as long if I would've used a base / clear system rather than using a clear over single stage. I had to wait 8 hours minimum for the color to harden before I could mask it. With a base / clear system you can mask it as soon as it flashes off in like 10 minutes.

[Mock1racer]

Did I tell you?


You missed a spot.

J/K

[V8 Super Beetle]

LOL, yeah! As long as it's not on the outside. ;D

[454bug]

Hey Matt,

Man, it looks AWESOME!!! I know you have to be REALLY pumped up!

The colors and the gloss REALLY look great.

I am SO happy for you! I got my car back home last week. I talked to the local guy who will be doing the interior sheetmetal (door panels, floor areas, etc.). I can't wait to get to your stage...

The two-tone looks great. I'm going to stick with the two-tone also.

[V8 Super Beetle]

Thanks, Ray! You're making some great progress as well. I check your thread on the pro-touring site every week to see what's going on. I saw the pictures of it home, and the new truck. Looking really good. I can't wait to see it with the sheet metal work.

I'm really loving the two tone as well. It was a little tricky masking for a first time painter. Well, it would've been easier if I would've removed the doors. From the looks of it, your cars body doesn't look like it'll require too much panel work to get it ready for paint.

Are you still going with the burnt vette metallic kinda sunset orange?

[V8 Super Beetle]

This picture may scare some of you, but have no fear. The car will come out with a mirror like finish. My mother in law didn't quite understand why I was sanding my nice shiny paint. LOL

I have finished wet sanding with 400 grit and got her nice and flat. I have about half of the car done with 600 grit. After sanding she'll get a good bath and a wipe down with surface wash.

I'm thinking I will have the final flow coat of clear done this coming Saturday morning, or Sunday.

[Mock1racer]

Okay so, you put down three coats of clear, did you wet sand between each coat? Or just spray one on top of the other?

[V8 Super Beetle]

I know I posted this for you on another forum, but I'm posting it here so others will know.

I just sprayed one on top of the other. I sprayed 3 cause I would be sanding it flat, as you see. You end up basically sanding a full coat to two coats of clear off of the car depending on how flat it laid. So that way when you finish, you end up with really about a 2 coat thickness of clear, which is ideal.

[V8 Super Beetle]

Got her all sanded down with 600 grit and I gave her a thorough bath. All's left to do is a wipe down with surface wash and spray another coat of clear.

[454bug]

Man, I've learned a LOT about a paint job just watching you do yours!

I keep going back and forth between wanting to go black/red and black/orange. Since there are a TON of black/red cars out there I really do think I will go with the black/atomic orange Corvette color...

I can't wait to see the final clear coat on the car!

GREAT JOB!!

[V8 Super Beetle]

Thanks, Ray! When you get around to doing yours and you have questions, feel free to ask. I'm no pro, but I've learned quite a bit having done this paint job.

That atomic orange would look great! I thought about doing a pearl / tangerine color at one point. Even thought about an orange candy color with a gold base, but I stuck with a solid color cause cost, and solids are easier to spray for a first timer.

I'm excited to get this last coat of clear down. Afterwards it wont be long before it goes together for the last time.

[Mock1racer]

I wouldnt even be painting mine like this if it werent for Matt. I do need to ask how much paint is required to paint a bug, with the interier.
What I'm getting is, a gallon of the sealer, a gallon of the primer, and a gallon of paint. With the interier being silver and the stripes being silver, Do I need a gallon of that too?
What's the minimal amount of paint I can get away with buying?