First of all I use an airbrush for all painting of the chassis and it's
related parts. Usually there are 4 colors for each model in this process.
The first is the chassis color (frame, floor pan, firewall and fuel cell)
most will be standard light grey (2 parts testors white to 1 part testors
grey) I have done several in red (Yates, Childress, Elliot and Wood
Brothers) one in black (1995 #4 MC) and one in yellow (#30 Pennzoil
Pontiac). The next color is gloss black. This is used to paint the
following parts:The front suspension, trailing arms, rearend and associated
parts (which include the rear gear oil cooler pump and belts) rear springs,
dash, steering wheel, seat in some cases (others can be red and silver and
grey according to which car they go in!) shifter and the wheels (here again
some cars have colored wheels but most are gloss black). The next color is
flat black which I use to paint the roll bar padding, and window nets (here
again a few are special colors usually matching the body) this is brushed
on ... I tried to airbrush it on once but decided there was too much
touching up to do afterwards! Also if called for I mix some gloss and flat
to paint the flat area between the hood and windshield of the car (I know
this has nothing to do with the chassis but I just thought about it and
decided to include it here before I forgot to include it at all!) The last
color is Testors metallic silver. This is used to paint the engine parts,
radiator, water lines, oil cooler parts shock hardware, oil cooler tank and
vent (rear underside of the car) and the dash gauges.
First step is to paint all of the parts of the actual chassis. Roll
cage, floor pan, frame and fuel cell. I made a little stand for these
parts to dry on but all you need is a clothesline or something similar that
you can clip them on to dry! I use an airbrush because with the 60 or so
I've put together already and the 10-15 more I plan to build or am in the
process of building I have saved a great deal of money in lost (wasted)
paint because the airbrush is so much more precise!
Any way back to the painting! Note: I have gotten to know what part is
what without an instruction sheet and numbers and particular steps so I
really can't explain step by step according to the instructions in the kits
how to do this! I will just tell you my method of doing it! I will try
to refer to the terms used in the instructions though!
Please Note: All words in " " marks are from an actual model instruction
sheet!!!
Also please note: remove all parts that are to remain white ie:exhaust
"header"s and "Drive shaft" and lay them aside! If you have a model that
is molded in color ( some pre-1996 kits) these parts have to be painted
white!
I take and paint the above pieces first(these include: "frame", "firewall',
both "cage sides", "roll bar", "stiffener bar", "petty bar", "top stiffener
bar", "top brace", "rear shelf", "kicker bar assembly", "arm assembly" and
"frame braces") and hang parts trees up to dry. Note:I usually paint the
"arm assembly" the same color as the chassis then mask off the part in
front of the trailing arms and paint them black. I then touch up the area
in between before assembly) once these are dry (overnight) I remove all
the chassis parts from the trees and then I paint the "upper arms",
"pedals", "shifter","stiffener brace ","hoses"(air duct hoses in the
cockpit),"springs", "rear axle", "front axle", "coolant pump" and"pump
belt", steering column", "steering wheel", "dashboard top", "dashboard
front", "lower arms", "outer wheels" and"inner wheels", engine "belt
assembly",and engine "sump belt" gloss black. Once I have painted these I
again hang them up to dry (overnight). Once the black parts are dry I
usually remove them from the trees as well ( I believe that the
instructions show parts clearly enough to tell what they are and where they
go without the numbers). I then take the trees and what parts are left:
all engine parts from "step 1 ENGINE ASSEMBLY parts A and B" except for the
distributer!!! The "steering shaft", "shock assemblies"(front and rear),
"exhaust pipes" (new MC and Pontiac kits only unless you are doing a BGN
car!) "Fan shroud", "upper and lower hoses" (radiator), "radiator", "oiler
tank", "mirror" and where applicable the "seat" and paint them silver. As
I said I am used to just painting the parts removing them from the trees
and then putting them together without any instructions whatsoever! I'm
hoping that those of you out there reading this can use the pictures and
part names in the instructions to put these cars together! If you have to
follow the instructions to the letter (and number I'm sorry but I will be
of little help here and it would be impractical to try to lead you through
that way!
As I said I am not a model building purist so I do not do a full
detailing job on my engines (again because they just won't be seen that
much!) Though they do not look like junk either!!!
A couple notes on the "air cleaner", "fire extinguisher" and
"distributer". I do not paint the filter element in the air cleaner I use
a strip of white decal stock the same with as the filter is tall to cover
it (looks better than paint ( at least it does to me!!!) Also I paint the
distributer the color of the manufacturer usually red or blue! The Fire
extinguisher is painted red with silver fitting on the end. One last thing
when you remove the parts from the trees there will sometimes be excess
plastic which must be trimmed (try to trim as close to the part as possible
when removing it to avoid most of this) do that now! You will touch up
these areas after assembly! Also go ahead and paint (brush) the roll bar
padding and window net areas!
Note:I will include a line about painting the dash dials in the assembly
section!
Go To The Chassis and Engine Assembly Page Click Here
For a Printable copy of these instructions Click Here
To Go Back To The Model Center Click Here