One picture of my new $36 tails.

[wRek]

The tails were MINT off a black 325i from the junkyard. The cars paint still looked flawless, but sadly the front end was smashed in. :( I picked the tails up for $30... Then bought some testors paint and clear.

A day later.



My car is filthy... I'm gonna wash it tomorrow after work.

[PeaveyBassist]

Did you wetsand at all? How did you get it to look so smooth? When I did mine they looked orange peely.

Will

[wRek]

No wetsanding at all. I just took a wet rag and wiped them down all over to make sure that all of the dirt and grime was off. Let them dry over night.

Woke up this morning, and masked them all off where I didn't want the paint. First I painted the orange section only. Did two good coats over it, about an hour or two apart. Then I masked off the reverse light section, and did one coat over the entire taillight to make it all look one color. Waited another 2 hours, and then clear-coated the entire tail. Waited a couple more hours, and then walked outside and put them on the car... Where they will sit to dry/cure the rest of the way until tomorrow afternoon/evening when I go to wash the car. I don't drive to work, so I figure they'll have plenty more time to cure.

[schmidty]

very nice... I need to repaint mine sometime

[Digitalwave]

Looks very nice, what kind of clear coat did you use?

[wRek]

I actually used the Testors clear coat that I found at the store. Same section as the 1605 Semi-Transparent Candy Apple Red. We'll see how it holds up to the weather here, but so far it looks awesome.

[Digitalwave]

Thats what I was afraid of. That model paint wasn't made to withstand the elements. It'll look good for 6 months or so but by a year it'll all be faded/crack/oxidized.

[Jand3rson]

Thats what I was afraid of. That model paint wasn't made to withstand the elements. It'll look good for 6 months or so but by a year it'll all be faded/crack/oxidized.

I was going to say the same thing. You have to use automotive grade clearcoat.

If you want them to last, I suggest you strip them down and redo the red, and take them by a body shop and have them spray them, or get some rattlecan stuff at a automotive paint supply shop.

[wRek]

Eh, it'll last long enough. I only plan on keeping them long enough to get some MHW smoked tails. If they start looking ratty too soon, I'll just strip them down, redo them, and have my friend Robbie clear them for me. He works for a body shop.

[dom]

looks nice!

[Mastrcruse]

I was going to say the same thing. You have to use automotive grade clearcoat.

If you want them to last, I suggest you strip them down and redo the red, and take them by a body shop and have them spray them, or get some rattlecan stuff at a automotive paint supply shop.

Are you saying have the paint shop do just the clear or both transparent and clear?

I can just paint red and then get them automotive grade clearcoated correct?