How To - Paint 107 Bonnet Badge

[chopper1192]

OK, this applies to the 107 as the grille badge is easily removable. However, once removed the painting tips are equally applicabble to most other modern Pugs.

You will need:

1) 10MM ring spanner.

2) Plastic primer.

3) Paint primer, depending on the colour of the paint.

4) Paint.

5) Clear lacquer.

6) Fine wet and dry in the 600-800 grit range.

8) Some very fine cutting compound. AG paint restorer is ideal.

9) Some wax.

And the process begines thus...

1) Pop the bonnet and prop it open. At the rear of the badge on the bottom of the bonnet (top as you are looking at it) are 2 x 10MM nuts. Undo these, put them somewhere safe.

2) The badge is now held on only by the 2 large plastic tabs at the top of the badge, or bottom as you are now viewing it. Squeeze the sides of the tabs facing you and the whole assembly should pop off.

3) Go sit down somewhere comfy. Place the badge on your lap face down. You can now see how the 2 silver parts are held on to the black plastic body by a series of lugs. Very carefully prise these lugs open until the silver part comes free. A narrow, long screwdriver may help. You should be able to remove it without damage, but one or two lugs breaking isn't a drama.

4) Place the black part somewhere safe. Thoroughly rub the silver parts down with wet and dry until they are dull. This is to provide a good key for the primer.

5) Clean them thoroughly in soapy water and allow to dry.

6) Find a warm, dry, dust free environment. A garage is ok, as is a kitchen if your parents are on holiday! Outdoors will do fine if the weather is nice. Spray on a layer of plastic primer. One layer should be fine. Allow to dry overnight.

7) Next day, apply a fine layer of your coloured paint. Some colours may require a specific coloured primer before hand, so follow the makers instructions. Wait half an hour, then apply another coat. You want at least 4 coats. Many fine coats is better than 2 heavy, gooey, runny ones. Apply the required number of coats 30 minutes apart. No place the items somewhere warm for 2 days.

Tip - if the weather is fine, leave them in the garden to dry in the sun as the UV will help the paint cure.

8) Two days later, apply your first coat of lacquer. Again, fine and light is the order of the day. Yet again, apply the coats 1/2 hour apart. You need at least 5 fine coats, and the last coat can be slightly heavier, but not so heavy it runs. Place the items somewhere warm for 3 days to dry.

Tip - Lacquer is painfully watery and a real nightmare for the inexperienced. Practice on an empty Coke can beforehand if you're in any doubt about your skills.

9) Dig the items out, and very gently rub them down with hot soapy water and wet and dry paper. You just want to dull the surface, while taking great care not to wear through the paint at the edges or countours.

10) Dry the parts off, then give them a good rub with the aG paint restorer until they are smooth. If you've done it right, they should emerge looking like glass, or like the whole part has been dipped in liquid paint, that's how shiny you can do it.

Tip - Patience is the order of the day here. There are no short cuts, and the drying times etc need adhering to as an absolute minimum. Take your time and do as Unkie Chop says, and you can achieve a factory finish. Hell, I've never worked in a bo9dyshop and I did, and so can you.

11) Wipe the parts clean, and treat them to a coat of your favourite wax.

12) Reassemble by pressing them gently back onto the black plastic grille part.

13) Refit to the car.

And you should be left with something like this...



A word on colour - everyone will have their own ideas, but this is my opinion, for what it's worth. The 'bugs are small, cheeky cars, and no matter what you do they won't look like menacing Batmobile clones. Depending on your paint colour, I think it's best to choose a contrasting colour and use that throughout the car. White goes well on red or blue paint, black or dark grey on yellow etc. IMHO, colour coding the car the same colour all over just doesn't seem to suit the cars cheeky persona.

Enjoy.

Chopper.