"Solar paint prep"
 

...is an off topic tech term for allowing your car paint to rot.

http://driventoattraction.com/wp-con...2-1424x915.jpg

Put on a sticker and placed in the rear window of a road driven car, "solar paint prep" becomes a technology for amusing the good natured, confounding the skeptical, boring the boring, and inciting the irritable.

https://eliteautorepairtempe.com/wp-...izona-Sun1.jpg

Patina: orange rust is good but brown rust is bad.

Solar Paint Prep in Progress

Pass with Care!
Solar Paint Prep in Progress.

Paint fading is not so usual as it used to be, or at least not so noticeable as fewer cars are painted bright colors anymore.

I'm amazed by the Paintless Dent Removal videos on Youtube. You can have massive dents in new cars and the paint just bends instead of flaking. Then with a massive light and cheap hand tools you can work the metal back to it's original contour.

I'm thinking about trying it on the dents from things falling on the Superbeetle in the carport. They glue slide hammer pucks in the dent and remove them with rubbing alcohol. I can do that with Gorilla Glue. I should have a slide hammer with my Unispot.

I have watched a ton of PDR videos, too, man. Thought about buying a kit. But nah. Dents intimidate the teslas, beemers, and Benzes in traffic and the parking lot. lol.

The gorilla glue won't dissolve in alky. Use hot glue sticks which will, buck a bag at discount fabric shops, wallyworld, gun for application under $10.

Go for it, freebeard. I think the tech is impressive, too. Got any current photos of the car with its dents? This thread loves dents almost as much as stressed paint.

On another note ... I'm not saying I would do this exactly, but here was some interesting use of the divinely patented "longterm passive solar paint prep" process for an inimitable look. No kid with beer cans and piss could ever reporduce a patina panel with as much depth and character in its rot.

I like the contrast between highly stressed and perfectly new.

https://ecomodder.com/forum/attachme...1&d=1594840722

Not gonna happen. When I spun out on black ice in 2016 I had to fight to keep a clean title. :( 2nd time was about a year ago, off-camber onramp after a Spring rain. It was the same left-side front corner. I'll admit I've had to conclude the tire combination on it has terminal oversteer on trailing throttle like a Porsche, it's bit me twice.

Tell you what though, I've got good used replacement fenders (right rear also) so when I strip and primer them I'll post pictures. Provided I've replaced the battery in my camcorder. Things move slow around here, especially up and down steps. :)

'On another note ...' I've got an early Beetle hood that is completely orange and brown metal. Except one little residual patch of thin paint. I should buff it and apply a wet sponge to finish it out. It cost me $5 at a swap meet.

Your example is literally Iconic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vwcbTr8Oxc

From my albums:
https://ecomodder.com/forum/member-f...4-100-1049.jpg

https://ecomodder.com/forum/member-f...7-100-1040.jpg

https://ecomodder.com/forum/member-f...736-790095.jpg

https://ecomodder.com/forum/member-f...772994c062.jpg

Hmmm, there's sort of a theme that runs through them. :)

I've got a plastic model that has that same two-tone scheme in red on black. It's lifted directly from the Bugatti Royale. :thumbup:

I occasionally see some "rat look"/"hoodride" Beetles and derivatives once in a while, have to check my archives later.

Gorilla Glue was the strongest hot glue that I found for pulling dents, but it damaged the paint.

So much for paintless...

I used elevator bolts instead of the disposable plastic tabs and I broke Harbor Freight and Pops-a-Dent bridges, so I used a zinc bar.

"Professionals don't use PDR."

(Some totally do)

I have not done anything nearly as nice as in those videos, but I definitely made it better, at least good enough for Bondo.

Speaking of Bondo, did he go inactive?

Here is an example of faked solar paint prep (but a wicked cool looking one... love the rims especially).

This guy cheated the sun:
http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3...Wagovan-05.jpg

I don't know about anymore, but back in the day it seemed I could replace any piece for $20. Just saying the labor wouldn't be worth my time if new parts can still be had cheaply.

I think I replaced a fender for $20, a running board for $10, and got a good used windshield for $20.

Ah, the Superbeetle. It's sitting out in the rain in Coburg. :(

I've got a connection where i can get a hood or fender for $50. I've got a left front and right rear fender to go on it after paint. After the paintless dent removal it could still use a top coat to tie it all together — it's a Shantung Gold/Kansas Beige two tone right now.

Those prices sound right. My father-in-law got us a wedding present for $25. It was a 13-window walk-through bus without a motor. The Beetle motor went right in.

I once had a Honda City Turbo:thumbup:

Stripped it for a resto then lost interest. Every so often I'd sand back the rust to fresh metal - less metal= less weight. Porsche have used thinner gauge sheet metal in some of their specials.

Paint adds weight too, something like 8kgs for a small car.