Belafonte Reboot....Ambulance to 4x4 Camper Conversion
- Thread starter tgreening
- Start date
Thanks man. Even though it was simple as far as real paint jobs go, it was still a boatload of work. I think the lights respawn as you're taking them off, and even with all those removed there's a ridonculous amount of stuff to tape up, what with all the compartment latches, hinges, etc. And it's a lot of real estate to sand, clean, and shoot. Flat wore my butt out, and it still isn't done.
With the way our weathers been going lately, I figure by the end of next summer tops, we're either a desert or a tropical rain forest.
I tried.
. Not on a par with some of the other builds though, but good enough for who it's for. Hehe.One liter shy of 4 gallons. I hadn't intended on doing the bottom 10" or so because I had thought about blacking that out, but screwed that plan right off the bat by spraying the bottom of the cab as soon as I got there. Still plan on blacking the bottom in some fashion, but for product calculations I didn't intend to do the bottom with the light color, so I could save some money. Turns out it was enough anyway, with a bit leftover for some touch ups I guess.
Sandpaper was like a 150-180 grit. You just need to scuff the shiny away and you're good.
Coats I kind of lost track of because of the way I shot it. I pulled the hood and did it on some horses, while bouncing over to the main cab and front of the module. I used a whole gallon on those places and just shot till it was gone. The next day I taped off the cab/front module and shot the sides and the back. I used up 11 liters on that, and tried to keep the coats even on all the surfaces, but didn't keep track of how many. If I had to guess I'd say there's 3 coats on those areas, but no more.
Got some, but not all of the diamond plate trim painted today. I didn't get the front module corners done and I didn't do the cab rocker area like EVERYbody does, which leads me to a question.
I had planned on blacking out about the bottom 10"-12" of the the entire rig, because I think that's about how tall the diamond plate is at the corners and in the back. But as mentioned it seems like everybody does that, so what do you guys think? Do the front module corners and call it done? Do the front corners and the cab rockers and call THAT done, or stick with plan A of doing the entire bottom of the whole rig.
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I wire wheeled the skinny trim pieces (4) and this is kind of a before and after afterthought picture.
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I also went to Jo-ann fabrics today and bought some new headliner material. The one in the cab is separating along the front window edge and looks craptastic. I'll have to wait till monday to get started on that but it's a fairly simple project, which I've done in the past, so I'm pretty confident in the end result.
Btw, that long aluminum trim piece that's just above the red marker light on the side. Does anyone know how that comes off? I don't see any exposed screws and I'd really hate to think I'd have to pull the interior walls apart in order to remove these (not happening). I'm hoping someone is going to tell me I just stick a lever up under the edge, give it a bit of a pry, and it pops off. Please?
I had planned on blacking out about the bottom 10"-12" of the the entire rig, because I think that's about how tall the diamond plate is at the corners and in the back. But as mentioned it seems like everybody does that, so what do you guys think? Do the front module corners and call it done? Do the front corners and the cab rockers and call THAT done, or stick with plan A of doing the entire bottom of the whole rig.
I wire wheeled the skinny trim pieces (4) and this is kind of a before and after afterthought picture.
I also went to Jo-ann fabrics today and bought some new headliner material. The one in the cab is separating along the front window edge and looks craptastic. I'll have to wait till monday to get started on that but it's a fairly simple project, which I've done in the past, so I'm pretty confident in the end result.
Btw, that long aluminum trim piece that's just above the red marker light on the side. Does anyone know how that comes off? I don't see any exposed screws and I'd really hate to think I'd have to pull the interior walls apart in order to remove these (not happening). I'm hoping someone is going to tell me I just stick a lever up under the edge, give it a bit of a pry, and it pops off. Please?
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patoz
Expedition Leader
Tom, I sent you a replacement for your center ID light (the three light group) on the rear, what happened to it?
I can't really tell from the pictures of that trim piece, but I've seen some like that that you remove the end pieces by tapping them off and then slide out a center rubber or plastic insert from the rail, revealing the mounting screws.
I can't really tell from the pictures of that trim piece, but I've seen some like that that you remove the end pieces by tapping them off and then slide out a center rubber or plastic insert from the rail, revealing the mounting screws.
FDM2012
Adventurer
Wow Tom, your rig is really popping now.
I think doing the corners will make a significant difference, and maybe just the lower rockers on the front cab???
That would tie the front to the rear "skinny trim pieces". Not sure you would need to do any more black.
Have you ever tried doing plasti-dip on a hinge or door handle? I have a can of black and think I might try it.....
I think doing the corners will make a significant difference, and maybe just the lower rockers on the front cab???
That would tie the front to the rear "skinny trim pieces". Not sure you would need to do any more black.
Have you ever tried doing plasti-dip on a hinge or door handle? I have a can of black and think I might try it.....
I did it on this rig. It works fine but depending on the hinge and how it's configured the dip can be a bear to remove. If I had it to do over I wouldn't spray across the hinges. There are remnants of the orange left in mine that I still need to get out, and it's going to stink time wise.
Ive still got it. The one it's meant to replace is just about history, but I have to cut and splice to swap them and at this point I'm focused on the getting the Raptor done and out of my hair. After that I'll address the lights, which I believe includes my rear floods. I'm pretty sure those were wired to come on when I hit reverse, but now they don't for some reason.
rossvtaylor
Adventurer
Personally (since you asked for input) I would leave it just as it it now. I think it looks great!