How have you recreated a vinyl top?

[bbeckwith]

I'm building a AMT 71 Duster to resemble my 72 Duster and want to do a vinyl top similar to my car. I saw on a website a guy recommended taping off the roof area and painting it from a foot 1/2 or so away to get a grainy effect. I'm wondering if anyone else has a different technique?

I have toyed with actually painting low-tack tape, but dont like the idea much.

As for making a 71 into a 72, I have widened the taillights, and will add the 72 style side markers directly over the nice 71 types, anything else I'm missing? Oh, even tho the car doesnt have em, I shaved the door handles and the ridiculously bad made windshield wipers. Any leads on ready made wipers?

One other thing, I have a six pack hood on my real car, I think I could get away with grafting a Challenger T/A hoodscoop onto the model Duster hood. However, if someone makes a mopar kit somewhere that has a six pack style hood lemme know.

Thanks

[Stoga]

I've heard of 2 different methods for doing this, one is the method you mention, spraying from a distance. The other is using masking tape, if you run a strip down the middle then overlap the sides, the tape kind of makes a natural seam where they overlap. Then once applied, you paint over the tape with whatever color you prefer.
Also, unless the kit already has some sort of chrome molding already in place, you'll have to create your own using strips of plastic or Plastruct, which you then glue to the body. Liquid cement is best for this.
One caution, try to use good quality masking tape so the tape doesnt lift later, cheapo tape tends to lose it's stickiness a lot worse with age.

[bbeckwith]

Thanks Stoga, Not sure which method to try but I actually have numerous copies of this model unbuilt. Everytime they'd release it with a different box art, I'd pick up one, so I guess I can try it both ways and see which turns out more realistic.

[bjoehandley]

Testors is bringing out a "vinyl top" spray paint in white and black from their new automotive lacquers by Model Masters. Looks pretty realistic from what I've seen andthey also have a "cloth" spray paint too from the same series. Haven't tried them yet, but I have seen the results>

[bbeckwith]

Thanks for the tip bjoehandey, I will check with the local hobby shop and see if they know of that product, or any other alternatives.

[SixGunner]

There usta bee a 69 1/2 Super Bee model with a lift off hood and "Six Pack" scoop. I know I've seen it at Meijers in the last year, but haven't looked lately.

Masking tape will turn out a surprisingly good vinyl top.

Jay

[bbeckwith]

Thanks for the tip SixGunner, I stopped by the local hobby shop last week and they recommended some spray paint called Faux Fabric. It sprayed on just like spray paint but dried like it had a fabric looking finish. It did a real nice job, I'm quite happy with the way it turned out.
I found the Super Bee model you recommended too, from the box art I couldn't tell if it had the right scoop or not, the resolution was kinda fuzzy and the scoop was the same color as the hood but it turned out the scoop is the one I wanted, tho I have to shave a seam off the top of it and then blend it into my existing hood, not too hard, and I think it'll look great when I'm done. My real Duster has American Racing 200s wheels on it and I couldn't find any models with those wheels so I settled for a set of cragar ss wheels the hobby shop had, I might get out the x-acto blade and see if I cant trim the SS wheels to resemble the American Racing 200s wheels. When I finish this model, I'll post a pic or two, tho I work on it only occasionally so it may be a while.

[Stoga]

Be sure to post pics when done!!

[SixGunner]

No problemo. I have a whole box full of unfinished models from when I was in High School... among my faves are a "back halfed" Turbine car and a "back halfed" Stealth with the DOHC Hemi... someday!

Jay