For a week, I was imagining in my head what the results would look like. Oh, I had an idea, but you just never know. Today, I finally put it together (the case anyway) and all I can say is that I am very pleased at the results -- it exceeded my expectations. Before I get a flurry of questions asking about the masking tape on the side and why it has no buttons for the cassette, it's because the case is empty. This is gonna be it for awhile as I have decided to go ahead and recap this box and develop a tuner dial light solution. I feel that those two things is necessary to make this box fully worthy of it's new attire. Hope this inspires a bunch of other such customizations and boombox hotrodding!
What you are looking at: The case, as you saw it before, except the trim was reinstalled. Well, not quite. First, I rubbed out the front until my fingers ached. Actually, rubbed it until the silver was showing again but it was smooth as glass. So, remasked to shoot another coat of paint. This time, I learned from my first mistake and waited longer before applying the clear coat. Voila, orange peel was not as prevalent. It's not smooth as glass but this time, the finish is much more even and that, I can live with. I also discovered that rubbing out the paint can lead to smooth as glass finish but this isn't a huge flat panel. Too many nooks/crannies that can't be worked leading the smooth areas to make the not-as-smooth areas to look crappy. During the repainting, there was also some drama in that the case toppled over and fell 3 feet to the concrete driveway while it had a wet coat of paint. I won't bore you with what it took to get it back to where it is now so let's just say it happended and it survived with some help (work). Also, the back cover was repainted since the original naked grey just didn't cut it when paired with the more flashy redcoat. I chose graphite charcoal and I think it goes pretty well. Also, you may notice that the top panel looks brighter than normal. It's not your eyes playing tricks -- I flashed it with a very light coating of silver metallic, armed with the knowledge that silver is hard to cover. It works! The graphics is still visible underneath, although the text is not as sharp as before but I can live with that. It was clearcoated afterwards. The top was reluctantly worked on because it was NOT in great condition since the previous owner decided to gouge the slider recesses with a screwdriver. For what reason, I don't know. Still not perfect but I think I can live with it! Enjoy. The final product won't be posted for awhile.
DID I SAY I'M VERY VERY HAPPY ABOUT HOW THIS HAS TURNED OUT? AND NO, IRA, I WILL NOT SHOOT THIS A DARKER RED, NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY!
What you are looking at: The case, as you saw it before, except the trim was reinstalled. Well, not quite. First, I rubbed out the front until my fingers ached. Actually, rubbed it until the silver was showing again but it was smooth as glass. So, remasked to shoot another coat of paint. This time, I learned from my first mistake and waited longer before applying the clear coat. Voila, orange peel was not as prevalent. It's not smooth as glass but this time, the finish is much more even and that, I can live with. I also discovered that rubbing out the paint can lead to smooth as glass finish but this isn't a huge flat panel. Too many nooks/crannies that can't be worked leading the smooth areas to make the not-as-smooth areas to look crappy. During the repainting, there was also some drama in that the case toppled over and fell 3 feet to the concrete driveway while it had a wet coat of paint. I won't bore you with what it took to get it back to where it is now so let's just say it happended and it survived with some help (work). Also, the back cover was repainted since the original naked grey just didn't cut it when paired with the more flashy redcoat. I chose graphite charcoal and I think it goes pretty well. Also, you may notice that the top panel looks brighter than normal. It's not your eyes playing tricks -- I flashed it with a very light coating of silver metallic, armed with the knowledge that silver is hard to cover. It works! The graphics is still visible underneath, although the text is not as sharp as before but I can live with that. It was clearcoated afterwards. The top was reluctantly worked on because it was NOT in great condition since the previous owner decided to gouge the slider recesses with a screwdriver. For what reason, I don't know. Still not perfect but I think I can live with it! Enjoy. The final product won't be posted for awhile.
DID I SAY I'M VERY VERY HAPPY ABOUT HOW THIS HAS TURNED OUT? AND NO, IRA, I WILL NOT SHOOT THIS A DARKER RED, NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY!
What? You mean it's NOT?
