FE Bonnet badge insert

[Rabbitoh]

I've finally had it with looking at my faded plastic bonnet emblems in their nice shiny chrome surrounds.
Santa doesn't look like he's gonna come good with a repro version, so I'm going to try to re-finish them myself, but don't really know where to start. I know some guys have cracked the code (so to speak) about a suitable process for this task. Help, please ???

[mcl1959]

Chris, clean with caustic soda, paint with opaque enamel, have the badge vacuum metalised.
This is the way that I did all the ones that I repaired.
The only ones I was not very successful with were horn buttons and FC dash escutcheons

Regards Ken

[Rabbitoh]

Thanks for that info. Ken.
How strong a caustic soda solution should I use?
Where could I get the vacuum metalization done?

ps. didn't get a chance to say thanks a lot for those linkages you helped us out with last week.

[mcl1959]

Mix the caustic soda as per the directions on the packet. It can be a little stronger if you like but if you leave it in for 24 hours it will be fine with a normal solution.
The metalising place I used was in Seaford - can't remember the name but it was in the yellow pages

Ken

[graham_fuller]

Have you thought about purchasing a New horn button and turning it down.I have seen this done over the years and it seems to work.
Cheers,
Graham

[Rabbitoh]

Thanks again Ken.
Graham,
That really is thinking outside the box :-\

[Rabbitoh]

Forgot to ask- what actual colours/brand of paint do I use to match the original colours? Don't want to re-invent the wheel if someone has already sussed this out.

[Johns]

Rabbitoh,

Here is the result of turning down a horn button.



This was done for me by John Constable of the NSW Club - forum name Maco -as an experiment. It was difficult and time consuming but worked very well.

I'm not sure if he will do any more and what it might cost, but you could send him a PM. You would need to supply the button.

Cheers
John

[RET]

John and John, :D

That looks fantastic. Great work.

cheers
RET

[Jonno]

here's an original:

[zulu]

I'll second that, pretty snazy, great result.

[customFC]

Nice work boys.
Will be interesting to see it side by side with an original.
Regards
Alex

[graham_fuller]

Looks great maybe Rares have made a bonnet badge insert without knowing it.I saw this done several years ago which led me to the suggestion. Great lathe work Maco.
Cheers,
Graham

[Maco]

I will take a sample to the club meeting on Tuesday night for those who are interested.

Cheers
John ;)

[Rabbitoh]

Sorry to steal my thread back ;), but can anyone help with specific paint type/colours?

[mcl1959]

It was a hobby shop type dark red opaque enamel, don't know the exact name of the colour. All my old stock of paints are long gone.

Ken

[Rabbitoh]

Thanks Ken, I'll do a bit of investigation and report back.

[graham_fuller]

Hi Rabittoh,
I like Ken used to buy it from the hobby shop as it is model paint.
cheers,
Graham