FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

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 ???

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

Rabbitoh,

Here is the result of turning down a horn button.

(http://i31.tinypic.com/5vwqcl.jpg)

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

John and John, :D

That looks fantastic. Great work.

cheers
RET

here's an original:

(http://i31.tinypic.com/2jcye02.jpg)

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

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

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

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

Cheers
John ;)

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

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

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

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