Bit late with this but we have been using this young bloke based in Melbourne's west.  He is mobile or you can go to him.  Worked Saturdays for us and did what we asked.  Can't comment on his pricing as we did a deal for 4 cars and a Kenworth for soda plus some sand blasting.  Not a quick process. Each car took several hours and you need an acre block with good neighbours or a paddock.  By the time he finishes it looks like a snow storm.
PRO STRIP http://www.prostripsodablasting.com.au       Domonic: 0403 465 157

Looks really good and brings back memories of FX's and FJ's with their bonnets filled in and sporting FE grilles with the De Soto set up. That looked very smooth in every sense of the word. Good find, good result.
Laurie

But was black and white a combo in the FC's , have never seen one  

2brite,
I have no idea whether it was genuine or not, but in 1971 I was living in a country hamlet and the copper in the nearest town was using his own car for police duties, mostly chasing speeding stock trucks. It was a source of some amusement that his car was a black and white FC like a take off on a US cop car. I also have no idea whether he was able to catch too many as they certainly used to hoof along.
Regards, Laurie

I have an EH with a celica 5 speed. The transmission hump from an HR auto was cut out with plenty of meat and made to fit without too much trouble. Making a carrier for under the box was a challenge and hung pretty low. Everything fitted OK till the day I flew into a petrol station and straddled the inlet for the fuel which was a bit above the level of the ground but disguised with nicely shaped concrete moulded up around it. Dead centre. The carrier was probably over engineered and took it quite well, but at certain revs/speeds there was a lovely brrp as the box just touched the floor. I ended up having to raise the back of the van and put some higher profile tyres as the police weren't amused, certainly didn't pass the coke can test. In a way they did me a favour as I literally halved my fuel consumption, but also halved the acceleration, nowhere near as much fun leaving the lights or jumping across roundabouts.

If the Easter Nationals were quite rightly raved about, I don't quite know what superlatives are appropriate for last nights celebratory 19th July 50th Anniversary Dinner.
Unique in itself, for there can only be one. But what a jam packed, informative, and entertaining night. I'd like to think I would be prepared to travel to Sydney for such an occasion, but thinking and doing can be two different things. What dedication to the car and its birthday for those blokes to make the time for the trip. I take my hat off to you.
I don't know how Tony manages these things, but to arrange the release of the VE to coincide with the anniversary, and then be magnanimous enough to allow them to unveil it a few days early - for their moment of glory - as a warm up so to speak, before the main event.....class, Tony, pure class.
To sit and hear the guest speakers putting some humour to the years of work they did and still are putting in; well, any retirement or testimonial dinner will have plenty of the same, but to try to get your head around the fact these men have contributed so much to the Australia I have known all my life, from the time I sat in my pedal car looking up at a brand new FE, to last nights happy experience of sliding my arthritic bones in behind the wheel of a brand spanking VE.....nothing much changes - fifty years ago it was my mother, last night my wife who said, 'Stop dribbling!'
The General could do a lot worse than base his advertising campaign around a few snatches of Richard Ferlazzo - Chief Designer - speaking on the design aspects of the modern car, and how and what Australia manages with a comparatively small customer base. It echoed the 'can do' attitude that Lawrence Hartnett nurtured in his staff before and especially during the war years.
Plenty will be recorded on Jack Rawnsley's contribution. I doubt a menu went home unautographed by this charming and generous man. But if anyone has trouble understanding the significance of the achievement known as the FE, or could wonder how sharp a ninetyfive year old mind might be, I present the case:
Richard gave a fascinating discourse on the time frame, design parameters, and assessment procedures before the look of a new model is decided. He spoke meaningfully about the 'architecture'.
When Jack stood to speak, he laconically opined,  'Architectural platform. Hmmm. Ours was, "It has to be longer, wider, lower, more powerful.....Oh yes, and twelve volt." '
And from that came the FE.
During the raucous response to this, I happened to be in a position to check Richard's response. By his laughter I guess he saw the point probably better than the rest of us.
I have my poster of the VE autographed by Richard, my menu autographed by Jack, my grouse Nationals poster I happily notice is a production of our northern cousins, my wife is clucky for a new VE. Well we can't all be happy, can we?
Thanks again to the committee of the FE-FC Car Club of Vic Inc. Regards to all, Laurie

Dan, sometimes a little knowledge can get you into a heap of trouble, and sometimes it can give you the confidence to have a dash without being aware of possible consequences. I owned a panel shop at one time, and working closely with a very good painter learned enough to mange painting a couple of cars, plenty of forklifts and quite a few trucks. It's hard work. You have to be fit, something not every one considers, as if you want it on looking good, you are really moving to get the flow. I see shots on the site, and have watched guys paint panels before assembly. I wouldn't be game to do that. I would have to paint a side as one to be sure it was tying together. I don't paint anymore for all the reasons Ken and the others have mentioned. It takes money and facilities to do it well - and non interfering neighbours. One of the reasons I sold my shop was I could see the EPA, drawing breath to start breathing down necks - translates to more money. Be aware as Ken mentioned, paint products are dangerous, skin absorption equally if not more so according to some doctors. This goes also for paint thinners, etc and petrol. Mechanics are being advised, I believe, not to wash in unleaded. Beaters used to have a standard treatment for cuts - wash it in gunwash. The cars I painted were clear over base using fast flash DuPont base coat and fast clears. We were using clear coats designed for one panel to paint whole cars, hence the fast footwork. If your beater is as good as you say, surely he can recommend a painter. I realise cost is a serious factor, but I am surprised he would do the repairs then risk you stuffing it up - no offence intended - let me explain: We used to have young guys come in wanting us to repair for them to paint, or paint their repairs. No way. reason: We do good repairs you do a crap paint job, when the critics kick in, (and the world is full of them and professional painters can be quite rightly among the worst) it is too easy to blame the panel shop. I've never known anyone voluntarily admit they did a bad job. If by chance you did a very nice paint job, Who did it? Why I did of course! No credit to the repairer. If I took in someone else's repairs, I KNEW I would be paying my painter to go over everyone of them to HIS satisfaction before he would touch it. Money out of my pocket. IF I could convince him to just hit it, and it looked like rubbish over bad repairs - again our fault. By all means have a go, but read what other guys are doing and stick to the small stuff for a while. Preparation is everything. Just because some new product says it can cover 36 scratches, it is no substitute fo preparation, When my beater used bog on crash work, he pulled it in tight and clean. Sanded with nothing harsher than 80 and finished with 120. We went thru lots of paper, but never had a job come back with the paint sucked into scratches, which may happen after only one hot Australian summer - even in Melbourne. Sadly I saw some lovely cars at the Nationals let down by the paint. My wife and I followed a couple of tourist painters as they inspected the cars. Having known a few prima donna painters, I found their comments typical and somewhat amusing. My wife was embarrassed and horrified and insulted on behalf of people she didn't know. I THINK? HOPE? I am on to a good young painter. He is busy, I just have to wait my time. If you try painting some of the small stuff, even if with a spray can, rehearse your moves first. It helps to get in your mind where it  will be hit/wet, where in shadow, where to hit next, which face will be seen etc. The light sticky coat helps as it gives you time to flick on more before getting serious. A bad paint paint job is nearly as bad as a bad tattoo. It's gonna be around for a long time. Thinking about it, it could even outlast a bad tattoo. Cheers Laurie