Rust/weathering crits, please! VW bus,

[willimo]

"dude" unless you have some helpful advice on how to make rust please dont say anything, i know the golf is badass, its not like its a thread on it, its a thread for VW buses.

[willimo]

Thanks everyone else for the input. I'm still considering what I'll do. Suffice to say there'll be considerably more experimenting on the weathering and a lot more thought on the top. We'll see. All input was very appreciated!

[89audiQT]

Hey willimo.

I'm not a huge fan of hoodride (nor a purist) but I am pretty familiar with the fine patina finish you're after.

You could rough up the plastic and paint it like you did, give that a light sand with medium grit and then hit it again with paint. One of the biggest (toughest) parts of the finish is the texture.

You could also throw some squadron putty on there in some areas, usually where cancerous rust would likely hit an area of a bus (under the tail lights, for example) and give a shot of primer. Just an added detail us VW enthusiasts and owners would appreciate. You know, a little bondo here and there.

I have a really good idea of what you're after, and the colors look great, but the thing that'll really set off the patina-look would be the texture. As for the "recent" paint on the top portion, i'd remove any form of sheen from it to give it the appearance of fading. Rattle canning a car usually looks like crap after being in the sun for a week or 2. A month at best. Faded, lacking any reflective properties whatsoever.

In regards to the comment about the "uniformity" of the rust, it's true. Sorta. I think it looks fantastic (on your model), and there's a few hoodridden buses in my city that have a really uniform patina. Almost as if it were controlled.

I would say, keep it as is, maybe dumb down the finish up top a little. Most hoodrides are so poorly taken care of, they put the money into beer and gas and not so much painting (or masking for that matter) anything on the car.

Looks like it's a great start. Look forward to seeing what you decide to do.

[BMWjake]

oh, sorry, as far as adding some patina, try wetsanding it with rusty water, that should work, and adding thin peices of rusty steel where plastic is should work, i didnt mean to go off topic like that

[willimo]

Originally Posted by BMWjake

as far as adding some patina, try wetsanding it with rusty water, that should work,

How, exactly, should that work?

[klutz_100]

Will, have you tried Rustall? I tried it on some inconspicuous places on my 2CV chassis and I was pretty impressed with it. The effect builds up slowly with several coats so you can control the weathering process quite well.

I have a spare bottle if you have trouble getting it.

[freakmech]

Or better yet, try doing what your doing Man, go talk to some Military guys but i think youve got it going on.... whatever i guess