Very nice. I'd like to do the same thing.

Can you post your steps? Did you take any pictures along the way?

 

Very nice. I'd like to do the same thing.

Can you post your steps? Did you take any pictures along the way?

I used:
6 light coats of Dupli-Color engine paint.
Rustoleum "Aluminum" for the lettering, used a fine chisel artists brush.
6 coats of Dupli-Color clear coat, last coat heavier.

Sorry I did not takes pics along the way.
I have seen other great results posted using different paint.

 

Many have done similar things with Krylon paint, works quite well actually. I do like your lettering though, very clean, very crisp, looks great.

 

This may be a stupid question, but did you tape off the lettering when you applied the red paint? Or did you paint the whole thing red and then go over that with the silver?

 

This may be a stupid question, but did you tape off the lettering when you applied the red paint? Or did you paint the whole thing red and then go over that with the silver?

I painted the whole thing after taping off the lettering and failing. Then used a silver pen to go over it.

 

With the engine looking that good, you need a clear bonnet to show it off like on the Ferrari 360/430 - does anyone make one for the Elise?

 

Some folks have made their own...

http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18514

 

Very nicely done!! :clap:

Looks a little like mine. I used Krylon Fusion paint for the covers, Testors paint for the logos and cap screws. Sprayed Dupli-Color Clear Coat over everything to seal.

Almost a year later, still looks new!

BTW, did you change the cover screws/bolts or are are those OEM? They are different than the ones on my engine.

Regards,
Wayne

 

This may be a stupid question, but did you tape off the lettering when you applied the red paint? Or did you paint the whole thing red and then go over that with the silver?

Trust me "Not stupid"
I did not mask the letters, just painted the whole thing red, lightly sanded the letters with 400 grit and did the silver, then clear coated. By the way forgot to mention I used a regular automotive primer on the plastic first.

 

Very nicely done!! :clap:

Looks a little like mine. I used Krylon Fusion paint for the covers, Testors paint for the logos and cap screws. Sprayed Dupli-Color Clear Coat over everything to seal.

Almost a year later, still looks new!

BTW, did you change the cover screws/bolts or are are those OEM? They are different than the ones on my engine.

Regards,
Wayne

YOU were my inspiration for doing mine. Yours looks so good. They are the original screws.

 

I painted the whole thing after taping off the lettering and failing. Then used a silver pen to go over it.

+1 for the paint pen. I used this one from Krylon in silver. Available at Michael's and Hobby Lobby. I also put it on the brake caliper lettering and it's even held up there.

YOU were my inspiration for doing mine. Yours looks so good.

Me, too. Wayne rocks.:bow:

kendall

 

Here's my effort:

I've had the Lotus Sport decal lying around the place for a couple of years as it came as part of a set with my windscreen decal. I put clear laquer over the sticker to ensure it doesn't peel. TIP!!!: Make sure the paint underneath is COMPLETELY dry before applying the decal. I didn't, and as the paint dried, the decal bubbled a bit. Spent quite some time with a pin busting small bubbles

I painted the oil filler cap with Hammerite which gives a similar finish to the cam cover. Then I stuck on a resin Lotus badge bought on eBay.

I don't know yet how the self-adhesive resin badge will hold up to the heat. I'll find out when the snow clears here.

I'm tempted to grind the Lotus badge off the plastic engine cover and stick on another of the resin badges as the quality is much better.

 

As one Brit to another "Brilliant"

 

Thanks.

 

Man I wish I had the patience and skill to do something like that. Too much time spent playing video games.

 

Did any of you do adhesion tests prior to painting? I'm not sure what plastic these parts are molded from but when painting plastic an adhesion promoter is usually in order. When I painted my center console I tested for adhesion using three alternatives, 1 being scuff, and the other 2 being DuPont adhesive promoters. It ended up that one of the DuPont products was needed to pass a "grid" type adhesion test.

 

I must admit I didn't bother with any tests. I just bought Halfords' (a British cars accessory chain) own brand paint, and their plastic primer. The engine covers shouldn't be subjected to much scuffing in normal use

Slaughtr, that's no excuse; I make video games for a living. Probably why I like to do something 'real' in my spare time.

 

I took a bit of a different approach - not finished yet but getting there.

 

the red and blk w/ carbon, instantly reminded me of a Fiat/lancia twin cam. very cool!!! the Red and Silver is better suited to the elise though IMO, and would be more in line w/ what i would do.

 

wow, that looks the sh*t! Where did you get the head painted?

 

Man I wish I had the patience and skill to do something like that. Too much time spent playing video games.

I have no skills, it really is not that hard.

 

I just pulled the valve cover and had it powder coated to match - cheap mod too and I'm happy with it. Thanks !

 

wasnt there a third or forth pic here a few days ago? plz re post em, or post a pic of your painted engine covers

 

Here's mine:

 

The logo looks great!