markrolston@mac.com Posted August 22, 2017 Author Share Posted August 22, 2017 I'm kind of upset you're painting it, but more glad it's still alive! You're not the first to react that way. There's always the "you're painting over the carbon fiber??" reaction. So here's the logic: First, the CF work is ok, but we made no effort to ensure the weave ran consistently across the body. it's all over the place. And the molds have all kinds of small errors that reflect my original Z's body errors. It doesn't survive close inspection. It also seams against the few remaining steel elements like the doors and roof (safety!) And I wasn't into the idea of building some kind of raw naked-tech racer. The vision for the car is as a refined material and mechanical platform that reveals itself only upon close inspection. At first read it's just an old 1970s Z car, albeit shiny paint with flares. The magic will be in how all the materials and technology reveal themselves as you open the doors, lift the hood, etc. For example the hood is painted on the outside...relatively normal looking right?... but lift the hood and ...omfg... underneath is a custom chassis, motor, and naked carbon inner hood surface. I think it'll work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1969honda Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 I like your thought process and vision of "it's just an old 1970s Z car, albeit shiny paint with flares" and all the surprise and magic under the deceivingly normal skin, it will definitely be a sleeper until messed with! I'm really toying with the idea of leaving the exterior of mine just the way it is, faded stock butterscotch colored paint and white accents along the rockers with 240z script and then making sure the engine bay and interior is all new and glossy with an updated interior. Why? sleeper, race car, camaro killer, etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpndave Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Sounds like you are headed in the right direction. All the hidden carbon wouldn't be anywhere near as affected by UV light on the resins. Painted with all the WOW still seen when you open her up sounds super cool to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zetsaz Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 I like your thought process and vision of "it's just an old 1970s Z car, albeit shiny paint with flares" and all the surprise and magic under the deceivingly normal skin, it will definitely be a sleeper until messed with! I'm really toying with the idea of leaving the exterior of mine just the way it is, faded stock butterscotch colored paint and white accents along the rockers with 240z script and then making sure the engine bay and interior is all new and glossy with an updated interior. Why? sleeper, race car, camaro killer, etc... You should definitely do this. Faded butterscotch just screams "old used sports car" Mark, I'm with you on the idea. I've always been a huge fan of understated style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markrolston@mac.com Posted October 23, 2017 Author Share Posted October 23, 2017 The body prep for paint is coming along. It's taken a lot of work to take the subtle waves and kinks out of the CF body. But it's close and looking perfect. It will hopefully get painted next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlejester Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 Damn you and your single teaser pic. Can't wait to see how it turns out. I think that will be a very cool take. Looks like a flared cool z car, then open up the bonnet and find the insanity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryan95i4 Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 Thanks for the updates! Even if they are just teasers ha. Good luck with the rest of prep! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markrolston@mac.com Posted December 17, 2017 Author Share Posted December 17, 2017 The car is still at the paint shop. The body is almost prepped for paint. They did a fantastic job making everything fit nicely and straightening out all of the surfaces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markrolston@mac.com Posted March 13, 2018 Author Share Posted March 13, 2018 The car is very nearly finished. After nearly 10 years of work it's finally painted. The red is beautiful and is striking when you see the contrast between the painted parts and the naked carbon underneath. I plan to show the car for the first time at Nismo Fiesta in San Antonio in Mid April. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Tech Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 amazing car in every part of it!!! what color is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markrolston@mac.com Posted March 13, 2018 Author Share Posted March 13, 2018 3 hours ago, G-Tech said: amazing car in every part of it!!! what color is that? It's Audi's Masano Red- the color they use on the 2008/9 RS4, among others. It's a brilliant 5-layer red that has white underneath it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleeperZ Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 wow.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rturbo 930 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 That red looks great! The stripes are cool too. Can't wait to see it assembled in the sun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlejester Posted March 14, 2018 Share Posted March 14, 2018 Kudos, can't wait to see the contrast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markrolston@mac.com Posted March 24, 2018 Author Share Posted March 24, 2018 The paint has been sanded, cleared, sanded and polished. It looks beautiful. Next week we will clear the carbon parts and put the car back together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EF Ian Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 Thats fantastic, it looks great, a true work of engineering art. Plus the passion and patience to keep the build going for ten years. Make sure to take plenty of videos when you get her out on track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arif Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 I've seen this car develop over the years at each Nismo Fiesta and all I can say is it is even more awesome in person. I can't wait to see it next month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markrolston@mac.com Posted May 11, 2018 Author Share Posted May 11, 2018 slow to post but a few weeks ago I took the car to Nismo Fiesta and the car won Best of Show. Pics from the show below. Warning- they are fuzzy. The camera lens was messed up. It also turns out red is hard to photograph. hmmm. I had only just picked the car up from the paint show the day before so it was a rush to get it there. For the last few weeks I've been working on finishing up the interior and lots of small bits of refinement. A final set of pics will be coming soon. Then I hope to call the project finished and just enjoy the thing. It's been a ten year project. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/943/40239399110_240591301f_h.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryant67 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 The car looks absolutely perfect, so well executed. Congrats!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zetsaz Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 One of the best. I love the molded flares and the subtle approach you've taken to the exterior appearance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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