Custom Paint Job - … Go Mad With A Nomad

A silver base was laid out and the metalflake was shot in stages to give 100 percent coverage on the roof. The silver base helps fill in the silver ’flake fill. After the ’flake is shot it needs a couple more coats of clear and is set aside for a week to cure before sanding smooth with 600 grit.

Masking tape, or specifically the right type for each section of the job, is an important consideration. From left to right: cheap 2- and 1-inch regular masking tape. This stuff isn’t good for edges or really any type of heavy paintwork as solvents penetrate the adhesive qualities, leave residue and might peel underlying paint. Green 3M 1 inch is great for all the masking; it sticks just fine and the solvents don’t penetrate it. X-ACTO blades or razors are needed for clean cuts. The white is a foam tape that goes into all the door, hood, and trunk seams keeping overspray out of the jambs. Finally we have ol’ blue—an 1/8-inch fine-line tape found at your local paint store. This is used for design and tight bends to lay out the patterns.

During initial masking the foam tape is used in the seams and the green tape for the rest.

After masking, Chris and Jack look after the final details in the tape and use a wax and grease remover to prep the car for the base paint.

Once everything has been inspected and has been wiped down twice, the doors are closed to the booth and the tack cloths come out for final wipe down.

Jack is suited in his Sunday best while he sprays down the base color pearl for the bottom of the Nomad.

After the lower portion of the body has been sprayed with pearl and mid-clear the top is uncovered and it’s time to lay out the patterns. Using the original body lines on the roof of the Nomad they start by laying out the horizontal bars in cheap tape to get it roughed in for the fine line.

The very basic lines are laid out and agreed upon first, then out comes the fine-line 1/8-inch vinyl tape to start masking for real.

The blue tape is used as the border for the panels and the tan masking is just a straight guide to go by. The panels are laid across the entire roof and all bends are done by hand.