Today was the big day. I started out sanding back the primer filler with a super fine sandpaper, spent a few hours getting a very smooth finish. Then it was given a good clean down and the semi gloss black was applied! It still appeared gloss while it was wet, of course.
Once the paint dried, it was time to remove the mask and check out the job. All the edges were nice and straight, no leakage under the painting masking tape, and no big black marks where I didn't want it.
The paint is still finishing it's drying in the photo there. It's as fantastic as I could have hoped! Really hard yakka getting it there though, all up I spent about 50 hours on it, all of them slaving away. I'd never be a panel beater I don't think! Once I do the headlight surrounds the same, put the Ford badge on, and install the black teflon lip spoiler on the bottom, it will look one million times better than before. Always good when so much time spent works out in the end.
Once again it's something I have never done before, which was the point of my Escort projects, so I learned things along the way, didn't cost me a whole heap, and looks the goods too.
Today I also ordered wheels for the car, some 8 spoke 15 inch Superlites in a custom charcoal with the polished lip. Should look great on the white car, the dark charcoal should contrast nicely! Cost heaps for a 15 inch rim though, and the custom work will take them 3-4 weeks to complete before I'll get them, so I'll have to be patient. They look very close to this (but not made by Konig who don't do the Escort offset, made by an Aussie Superlite specialist):
Timmeh