I am wondering what I should use to paint inside of Fannie's grill? As you can see the paint has faded, a good example is around the headlight opening on the one on the right. I was thinking about using a spray can, is that the best idea?
Well, it may not be the best alternative but that is what I have done for years and never had any issues, or anyone say it did not look correct (not that I care what anyone else thinks if I am happy with it). The important thing is that the plastic is properly cleaned and you spray the paint on in light coats, let it dry, then another. For the cleaning I wait till my wife is out shopping, then put the parts in the dishwasher if they will fit, set it on cool with no heat to dry, and the parts come out looking pretty good. Then I do a wash in the dishwasher with nothing in it to get it all nice and clean before I get caught .
The parts around the headlights are not plastic they are metal. The larger sections (Beaumont is on one of them) is plastic. If I wasn't going to use a spray can what other chooses would I have?
I have also used spray cans with excellent results. I would disassemble the parts as far as possible. If the die-cast (metal) parts can be separated from the plastic grille insert without damaging or breaking the attachments, take everything apart so you can get it completely clean. I usually paint the light color areas first, let them dry completely, then mask them off before spraying the darker areas. If the plating on the die-cast parts is good, you can just clean and mask the plated part, then spray the darker color where required. In order to get the best match, either find the original paint codes or take the parts to get matching spray paint before you remove all the old paint. Some good pics on canadianponcho.com regarding grill restoration steps: http://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t34051483/grille-restoration/
fannie, the guys have it with the rattle can. If you have to mask off a lot of detail chrome, I'd go to a craft shop, buy some cheap candle wax or use canning jar wax, and brush it over what you don't want painted, then spray away.
