Renovation of "Chrome effect" plastic trims.

[MattNoVAT]

Anyone had any experience of renovating the trim items that have a chrome effect?

I recall watching a TV program which had Jay Leno extolling the virtues of a spray on chrome paint - the finish looked very good on the screen but I wonder about whats its like in reality.

Some of my S1 parts have suffered blistering, the coating has blown in places or its flaked. 

Blasting the old covering off and prepping isn't the problem, it's getting the right finish that does not look like its just silver spray!

[WestonE]

Matt

Post this question on the Monte Consortium Forum as I know Russell got this done on his tail lights last year on very tidy restored S1 Montecarlo.

Eric

[thecolonel]

Did a lot of investigation into this last year.
As usual it's down to prep work.
House of Color make Chrome paint BUT
it's very, very expensive. To get a decent
 effect you need to apply over a black base
coat. I know Terry (black 'grale) at TRJ has
some in stock in Southampton

Geoff

[HFStuart]

Matt,

I've spoken to these guys http://www.chromeeffects.co.uk/ but not used them yet. They seemed very straight to the point of telling me they'd happily coat my headlamp reflectors but that it would almost certainly degrage very quickly with the heat from the bulbs.

I plan to give them a go with a pair of mirror bases.

BTW I've still got a NOS Mk1 Couple chrome rear side vent knocking around with your name on it in case that's one of the bits that has flaked

[thecolonel]

I spoke to them last year after seeing the
J Leno piece, after first contact they didn't
reply to the emails.

[rossocorsa]

for small interior items you could try using self adhesive foil as used by the model car fraternity trouble is the sheets are only about A4 in size maximum

http://www.grandprixmodels.com/searchresults.php?page=1&start=0&cat=DATABASE%20SEARCH&back=2

http://www.grandprixmodels.com/searchdetail.php?ref=STUFP026&view=9&page=7&back=2&cat=DATABASE%20SEARCH&back2=1
http://www.scalemodelshop.co.uk/foil-chrome-self-adhesive-300x160mm-aprx-bare-metal-bmf01.html
http://www.bare-metal.com/

I am a bit rusty on this stuff having not bought or built a resin kit for some years so I'm not sure if the above links are the right thing and I can't remember the correct name for it

[MattNoVAT]

I think I'll try the ChomeEffects guys that HFStuart mentioned.

I want the parts to match, my fear is that if I have a new rear vent on one side and a 35 year old untouched version on the other side it will look uneven (and bug me!)

So far my list that I want done consists of:

Headlight surrounds
Inner door handle surrounds
Rear window vents
A spare S1 wing mirror

Anything else anyone can think of?

Am not sure about the main front grille, that was silver rather than chrome effect and making it chrome-like might make it look a bit chavvie!

[rossocorsa]

http://www.ebay.it/itm/LANCIA-BETA-COUPE-CORNICE-FARO-DX-SX-/150577070474?pt=Ricambi_automobili&hash=item230f17c18a#ht_500wt_1156

expensive but maybe less bother? I have also seen new rad grilles turn up on ebay quite often. Are you sure about the grille i thought they were chrome they certainly look it in brochures 

[MattNoVAT]

I'd seen those surrounds before on but lost them for a while, I may buy them and then get my originals done by the ChromeEffects guys to compare the difference.

Will go hunting through my parts boxes to see what can be sprayed chrome.  Having never seen a brand new S1 grille before I did not want to comment, the only ones I've seen are 30 year old + versions!

 

[rossocorsa]

if i come across a new grille i'll let you know I'm sure i saw one on ebay not very long ago but can't see it now. Curiously in the pre launch brochure the rear vent grilles,bonnet grilles and the rad grille were black


early brochure shows what I think is chrome

[rossocorsa]

rear window vents but price seems nuts!!

http://www.midwest-bayless.com/storefrontprofiles/deluxeSFshop.aspx?sid=1&sfid=208227&c=192719

[rossocorsa]

http://www.autolucana.it/product.php~idx~~~392~~ring+light~.html

[rossocorsa]

http://www.spitline.com/scheda.asp?id=8748

if you look hard enough!! 

[MattNoVAT]

Ordered new chrome light surrounds from Autoluca - at that price its a proper bargain. :-)

The Spitline prices are way OTT in my opinion.

[rossocorsa]

I know what you mean a lot of sellers in Italy seem to have bumped up Beta parts prices even though the cars are still not making big money (and especially not in Italy) I'll keep an eye out for a cheaper grille but the only other I saw was second hand and about 70 euros!! Of course the adverse exchange rate doesn't help at all

[MattNoVAT]

I think I will try having my front grille renovated / sprayed chrome. the obvious benefits are that it will be the original item, I can see the quality of the finish and provide others on the forum with an idea of cost/quality as I'll have first hand experience.

Autoluca seems to be the only crowd with sensible prices for Beta parts, but bargains do come up now and then!  This is the third bargain I've had recently, brand new S1 water pump for £7, new coolant expansion tank £30+ shipping from the US and now these chromed light surrounds for £29 inc shipping.  The new inner wing from Austria at £150 wasn't a what I'd class as a bargain but it was far better to buy that than to have the rusty /holed original one repaired.

Cheers RC !

[MattNoVAT]

Hmmm bad news this morning - had my payment to Autoluca returned in full with no explanation. 

At a guess I reckon that the parts availability on their website is not automatically updated when items are purchased online. Chrome light surrounds were still showing as "available" even after I had purchased a pair.  So the lesson learnt is, the price may look great, but if they have already sold it then its all academic.

Back to Plan A, which will be put into effect on Friday :-)

Win some, lose some

[rossocorsa]

at least they sent the money back so it looks like an honest company. It will be interesting to see price and finish on the resprayed items