Custom painted lip OEM sport spoiler please look, I need lots of opinions

TPrelude-370z

Below is the cover story for why I tried this. I am not a big fan of plasti dip after this experience, but it did give me something visual to go off. I like the way the spoiler looks with the rear valiance painted it seems to be a good accent.

I am digging the two tone spoiler, I would just make the black strip wider covering about 1" more of the wing. I would be using real paint when I do this (satin black). What do you guys think? Paint the entire spoiler black? Paint the entire spoiler body color again?

Original post: Bad Paint defect from poor touchup skills

Long story short is I had chipped the paint on my sport spoiler with my watch like the second day I got it. It scraped all the way through. I continually tried to touch up the deep chip/scraped marks and ended up destroying about a 2" x 1" section of paint on the corner of the spoiler. It is extremely noticeable as I would wet sand and take off more paint, then have to touch up a larger area, and so on until I got to this point.

Before paying to have this fixed, or attempting to fix myself with actual spray paint, what are your opinions on a 2" flat black strip along the entire rear edge of the wing and maybe perhaps curling under the lip of the spoiler so you can see the black from behind.

I planned on plasti dipping my rear and front valiance today, and I figured why not give it a shot? I have nothing to lose and it come right off. Just curious what you guys think, and if there are any other z's with that strip painted so I can get a look at it (monterey blue if possible).

In closing, check out the pics and let me know thoughts, I don't want to drive around with a ridiculous wing if it is not necessary.

On another note, I didn't know the plasti dip would not keep its edge like when using real paint and masking tape. I tried to pull it asap after the last coat when I quickly realized it pulls up the entire painted second.

I should never be given a straight razor or exact o knife as I managed to scratch all the way through the clear and paint trying to give the plasti dip some sort of edge. I did the very same thing on my Prelude while messing around with some Di Noc vinyl.

Did the best I could with the pics, the original droid camera isn't very good.


Thanks in advance,
Steve

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SonnyC

I like the body color option much better. It might cost you a couple of bucks but I think you will be much happier. You have a huge investment in your car and you shouldn't compromise on something that obvious. If you like the black stripe, keep it. It will be very difficult to mask and paint it with rattle cans so that it looks professional. Just my two cents, not meant to influence or offend.

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Stillen CBE, AFE Drop Ins, Hyper Black Rays, 20mm Spacers, Black Pear Emblems, 25% Tint

TPrelude-370z

I think that is an honest and good answer. I am confident in my painting skills that I can make it look professional, and since it is already ruined as far as original paint I figure why not try some other options. Really nobody is going to be looking at it but me.

I'll post some pics this weekend and you can see how it came out. Repainting body color won't be a big deal if I need to.

Thanks for the opinion, much appreciated. I am sure that will be the consensus from most.

happytheman

I'm not sure I'm too inclined to agree. I would normally, but I think the touch of matte black was pretty interesting, not too overbearing AND unique at the same time. I'm in for better pics!

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--Brantly--

SonnyC

Good luck! I look forward to seeing the finished product.

__________________
Stillen CBE, AFE Drop Ins, Hyper Black Rays, 20mm Spacers, Black Pear Emblems, 25% Tint

TPrelude-370z

Thanks guys. I think it can be pulled off if properly done. I will use pinstripe masking tape to shape it more precisely and adjust he angle/width of the black strip. I have a tattoo with similar curves in certain areas and it looks great. I am picturing some sort of batman boomerang type shape if that makes any sense to you guys.

Start from the corners with a thinner width and then progressively making it larger as it continues to the other side which will be identical. It's kind of a neat project and will cost me less than 10$ as I already have the necessary materials minus the paint.

I will make sure to take better pics after I am finished. This will be done by the end of this weekend.

One question, when do you guys suggest pulling the masking tape? Instantly after the last coat? Or when left to dry 24 hours. With my many blunders and painting experience, the first way seems to work best, just thought I would ask if anyone knew any reliable tricks.

Thanks again

happytheman

You know..you could always go with a vinyl overlay. Then you won't be counting on your rattle can skills, nor wonder about when to remove the masking tape. Just leave the plasti dip on until you get the overlay and then go to town!

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--Brantly--

TPrelude-370z

Yeah, I thought about wrapping it as well but I am not a big fan of wraps either. I don't think anything can duplicate real paint. Worst case I pay for it back to body color, but I still think I would want some sort of satin black strip, I just think it looks really good the more and more I look at it.

TPrelude-370z

I would bet if the z came stock with the front and rear valiance painted flat/satin black and the spoiler came stock as I painted it or some variation, we would all think it was another cool accent that differentiates our car with the rest of the auto world.

akong51

I like it.

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2011 Nissan 370z | Magnetic Black | 6MT
GReddy SE | Swift Spec-R | H&R 20mm | GT-R Ignition Start | NISMO Carbon Fiber Shift Knob

kenchan

it's like a you have the mine's... oh wait, no you doesn't, kinda theme.

tjlazer

cheap mines add on look mod. I like it.

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2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

SonnyC

In my years of rattle can experience... I pull the tape after about a half hour so that you don't risk trashing the paint and having it come up in spots with the tape when it hardens. But there again, mine always looks like ****! I am sure there are some body guys on the site that can give you some advice.

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Stillen CBE, AFE Drop Ins, Hyper Black Rays, 20mm Spacers, Black Pear Emblems, 25% Tint

TPrelude-370z

how funny sonny, I am the same way. Lots of experience, lots of redos, and lots of mistakes. Every once in a while though, I get it just right. This is going to be one of those just right projects.

Thanks for the feedback guys, I really like it a lot. It will be interesting to see what sort of angle and shape I put on there and how it will look. I am excited to get it started. Will post new pics in next couple of days.

Guard Dad

The black is not bad really. I'm not sure I'd do it to my Z but it solves a problem and doesn't look out of place. If you add a few additional black accents (logos and emblems perhaps?) it might really come together.

Question: How do you get a clean edge with plasti dip without usin a knife?