"The X-II" 5-Wide Convertible Teardrop

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Thanks for the vinyl top Martian

I would think that the vinyl would still stay flexible after some vinyl paint, but I don't know exactly how durable that stuff is. I'll look into it. I had to modify the top a little. It won't cover the back of the trolley top section. I'm planning on making a removable plexiglass window for that little area. I also had to add the removable fan cover.

Not quite sure I'm sold on the stripes across the back yet, but they do break up all that empty space quite nicely! I tossed on my tailights and license plate (with lights above), and back "bumper" just to get an idea of what all will be back there.

Here's "everything"



In this next pic, I got rid of the gray stripes across the back to make it a little less "busy", and also the gray stripe across the roof (in case I find out that the vinyl paint isn't durable enough for this application)



I definitely like the idea of continuing at least the white X across the hatch. Makes the hatch look somewhat smaller.

The light above the license plate is an illuminated license plate bracket designed for a motorcycle, and acts as a third brake light. It also has wires so you can wire it into your parking lights and even turn signals.

http://www.amazon.com/Integrated-Tailli ... B002I9YKWA

[TJinPgh]

Have you already purchased the vinyl? If not, maybe if you went with blue vinyl that's close to the blue you planned to use for the sides (then you could colormatch the paint to the vinyl).

[absolutsnwbrdr]

No... Haven't got the vinyl yet. Two years ago when I built my first one, I did see a navy blue vinyl, but it wasn't quite a match to the paint. And I don't think that you can colormatch the Rustoleum paint that I'll be using. Having a large color contrast between the vinyl and the paint color prevents having to worry about exact color matching and any potential fading differences that could happen.

A white top is also A LOT cooler in the summer.

(there is usually some reasoning behind my madness)

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Maybe a bow-tie effect on the hatch?



Maybe I'm getting carried away.

[Woodstramp]

Zach,

I think this one looks sharp:




But, if it is no big time stealer, I wonder what it would look like if you exchanged the white and color fields? That would get you a mostly white (more sun reflective) exterior.

[parnold]

I like it a lot Zach, and the Blue and White is YOUR trademark now. I can't wait to see your paint scheme for the X-3!

You will probably have difficulty getting regular paint to stick to the vinyl. I sell paint specially made for vinyl, but you'll never get it to match the sides, so I would recommend leaving it white.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Woodstramp - Might play around with switching the color fields.

Paul - good point with the vinyl paint.




But I'm still stuck on the back hatch.


It's ok if you're looking at it from the angle we've been playing with, but if you're just following it down the road and can only see the hatch, the horizontal stripes are kinda plain if you can't see the sides.

So how about this?! I think it has a bit more in common with the rest of the "theme"

[parnold]

[droid_ca]

I like the last picture

[Ratkity]

I like the bowtie grays in the back LOL.

Ask 3 people and they'll give you 3 answers!!

Hugs,
Ratkity

[S. Heisley]

I like the bowtie grays in the back LOL.

Ask 3 people and they'll give you 3 answers!!

Hugs,
Ratkity

Ditto 4 me

I'll give you 3 answers: Me too! Me too! Me too!

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Ask 3 people and they'll give you 3 answers!!

Aint it the truth!

[TJinPgh]

Zach,
Maybe you're over-thinking it a bit.

A comment was made about wondering what you'd do for the XIII. If you think that this is getting busy, one could only imagine what that paint scheme would look like if you kept adding to it.

Maybe it's a situation where less is more...



Forgive the crude re-do but I think you get the idea.

Do away with the gray second X and outline the existing white one with the gray instead.

This way, for subsequent builds, it's easy enough to add additional colors for the 3rd, 4th, 5th etc. builds without changing your basic theme.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

I'm sure Paul was just kidding about the X-III!!! RIGHT PAUL?!?!

I'm not sure I intend on building another anytime soon. I'm building this one the way I would have built my first, if I had the money and experience (not that my first wasn't nice). I plan on keeping this one for a good while.

With that said, I'm not really planning this paint scheme with another in mind. I think that scheme is a little too similar to my first build.

When I said "busy" earlier, it was more of a "plain-busy" if that makes sense.

I apologize for my stubbornness

I do like the wide border though. I may end up using that!

[parnold]

Zach:

You are only hurting yourself by not admitting that this is an addiction. It's just like any other addiction. You will build #3.