1969 Barracuda Formula S Trunk Trim Panel Restoration

[Qwiglee]

The trunk trim panel on my Cuda was removed and completely stripped of its old paint. Since it doesn't appear that anyone sells reproductions of the Formula S panel anymore, I want to try and restore it myself. I was planning on polishing the parts that will be unpainted and then masking and repainting the red stripes and satin black center. What I am wondering is, on an original Formula S panel are the letters actually unpainted bare aluminum or are they painted silver on top of the black? I found a picture online of a panel on a restored Cuda and it definitely looks like they are hand painted silver on top of the black. Originally, I was thinking I might try and painstakingly mask every letter with pinstripe tape and then spray the black but now I am not sure.

 

[Mike69cuda]

I sprayed the whole black area as one. Then I took q tips with alcohol (maybe something else, like acetone, don’t remember) and wiped off the letters. It worked pretty good an was relatively easy.

 

[Qwiglee]

I sprayed the whole black area as one. Then I took q tips with alcohol (maybe something else, like acetone, don’t remember) and wiped off the letters. It worked pretty good an was relatively easy.

What about a clear coat over the finished result? I would like to be able to spray a satin clear coat over the black for protection but I'm not sure how well that would work with the bare metal letters.

 

[Mike69cuda]

I didn’t clear coat, but sounds like a good idea.

 

[RedFish]

Pour fill badges,,, Testors' model enamel works great. Some hot thinner and a piece of dress shirt material. I position work as level as can and I have let the paint cure thicken a little b4 applying but it wont flow out as flat sometimes. After the stuff is about cured, a few drops of thinner in smooth fabric wrapped on a flat whatever, excess wipes right away. If this fabric did carry enough thinner to bleed into the pour, it should evaporate away, no harm done. What you have is a little different challenge. Shoot the black and slap it off the top in same manner should work. I've carefully applied liquid mask to little places similar but never liked it.