L60-00511-The "El Bondo Patrol" rises from the ashes...

[Esteban]

Nice, your absence was noticed, but your return is celebrated!

Best quote ever!

What a good write-up about the process. Very entertaining read.

Sorry about all the family problems that you have endured. Hope everyone is feeling better.

[RiverPatrol]

Oh good. I figured one of those famous Phoenix dust storms must have buried everything. Good to hear you're still plugging along. Welcome back.

[Coyote Patrol]

Looking good Robert!

[L60Boerne]

Yes you are a Patrol whisperer for the ages. Brian K has a decent hard top in storage in my barn in Lake City, Co he doesn't need.

If you ask him and he still doesn't need it...it isn't too far from you.

Well done!
L60Boerne

[mad4hws]

This thread gives me hope that there is hope for the Minion Missile. Excellent write-up and story.

[moore_rb]

Hey, you know what? Those cheap $150 Harbor Freight garage-tents make pretty good spray booths.

20190603_092922.jpg

20190604_071809.jpg

My best spray job of all time- only one minor, 3 inch run, which is in a spot that I can easily sand and buff it out.

It still has a lot of blemishes (and Bondo) on the body, but it looks a lot bette and straighter than it did when was green. I just eventually decided that I could continue sanding on this thing until my fingerprints were worn off, or I could just say "Screw it! - Let's spray this sucker!"

The underside, wheel wells and engine compartment are still the correct gray, but since this one is going to be a convertible, I went ahead and sprayed the tub to match the outside.

and even with 5 coats, I only used half the paint that I purchased, so I guess the 65 Hardtop is going to end up being blue, too,

I'm going to let the paint harden for another couple weeks (The Az summer sun will take care of business in that department), then I'll give it a quick wetsand, polish and wax, and then this baby is going back on the chassis for the last time...

[Esteban]

It looks so good! Nice job!

Hey, you know what? Those cheap $150 Harbor Freight garage-tents make pretty good spray booths.

My best spray job of all time- only one minor, 3 inch run, which is in a spot that I can easily sand and buff it out.

...

and even with 5 coats, I only used half the paint that I purchased, so I guess the 65 Hardtop is going to end up being blue, too, ...

Good tip on the tent. What paint are you using, both for the primer and the color itself?

[RiverPatrol]

That's got to be a good feeling to finally get that done.

[moore_rb]

What paint are you using, both for the primer and the color itself?

I used Nason 2-part Epoxy Primer, and good old fashioned industrial Valspar enamel, with valspar's enamel hardener and UV agent mixed in, and thinned it with a mixture of 50% Xylene, 50% VM&P Naptha. (18:6:1 ratio- paint:thinner:hardener)

The color is custom- I blended blue, gray, and black together until I came up with what I thought was a good approximation of the Blue that is on the Patrol in the 1966 Sales Brochure:

1966_Datsun_Patrol_brochure_lhd-1_fp.jpg

[Edgar]

It looks great.