Flashing lights, great idea :-)

 

A blue one on the roof perhaps?

Graham

 

I think the red painted calipers look great. I used the duplicolor brush on kit with mine. I replaced the pads and rotors at the time and got some really cool slotted rotors. I have aftermarket GfG 3 piece wheels and had the centers rechromed and the outers powdercoated in black.

 

Can you take a picture of the whole car? I'd like to see it sitting on those chrome rims.
Thanks,
Bruce

 

dirtyodwyer,
The calipers and wheels look great. I used the Duplo brush on as well. Love to see the whole car as well.

 

So, did you put a clear lacquer over that lettering to protect it, if so what lacquer did you use?

 

Here are a couple more pics showing the whole car and a side angle profille. It was a little rainy last night so those specks on the car are rain drops.

After I painted the calipers I tried to use Dupli-Color Engine Enamel with Ceramic clear coat but when I sprayed it on, the red paint would begin to melt off. I think it's because I used it over an hour after the paint had dried. Maybe if the red was still tacky, the clear coat would stick and not interact with the duplicolor red. I even tried waiting a week after the red had fully dried and cured, but when I would spray on the clear coat, it would still tend to melt off the undercoat.

Btw, the vinyl letters are made to withstand high temperatures so clear coating may not even be necessary. Let me know if any of you guys know what's happening with the paint interactions. I've heard of a lot of guys using clear coat and haven't heard about this problem.

 

JonWat and dirtyodwyer,
I used Rustoleum Crystal Clear Enamel and did not have any paint interaction or running. What was the temperature outside when you applied the clear coat? Most clears are very, very sensitive to temperature and should only be applied in temperatures probably above 70 degrees, otherwise they dry very cloudy looking. As you can see below, there was no problem with mine.

 

So what color do you guys think I should do the Calipers on a metallic gold/champagne coloured car?

 

Easy. Get some gold leaf, then cover in clear coat.

 

I suppose that would look good if the colour match is perfect, will have to order some cans with the paint code of the car, hopefully they will ahve it in High temp??

 

Gold leaf is 23-24k gold pages, which you can apply to the caliper to achieve a real gold finish, then you just clear coat it over. Don't know if it works, but I think it should be wicked

 

Should we start calling you Auric Goldfinger?

 

Yeah not convinced on that one... I would worry it would go horrible with the heat of the caliper...

Can you get colour coded paint that is heat proof? If so I will do them the same colour as the car... Black is a bit too subtle, and people laugh at red calipers...

 

If your calipers get warmer than 1064 degrees, it could be a problem. Most paint should have evaporated by then, anyway. If you manage to heat your calipers that much, I believe you should consider adapting your driving style.

 

How about "fly" yellow calipers like on Ferraris, CTS-Vs, or the BMW below.

 

Not sure the XK8 is the right sort of car for Yellow calipers... On a BMW yeah sure, but its gotta maintain the Jag's class: I'm thinking either body colour, black or red....

 

I have considered yellow for my blue cat. Not classy enough? Don't want to do red and what's the point of silver that just blends in. Not sure what a matching blue would do, but will reconsider.

Open to suggestions while we are all on this topic.

 

Not classy enough is my opinion for my colour (metallic gold!), on blue however it could look really nice, just the same as it would on red or black cars, but gold is a funny one to match up, either painted calipers will look great, or really clash and look awfull.
Still as I say, everyone has a differant opinion on colours depending on taste...

 

I saw the yellow ones on a new Ferrari and a Cadillac CTS-V wagon, yesterday at Supercar Sunday gathering in Woodland Hills, CA. I guess it was "classy" enough for them. They actually looked great.