before some of you may remember the god awful plastic tarp painted black and duct taped on, well, that ripped off on the way back from Billetproof, so it was time to do it right. I pulled out the old tack strips I set away when i pulled the remains off the old roof, and ordered a surplus piece of canvas big enough for the top. I thre some new bows across the top, and also installed the wood header I had set aside. I stretched the canvas out over the top, and fixed it between the header valance and the sun visor, then folded over each edge and tacked it along the old roof wood, through the tiny slots, then put the rain gutters back on, and folded it over at the edge and used the old tack strip across the back. Nothing fancy, but it's amazing how good fabric stretched tight looks. The olive looks kind of cool but doesn't go with anything else on the car now. I want to paint it black, what should I do?
I think it looks cool in green. The US logo on the roof is mil-spec! Leve it green as long as you can stand it, then go black.
DO NOT PAINT IT! If you want a black top just replace it and send that one to ME! hahaha! Would look good on my military truck.
I was gonna say black, but after seeing the insignia - well, it may look a little funny with that olive against greenish blue, but it's a killer statement.
It was super simple and super cheap- $5.99 for the canvas (former surplus tent), the crossbows were free, salvaged from a pallet, and the drip rails and tack strips were still on the coupe when I bought it. The same effect could be attained without drip rails by just tacking a small flat strip, about 3/8" along the roof line, it would look almost original and hold the fabric on. Go for it!
Check out Tingler's post about painting canvas. Oil based stuff eats the canvas if it isn't sealed? I'll bet there were some solutions mentioned in there.
As the Stones would say, I see a drab roof and I want it painted black. I wanna see you paint it, paint it, paint it, paint it black!! Black as night, black as coal
yeah, I saw the mention of paint eating canvas, I was thinking what I would do then since it's already mounted is fill a spray bottle with a fabric dye solution and just spray it on and let it dry. Think that would work? Also, I should note for the military vehicles, this canvas isn't the best choice. I would suggest the very heavy coated canvas, specifically sealed for water protection, like the one I used on my deuce and a half. More expensive, but looks more military, and seals out water better. shots from an hour ago showing the overall picture: you'll have to excuse all the dirt, I haven't had time to detail it lately
okay- yes, the olive drab is 100% kick ass, but after seeing it with the rest of the car, it's "clashy"- both parts are very cool, but together, not so much. It's a realy nice green shirt, but with really nice red pants. killer idea, though! any thought on what to use on it? vinyl dye would get it black and not fade, but it stinks like kaka for a while.- and it takes about a month for it to weather out and look really consistent. I wonder what would seal it up best-scotch guard mabey? a heavy enough coat and it will make denim water proof (well, water resistant,I guess) but so long as the car doesn't get absolutley drenched, it should keep you dry-er.
you could use practically antyhing for the tack strip- that trim they sell at Pep Boys that molds in curves, etc. Just something to hide the folded over edge and screw through that into the wood, or add wood if that was removed before. Mine still had the wood so I used that
If paint supposedly eats canvas, then why do painters use canvas drop cloths? You know, I've never heard anything until the last two days about paint eating or destroying canvas of any kind. This includes all my experience with making awnings and tents for 5 years. I think all this talk of paint destroying canvas is a bunch of hooey. Now I could be wrong, but the concept sounds far fetched to me. The paint concept, not me being wrong - that happens all the time.
Get SEM fabric dye in spray cans if you have to paint it. It covers well and will last, personally I like it as is. Mark
Looks great, the colors clash a little, but I'd live with it - gives me an idea for my Tudor top. I wonder how all the old paintings in museums are still here if paint eats canvas? Anyway, you can paint it, seen it done on old boats with canvas decks.
I like it the way it is. Try some different things out on scraps until you figure out how you like it. I bet it will match better when its weathered. Or if you could find a arctic tent or a desert tent. The US logo is cool though.
that was in referance to specific oil paints, thus gesso-ing it im preety sure you can go to just about any decent sized art store, dick blick or whatever and pick up some fabric paint and youll be good to go. same shit you use for screen printing, comes in little tubs and you can put extender in it if you want to get more out of it. preety sure you could brush it on with a foam brush....or better yet a wooden spatula as its thick as shit. wait an hour and its good to go for the most part. when you use it to screen stuff your kind of draging the paint over the fabric with a rubber squeggi kind of thing so you dont have globs of paint on top of it, just enough to get in there and get the job done. somethign worth looking into, couldnt cost you 10 bux i wouldnt think tim
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