Question about painting JLong communicator shells

[Anakin Starkiller]

Hey guys,

I don't have a John Long kit myself, but I've heard that in the instructions that John Long includes with his kit, he recommends painting and buffing the shells to replicate the vintage kydex. Can anyone who has done this tell me what kind of paint they used and how they buffed the shells, and how it all turned out. I have some kydex shells from a couple older kits that I might like to try this with.

Thanks

Dan Stokes
ddstokes@aol.com

 

[Tripper]

I believe it's flat black and you buff it out with 0000 steel wool.

 

[feek61]

I believe it's flat black and you buff it out with 0000 steel wool.

That's what I did and it looks great.

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

That's what I did and it looks great.

Can you tell me how long you waited after painting to buff the shells? And how long the buffing process took?

Thanks for the info guys.

-best

Dan

 

[Tripper]

I'd say wait until it can't take a finger nail impression, then buff until the tops of the little rolls in the texture are shiny, but the troughs are still flat.