Paint Your Own Hoodliner

Testors Paint Markers Enamel
Flat Black

Duplicolor red caliper paint (pepboys carries it, do your calipers while you at it)

Set of brushes (Assorted FLAT brushes, craft store)

I start by sealing the material using the Krylon black. Lay the liner outside horizontally on a table or bench (pick a calm, warm and dry day). I spray the emblem holding the can 2 inches away and follow the outline of the emblem soaking the material with the paint (should go on very wet). No need to tape off just try to keep in the outline. The paint at first will soak right in like you never even sprayed it. Let it dry 20min between coats and give it 4 -6 coats use the whole can.

After a few coats on the front you should notice the spray starting to puddle up before soaking in. After the last spray coat wait about 5 minutes and you can take a plastic spoon and using the back press and smooth any fibers that are sticking up The paint is almost a perfect match to the liners color so it’s almost invisible. You can also cover any problem on the remainder of the liner by spraying the same finish lightly staying 12 inches away. Let the complete liner dry overnight.

Use you factory emblem as a guide or print the one below.

I use the duplicolor red caliper paint because of a few reasons, it’s heat and chemical proof, it’s very thick and flows nice. I start by laying a heavy coat over the right side of the emblem covering the flags, bow tie and flower (use a wide flat brush 1/2"). Do not keep working this paint as it will tack up quickly and should be left alone to the next coat. Using smaller flat brushes (⅝" and a #10) also paint the complete boarder (the part the will become silver) and the soon to be white portion of the checkered flag (the recessed parts). The paint will be able to recoat in 15-20 minutes. This may take 4-8 coats depending on how pours the material is (I find each is different). Being perfect is not important at this time because you will trim and fix later with the paint pens, do stay away from the outer black surround and black parts of the flag as this will stay black.. To achieve the darker red in the right side of the red flag you will need to take about 1oz of the red caliper paint (in a small cup or jar, airbrush jars are best) and add a few drops (2) of black and mix it in so see if you like the color adjust if necessary. Once you are happy with the texture of the red, paint the darker red over the right side of the flag. NOTE: all red coats must be done within 3hrs or wait 5days as indicated on the can.

In about 4 hrs you can continue the process. I then paint the silver surround using the smaller flat brushes #10 and ⅝", it should only need 2 or 3 coats. Using the gold paint marker outline the bowtie and flower stroking the marker only one way and making a nice straight edge. Do the same with the flower and then fill them in using the gold in the bottle and a brush. Try to make even horizontal strokes, as the gold is reflective and will show if you overwork it. Paint the white part of the flag and this may take 5 or 6 coats or until solid white. The white takes longer to dry but each coat must be recoated within 2 hrs or wait 48 hrs.

With the white and silver try to keep a reasonability straight line, but you will fix it all later so don’t be concerned. Once all the colors are in wait 48hrs. Use the flat black paint marker to outline both flags, create the divide between the reds and trim and expand the black checks in the flag so each black meets the others. I use the raised part as a guide for the marker and keep the marker wet by pumping the marker from time to time to keep it wet and flowing. If you notice the marker picking up silver or white, stop let it dry and fit later. After I do the black I take the silver and fix any black lines that are not straight. Last step is to add the 4 lines in the flower using the darker red (see your emblem). If you need to fix the black in the checkered flag spray some krylon into the cap and brush it on.