Currently prepping my car for paint and was thinking ahead to the headlight buckets. How do they do it exactly? Do you paint hem first with the black then mask them off after they cure, then shoot your base? Or do you paint the whole thing your base then paint over that with black??

 

check out the thread I reply to a while back https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/auto...ghlight=hodder

 

If want them factory correct than the way harder described is correct and really easy. I personally clear coat mine so I don't have any issues with sprays or waxes getting on them and the paint once clear coated lasts longer.
As for how to mask them, if you have a light body color then spray color first on the bumper and then mask everything and spray black. If you have a dark color it's easier to do the opposite. You really just want to avoid making two separate tape lines because if you're not very careful you might not have straight lines. I have a few pictures and an explanation on my build thread. I did mine opposite of what I described to avoid any black over spray getting onto the white.

 

 

Wow, looks great Tibo. I'm going with 2006 Corvette Velocity Yellow. It's gonna be HOT! This trim paint mentioned in the other threads...Is it a rattle can product?

 

I painted the bumper blue like normal, clear and all. Then, I just taped up and cleaned the buckets and painted them with SEMS Trim black paint. Worked and held up great.

 

They sell high quality pin striping tape to do the outside edges and hard curves.

You will find it at stores that specialize in automotive paint/etc. or on line.

Looks like the blue stripe on the edge of "Tibo's" first photo in his reply.

Here's another photo of high gloss .....

 

Good point Ron, the tape is a vinyl 3m 1/4 inch wide. It's good stuff but pricey, my roll cost $15. After I finish the work on my car I'm going to use the left over paint to try out a few things like 3M electrical tape at $3 a roll vs this 3M tape at $15 a roll. I'm also really curious to try buffing with the old school liquid grit compounds by 3M and Meguiar's like their heavy cut and rubbing compound vs that orange brand pumice for hand washing.