Buick Tach Repainting

So I stop by the local hobby shop after work, it's gone! Stop at Wallmart, they don't sell models anymore, Target, Nope.

Who sells models and model paint. When I was a kid, everyone had themo No: I remember going done to the local store and looking for the newest ones. Don't kids build models anymoreo No:

When I did a search of the Testers site, I got 4 hits. Closest one is 20 miles away.

Wow have times changed.

Here's what I found:

http://www.testors.com/product/0/9132X/_/All-Purpose_Fluorescent_6_Color_Paint_Set

And it's not .25 a bottle either

 

That would probably work, I was looking at spray cans that were a good match, but don't want to buy a whole can for one small red line needle.

 

Just got back from the local hobby store. Picked up a small bottle of Testors flat yellow #1169CA. This I just painted the tach needle and it looks great. I also got a bottle of fluorscent red (model master FS28915). I just painted the adjustable needle and it looks great too. I now have to do the colours on the tach face. A much more tidious job.
John

 

Hi Guys,

I recieved an email from Walt regarding this thread. Yes there are options available. I have exclusive access to the original ink formulas originally used by AC Delco for the Buick tach faces. I use the factory original silkscreening process to re-face both the dials and the "Buick" face plate.

There are ususally two ways I perform the restorations.

1) If your tach dial is rusted or yellowed, it probably needs to be totally re-faced.
2) If the dial is in nice shape but the green, yellow and red line are faded, I can silkscreen the colored sections only, the dial will look NOS.

Here is a pic of a tach I re-faced only the face plate and the colored section of the dial.

Also, the tach needles are very sensetive and if you paint the needle, most likely it will throw the meter off balance effecting your calibration. When I rebuild and calibrate the tachs, I strip the existing paint from the needle and airbrush a very light coat of the correct finish.

Let me know if you guys have any questions. See us in the vendor section also for other services.

Thanks
Mike Mancini
Instrument Specialties, Inc.
14 Church Street
Oxford, MA 01540
(508) 932-1349
www.instrument-specialties.com

 

Looks really nice:TU: General price range for a faded tach, taking silk screening and dials only. Not looking for exact, but between low and high?

 

If the entire dial needs to be re-faced $135

If the 3 colors only: $85

The face plate w/ Buick logo $45

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Mike

 

Hey, can u post some pix of what you've done so far?