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Cougar Opera Window Trim Re-painting

Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
Forum Description: Technical discussion for 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=2749
Printed Date: 26-March-2026 at 3:54PM
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Topic: Cougar Opera Window Trim Re-painting
Posted By: Turbo301
Subject: Cougar Opera Window Trim Re-painting
Date Posted: 10-November-2009 at 5:50AM

Although the passenger-side black paint on my opera window trim is in very good shape, with only a few small bits of missing black paint, the driver's side is terrible: there's maybe 40% of the black paint left, and it's all "fuzzy" in the areas where it's worn off.

I have to admit that I was too much of a coward to want to remove the trim and re-paint it off the car, so instead I have again applied some modeling techniques: I first roughened the chrome surface where the paint is to go, then did a careful masking job: I used Tamiya tape (probably the best masking tape in the world! Super flexible and provides a great edge) to get an accurate outline, then regular masking tape and brown paper to mask off an area around. I also used the Tamiya tape to mask off the seal between the trim and the window.
 
Up next: "Mr. Surfacer" primer and some Polyscale semi-flat black paint, to be applied with my airbrush! I can't wait to see how this all works out :).
 
 
The light edges on the louvres shown below are actually Mr. Surfacer primer applied to the worn edges; again, some Polyscale paint will hopefully work to bring those "back to black"!
 
 


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1977 Cougar XR7
1980 turbo Trans Am
2009 Pontiac G8 GT



Replies:
Posted By: Psquare75
Date Posted: 10-November-2009 at 5:52AM
When I did mine, I had them off the car... I also didn't bother masking the glass. A razor blade was my friend.. LOL

Make sure you scuff the metal a bit. Don't forget the chrome edging on the louvers as well. :)


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Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD*
78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1
79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1
'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500


Posted By: Turbo301
Date Posted: 16-November-2009 at 2:28PM
All finished!
 
I think the end result is quite spectacular; it actually looks better in person than in the photos, which is rare :). Once the masking was pulled off, it didn't need a stitch of touch up or removal of excess paint: the Tamiya tape kept a nice sharp edge and didn't try to lift paint from where I wanted paint to be. The Polyscale's matteness is just about right, too: a bit duller than the louvres, which seems to be the case on the original passenger-side trim.
 
The nice thing about using the airbrush over a spray can is that a.) paint doesn't go everywhere, so you only have to mask off a small area, and b.) you can do it with the doors closed, even with a lacquer base, because so little paint and thinner are used.
 
Alas, it's too cold now to do the other side, but I think I'll do that in the spring. I may leave it for originality's sake, too... I'm kinda on the fence ^_^.
 
 
 
 


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1977 Cougar XR7
1980 turbo Trans Am
2009 Pontiac G8 GT



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