78 replies to this topic

[duffman]

I've always liked the rat look and weathered look minis, not like they do with beetles when they sand it back, let it get surface rust then laqer it. I mean like un restored minis that you usually find in old ladies garages with the a few bubbles and scabs, maybe a bit of paint fade or laqer peel, like its an old used and weathered mini but obviously solid and mechanically sound and just keeping it like that and driving it so it looks cosmetically slightly tired.

I don't know why but I've always liked that sort of look, what's other peoples thoughts on it?

Edited by duffman, 06 December 2012 - 11:25 PM.

[Noah]

There is something Nice about Patina, that essence of use that is only developed over time, thats why I'm trying to recreate that Patina in my paint and other parts.

[minimarco]

You can also leave it in the desert sun for 50 years. That's how the Americans do it.

[Noah]

Its the same with guitars, the only reason why people buy the Fender Road-Worn series is because fender design it to feel like an old friend, something that you remember from years ago, they look epic aswell. *He Says bidding on one*

[duffman]

I've found a nice 80's clubby that's exactly like that and I love the look of it as it is. I think it'll be a shame to renovate it as its solid with original panels and paint but just looks a little tired. Just wondered if I was a wierdo for liking that look with a mini, its popular with dubs but not seen much of it on the mini scene. There's a few but not many, everyone seems to want them pristine and shiney (I am the same with the other mini) but want a tired looking mini now. Anyone got any pics?

You got any of your patina style paint Noah?

[duffman]

Hahaha yeah but aren't the yank tanks made of cast iron baths lol

No desert, will a trip to skeggy do?

[Joe-C]

You can also leave it in the desert sun for 50 years. That's how the Americans do it.

I think it looks good on American cars because it's usually natural and just surface rust and not rot and holes like on English cars.
Most of the rat mini's I've seen have been done like you said and created the rust themselves.
this:

is much better than


this.

It just seems too forced.

Edited by Joe-C, 06 December 2012 - 11:50 PM.

[Noah]

You can sort of see the little flaking, much! Worse on the other side.

its quite difficult to capture but this was after a single coat of polish and wax, purely to remove the swirls and it left me with this wonderful colour, when the sun hits it its got bits of gold and blue and where the dirt has embedded itself in around the gutters. If you look on eBay at a "Rover Mini 35" You'll see why i want to preserve this patina.

[minimarco]

You can also leave it in the desert sun for 50 years. That's how the Americans do it.

I think it looks good on American cars because it's usually natural and just surface rust and not rot and holes like on English cars.

I think that's thing, you can't really have an authentic rat mini and have it look like that for long before it continues to rust away. The American cars never saw a drop of rain and lived in very low humidity.



some fake patina here


I actually love rust buckets,
http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/topic/217677-picked-the-mk2-up-today/page__hl__drive
I would just drive this car as is after the mechanicals are looked at.

Edited by minimarco, 06 December 2012 - 11:56 PM.

[blacktulip]

i think rat look is ok but i dont think it should be "achieved" if you know what i mean. if its a natural process then yes.

[Joe-C]

i think rat look is ok but i dont think it should be "achieved" if you know what i mean. if its a natural process then yes.

+1
In a nutshell

You can also leave it in the desert sun for 50 years. That's how the Americans do it.

I think it looks good on American cars because it's usually natural and just surface rust and not rot and holes like on English cars.

I think that's thing, you can't really have an authentic rat mini and have it look like that for long before it continues to rust away. The American cars never saw a drop of rain and lived in very low humidity.


I actually love rust buckets,
http://www.theminifo...page__hl__drive
I would just drive this car as is after the mechanicals are looked at.

Yep its unsustainable anywhere where it's not dry all year round.

[duffman]

You can also leave it in the desert sun for 50 years. That's how the Americans do it.

I think it looks good on American cars because it's usually natural and just surface rust and not rot and holes like on English cars.
Most of the rat mini's I've seen have been done like you said and created the rust themselves.
this:

is much better than


this.

It just seems too forced.

Yeah thats what i'm after, I like the rat look mini but agree it looks styled and not naturally occuring, it looks too clean, neat and designed for the look i want.

You can sort of see the little flaking, much! Worse on the other side.

its quite difficult to capture but this was after a single coat of polish and wax, purely to remove the swirls and it left me with this wonderful colour, when the sun hits it its got bits of gold and blue and where the dirt has embedded itself in around the gutters. If you look on eBay at a "Rover Mini 35" You'll see why i want to preserve this patina.

That exactly what i'm looking for, not to create but to preserve the aged look, i know its probably gonna take a lot of maintainance to stop wear and aged turing into rot/tin worm but i'm not that bothered about the work, i think it looks awesome.

i think rat look is ok but i dont think it should be "achieved" if you know what i mean. if its a natural process then yes.

hit the nail on the head, exactly what i'm after, preserving the look rather than trying to create it.

[Noah]

If I could I'd patch it up, but the rust is working its way inside and out, and the only way to stop it is cut it off.

I'm a perfectionist when it comes to paint so I should be able to get it matched perfectly, the colour will be matched and created a made before the car is dismantled, due to the sanding etc.

[duffman]

I actually love rust buckets,
http://www.theminifo...page__hl__drive
I would just drive this car as is after the mechanicals are looked at.

Hell yeah, thats the badger. get it mechanically sound, get an MOT and job done

[duffman]

If I could I'd patch it up, but the rust is working its way inside and out, and the only way to stop it is cut it off.

I'm a perfectionist when it comes to paint so I should be able to get it matched perfectly, the colour will be matched and created a made before the car is dismantled, due to the sanding etc.

Its all the little touches that set it off, tainted/stained indicator lenses, grille dropped, bits of bubbling etc etc.