If I were going to make an interior part for the Fiero and wanted to reproduce the surface texture (like on the instrument bezel), how could I do that? I don't want "close" or "similar", I want it to look like a factory piece. This would be a large-ish simple curved panel, no compound curves.

Thanks,

~Neil

Do you mean the soft crash pad, or the hard bezel that covers the instruments? Matching the factory finishes is always tough, because they were buying in high volume on special machinery.

Like on the seat mechanism covers.

That texture is etched into the steel tool that makes the plastic part. It's pretty near impossible to duplicate using methods available to body shops, but I have seen stipple paints that are very close. It takes a lot of practice, and the end result is not very durable.

I've repaired mid-60's GM plastic consoles that have a leather grain pattern. I paint a good, flat area of the console with liquid latex (several coats to build up a thick "skin"), let dry and peel it off. The latex forms a mold of the the console grain pattern. Paint your new part with a couple coats of paint & let dry until tacky then dab the latex onto the part to create the pattern in the paint. Let it dry, then spray one more light coat to get an even/smooth color. It works great on smaller repairs, might be a little tricky to get an even pattern on larger areas.

quote Originally posted by AL68: I've repaired mid-60's GM plastic consoles that have a leather grain pattern. I paint a good, flat area of the console with liquid latex (several coats to build up a thick "skin"), let dry and peel it off. The latex forms a mold of the the console grain pattern. Paint your new part with a couple coats of paint & let dry until tacky then dab the latex onto the part to create the pattern in the paint. Let it dry, then spray one more light coat to get an even/smooth color. It works great on smaller repairs, might be a little tricky to get an even pattern on larger areas.

Exactly. Latex will put an almost perfect pattern in your new paint.

Ive used scrap pieces of vinyl from an old seat cover or vinyl top to emboss a pattern in tacky fresh paint. Just before it gets dry so that it wont stick, I lay it on and run a 2" paint roller over the vinyl to press it down evenly. Best way I can describe it is like when you can put your fingerprint in the paint without getting any on your finger.