Painting Hood on Manta Ralleye

[jerseydave]

Does any one have the specs/measurements on painting the black hood on a ralleye. I have a good idea by looking at photos but was wondering if there is an actual guide for painting the top of the fenders and in front of the hood?
I do notice that it is a little different on some of the photos in the member albums. Or is it "close enough for government work?"

[Gordy]

04-06 Manta hood.jpg

04-06 Manta hood 2.jpgI took some close up pics at a junk yard with a Rallye Manta which appeared to be the original paint. I also have pics of the trunk and side stripes, with a tape measure held against stripes so as to be able to judge width of stripes and spaces if that would help. Gordy

[jerseydave]

Those pictures are exactly what I am looking for, I should be able to judge easily from them. As for the stripes they are already on the car, so I have taken measurements and have them entered in my software for my vinyl cutter. When I repaint the car I plan on painting them on the car, so I will cut a paint mask,

[tomking]

I was visiting with a technical guy from 3M a couple months ago about Opels. Turned out he used to be the tech rep for 3M in Russelsheim during the 70's as 3M made the vinyl stripes as well as the woodgrain for Opel. When I asked him about some vinyl shrinking today he said it is because it is made using a cheaper method than what 3M did. He said it MUST be a cast method for making the vinyl instead of some extruded method. The cast material is dimensionally stable whereas the extruded material will shrink. I know you are just making the paint die so it wont matter, but just thought I would pass on the trivia in this thread. I too will be painting on my stripes when I get my 69 rallye kadett painted. Good Opeling.

[jerseydave]

Usually when I talk about cast vs. calendered vinyl I get the look. So if anyone really wants to learn more here is a link Cast vs. Calendered Vinyl Just remembered the life of a high quality vinyl is 5-8 years, our Opels are around 40 years old, that is why the paint stripes are the way to go.

[OpelGT-de]

Here are some pics from my original Manta Rallye.
paint and masking is original (except for the five-cent size touch up at the LH front fender peak :-(( )

[jerseydave]

Does anyone know the radius of the curve used on the corners?
It looks like the black paint on the top of the fender is about 2/3 of the width and also looks like 2/3 of the width of the (cowl?) down past the hood. Does that sound pretty close, I guess if someone could measue it would be more accurate.