Hi Volks:

Today was the day the igloo finally got it's paint "shot". Boy, am I bushed!

The job turned out totally awesome - I am so pleased I don't have the words
to describe how I feel.

Here's what got shot onto the van since yesterday morning:

1 coat of epoxy primer
2 coats of high fill primer
1 black "guide" coat
2 coats of acrylic urethane enamel (3 parts - paint, reducer, hardener)

I would say, conservatively speaking, that 95% of the time was spent on
surface prep. Ever see that movie "The Karate Kid"? That's what it's like to
paint a van.

To make this concept of hard work more concrete, consider that the entire
black guide coat was wet-sanded OFF with 320 grit wet/dry sandpaper by
hand - with lots and lots of water.

(I could see my own reflection, IN THE PRIMER!)

It will take 6 - 8 weeks for the paint to completely cure - before I can wax
it. I'm not even going to install the rear window untill Friday afternoon.

I have a whole lot of respect for the bodyshop/painting pro's - that's for
sure.

What a tough way to earn a living. Tomorrow I go back to work, which is a
vacation compared to how hard the last two days have been.

I've taken some pictures of the process, by the way.

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy "Iron Igloo"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Founding Member of "Vanagon's Anonymous"