Extensive research was done, using books, models, internet searches, emails and phone calls, to ensure that every element in the composition was relevant and protrayed correctly for the period. I estimate at least 100 hours went into the research phase of Tribute.

Unlike Scatha, the Tribute project required stripping the existing paint, primering and block sanding. As well as repairing cracked the fiberglass body in places. And of course every piece of chrome and stainless steel had to be removed for polishing or re-chroming. And every bracket had to be cleaned up and painted. The wheels were refinished and powdercoated. And the entire interior needed to be replaced with exact reproduction metallic red vinyl. I also had professionals come to remove (and later replace) the front and rear glass to ensure their safety.

This time I used Stabillo pencils to sketch the composition on the car's body, after the block sanding was done. I alligned the car on jack stands so the main horizontal body line was level. I used levels to ensure vertical and hortizontal lines were true to the body. All elements were drawn freehand, except the larger race car numbers. These were roughly templated in cardboard, then refined by hand, to ensure the repeated lines were consistent over a large area.

This was my first time leafing. Needless to say the learning curve is steep. And I had to invent a way to glaze color to stain the leaf in precise sections. I tested ideas and materials on a metal panel. The best solution for glazing was to use a tiny amount of paint mixed into clear glaze and quickly brushed over the turned metal before the paint could set. After it was completely dried I would apply additional layers to the desired saturation. 

Again I used Liquitex acrylics, this time directly over automotive primer. I tested and found that 360-400grit was sufficent that all sanding marks would be covered by the acrylic paint, but still be rough enough that mechanical adhesion ought to be ideal. 

The brushes used were: Flat #2, #4, #6 and #12, 1/4" short handle Princeton flat brush, 1" and 2" flat utility brushes, and a tiny detail brush.

The linework was done with Deco Color enamel paint markers: Gold, Silver and Black.

During the project  I invented a method of painting acrylic over stainless steel. The hubcap "scallops" and "peanuts" needed to be painted, and ideally this would involve acylic for consistency. Acrylic paint beads on stainless prior to drying, due to the water content. But acrylic medium doesn't, as it has no water content. So I ended up using my prefered clearcoat as a primer on the stainless, then paint, then cleared again with a satin finish. So far it has held up perfectly.

Tribute began in April of 2014, with work continuing nonstop until the  Cruin' For a Cure show in late September. Painting began again in February of 2015 and was finished in early July. In total, Tribute took 11 working months, well over 1200 hours.