Range Rover by Bella Macchina

**Todd@RUPES** · 08-11-2008, 07:32 AM

This Range Rover belongs to very cool guy and this detail was near a year in the making because of scheduling conflicts on both sides. However it was nice to finely finish it and take it to the paint to the highest standard.

The paint on this Rover was rough...

After washing with "Dodo Juice" Born to be Mild and claying with Zaino Z18...

The paint had a combinations of mild and deep swirl marks, isolated scratches, and a lot of straight line, wash induced marring.

However the first order of bussiness was to "correct" the a finger print that was evident under the driver`s door handle. (The door was repainted as a spinless person had keyed the door).

Sanding with 2000 grit Meguiars` Unigrit

There was a "nib" in the paint. The paint was sanded until .3 mils where shaved off (leaving only the slightest reminents of the finger impression), then polished back out.

Under the halogens.

After 2 passes of M105 on a Meguiars "Yellow" So1o wool pad (most area`s required anywhere from 1 to 4 passes to remove 95% or more of the R.I.D.S.).

Once the paint was leveled (and slightly cloudy from the compounding) I slowly worked it back to perfection. Menzerna PO83 was used initialy with german foam between 1300-1500 rpm. One to two passes where all that was required to get the gloss back into the paint. At this point, I used two seperate final polishing techniques. First I jeweled with paint with PO85u with light mechanical foam then finished with another jeweling step using a technique that Ryan Blanchette and I developed which we have dubbed "dry finishing" or "dry jeweling". This extra step increased the gloss considerably, so I ended up "dry finishing" the paint for two passes which really amped up the gloss.

Passenger side rear door before (nasty)

After

50/50 split

50/50 Outside sun shot (unfortuntely it started to rain before I finished so these are the only sun shots that I have)

After tending to the details (Rejex on the rims, Z16 on the tires, windows ect...) I topped the paint with 2 coats of SuperNatural by Dodo Juice. The combination of the dry polishing (which I believe effects a much flatter microscopic surface) and the high quality wax left the paint super reflective. After shots...

Tucked away for the night...

Thanks for reading guys/gals/aliens

**JohnHenry** · 08-11-2008, 07:43 AM

Beautiful work, as always, Todd. Care to share the specifics on "dry polishing?" Pad? Speed? etc.

Thanks for posting.

**imported_shine** · 08-11-2008, 07:55 AM

Looks great Todd. I see the Dodo Juice USA website is up and was looking at the Supernatural wax. I`m guessing this is their most durable wax.

When "dry jeweling" are you not using a abrasive polish?

**ScheerSpeed** · 08-11-2008, 07:55 AM

beautiful work! like stated above, would you mind sharing what "dry polishing" is?

**imported_rydawg** · 08-11-2008, 08:17 AM

Superb work Todd!

Those RR paints can be a pain sometimes. Looks like the dry polishing worked out great for you.

**gmblack3** · 08-11-2008, 08:52 AM

Very nice work my friend.

**baseballlover1** · 08-11-2008, 09:02 AM

looks awesome! I love those cars! As bad as the paint is, they look so cool. great work!

**Todd@RUPES** · 08-11-2008, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by John Henry

Beautiful work, as always, Todd. Care to share the specifics on "dry polishing?" Pad? Speed? etc.

Thanks for posting.

Hi "John", thanks for the compliments my friend. Can`t share any specifics on "dry polishing" as it is something that Ryan and I have been developing for a long time and it is up to him (as it is his baby, so to speak) to share. I have been sworn to silence, sorry man!

Originally Posted by shine

Looks great Todd. I see the Dodo Juice USA website is up and was looking at the Supernatural wax. I`m guessing this is their most durable wax.

When "dry jeweling" are you not using a abrasive polish?

Thanks shine!!! DJUSA is up and to my knowledge will be taking orders. I woud be lying if I told you it was the most durable wax they have because I have not tested all of the them, but I am getting about 8 weeks in the Florida sun, outside. It is the best looking of there line (by some estimate) but only slightly, as all of the waxes look amazing, IMO.

Originally Posted by ScheerSpeed

beautiful work! like stated above, would you mind sharing what "dry polishing" is?

Thanks Scheer!!

Originally Posted by rydawg

Superb work Todd!

Those RR paints can be a pain sometimes. Looks like the dry polishing worked out great for you.

Thanks Ryan! RR paint is a PITA, but I have done so many of these lately (8 in the last 3 months) that I am kind of used to it. That said I have never been able to make one glow like this an am excited to work on other cars using the technique!

Originally Posted by gmblack3a

Very nice work my friend.

Thanks PePe

**dsms** · 08-11-2008, 09:36 AM

The paint looks phenomenal, Todd! In your opinion what made more dramatic difference in the final finish, Supernatural or dry polishing?

**Pats300zx** · 08-11-2008, 09:51 AM

Great job as always Todd. You never seem to "not impress"

**Todd@RUPES** · 08-11-2008, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by baseballlover1

looks awesome! I love those cars! As bad as the paint is, they look so cool. great work!

Thanks Dan!

Originally Posted by dsms

The paint looks phenomenal, Todd! In your opinion what made more dramatic difference in the final finish, Supernatural or dry polishing?

Thanks for the compliments. The end result (IMO at least) is 95% or more in the prep. Supernatural is just really nice icing on the cake. No matter how nice the wax is, it still needs perfect paint to really shine.

Originally Posted by Pats300zx

Great job as always Todd. You never seem to "not impress"

Thanks Pat, you big old federal agent pimp you....

**imported_weekendwarrior** · 08-11-2008, 12:44 PM

Looks great as usual. I wish I had some of the scenery around the cars that you have (tropical plants, houses, stone driveways, etc...) to photograph cars in!!! Must be rough - LOL.

**Bert** · 08-11-2008, 01:08 PM

Great work Todd. What caused you to decide to try carnaubas? Months ago you seemed to have a somewhat negative view towards carnaubas and seemed to always reach for Zaino or Jeff`s Werkstat. What caused the change?

**David Fermani** · 08-11-2008, 01:20 PM

Nice! :shocked I see Ryan`s mad scientist* efforts on paint "work hardening" has paid off. I bet the PM`s are rolling in to both of you as I type?

**Lumadar** · 08-11-2008, 01:25 PM

Looks great!

I actually love working on black Range Rovers, but maybe I am crazy lol.

I found that a single pass of M105 + PFW takes out even moderate to bad swirls and scratches, and then I follow up with a pass of SIP, followed by 106ff and the paint is outrageously glossy and defect-free.

I don`t know what it is about RR black, but once you clean it up it just gets sooo glossy...