Painted raptor-style Satoshi?

I've been thinking about making a satoshi for a little while, and I'm about ready to move forward with it. I like the raptor style grills that have started to become popular. What I was thinking of doing is using similar lettering, but instead of attaching emblems to the grill, making a stencil and then painting the letters directly onto the mesh itself. I've seen this done before with the TRD symbol, but never with Toyota or Tacoma. Has anyone done anything like this, or have any suggestions?

 

I say do it!! It might look bad @$$!! and worst come to worst you repaint it or weld some letters on!!

 

You mean like Craig's Raptor style satoshi grilles ?

 

Yeah! Those style letters, except painted on in a way similar to tacomarotto's stenciled on TRD grill:

 

It would definetly save you some work by painting it and you could always just paint over it. I can cut you the template out of sheetmetal. Just PM me...

 

This looks SICK

 

OZ-T, who's truck is that on? I may do something like that and get JLee to make me some letters, but I kinda like the idea of painting it too. I want to install some lights behind the grill and it seems the letters would block a lot of the light.

 

I've painted the TRD on my mesh grill... It took a lot of patience and a lot of painter's tape!



Gotten lots of compliments on it, but I'm fearing having to touch it up once that happens!

 

IDK who's truck , that pic was in HomerTaco's Raptor style satoshi thread in his vendor section

 

I love the way that looks! How exactly did you paint it? With a stencil and rattle can?

 

Thanks! Yep, just rattle-canned the hell out of it! I made a stencil at first, but the lines weren't clean enough. So then I overlapped "blue" tape on a flat surface to make a solid piece (8" x 12" square) of tape. Then used the stencil to cut out the "TRD" design out of the tape, laid the "tape stencil on the grill, and that allowed me to have super clean lines and no over-spray look to it! I'm happy with how it turned out!

 

Makes sense, thanks! I just bought all the parts for the satoshi, but I'm torn between painting the TRD like yours or "Toyota" with the raptor style letters. I'll probably just try the raptor style to see if I like it and cause its something different, worst comes to worst I can just paint over it and start over.

 

Nice! Be sure to post up pics when you're done! I think it'll look awesome!

 

That arouses me. If it were impulse red, I would have to type with one hand

 

So, question. I am doing my satoshi now and about to prime and paint. I have the chrome grill im painting white. Should i sand the chrome a little, a good scruff up, or take it to the plastic before painting? any info would help.

 

Subb'd for the final result, gonna look sick

 

I used 320 grit to scuff up/dull the chrome surround on my grille (and the two bumper inserts on my front bumper)

Both components have really held up well for nearly two years (?) now

Just be sure to wipe it really clean after sanding it. I like the Duplicolor prep wipes a lot. They get all the dirt and grease, etc off the surface. Also be sure to wear latex gloves before you start the entire process (eg prior to sanding). It'll keep your finger/hand oils off the surface.

 

Thanks man, good gouge and rep for you!