Really simple badge mod?

[Agent M79]

Ok, fresh off my badgeless grill mod failure, I need a win!

I have a DTR MM. I am going to have the rear badge on the car for a while but would like to simply make the black parts (the word 'Mercury', the dot preceding and following the word 'Mercury', and the black background of the 'waterfall') not black, but DTR to match the rest of the car.

Since I am flush with grills to donate test case badges, I could try a number of methods to accomplish this but would like to field this to those who would know.

DTR touch up paint lifts and mixes with the black from the grill badge and I assume would also with the trunk badge. The grill badge is ABS plastic, is the trunk badge as well? It's mounted rather stoutly so it's hard to tell.

What would be the best way to remove the black paint from the grill badge?

Would you apply the DTR touch up paint directly to the chromed ABS? Roughen it up a little? Primer?

The areas above and especially below the 'waterfall' are pretty large. Would an evenish layer(s) of touch up paint settle out flat or would it always look 'brushed on'? I am sure I could locate DTR in a spray or a reasonable facsimile.

While I could mask of and brush or spray the 'waterfall' background, the letters present a challege. I tested the fill and wipe method where I dabbed the paint into the letters and any paint outside the letters was immediately wiped off with a paper towel. This also removed some of the paint (I think some absorbed into the towel from a high edge) from inside the letters.

Any ideas around this dilemma?

Like I said, I need a win here, and any advice is appreciated!

[Agent M79]

Heh! Too many questions I guess!

Anyway... I bought some "mineral spirits" that will remove the black paint from the badge. I'll rinse it, clean it, dry it.

I'll test the efficacy of the touch up paint on the clean surface in the largest area 'under' the waterfall crest before I do the rest.

If it works, I'll tape off the whole thing and cut out the 'waterfall' background parts and paint them up.

I still am noodling over how to get the paint into the letters without going 'outside' the lines. I am still thinking I'll fill the letters in, allowing some overage outside the lines, and then remove the overage somehow without messing up what has filled in the letters.

I'll let ya know how that turns out.

[2003 MIB]

The badge on the back is held on with some kind of epoxy. You need to slip a credit card between the badge and the trunk. A flathead screwdriver should be worked between the card and the badge. It will come off- don't get in a hurry. That's how I did mine. Neat idea with the red- please keep us posted.:D

[Agent M79]

2003 MIB - I am doing this on the front grille badge (removed from the car, of course) with the intent of doing the trunk badge.

I am going "badgeless" up front very soon but will have the option of stock grille, badgeless grille, and red background badged grille.

If it works out, I will do the rear badge too until I can afford the body work to patch the holes when it is removed.

I hadn't considered if I would work the rear badge in place or remove it, work it, and put it back on. I wonder if that is a stand alone part that comes with the doublesided tape or if I should just get some of that tape and cut it to size...

[2003 MIB]

My .02 is that it would be much easier to work with the rear badge with it off the car. The epoxy is is a silicone RTV type that could easily be replaced using gasket material (Permatex). I liked the results and could let the paint on the badge dry flat rather than run the risk of gravity induced drip and runs. I hope you post pics- the mod sounds cool.

[Agent M79]

I learned the mineral spirits do not remove paint. Or if it does, it takes longer than I have patience for.

Guess what takes paint off? Paint remover. That's right... paint remover. It even has a handy self-descriptive name.

Here is the BEFORE (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=500/1096Black_Badge-med.jpg)

Here is the DURING (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=500/1096Chrome_Badge-med.jpg)

Here is the AFTER (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=500/1096DTR_Badge-med.jpg)

Not too bad for an amateur.

I had problems with the edges of the tape being a little ragged where I cut it. That left the paint edge a little rough. Not sure exactly how to solve that. On the other spare one I have I'd like to spray it since brush strokes are evident on close examination.

[Bowman9]

Agent M79

That looks pretty sweet :)
Should look really sharp on the car.

According to your "during" picture there is chrome under the paint, that might be useful to know.

[Paul T. Casey]

NICE WORK !!!!

[Agent M79]

Bowman9,

Yes. The black paint is over the chrome. The paint comes out easy after about 20 minutes with some paint remover on it.

[TripleTransAm]

What a neat idea... looks cool.

[2003 MIB]

WOW!!!!- Very cool!

[SouLRioT]

very nice paint job, not sure if you've considreed the gods head mod the the badges or not, know you dont any really. But to help you out with some questions, the rear badge can be bought sepratly and comes with the tape atached. Back of it looks like this http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=2/903tn_DSC00408.JPG and if you did want to go for the gods head look go here http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=936&highlight=godshead

[Agent M79]

SoulRiot,

That looks great, did you DTR it just for me?

I did the front badge mod as a test for working on the rear badge as I will be going badgeless in the front shortly.

It'll be a while before I can remove the rear entirely as I'd have to involve a profe$$ional for that kinda work. I do like that pic of the DTR god's head.

I read that thread and to sum it up, buy the center cap from the wheel, buy rear badge (as pictured), Dremel out the 'waterfall', remove clips from center cap...

...first question... what material is used to attach the center cap to the badge? 2003 MIB suggested using RTV to reattach the badge to the car but could that be used to stick the center cap in the badge and also to provide it with a flat contact point?

I like that the god's head background is textured because the waterfall background has large open areas where brush stroke are evident. I'll spray the next one, but I could brush the god's head and the texture will hide the brush strokes.

[Directedby]

Looks really nice, M79.

[SouLRioT]

yep, i made it dtr just for ya. I used liquid nail to put the two together. The center cap once having the clip removed is not flat so it will help get a better seal. Also you only need a pro for the filling in the holes part if you want to go badgeless in the rear too. All you need is the fishing line and maybe a scraper (becareful not to scratch the paint) to remove it.

[Agent M79]

I took a moment before putting the badgeless grille on to see how the DTR badge would look.

It looks like THIS (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=500/1096Red_Badge_Far_Left_.jpg) and like THIS (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=500/1096Red_Badge_Left_.jpg).

Pretty spiffy, eh?