They're up...
When I started painting, my goal was to replicate as closely as possible the SAI factory finish. Total project cost? $15.00 for two $7.99 Krylon paint cans, some old wire to hang the parts and a piece of scrap paper to catch backspray.
Yes. I'm aware I could have bought a new black stock for $500.00. But do you have any idea how much beer that represents when you subtract the $15.00 for paint? I'm no Michelangelo, but seeing as this type of project takes no real brain power or skill to complete I opted to be the cheap bastard. IMO , I wound up with a far better product anyhow.
After selecting a few test paints, I landed on the following solution. You can see the textured grain of the original finish on the upper hand gaurd and the new paint on the stock below. Note that this is the green stock from the earlier photos. No new parts were purchased.
Specifically, I used two coats of Krylon flat black (camouflage line) and two coats of Krylon "Outdoor Spaces" textured finish black (42911) to produce what you see here. I'm no painting specialist. It was literally that easy. Light, gentle coats irrespective of how much or how little coverage on an area. The key was - go slow and "mist" the caot into place. 5 minutes drying between coats, and left to dry assembled in my safe overnight.
Note the very close match between the two halves. I frosted the top hand guard once to restore the "like new" luster. The match up is so dead on that I strongly suspect that this is the very paint being applied at the SAI factory to USGI stocks.
Locked back. Looks bad-ass... And yes, I DO keep my chambers that clean. Old habits die hard. I can't believe the #### some people keep in their rifles between range sessions.
One of the things I like most about the VLTOR stock is that it is very sleek, and handles with roughly the same weight and feel of the USGI stock.
Close up view of the rough texture. It does tend to attract lint, making pictures with a factory clean appearance a #####.
All that remains is the Larue mount and Harris bipod. Perhaps, also the odd tweak on the Hungry welfare group tightening program. Will be yanking with me to the clinic in November at SGGC.
This weekend is maiden run in current config. Good times.