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Old 11-11-2006, 12:42 PM   #1
Durmiente
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Default How to paint your Subaru badge, both the stars and the background!

I posted this over on scoobymods.com (I am known as dark_vandal on all the other subaru forums except this one) and wanted to post it here for you all to see.... a lot of people wanted to see this, so here it is.


Here are some materials you might like to get before doing this:






I'd recommend Q tips, tooth picks, and a heavy duty remover (i.e. Goof Off). nailpolish doesn't really work (I tried it). Just whatever you use, don't use something that is harmful to plastics. Goof Off is pushing it, but I didn't notice it eating away at the badge plastic.


The Steps:

1. First you need to pop your stock badge off from the car. This is relatively easy to do, but be careful to do it slowly. You'll want to take the grill off the car (4 clips) and then heat the badge with a blow dryer for several minutes... the hotter the better. Then use something thin (i.e., a butter knife) and pry the badge from the grill (I'd recommend using a cloth so as to not scratch it... you should also pry from the underside of the badge (bottom) so in case you do scratch it, it will not be noticeable when it is on the car.)

2. Here we have our badge off the car. I actually did this to an '03 WRX badge (my WRX is an '02). I like the 03 badge more, as the stars are bigger and just look nicer IMO.



Here is the reverse side of the badge. It is basically chrome inserts covered by blue paint.



3. First off, start off by using some of the goof-off to start removing the blue paint. It comes off pretty easy. Use a Q-tip saturated in the remover to rub off the paint. You might also pour some of the remover on the badge and let it soak so as to soften up the paint. As you do this, most of the chrome will start to come off the badge. However, little fleks of chrome will remain in the edges of the stars. I used a toothpick to scratch at these and remove them. This part was a PITA and took a very long time. Continually inspect the badge until you remove all the chrome.



4. Next, clean the badge very well with soap and water. let it dry well. Check again that no chrome specs are in the stars. Your badge should look like this from the reverse. You'll see some remaining paint on mine on the edges, but this doesn't matter as you can't see it from the front.



5. Now it is time to paint the stars and the loop. I did this with some red caliper paint i had left over. I just sprayed it into a cup and brushed it on. I had some paint thinner and paper towel handy to wipe off any mistakes i made (it is pretty easy to paint the wrong part of the badge, especially considering the nooks are so small.

6. Give your badge 3-4 coats, allowing enough time to dry between each coat, like any other paint job. Make sure you have enough coats so that when you hold it up to the light, no light can get through the paint. It should look like this:



and the front side:

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Old 11-11-2006, 12:42 PM   #2
Durmiente
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7. Mask off the sides and front of your badge like so.





This is to prevent any paint from seeping onto the face of the badge when you paint.

8. Spray paint the badge's back face with any color you'd like. Just like any paint job, start slow, and do multiple light coats.

The reverse side now:



9. Throw on a few coats of clear coat for protection.

10. Now you're done! The finished product:



11, Reinstall. I actually drilled some holes behind where the badge mounts to the grill. That way, I can just pop it off from the reverse side with a screwdriver if i ever have to remove it again. To attach, just use some strips of 3M automotive double sided tape. It works very well.

Here it is on my car... I did red/black to match my color scheme and wheels. I'm very happy with the way it turned out:





Enjoy!
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Old 02-08-2009, 11:50 AM   #3
remotehuman
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Quote:


Enjoy!
sexy looking
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Old 11-11-2006, 12:48 PM   #4
G3Red04WRX
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Now thats nice. Almost makes me want to take mine of and redo it the way you did. Mine is currently chrome stars with san remo red background.

two thumbs up for you!
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Old 11-11-2006, 01:03 PM   #5
Gorge
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Wow, looks hot! I like it
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Old 11-11-2006, 01:06 PM   #6
Ryan314
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Wow I'm just imagining your wagon with JDM projectors... it would look amazing.
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Old 11-11-2006, 09:15 PM   #7
brcewane
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan314 View Post
Wow I'm just imagining your wagon with JDM projectors... it would look amazing.
No need to imagine any more... I tinted the fogs and lowered it too
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Old 11-11-2006, 09:52 PM   #8
w.f.p.k.
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I have experimented with this before but I am wondering if I could do it to a 06 trunk badge? I have not even looked at that badge yet. I am too lazy to take it out. Has anyone done this?
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Old 11-11-2006, 01:31 PM   #9
boundy3
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very nice job
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Old 11-11-2006, 01:35 PM   #10
Nicholas Mouyos
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nice
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Old 11-11-2006, 01:42 PM   #11
Burncycle
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What would you suggest if you wanted to keep the chrome?
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Old 11-11-2006, 04:44 PM   #12
G3Red04WRX
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burncycle View Post
What would you suggest if you wanted to keep the chrome?
Theres another thread on this. You would just remove the blue paint from the emblem and leave the chrome in place then repaint the badge in the color of your choice. This is what I did with mine. But after seeing the red on black, i may be a copycat and redo mine just like the OP...
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Old 11-11-2006, 08:49 PM   #13
SurfPine
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Thumbs up

looks cool
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Old 11-11-2006, 09:05 PM   #14
RS drifter
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very nice
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Old 11-11-2006, 01:57 PM   #15
carlosamilcar
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Wow! that looks awesome. Thanks for taking the time to post it!!
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Old 11-11-2006, 02:48 PM   #16
denigrad
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I recommend adding this to the "threads of note" (sticky).

-Denigrad-
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Old 11-11-2006, 03:26 PM   #17
Dragicon
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great write up.
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Old 11-11-2006, 09:05 PM   #18
Senfinger
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Awesome write up man!
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Old 11-11-2006, 09:48 PM   #19
2$SPIFF
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those rims are nicely done in addition to the badge, nice wagon bro
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Old 11-11-2006, 10:27 PM   #20
Durmiente
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thanks for the compliments guys.

man that photoshop is sweet! I wish i was a better photo-shopper.... that is done very well. I wish i could get those headlights (I love them) but as you can probably tell I am a poor college student and most of my mods are DIY things...

First up will be some 17x8s and the rest of my suspension work. then i might someday consider the JDM headlights... someday... how much do they cost?
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Old 11-11-2006, 11:06 PM   #21
brcewane
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Durmiente View Post
thanks for the compliments guys.

man that photoshop is sweet! I wish i was a better photo-shopper.... that is done very well. I wish i could get those headlights (I love them) but as you can probably tell I am a poor college student and most of my mods are DIY things...

First up will be some 17x8s and the rest of my suspension work. then i might someday consider the JDM headlights... someday... how much do they cost?
I didn't want to spend the money on the JDM projectors either, the EDM version are about $1200 and the JDM's are about $800 new... so I made my own
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Old 11-12-2006, 02:47 AM   #22
Durmiente
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brcewane View Post
I didn't want to spend the money on the JDM projectors either, the EDM version are about $1200 and the JDM's are about $800 new... so I made my own
Nice! Definitely interested in this (and other homebrew mods). You should write up a tutorial or tell me how...

Quote:
Originally Posted by 02wrbrex View Post
Hey what did you tint your corner markers with?
well nightshades is probably a good choice... but no local places have it. and getting it shipped is expensive as it is a "hazardous" material. so I actually used some transparent black paint that is typically used for RC car tint (I guess they spray the inside of the lexan bodies to give it a window tint). anyways, just used that stuff... it's kind of an odd paint... after lots of prep and very light coats and clear coating, it still fades. it lasts about a year in the NM sun... after that i usually just re-paint it. I am tempted to just take out the bulbs and spray it black with real paint, but that wouldn't reall be a safe thing to do.

but with the transparent black the light still shines through. it is a lot dimmer, but still noticeable.
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Old 11-12-2006, 05:12 AM   #23
semaj
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Durmiente View Post
Nice! Definitely interested in this (and other homebrew mods). You should write up a tutorial or tell me how...
He already has
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Old 11-12-2006, 09:15 AM   #24
Ryan314
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Originally Posted by semaj View Post
He already has
Link!?
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Old 11-19-2011, 04:28 AM   #25
britt-lee
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Yes he is already
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