They were black from the factory. I won't say the gloss since I believe mine are still factory and may have dulled with age. I don't believe that I have ever repainted the black and I masked off the black when I did the red.
I was thinking of painting only the recesses leaving the "grille" raised parts red. I'll use my thinned down paint technique. If it doesn't work or look good I can always cover it over.
If it works and looks good I'll post a picture today.
I contemplated painting "just the recesses" too, but didnt, dont think you really 'pick that up'........ I taped and masked mine in place and spread with flat*) black, still lookss good 5 yrs later...but please cover the entire hood and widshield doing this...after I taped my area to be painted , I laid two old bedsheets over hood and windshield, just in case...
in case you do just the recesses, I`d go with a very thin model paint brush....or you can spray and use a cloth dipped in laquer thinner and carefully get rid of 'overspray'(Oh this wont work on a pinted scoop, I forgot, mine are chromed)....thats how I did my chrome wheels,,, sprayed the wheels untaped , later just removed overspray from the chrome areas...
*) I dont know the factory 'gloss', but thought that if I am trying to make it look like an opening...no gloss should be there, just darkness....
Mine are still loose so I can do it off the hood. I used to use a thinned down black when I was a kid to do wire spokes and mags on revelle model cars that way. The paint flowed into the recesses leaving the high areas virtually untouched, the thinner evaporated and you were left with a highly detailed piece.
I'm going to try that on the scoops, using a fine brush to drop the paint in to the recesses, the thinned paint should flow from there. I agree bjorn, I will try a flat black.
If it doesn't read well I'll go back and do it all.
dont want to say I said so, but thanks for the "you were right"...lol yes the rescesses only dont show up , esp if on the car....looks good up close though...
