2 NCRS Flight Questions...

[Michael J.]

Re: 2 NCRS Flight Questions...

God Willing, I stick around long enough... maybe in 20-30 years, by the time I reach the average age of a regular NCRS member this rule will be revised.

Thanks,
Jacob

No, you or I or even our grandchildren will not live long enough for that. The engine stamp pad is the most sacred and treasured thing on the car by the judges. It is the subject of endless argument, frustration, education, and consternation and probably is what makes NCRS so unique and each flight judging experience so interesting. It is also why dealers and rebuilders spend fortunes on trying to create the perfect reproduction "original" engine and fool people by saying "numbers match" as they sell you the car.

[Michael W.]

Re: 2 NCRS Flight Questions...

No, you or I or even our grandchildren will not live long enough for that. The engine stamp pad is the most sacred and treasured thing on the car by the judges.

Far from it. Try adding up the points deduct in the Ops section if your cigarette lighter doesn't pop correctly and the turn signals don't blink at the correct interval. Makes the engine pad look like a freebie.

[Tom A.]

Re: 2 NCRS Flight Questions...

It depends on your definition of shiny. Shiny would normally describe "gloss" which is the surfaces ability to reflect light. If you look at assembly line pictures of the final buff process you will see very shiny surfaces. Gloss can be increased by simply applying coats of wax or buffing with fine compounds. The main issue is paint "appearance". The appearance should be based on the normal hallmarks of a typical factory applied finish. This would include correct surface texture - small tight patterned orange peel that varies depending on the part of the car being viewed. The original finish was a thermo-set finish that required 350 degree temperature for the material to re-folw and level imperfections. The Corvette body could only be brought to a maximum of 250 degrees meaning it didn't completely reflow and required buffing to bring the final gloss to an acceptable level. Only the upper surfaces were buffed normally no farther down than the upper body line. That would mean the upper surfaces would have a higher level of DOI (distinctness of image) than the rest. Lower edges normally received poor coverage.DOI is normally the indicator used to determine original appearance. DOI is the ability of a surface to reflect light directly back the in direction it came. Low DOI would be seen as an indistinct reflection or reflected images that did not show sharp crisp edges. DOI is an element of gloss but a surface can have gloss without a high level of DOI. I know this sounds confusing but it boils down to this: indistinct image is what creates much of the original appearance.
Gloss levels can be increased or decreased but DOI will remain the same unless sanded flat and buffed. Other indicators of an alternate finish include build up on panel edges heavily sprayed or dipped appearance and uniform DOI on all surfaces. The easiest way to help a non factory appearance is to deal with the areas that are pointed out in the standard deducts. Refinish door jambs, hood ledges lower panel edges and anywhere that couldn't or wouldn't be buffed. This can bring a full 85 point deduct down to a 22 point deduct without having to totally repaint. I hope this helps.

[Michael J.]

Re: 2 NCRS Flight Questions...

Far from it. Try adding up the points deduct in the Ops section if your cigarette lighter doesn't pop correctly and the turn signals don't blink at the correct interval. Makes the engine pad look like a freebie.

Oh, I am familiar with all the Ops section items, but let's just say those items are a wee bit less subjective and prone to "interpretation" by the judges than the engine pad is, and far less emotional.