OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Victa Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers Ozharvest - Victa Utility Customisation Project

Hi all,

I picked up a Victa Utility from Berri in SA. It had been used until it's (premature) death on a property.




After a while of sitting in my drive way I stripped it all down and had a little play. The engine has been rebuilt but I was a little bored of the same old finishes so I had a little play with the water drop effect.

So far I have done the handles, axles/height adjuster, blade plate and underside of the body.

The underside was done in Brunswick green base coat, water droplets applied and dusted with yellow.

The handles blade plate, height adjuster and axles were done in gloss black base coat, water droplets applied and dusted with yellow then dusted with brunswick green.

The top of the body is done in yellow and will be dusted with brunswick green (After water of course).

In a couple of months when the lot has dried enough I'll clear it, apply decals and clear it again.

This machine was to be auctioned off to raise money for Oz Harvest charity but I'll miss the deadline unfortunately.

Here's a couple of pics so far ... (Sorry about the photo quality). It looks much better in the flesh

If I remember I'll keep this post updated.

Pete.

Some more photo's

Again these photo's are ... well crap but you get the idea. I'll start assembling it on Sunday or Monday this week time permitting.

A different way of painting things. Looking forward to seeing the finished product

Thanks Chris. It's certainly different. I was going to make it plain yellow base with black bolt ons but normal everyday just doesn't cut it. I've almost finished the body work. Tomorrow I'll clear coat the underside and paint the engine. Next weekend I should be able to start putting it all together.

Should be able to get some decent photos tomorrow.

OK So I actually finished the clear coat yesterday. It dried overnight (Not fully cured though) so I mocked it up for a photo shoot.

I'm just waiting on some new bolts etc and starter cord handle from eBay. Next weekend it should be fully cured and ready to assemble. Hopefully I'll get the engine painted up today so that can go on next weekend too.

Here's some photo's

And put together it looks like ...







That's it for now ...

Update ...

All that's left to do now is polish the head and bolt the engine on.

Looks like I'll make the deadline for the charity after all.







The underside of the body is the same pattern as the top only colours reversed. Once it's all finally put together properly I'll take more detailed photos.

I've only run into one problem with this build ... I didn't bother to mask up the stub axles and the overspray made it just a little too thick. One of the rear wheel bearings got well stuck. I had to use a puller to get it off!

Pete.

SOOOO update on this ...

When I was stripping it at the beginning I noticed the previous owner had fitted the incorrect blades. I just assumed at the time he had bought the wrong blades.

After spending what feels like half my life prepping, painting and layering the effect on the plate I have just tried to fit it to the mower and boy am I angry and disappointed in myself for this one. It is blatantly obvious to anyone with even an ounce of intelligence it is the WRONG PLATE! Now I am sourcing the right plate and have to start all over again. Not hard to do just really annoying that I missed it the first time!

Still, every cloud has a silver lining and all that ... I'm turning this one into a clock.

Pete

G'day IHWS

I am speechless at the paint effects there!
It is as though the paint has 3D water droplets on it...
That's professional class restoring.

... And you get a clock as well.
It's Victa time - best time of the year.

------------------------
Jack

Thanks Jack.

It's really not a hard effect to do. Just takes patience.

All you need to do is (always using enamel) apply a base coat, spray a bit of water on with a spray bottle until you have the pattern of drops you like then lightly dust with more enamel on an acute angle over the water to create the effect. If you then spray with a darker colour the opposite direction it brings the pattern out more.

There are a few tricks:
1/ select colours carefully - you don't want colours to clash
2/ let the base coat fully cure before spraying with water
3/ if you don't like the pattern you're getting with the water dry it off completely and start again
4/ (MOST IMPORTANTLY) know when to STOP dusting. It's VERY easy to go overboard with the effect.
5/ Allow a LOT of time for the water to evaporate and the paint to cure before touching it. tipping it up when the water has not dried will make it run.
6/ If you don't like the finish do a new base coat over it all and start again.

Here is a shot of the underside of the base ...

Pete

looks amazing mate , you gunna clock it ? or do you need a plate , maybe i have one here that will do the job , i never had one so im not sure which one you need .
Top job though

. Dave

Hey Dave,

Thanks. I'm clocking the plate but I think I have one around here that will work. Otherwise I'm at Michael's place in Gawler tomorrow anyway. He has one (Thanks anyway). It's just really annoying that I have to paint another plate because of sheer stupidity on my part

On another topic, were you at Kmart at Munno Para today? I think I saw you there. I was buying the clock I've ripped the guts out of!

Pete

i was yes , good reason i didnt see you to though ........ i was there getting new glasses i gotta go see him too soon , need a few new projects to tinker with

Be quick. Last time I spoke to him (About 3 weeks ago) he was contemplating getting rid of all the mowers out the back (I think we've all been there though - Doesn't last long!).

I need new glasses myself now - these ones are all covered in overspray

Pete

wet look overspray ? yeah mine were full of grinding rubbish n other sundry scares and debris , also lost a spare pair when out playing out back of 2wells . got the cooks cars beached in the middle of a road !!!

hahaha. yeah clear coat. surprisingly it's hard to see through clear coat ...

Update, I attached the decals. I put a fuel tap position decal on the tank but didn't like the look after all so I removed it along with the clear coat

Now I will be sanding back the tank and clearing it again. Not a huge issue but a bummer.

Pete.

Seems the only issue with this build is me hahaha.

Pete.

Update time ...

Received the new plate (I ordered a new one in gloss black but they sent me galv).

All complete and listed for sale.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD. All funds raised are going to OzHarvest. I've listed it on eBay with a $150 reserve (It has cost me around $500 to do so I'm hoping it will at least get the reserve!

Some pics below but please check out the listing ...

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FULLY-RESTORED-CUSTOM-WORKING-ART-VICTA-UTILITY-LAWN-MOWER-/262676615967?hash=item3d28bf131f:g:1X8AAOSw8gVYAtiD

Item number 262676615967









Thanks!
Pete

Ps. Sorry about the sideways photos. Computers aren't my thing ...

G'day IHWS

I have no idea how you did that!
Almost a clear finish hammer tone.

For me, this represents one new dimension of the possibilities for
customising lawnmowers - the surreal paint scheme.

I have a particular interest in industrial photography.
These are memorable shots for the ODK calendar...



This is a welcome challenge to the purists, but it is intelligently done.

-------------------
Jack