How to make a black vinyl top?

Put masking tape on the roof and trim it to exact size.Paint the roof flat back followed by a coat of Future to impart the semi gloss black of new vinyl.  

You can also spray flat black at a distance, at least 12" away and kind of mist on the paint, and build it up to complete coverage, the hit sith a semi gloss clear. Here is a 70 Impala I am working on done this way. I also run 2 narrow strips of sheet plastic to simulate the seams.

Testors has a sand texture paint (in tan & grey) that could be used to simulate a vinyl top, in their Model Master auto lacquer line. Just overcoat in semi-gloss black.

I agree with masking tape to stimulate vinyl top.

When I wanted to do a kit of my '78 Monte Carlo, the closest I can find back then was a MPC '79 Monte Carlo kit. Now on mine I had a landau vinyl top. That was a simple fix because there was another MPC Monte Carlo kit that came with an optional landau top. I used that instead for it was a perfect fit. I still have that kit on my desk to this day. It was built to the way I wanted if I had the money for a new paint job and a new high performance muscle car big block under the hood.

You can also do the flat black trick, put on bumpy, then getting your fingers a little sweaty and rubbing the black with the fingers.  Also works for upholstery to make a semi-gloss.

This is vinyl gaffer tape that i picked up at the supermarket. it's black and patterned. it's pattern is a bit more visible because it's been weathered.

Hi KWH.

   What I do is this. I take about a plastic spoon ( small) full of flat black and let it sit in the air for a while and thicken ( i/e start to dry .)  Then I take a short stippling brush ( short and stubby hairs ,very stiff .) I paint it on the surface and while it's drying I stipple away till I get no more reaction from the paint.  I then coat the textured top with Testor's Semi-Gloss Acrylic clear.        T.B.

Thanks for all the great ideas!

A question about masking tape.....wouldn't the adhesive give out over time and break loose from the model? By "over time" I mean like 10 years or so. My dad was one of those guys that made every repair around the house with masking tape (these were the years before duct tape) and the stuff seemed to dry out and break away from it's intended repair.....usually keeping the shape of the "repaired" item. Heat seemed to be the culprit.

I'm by no means a detail master, but I've had good luck using tissue paper.....the non-embossed kind (you wouldn't want faint flowery patterns on your roof). Use single ply.....usually "Macho Wipe" works well...that's the kind that simulates sandpaper. I accidentally picked up a pack of that, instead of the fancy soft kind, and it was banished to the garage (along with myself for a time). I now have a lifetime supply of vinyl and convertible tops. Worked out well in the end.

What I've done in the past is thin out white glue and lightly brush or pour it over the tissue placed on the roof. It's easily trimmed away once dry and a coat of paint will help lock it down even more. Wish I had some photos to prove my point but I've also used this to simulate canvas on 1/350 ships. The one down-side you get, as opposed to masking tape, is that once it gets wet it's VERY fragile and will tear if you so much as look at it harshly.

Just my two cents.....

Matt