Painting Die cast?

[Volksfan]

I have a model car with a body that is made of die cast. It is unpainted and I have one question.

Do you paint die cast the same way as styrene and do you sand it and polish the finish the same way?

Could you use spray cans and or an airbrush?

[Ace-Garageguy]

Same process exactly, BUT...you can use much more aggressively "hot" primers like my old favorite SEM self-etching with no fear of damaging the model.

[Snake45]

Yup. Wipe it down with rubbing alcohol or lacquer thinner and go nuts with it.

[Art Anderson]

Same process exactly, BUT...you can use much more aggressively "hot" primers like my old favorite SEM self-etching with no fear of damaging the model.

I strongly suggest the use of "self-etching" primer on diecast, as many ordinary primers, both for real cars and for model cars, tend not to adhere (grip) non-ferrous metals reliably.

Art

[Muncie]

yes, a self -etching primer is required - NAPA also has a good on one in a rattle can. I've had regular primer just slide off.. after paint of course. 

Also best to have the temperature of the primer close to the temperature of the metal, air temperature should be the same.  - warm paint on cold diecast will cause moisture on the diecast under the primer - also not so good.

[Shardik]

What about Tamiya's 'Metal Primer' ?  

I bought some of this for priming PE parts on my armor builds and I've been wondering if it would be suitable for a die cast body;  I have a couple Gabriel kits coming up in the stash line.