Proper Prep for auto paint

[whale392]

How would one go about properly prepping a model body (in this case, a 1983 issue molded in color MPC body) for real automotive paint (in this instance DuPont Chromabase) so that it does not attack (craze, burn, stipple, otherwise harm) the plastic body? I don't see a section here for paint Qs, so I hope tips/tricks/ideas will work. Thanks.

[Scalefinishes]

I personally use SEM 39133 Flexible Primer Surfacer-Aerosol. It's a light gray and sticks to plastic like glue, completely safe, WILL NOT craze the plastic.

Another recommendation is Plasti-Kote primers, T-235, T-236 and T-237.

Hope this helps.

Jameston

[Modelmartin]

Most automotive lacquer primers go on plastic just fine. I have used PPG, Dupont, etc. for years. Test on some scrap parts or the underside of the body or interior. If you using spray can primer, let it dry for a week or so before color coats. Sometimes if you prime and paint right away you will get cracks in the paint a year later . I buy unthinned quarts of primer and thin it down for my airbrush. Good luck.

Edited March 11, 2009 by Modelmartin

[MikeMc]

I personally use SEM 39133 Flexible Primer Surfacer-Aerosol. It's a light gray and sticks to plastic like glue, completely safe, WILL NOT craze the plastic.

Another recommendation is Plasti-Kote primers, T-235, T-236 and T-237.

Hope this helps.

Jameston

The plastikote primers will work well, I also use duplacolor filler / primer and have had no problems!!

[whale392]

Thanks for the replies and info so far. I am building a model of my real car and I wanted to test the paint on the model as well......as this is to be a representation of how I will have my real car looking. I am using the same paint that will go on the real car and don't want to ruin the plastic model. Thanks again.

[horsepoweraddict]

Each paint company has their own recommendations for what primer to use and what grit to sand the substrate to(in this case it would be your model). They also tell you what size gun you should use for your product, for primer the gun size is bigger in most cases from a 1.5 to a 1.8 and for base and clear its anywhere from a 1.2 to a 1.4 and in alot of cases its the gun you feel the most comfortable spraying products with. they also tell you about flash times between coats and dry times. Whoever supplied you with the paint should have the manufactuers paint pages as I like to call them if you follow their recommendations everything should be fine. When I painted 1:1 cars I used the ppg system so I can't tell you much the dupont system. When using automotive paints you will want to degrease the model, I used a product called dx 103 its made for plastics specifically you can probably get it at your local auto body supplier.