Best way to paint a car body with opening doors?

[Monty]

Someday I'll actually get around to building my AMT Studebaker Avanti, but I'd like to know if there is a better way to paint the body & doors. 

My first thought would be to attach the doors with tape on the inside of the body so everything gets the same amount of paint, but I also want to make sure the edges of the doors are covered too. 

I'm all ears... 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Paint it pretty much like you paint a real one.

If it's a solid color, no worries. Just shoot everything separate, making dead sure you get full coverage on every panel, and that you shoot the same number of coats on every panel.

If it's a metallic or a pearl...

Shoot the jambs and edges. Let that dry.

Scuff any overspray on the main body...and be sure to sand out any orange peel.

Then tape your opening panels in place and shoot the whole thing.

Then shoot a coat of clear over everything.

Then take it apart and shoot the rest of your clear.

You MIGHT find it works better to very carefully mask the jambs to keep dry overspray from building up inside them...just like we do on the real ones.

Edited April 27, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy

[Rick L]

Paint the door edges first. Tape the doors shut from the inside. Sand down any overspray before painting the outside.