Polycarbonate paint question

[customline]

Some time ago I bought a rattle can of Tamiya white pearl paint. Today I located that can and noticed it was for polycarbonate plastic. My question: is there any reason why I can't use it on a styrene project? What's different about it?  

[Mark]

It's a lot hotter than the Tamiya sprays used on styrene, as it is sprayed on the clear R/C body on the inside and has to bond to that plastic without primer.  You could probably get away with it over white lacquer primer or paint.  Since it's a pearl, you will be clearcoating it anyway.

[Matt Bacon]

It's really hot (and incidentally a lot tougher and more flexible than regular Tamiya spray; it's intended not to flake off if the R/C body takes a knock and bends). I wouldn't use it on anything that is intended for a styrene plastic model unless I'd tested it with that exact combination of plastic, primer, paint and clear thoroughly beforehand...

best,

M.

[Shark]

The finish is flat, so you will have to clear coat it. I have used it on Monogram Nascars with no trouble after a good primer coat.

[monza77]

My experience was mostly with Pactra paints. I prefer to use polycarbonate paint when spraying white as I found it covers better than regular white paint for styrene. I always prime with Duplicolor or Tamiya first. Follow regular procedure, prime, warm the PC paint, spray light coats. By spraying heavy coats to finish I actually got it glossy. I found it does not sand well , its a really tough paint, won't chip but put on heavy I was happy with the amount of gloss. PC paint seems to shrink when applied and did not bury details. I also liked Pactra PC  metallic black as when put on heavy the metallic particles appeared gold in colour. It was tricky as the particles would tend to  sink and you were left with black. I have used Tamiya PC paint and it was harder to get it to gloss. I tried other colours but found the colours off in a way I can't explain. I do want to try the candy colours though. I only have bottles now. Again this is my experience only.

[Deathgoblin]

I've used it a few times on models.  It does spray flat but will polish out.  I haven't had any problems with it being too hot or causing problems with plastic, just use a good primer.  My Prowler and Tweedy Pie are both painted with with PS-18.