Simulate vinyl/leather look on seats

[Donny]

I've checked through a lot here, and some on the 'net and can't find a "how to" look alike for interior trims - seats doors. Anyone help with this please. 

Don 

[DJMar]

The old school trick was to paint the interior in flat paint, then rub the seats, door panels, dash tops, etc. with your fingers. The oil in your skin would give the parts a subtle, shiny look, much like leather or vinyl.

Semi-gloss lacquer, sprayed in light, mist coats directly on bare styrene, can also replicate that pebbly grain vinyl/leather surface. I've used this trick for vinyl tops, too.

There are also many clear topcoats, ranging from dead flat to semi to gloss, that you can use over color to vary the sheen of the finished surface. My personal favorite is to use semi-gloss clear over a matte paint, and the result looks very similar to vinyl, imho.

[Donny]

43 minutes ago, DJMar said:

The old school trick was to paint the interior in flat paint, then rub the seats, door panels, dash tops, etc. with your fingers. The oil in your skin would give the parts a subtle, shiny look, much like leather or vinyl.

Semi-gloss lacquer, sprayed in light, mist coats directly on bare styrene, can also replicate that pebbly grain vinyl/leather surface. I've used this trick for vinyl tops, too.

There are also many clear topcoats, ranging from dead flat to semi to gloss, that you can use over color to vary the sheen of the finished surface. My personal favorite is to use semi-gloss clear over a matte paint, and the result looks very similar to vinyl, imho.

Thanks DJ I'll give it a shot, appreciate your help.

Don

[Bainford]

8 hours ago, DJMar said:

The old school trick was to paint the interior in flat paint, then rub the seats, door panels, dash tops, etc. with your fingers. The oil in your skin would give the parts a subtle, shiny look, much like leather or vinyl.

This is the method I use. A touch of nose oil or forehead oil on the finger will help, rubbing the painted surface firmly and vigorously. These days I am more likely to use Tamiya wax instead of nose oil, and sometimes do the rubbing with a rag or a small (1 cm square) piece of leather glued to the end of a coffee stirrer. I use Testors flat enamel paints for this work, as it stands up very well to the abuse.

If I remember when I get home, I will post up some photos.