FIRST TIME MODEL BUILDER NEEDS HELP!!!!

[Emily]

it's my first time ever making a model...

i got an '06 mustang gt

made by Revell

I got the color candy apple red, but it's transparent so i think i need to spray silver first

besides that

i need some tips on how to make the paint turn out good!!!

please help me! :]

[Guest Gramps-xrds]

A GIRL I love it. Too bad there aren't more female builders.

Now to try and answer your question.

1--Clean it w/ warm soapy water or mineral spirits

2--Sand and prep it

3-- I recommend a lacquer primer even if you're using enamel as a top coat

4--Spray the base coats in light smooth even coats and allow it to dry for a day

5--Do not sand the silver base. if it has flaws lightly sand and recoat the base.

6--Once the base is ok do the same w/ the top coat until you have good coverage or the color you want. If you get some flaws in the top coat you can wet sand them w/ 1500 or higher paper and polish or recoat and polish.

Painting is something that you'll learn w/ experience. Each time you do it, you learn something new. The first few you do are the hardest because you'll be unsure of the paint and how it handles. Once you get used to it your paint skill will improve.

Hope this helps you some.

[shlajh02]

I would actually use gold. I think it looks better with a gold base in my own opinion.

Edited August 20, 2009 by shlajh02

[Emily]

THANKS GUYS!

i didn't even know that the first gold or silver coat would show through...

should i get a red? i dont want gold spots underneath

[E St. Kruiser50]

  Gramps-xrds said:

A GIRL I love it. Too bad there aren't more female builders.

Now to try and answer your question.

1--Clean it w/ warm soapy water or mineral spirits

2--Sand and prep it

3-- I recommend a lacquer primer even if you're using enamel as a top coat

4--Spray the base coats in light smooth even coats and allow it to dry for a day

5--Do not sand the silver base. if it has flaws lightly sand and recoat the base.

6--Once the base is ok do the same w/ the top coat until you have good coverage or the color you want. If you get some flaws in the top coat you can wet sand them w/ 1500 or higher paper and polish or recoat and polish.

Painting is something that you'll learn w/ experience. Each time you do it, you learn something new. The first few you do are the hardest because you'll be unsure of the paint and how it handles. Once you get used to it your paint skill will improve.

Hope this helps you some.

GREAT ADVISE BILL

DON'T FORGET TO HAVE HER DO SAMPLES FIRST ON SOME WHITE PLASTIC PICNIC SPOONS, SO SHE GETS SOME PRACTICE FIRST, AND GET'S THE COLOR SHE WANTS, BEFORE SHE TRYS IT ON HER MODEL.

[Guest Gramps-xrds]

Emily what Dave said too It's always a good idea to do some test shots. It'll give an idea of how the paint covers and what the color is going to turn out like. As for the paint being a candy color, they just need to be sprayed in an even coat. Enamels are harder because if they're sprayed too heavy they will pull away from the edges and build up around emblems and trim giving you an uneven color.

[cruz]

I think it's best to start with a basic, solid color, you know, red, green or whatever. Once you master the art of painting then you can worry about candy colors that usually require a basecoat and a bit more knowledge to work around. I am very glad that you joined us and the best thing is that you started with the perfect learning remedy, the Model Cars Forum!!!

[Eshaver]

Emily , the only advice I'm adding here is on the Candy Red , (ASSUMING IT'S TESTORS ) is to shoot it THIN !!!!!!!!!!!!! YEP, shoot it as thin as ya can as that stuff dries in about ----------- two years , hey seriously about a week if you are lucky . Ed Shaver

[charlzrocks]

Emily....I am about to use Testors Candy Red on a build and I am using a GOLD base coat because it will give just a slight orange cast to the color. A copper base can make the candy red have a slightly darker cast than gold. The silver will not add any cast to the color. Welcome to the forum!!

[MrObsessive]

Hi Emily................Welcome to the forum!

One thing I can tell you about candies is when you paint (whether spray bomb or airbrush) is to count your strokes on each side of the car. Also when painting, you'll want to use a criss-cross motion to minimize "tiger stripes".

By counting your strokes, this will ensure you get an even coat all around the body, and no mismatches which is easy to do with candies.

Hope this helps!

[Emily]

thank you everyone for all your advice!!!

the color i really wanted to get at was the actual mustang color "dark candy apple red". I didn't know when i bought the paint that it needed a basecoat, and as someone said, the gold leaves it more orange, which i want it to be the dark red. copper would do darker orange i think. if i did get a red spraypaint would that make my candy color not show up? i do want it to be darker, just red, not tinted orange or dark orange or anything.

[Guest Gramps-xrds]

What you could do is go to an auto parts store or even wal-mart and look for Dupli-color paint for that yr or a color that's close to what you want and not use the candy at all. Solid colors go on much easier than candys anyway. Then if you get a flaw, you could sand it out and polish it fairly easily. And you wouldn't need a base coat, just the primer.

[20PSI]

I can give you a little simple tip but an important one: You can use Enamel (testors) OVER Lacquer (duplicolor) , but NEVER use Lacquer (duplicolor) OVER Enamel (testors) or your paint will crack very badly.

[Rick Schmidt]

Emily I can't give you anymore great advice on how to paint this car in the color as they have already gave plenty of great tips. What I can do tho is show you the color you are planning on the actual car you are planning it on

I chose this pic because it shows the color very well I think . This is Testors Candy Apple Red sprayed over a gold basecoat like has been suggested.

[s10kid18]

you should got the bullit one... it woulda been waaaaay cooler...

[charlzrocks]

Emily....I will be painting mine over the weekend and will post pic of how it looks with the gold base coat. What I said about an orange cast is comparative side by side to a silver basecoat. A silver basecoat will be brighter than gold or copper.

[Emily]

  s10kid18 said:

you should got the bullit one... it woulda been waaaaay cooler...

THIS ONES PRETTY TOO MIKE :]

[s10kid18]

i bet! you can bring it when you come see me!