automotive paint

[blueoval92]

i was wondering how guys are able to use automotive spray and touchup paint on models. i have tried and all it did was eat up and melt the plastic. any advice on how to avoid this and make it right.

[PatRedmond]

Primer.

Automotive lacquer onto bare plastic is too harsh.

[cobraman]

What he said.

[blueoval92]

i did prime it. im thinking i should have put either a thicker coat or just a couple more light ones. have not tried it since but want to on a future build sometime to broaden my color options

[martinfan5]

There are several things you can do to prevent damage

One is do what Pat said, primer, but use a automotive primer like Plastikote or Duplicolor

and the other thing you can do is, put a coat of Future on the body before you prime it, this will add one more layer of protection .

[Repstock]

He's right...I've had good luck with Duplicolor primers, but there are many others that work as well.

[blueoval92]

that much i know when it comes to auto paint, to use same brands when it comes to primer, sealer, paint, and clear. not sure if it ever crossed my mind when i tried to paint that model ( 67 gto) lol. What is Future?

[Mercman]

A good primer I found is VHT paint. It is used for engine blocks, and headers. Comes in white, black gray, and is very smooth. Takes enamels, or lacquers well. Most automotive parts stores should have it.

[blueoval92]

i use an automotive primer already but its a cheap brand that i have had do pretty well for me so far and at a few dollars a can i am able to prime every part before i spray color.

[martinfan5]

Future is a floor wax that us modelers have found can be used as a clear coat, its very plastic friendly, smells good, can be applied with a foam brush, and it makes a great protective layer

Here is a nice write about using it in the model world

http://www.swannysmodels.com/TheCompleteFuture.html

[blueoval92]

A good primer I found is VHT paint. It is used for engine blocks, and headers. Comes in white, black gray, and is very smooth. Takes enamels, or lacquers well. Most automotive parts stores should have it.

i think i have some still left from when i painted a set of cylinder heads a while back.

Future is a floor wax that us modelers have found can be used as a clear coat, its very plastic friendly, smells good, can be applied with a foam brush, and it makes a great protective layer

Here is a nice write about using it in the model world

http://www.swannysmo...leteFuture.html

and you put this before the color? seems odd to me

[martinfan5]

i use an automotive primer already but its a cheap brand that i have had do pretty well for me so far and at a few dollars a can i am able to prime every part before i spray color.

Dont be cheap when using hot auto paint on plastic, you will ruin the bodys and or the rest of the parts if you use a hot paint with out a good primer

I am not sure if you said you used a primer, but if you did, and you still had issues, that means that that primer is not going to hold up to auto paint

If you want to use to automotive paint, you really need to use a automotive primers, just be on the safe side

Or test the primer and paint on a piece of the kit sprue to see if its going to craze it

[martinfan5]

and you put this before the color? seems odd to me

Think of it like a primer for the primer, and if you think that is odd, you can put it on after you are done with the color coats to get a very nice shine.

Read up, you will be amazed at what this stuff can

[Jantrix]

that much i know when it comes to auto paint, to use same brands when it comes to primer, sealer, paint, and clear.

You are pretty much dead on the mark there.

[blueoval92]

well that should have been common sense to me given my current/future career as an mechanic and hopefully custom car/ engine builder. but i guess it slipped my mine. when i get back from camping ill make a run to the parts store and pick up some duplicolor and start doing it better. thanks all for the tips and ill look more into that future stuff.

[Mooneyzs]

Count me in as one who only uses automotive paints on my bodies. I personally use plastikote spot fill primer part no. 466. i have never had any trouble with it. i usually mist my first coa and works like a charm. after my final coat i usually add a fogged coat of flat black so I can color sand and block it out.

As far as paints I use PPG's DBC & Omni base coats as well as their urathane clear. I also use House of Kolor paints. and the same PPG clear. bit I do.have a new urathane clear that I will be trying which is pre-reduced and you just have to add the catalyst to it. Automotive paints have a little more cost to invest at first but it will go a long way and you can get small amounts mixed. i have gotten them mixed in 1/2 pints and even 4oz touch up bottles.

[blueoval92]

i plan to use factory colors so that i can buy them at autozone, pepboys, and other such places. there is a ppg store about 20 mins away though that i could get custom paint if i ever wanted to, the guide coat is a good idea to. i have yet to need to do that because i have just started to really get into body mods and things that would require me to use filler and sanding.

[GTmodeler]

i have used tamiya fine surface primer item no. 87064 under automotive acrylics and not had any prblems.

although i did use 3 good coats of the primer.

[64SS350]

Has anyone used Testors Metalizer under auto paint?

[Deathgoblin]

I've found the Testors lacquer primer is plenty able to handle automotive paints. I've used Duplicolor paints on 3 kits now and they've all come out really well. Make sure you're using a primer specifically for lacquers or the whole thing will craze.