Working with Automotuve Paint (HOK)

[Hamar]

For those of you who are spaying plastic models with Automotive paints, Can you fill me in on the mixing ratios and what materials you are using? I would like to paint my next project with a House of Colors Candy and I want it to come out correctly.

Thank you in advance!

[fatkidd]

I use House of Kolor on pretty much everything.
So much so that that I have a tattoo of the scarab (see avatar pic).

I mix my HOK paints at 1:1 (reduce with HOK RU311 mid-temp reducer) for spraying through the airbrush and I spray between 25-30 psi.
I start off with washing the parts with Comet and a toothbrush (great tip learned from this forum). I do all of my body work, sanding, etc., prime with Dupli-color filler primer, wet sand with 1000-1500 sandpaper, spray with Dupli-color sealer/primer, wet sand with 2000, shoot body color(s).

This may seem a little excessive to some, but I go through the same steps when painting a model that I would go through for painting anything.

[Psychographic]

I would start with what HOK recommends, 2 parts Paint, 1 part Catalyst and 1 part Reducer. If it sprays grainy or dry, slowly add reducer until you get a nice fog from the center, solid coverage in the center to no coverage the outside of you're spray pattern.

It's pretty much impossible to give a correct formula as each airbrush is different and how a person uses it, what pressure you spray at can make a big difference also.

[Eric N.]

I also use HoK I mix it w/med. temp. reducer. I use Dupli-Color primers. Candies are tough. Count your strokes! Fatkidd nailed it. Prep is the key.

Hok is very forgiving-very easy to shoot. I get mine from black gold. Good Luck with it.

Eric

[64SS350]

I can't speak for HOK paints, but I use the enamels from my local auto paint supplier. I used the Donn Yost method of 2:1 with medium or cooler lacquer thinner, works great!

[Sixgunner68]

Some great info in the videos below - as always! Be sure to watch all 3 parts of the last video. The Dr. has actually convinced me to try some. Just ordered some of the reducer he talks about and black base coat & some white base coat for my AMT Taurus police car.

[High octane]

I also use HOK aka as Black Gold and I just "shake 'n spray."