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Painting a car white

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  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
Painting a car white
Posted by Rocky500 on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 8:55 AM

I'm building my first car which will be white and sprayed with an air brush. The plastic is white.

I plan to use Tamiya gloss white. Do you recommend spraying an undercoat first? If so, what do you use? I was given a rattle can of Tamiya primer, but have never used it. Do you have any tips on spraying Tamiya white? Does white have any special promlems and how thin should it be?

Thanks in advance.

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 9:59 AM

I use tamiya neutral gray as a primer.This '61 Chevy was painted with Tamiya gloss white.  

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by Rocky500 on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 12:04 PM

Thanks for the reply. Nice job on the Chevy. Very impressive.Yes

I have that shade of primer and the gloss paint so will give it a try.

What did you use to do the chrome trim?

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 1:41 PM

Bare metal Foil!Does a great job and is easy to use!

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by Rocky500 on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 9:36 AM

Thanks for your help.

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 10:24 AM

Sure no problem!

  • Member since
    January 2012
Posted by tyhe314 on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 1:30 PM

You could probably use neutral gray or white for the primer coat and then gloss white. If you have trouble with the gloss white (I've had problems with spraying gloss colors) just do a flat white and get a can of gloss coat or other ways of glossing. I feel like most model makers use additional gloss coats anyways so the gloss color is not necessary.... but then again I have never tried it.

My Tamiya Lexus LFA was white plastic and i just did double white coats and 2 gloss coats. (Ultragloss coat by testors). It came out nice and slick.

 

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by Rocky500 on Thursday, February 16, 2012 7:42 AM

Good tip Yes I hadn't thought of doing it that way.

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: UK
Posted by PatW on Thursday, February 16, 2012 9:46 AM

I use either a grey primer or matt white as an undercoat for white gloss.

Remember , common sense is not common.

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Maryland
Posted by cruz on Friday, February 17, 2012 8:33 AM

It is always a good idea to use primer on plastic first, it will give your paints more tooth and a stronger surface to grab on to. Do make sure it's white primer if you are going with white paint. Tamiya Gloss white is excellent and you don't even need a clear coat afterwards. Make sure to always scuff the bare plastic first with a fine piece of sandpaper first.

I used Tamiya Gloss White on my Hurst olds about a year ago.

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  • Member since
    January 2012
Posted by tyhe314 on Saturday, February 18, 2012 12:17 AM

Wow that doesn't have an additional clear coat? That is really nice for just using a gloss color. Just curious what ratio did you thin it and what type of airbrush did you use or is it tamiya can? 

 

Oh also if you haven't figure out already it is especially dust free (to the best of your ability) before you use the can of gloss coat because the lacquer is extra sticky and it will collect dust in the air when you are spraying and will latch on to the model. Also if I didn't mention it already if you use a lacquer coat u need to make sure the base pat is acrylic and not enamel. Other wise the oil based paints(enamel) will react and eventually yellow. 

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