Do you ever match paint codes?

I've gotten paint from here http://ourworld-top.cs.com/mcwautofinishes/index.html It's 

basically pre mixed automotive Lacquer. I use an air brush they also sell some colors in a rattle can. 

Thanks for the reply and link. 

I guess matching factory colors isn't that popular? 

I would have thought more people would try to at least once and awhile! 

I have always thought of stock as kinda boring? I mean, some colors that come from the factory are pretty neat, Dodge Viper Blue for instance, but why would you want to drive a silver car when you could have it Lime Green? Ok, maybe not Lime Green, but something cool!

Have you ever tried asking if they have any small amounts of paint left over they are going to throw away? The parts store I use will give me a little, about a 1/4 of a quart, to use if he has any. It might be worth a try, you get free paint, and he gets rid of it. Heck, even for a couple dollars it wouldn't be a bad thing!

A couple of days ago I visited a local parts store. They supply a lot of the local racers around here and I told him what I would like to do... get my hands on "small" quantities of factory colors from time to time. I even told him I own the hobby shop next town over. Well that started a new conversation... anyways, he said if I came up with the paint code that he could mix me up either a 1/2 pint or a spray can. I thought that was cool.

Colin, there are times that I build, ok mostly, factory stock and try to match the colors close to what was available from the dealer for that year, make & model. Don't get me wrong, I've built my share of custom candy, pearl, flip-flop, metalflake, flamed and striped gems too. LOL  

Testors makes a few sprays matched to factory colors now.  If you are serious about matching factory colors, try Model Car World paints.  (MCW)  They have tons of great factory colors, excellent customer service, and they are much cheaper than buying a quart of paint and doing it yourself.  Also, many people mix their own colors from scratch, and can get really close to the color chips.  You just need the basics, Black, white, a pure red, blue and yellow, and theoretically, you can mix almost anything.  Metallics are a bit tougher, but I have used basic acrylic paints (So I can paint in the winter without stinking up the whole house)  and made very close matches for any non- metallic shades.  For metallic shades, you need to add some flake or pearl, or mix from the closest available shade of metallic paint.  I use the parma acrylics for RC cars for this, as I have most ofthe colors on hand, and they blend and spray well.  They need a gloss coat over them to really shine though.

Yes, I try to do it always I can.

 I started with some Scale Productions paints. I knew about them at mediamix hobby and I was able to get them through some spanish distributor. Problem was that shipping costs made the paint expensive for me.

 Later  I knew about CobraColors. They couldn't export their paints and it was impossible to get them to Europe. I think they have closed now.

 At the end I started buying some colors with a friend (250 grams minimun of each) and we had the idea of getting bottles and distributing them. You can take a look at www.scalecolors.com

 

Regards 

Thanks guys 

Sorry for my extended absence. It's been busy and hectic around here lately. 

I was looking at options available through PPG and Sherwin Williams.

Spray cans were fairly cheap, 1/2 pints were expensive I thought. Only problem, each color would be a different price because it depended on the additives and color blends mixed together with the base color.

I quess nothings ever easy these days. 

Check this place out... They don't look too bad. Dunno for price comparison, but at least give em a look!

Thanks, 

 

I stumbled across that site awhile back but forgot to bookmark it.