Repainting die cast car

[JMeehan913]

I need help on repainting a die cast car. I am not a model builder or familiar with this, but my online searches for places that do this have turned up short. I bought a new 1966 mustang die cast for my SO. It is metallic black. I want it painted like his father's old mustang which is metallic blue with 2 black racing stripes. Can I just put tape where the racing stripes go and paint over the black? Or do I need to strip it? I have never done something like this, so the easier the better. And what is the best type of paint to use?

[vamach1]

10 hours ago, JMeehan913 said:

I need help on repainting a die cast car. I am not a model builder or familiar with this, but my online searches for places that do this have turned up short. I bought a new 1966 mustang die cast for my SO. It is metallic black. I want it painted like his father's old mustang which is metallic blue with 2 black racing stripes. Can I just put tape where the racing stripes go and paint over the black? Or do I need to strip it? I have never done something like this, so the easier the better. And what is the best type of paint to use?

If you can post a picture of the model and the real car it would be helpful.  First step would be to take part the model so you can paint just the body with primer and then the color coat.  Use enamel or lacquer but do not mix the two.  Let the paint dry a few days before putting everything back together.   The stripes could be either tape, painted on or decals,. Finding the material may be a challenge unless you have a Hobby Lobby or craft store nearby.  When you paint the body you will also want a stand of some sort so you can paint everything together.  A coat hanger and masking tape works fine for a plastic kit but diecast is heavier so you may have to improvise with  something else you can wedge in the underside of the body.  Here's a picture of a diecast kit I started on but have not finished.  Good luck and post any questions you have.  There are many modelers here willing to help out.

[Snake45]

This could be either very difficult or pretty simple, depending on your skill level and expectations of finished results. 

The RIGHT way to do it would be to strip the original paint, but this requires a special primer (for the metal) and so forth. 

You might be able to mask off the (existing) black stripes, then scuff up the exposed paint slightly with something like a fine Scotchbrite pad, then the blue paint, or perhaps a primer and then the blue. I doubt you have an airbrush, so you're probably looking for a commonly available spray can paint. What shade of blue is it? Give us an idea and we can recommend some suitable paints. 

It would be helpful if you could post a pic of the model, and, if you have one, a pic of the real car you want to replicate. 

It actually might be a good idea for you to try to contract with someone here to do this painting for you. I think we have several members in Alabama, and of course USPS goes everywhere. The trick will be finding someone who has the time and desire to do it within your timeframe and budget. But it's very possible you could get lucky. 

Another idea is, it might be possible to find another diecast Mustang that's already painted in the blue you want. I can think of at least three or four different '65-'66 diecast Mustangs that have been made, and they've been issued in various colors, so you might be able to get darn close. Again, showing us a pic of the real car would be a BIG help. Or at least any details you can give us--was it a hardtop, convertible, or fastback? Was the paint the factory color, or was it repainted later? And so forth. 

[JMeehan913]

The model was ordered brand new and needs to be painted a dark metallic blue with 2 black racing stripes 

[vamach1]

I have not taken a M2 diecast apart before but if it is like the 1/64 ones you undo the screws on the bottom to get started.  It gets tricky when it comes to how the windows, bumpers and mirror are attached.  They would have to be removed unless you carefully tape them off so they do not get the blue overspray on them.   I would also use tape for the stripes since the car is already black you can paint the blue and when it dries pull the tape off to reveal the black.  Needless to say this will take some time but hopefully the end result will be worth it.  I've seen a fair amount of diecasts repainted on this forum so it's very doable.  Here's of example of a before and after of the exact same diecast model kit.  The yellow one is the stock prepainted one and the white one I redid.  You would never think they started out identical.

[randyc]

You're under the gun if you want to get done for Christmas.  Really need to take car apart first.  But, then, I'd mask off the stripes and sand or scuff the black paint.   Wipe it down, check tape to make sure it's still stuck down and has sharp edges.  Spray it with a duplicolor or krylon or rustoleum primer.  Let it dry an hour or so.   Then blue over that.   That's the hurried version - take an uninterrupted afternoon maybe.   Use a silver sharpie to go over the chrome trim around the windows. 

oh yeah,  When you take it apart, put everything you remove in a container of some sort - from an old butter container up to a compartmented tray, depending on your level of OCD.   You want to keep EVERYTHING together for the reassembly.   Take your time and try not to break anything yuo;re removing from the body, i/e/ wipers, mirrors, bumpers.   Keep track of any screws you remove.

And as Snake said, you might see if someone on here might take it on.  

Good luck

Edited December 5, 2019 by randyc

[Pete J.]

I agree with Snake on this one.  I've done a couple of diecasts and it depends on what you want it to look like.  If you just want it to look okay from a distance, then tape and a can of Duplicolor would do the trick.  If you are going for a dead nuts on replica then it get a lot more difficult.  A good quality paint job on diecast requires striping it and that is a serious undertaking.  First off, most of the diecast models are dipped in paint so it is very thick.  Removing the paint requires that you remove everything plastic like trim, head and tail light lenses, windows and window trim and bumpers.  Then soak the body in acetone.  That is the only thing I have found that is guaranteed to take off whatever type of paint it is covered in.  Once you have done that, you will probably find that the paint was hiding a lot of dings, seams and other defects that will require some metal filing and then filling and sanding to get a good even surface.  Then some good metal primer.  I use a good quality two part automotive primer but you need to select a primer that is going to work with the paint you are applying.  I also found that Tamiya makes a rattle can of metal etching primer that works well.  From there on it is just like any other model paint job.  Good luck!

Here are a couple of an MG that I did.  This took a lot of time and work especially the trim.

[stitchdup]

I'm currently repainting a diecast and you may find some areas need a lot more work to get looking nice. On the one i'm painting it looked nice and flat, the primer looked nice and flat but when the colour coat went on a load of pinholes appeared so I have to fill and repaint those areas now.

[Snake45]

Your M2 Mustang is a fine model. I have two of them, one in a medium blue (lighter than you need) and another in dark green. They might have issued them in dark blue, I don't know, but I've seen other colors too. I see the one you have has the "Thunderbolt" teardrop hood. Did the real car you're trying to model have that? 

A nice diecast was also made by Johnny Lightning. And they did it in dark metallic blue, too, and it doesn't have the Thunderbolt hood. I have one of these in silver and another in dark green and they're very nice--almost as nice as the M2s. 

If you're trying to get this done by Christmas (less than three weeks away), you might want to try to track down a blue Johnny Lightning. Here's a good review of it done by our own Spencer 1984. 

http://www.spencer1984.com/review/johnny-lightning-1965-mustang.php

[LL3 Model Worx]

On 11/29/2019 at 9:07 AM, vamach1 said:

If you can post a picture of the model and the real car it would be helpful.  First step would be to take part the model so you can paint just the body with primer and then the color coat.  Use enamel or lacquer but do not mix the two.  Let the paint dry a few days before putting everything back together.   The stripes could be either tape, painted on or decals,. Finding the material may be a challenge unless you have a Hobby Lobby or craft store nearby.  When you paint the body you will also want a stand of some sort so you can paint everything together.  A coat hanger and masking tape works fine for a plastic kit but diecast is heavier so you may have to improvise with  something else you can wedge in the underside of the body.  Here's a picture of a diecast kit I started on but have not finished.  Good luck and post any questions you have.  There are many modelers here willing to help out.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it, but look for a bodyshop in your area... if they are half decent I'm sure they would paint it for you for a small fee...

I mean painting cars is what they do... and this one is much smaller.

When we had the shop we painted all sorts of oddities for folks....

[JMeehan913]

Unfortunately all my searches to find a dark blue model have turned up nothing, again I may not know all the places to look online. I’m unaware of anyone in the Montgomery AL area that does this thing. I’m willing to pay

[George Bojaciuk]

I’ve done one or two...

Using an etch primer is good, but realize there is something in the paint that makes it “etch”. Usually, it’s acid. Once you do the etch, use a thin layer of a sealer primer. That will form a safe barrier to your top coat. Some pigments will react when applied directly over etch primer. This will lead to crazing over time.

if you need any more detailed info, PM me.

Edited December 6, 2019 by George Bojaciuk

[Snake45]

2 hours ago, JMeehan913 said:

Unfortunately all my searches to find a dark blue model have turned up nothing, again I may not know all the places to look online.

I'm going to a toy show this weekend. I'll keep my eye out for one. Can't be real hopeful, but you never know--that's where I bought my green one. 

Meanwhile, I'll reach out to a friend who might have one.