Paint project/experiment 67 Corvette convertible

[randyc]

New build and experiment.   So I have this old 67 Vette molded in red.  No interest in it whatsoever anymore.  You can see I started sanding and filing parting lines off sometime ago.  That will be part of the experiment as well.   Will the paint hide these?

 After my primer debacle recently, I figured I'd do this "in the name of science".   On those other two builds, I had some of this Miracal dollar store paint overspray on the hood of the 69 Chevelle.   When I put it in the purple pond, the "bad" primer came off, but the black overspray remained.  So I thought this might be a paint that might block reds, might be a primer, etc.  Let's just see what happens. 

 I thought my Miracal can had more in it.   I wanted to paint the entire kit with the Miracal, but I wasn't going out in the rain to get paint.   (That can be another part of the experiment - the weather).  When there wasn't enough paint, I thought I would just experiment with it and what I have on hand.   Some color place flat black this might be old paint of the wife's?.   Some Rusto X2 primer.   In the second photo, you can see what I have primed each set of parts with.  he weather was warm, 80 ish in the building and raining lightly - southern US summer humidity.  

 And the body will be spray canned with gloss white from the Miracal line - $1.35 at Dollar General.  To start with, the white will be sprayed directly over the black Miracal.  DG has some more expensive paints at $3.35 per can, but we need to know if the cheap stuff will block the red plastic and how the cheap paints work.  Engine block will be Chevy orange spray from parts store.   Minimal, if any air brush will be used.   No aftermarket parts unless you guys want to send them.   Probably no flocking or embossing powder.  Unless you guys reply enough to do it.

   WE'll see how all this works.  I'll try to document the paints used as we go.    It might be a  giant failure.   White car with red? interior?  I have some red or burgundy vinyl dye in spray can.  Or saddle?  I don't like black interiors.   Who knows.   But the only stinger on my decal sheet that's any good is the red one - tires laid on decals at some point, ruining the other stingers.  I like decals.   The point will be to paint over the cheap primers and see how various paints react with others and plastic.

Next installment will be the white on the body, hopefully.  Minimal prep to the body.   I painted it and left it to dry - have no idea what it will look like next time I look at it.   We'll see.  

Edited August 25, 2020 by randyc

[espo]

This should be interesting. Painting over colored plastic is always a pain. You should be hearing soon from others and their experiences with what you're doing here.   

[Snake45]

The Color Place primer is GOOD stuff! Did my own tests with it a couple years ago. One wet coat of their gray, followed by one wet coat of their white (primer) completely blocked Monogram red plastic ('65 Mustang 2+2). Sadly, Walmart doesn't seem to carry it anymore. I stocked up last time it was available at their website, 6 cans of each. 

I've been working with Touch N Tone primers, which are also cheap (around $3/can), but so far haven't tried a white over red test. Having good luck with the black and the gray so far. I think this stuff MIGHT be the same paint as the Walmart Color Place, but can't state that for a known fact. 

I was unable to find the maker of the DG Miracal paint last week, and I looked for a while. Apparently it's only made in very limited colors anyway. 

[randyc]

2 hours ago, espo said:

This should be interesting. Painting over colored plastic is always a pain. You should be hearing soon from others and their experiences with what you're doing here.   

Probably.  And it is completely okay with me if this fails.  I have a Franklin Mint Diecast of this car.   It is a completely disposable kit in my world.   So let's see what happens.  There are so many posts about failed paint jobs.   I've been doing this a long enough time that I can't blame it on inexperience.   I do feel that modern paints and kit plastics are different from the old days and that may be an issue.   Please test in an inconspicuous area...  lol

2 hours ago, Snake45 said:

The Color Place primer is GOOD stuff! Did my own tests with it a couple years ago. One wet coat of their gray, followed by one wet coat of their white (primer) completely blocked Monogram red plastic ('65 Mustang 2+2). Sadly, Walmart doesn't seem to carry it anymore. I stocked up last time it was available at their website, 6 cans of each. 

I've been working with Touch N Tone primers, which are also cheap (around $3/can), but so far haven't tried a white over red test. Having good luck with the black and the gray so far. I think this stuff MIGHT be the same paint as the Walmart Color Place, but can't state that for a known fact. 

I was unable to find the maker of the DG Miracal paint last week, and I looked for a while. Apparently it's only made in very limited colors anyway. 

I have no idea where this Color Place came from and it's just flat black.  My wife has a box of old sprays that it may have come from?    I must admit, I haven't even read the labels.  Just shake and go.  LOL  I used to swear by ROSE's stores flat black.   then Krylon black paints.  But they are completely different formulas now apparently.   

I really want to do a kit with my can of 1994 Emerald Green.   Just to say I did.   I have used it, but it was probably 1995 when I last did successfully?   And the clear reacted badly on my recent Morgan kit, therefore the project it became.   Not the green, but the testors wet look clear, dang it.  I have no luck with it.

[Curt]

On 8/25/2020 at 10:08 AM, Snake45 said:

The Color Place primer is GOOD stuff! Did my own tests with it a couple years ago. One wet coat of their gray, followed by one wet coat of their white (primer) completely blocked Monogram red plastic ('65 Mustang 2+2). Sadly, Walmart doesn't seem to carry it anymore. I stocked up last time it was available at their website, 6 cans of each.

I was told about this primer by some IPMS model airplane guys a few years ago. It really is excellent and was very inexpensive.  I’m glad I picked up a six pack a while back when it was still available, thanks to your heads up, Rich.

Edited August 27, 2020 by Curt

[randyc]

Well, the Miracal experiment ends.  A coat of flat black for primer, then white gloss does not block red.  Spray conditions are 75 degrees with 70% humidity.  The white went flat, probably due to humidity.  Label says less than 60% humidity.  No big deal to me as I want to use Pledge for final clear.  I'm thinking I may paint it green now work some old paint I have when this cures properly.  

[Snake45]

If you still want to do white, I'll send you a white body and hood no problem--I bought several of these kits CHEAP last year just for parts. I would need your red hood in exchange, as one of the "parts" I wanted these for is that stinger hood. Let me know 

[randyc]

Thanks but not necessary.  As I said early, this kit has no emotional bond.  I flashed the paint in the dehydrator and have already repainted it with a can of green from 1994.  Duplicolor emerald green.  It's probably going to blush due to humidity, but whatever.  I'll put pledge on it and be done with it.  Probably won't go on display work my cars unless it turns out really spectacular.  

The white ideas was to see if the DG paint would block the red.  Now we know.  

[randyc]

And it's back.   I am having a love/hate with this kit.  I really don't need this build, but I started the experiment and am carrying it through to completion.  Trying different things with it.  

It's mostly built.  Down to the details now.   I have discovered that I can polish Pledge.   I have used headlight polish and the moto tool on this one.  It will shine what is there.  I might still try some heavier cutting polish to see what happens.  Unlike hobby clear, you can beat down with the moto tool on the pledge.  

I hate red plastic.  Even when you get it painted, when you snip a part off the tree, you have to touch up the red spot.  

Interior came out nice but not a correct shade.  The kit decals are no good at this point and they are terrible anyway.  Looks like monogram tried to rip off Fred Cady and failed.  

Hopefully finish this one this weekend.  I really have no next project, but I'll find something.  Might be time to clean up my work area.  

Next stop should be under glass.  

[Bills72sj]

That turned out reasonably well. I like the detailed wheels and the nice matte finish on the uptop. Show us your stash and maybe we can help pick your next project.

[randyc]

Thanks.  I still need to try to detail the centers of the wheels.  But even the chrome and molding on them is lumpy.  That's not on me though.  All in all its ok.  And I learned some stuff so it's not a big fail.  Just won't be displayed.  

I bought another 29 model A at HL today.  Going to try to get the frame under my 31 A sedan body.  Body was chopped and started years ago.  

And going to look for three kitsi started last year and have lost.  Lol