Charcoal spray can paint for convertible top

[sjordan2]

I've been studying this question for years. Is there a dull spray can paint that is more charcoal than black? This relates to painting fabric convertible tops on vintage cars, and almost everything I can find is too black. Has to be spray can because I can't afford an airbrush. Most "flat black" spray can colors are too black, and the only thing that comes close is NATO black, which I can't find, and which needs a hit of flat clear.

Any suggestions?

[Junkman]

There is a dark grey primer you could use. Or, if it is flat, and a convertible top, you can brush paint it with flat Humbrol.

[martinfan5]

I have been wondering this as well,

[Art Anderson]

I've been studying this question for years. Is there a dull spray can paint that is more charcoal than black? This relates to painting fabric convertible tops on vintage cars, and almost everything I can find is too black. Has to be spray can because I can't afford an airbrush. Most "flat black" spray can colors are too black, and the only thing that comes close is NATO black, which I can't find, and which needs a hit of flat clear.

Any suggestions?

I would start with a spray black. Reason? Those older convertibles with black tops tended to keep that black color pretty much until the top rotted away--black dyes don't really fade that much, rather it's dirt and grime that makes it seem dark grey, but even at that, the grey isn't an even color at all.

Start with pure black perhaps, add a light "wash" with thinned dark grey, and varigate it, because if you really look at the actual tops, they aren't a uniform weathered black, but lighter and darker from one area to another.

Art

[Peter Lombardo]

Take a look at the railroad paint shelf in the hobby shop. If I remember correctly, there is a color used for weathering by floquil that is what I think you are looking for...dirty black, or smoke or oil black, something along those lines. I could be wrong as I haven't been doing trains in many years.

[scalenut]

I have some duplicor primer that is a really dark charcoal..it's just regular sandable primer not the high build stuff.

[Evil Appetite]

I have some duplicor primer that is a really dark charcoal..it's just regular sandable primer not the high build stuff.

Hot Rod Grey correct?

that might be close to what Skip needs?

[Gluhead]

Like Art said...just paint it black (I hear Mick Jagger all the sudden).

Depending on the degree of weathering you want, you can start out with a black primer and rub it down to the slight sheen you'd find on a top, or take it farther and start drybrushing edges and high points with graphite or pastel powders to get anything from "few years well maintained" to "kinda neglected" to "time to hit the powerwash."

Point is, though, that convertible tops are never really one pure color. There should always be some shade variation around edges and high points even if it's just in the sheen, or it'll look...well...two dimensional, for lack of a better expression.

[vintagestang]

Try Krylon flat black. It is not really black but grayish.

[Erik Smith]

Take a look at the railroad paint shelf in the hobby shop. If I remember correctly, there is a color used for weathering by floquil that is what I think you are looking for...dirty black, or smoke or oil black, something along those lines. I could be wrong as I haven't been doing trains in many years.

Two of the "black" colors are Engine Black and Grimy Black from Floquil. Engine Black is pretty black while Grimy is closer to charcoal.

[espo]

You might look at RUST-OLEUM TEXTURED spray. Its for indoor/outdoor metal surfaces, but it doesn't seem to hurt plastic. I have used it for a vinyl roof on a model of a 50 Ford Crestliner. I think it comes in a few colors besides the black that I used. I bought it at Wally World. The finish is flat to simi flat with a very fine texture much like vinyl. With a little flat over spray you might get what you"re looking for. Good Luck

[henry57]

I use SEM vinyl dye for interiors and tops, its little high at $13 a can but it looks really good, and they have a lot of different colors.

I get it at the local ppg paint shop.