by dreinecke » Tue Oct 08, 2019 8:32 pm
I know a few things about this...
1. Wash the body and parts in soapy water or Wesley's Bleech White. I keep a resealable container full of the Wesley's and usually just throw the body and parts into it for about a 15 minute soak. I then rinse the body in cool water and allow it to dry.
2. Prime the body and parts before painting. It is very important to get a good base down for the remaining paint work to be done. I use Duplicolor Automotive Spray Paint, however, many other paints such as Tamiya, Testors, Humbrol, etc. are available. Just be sure to get one that is compatible with the type of paint you are planning to use, such as Lacquer or Enamel. I spray all sides to each part and let dry according to manufacturer's recommendations. The great thing about the Duplicolor paints is that they dry very quickly. I can usually handle a primed part in about 15-30 minutes.
3. Paint the body and parts. At this time I also paint and detail the interior tray.
4. Decal the body.
5. Final Detail. At this stage, adding trim paint around windows, vents, windshield wipers, and gas caps is a good idea if you are painting them. This way, the final clear coat will protect these areas. If you are using Bare Metal Foil, I recommend not doing so until after the clear coat, as it tends to fog and dull if you coat it.
6. Clear Coat the body. I use two clear coats depending on my needs: Duplicolor Clear Lacquer or Future. Note: clears can be too "hot" and wrinkle your decals if not done correctly.
In all honesty though: I stopped using ANY enamel years ago after trying the lacquer. The lacquer is just faster drying and less problematic in my experience.