When to Clear Coat?

Yep, again me, with the same questions.
The reality goes like this; I have tried two different methods with painting the model:
First one: Using DupliColor; primer, color coat and 20 minutes after color coat I clear coated the car.
Result: Very minor cracks in the paint (cracking in the panel line).

Second one Using DupliColor; primer (drying 24h), color coat (drying 4-5 days) and final clear coat.
Result: Some major cracks in the paint (cracking in the panel lines).

Now I had enough of this trouble! I have ordered Tamiya's TS Primer, TS colors and TS clear coats. But before I start to spray my next model I want to know how long to wait before clearcoating solid paint with Tamiya's TS ClearCoat
Some say, when using tamiya TS clear, that solid color should dry for about a month? :eek7: Is this true?

And another thing; I'm also thinking of clearcoating the solid (lacquer) paint with Testors (or tamiya) GLOSS clear coat in bottles.

Explanation: I'm asking these questions becouse clear coat have ruin two of my models by now. And with my 300ZX I would really like to do a perfect job and go on local Scale Model contest.

Thank you!

Maybe you should look at http://italianhorses.net/ There is a great tutorial for painting your cars with Tamiya paint. I can also tell you the way I work: Gray primer, white primer. Wait a couple of hours, sand it lightly. Mistcoat of color, thicker layer of coat so you don't see any primer. Let the body dry for 3 to 4 hours and after that clearcoat. If necessary, clearcoating twice directly after eachother is possible also.

Good luck.

I did read and printed all the tutorials. It works great until clear coating.

I got a lot of painting tutorials but no either one of them covers how or when to lay down a lacquer clear coat. :screwy:

Bas: is this for Tamiya colors you´re talking?

Yep, again me, with the same questions.
The reality goes like this; I have tried two different methods with painting the model:
First one: Using DupliColor; primer, color coat and 20 minutes after color coat I clear coated the car.
Result: Very minor cracks in the paint (cracking in the panel line).

Second one Using DupliColor; primer (drying 24h), color coat (drying 4-5 days) and final clear coat.
Result: Some major cracks in the paint (cracking in the panel lines).

Now I had enough of this trouble! I have ordered Tamiya's TS Primer, TS colors and TS clear coats. But before I start to spray my next model I want to know how long to wait before clearcoating solid paint with Tamiya's TS ClearCoat
Some say, when using tamiya TS clear, that solid color should dry for about a month? :eek7: Is this true?

And another thing; I'm also thinking of clearcoating the solid (lacquer) paint with Testors (or tamiya) GLOSS clear coat in bottles.

Explanation: I'm asking these questions becouse clear coat have ruin two of my models by now. And with my 300ZX I would really like to do a perfect job and go on local Scale Model contest.

Thank you!
PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY!!!

The Tamiya sprays are awesome if applied correctly. The clear should be applied within 10-15 minutes of the last color coat or wait 3-4 weeks for color to totally cure to avoid cracking.

I use Duplicolor paints too and have never had problems. Could be the primer was not totally cured. I would let the primer cure at least 2-3 days before shooting the color and clear coats. Even with Duplicolor, I apply the clear coat immediately after the last color coats.

If you use a food dehydrator to cure your paints you can change the rules.

HTH, Marc

Thanks! Thats what i needed!! I didnt know that the clearcoat must be applied so soon or wait 4 weeks.

This was really helpful! :iceslolan

Okiemodelbuilder: :worshippy :worshippy :worshippy
Thank you! Now I got all my problems solved!

Could this please go into FAQ. It took me two models to get the answer. Thanks!

If you have already ruin 2 paint jobs i wouldnt bother using it.
Most here know i'm not a fan of clear coats.
Spend the time on getting a good paint job first, use some compound to bring out a good gloss then wax it to get a good finish.
Clears just dont look real IMO

@Primera Man: Hmm, I noticed that you don't use clear's. And your paint jobs are just awesome.
A little experiance of mine; I got REALLY gloss and shiny surface after clear coating the mica black. Metallic color itself doesn't give so much shine and I'm mostly using metallic ones.

Oh, waxing - I'm using Sonax Automotive wax. That yellow solid stuff. Should I think of getting Tamiya liquid state wax? Is there a difference?

All Tamiya metallics, micas and pearls need a clear coat. If Duplicolor paint has (CC) after the color it needs clear coat too. Most solid colors do not require a clear coat. It is a matter of personal preference.

Marc

@Primera Man: Hmm, I noticed that you don't use clear's. And your paint jobs are just awesome.
A little experiance of mine; I got REALLY gloss and shiny surface after clear coating the mica black. Metallic color itself doesn't give so much shine and I'm mostly using metallic ones.

Oh, waxing - I'm using Sonax Automotive wax. That yellow solid stuff. Should I think of getting Tamiya liquid state wax? Is there a difference?