Painting segmented bodies.

Hi Everyone,

I just finished a Viper SRT/10 Coupe and am just starting a Corvette C6-R. The Viper had a segmented body -- you know, multiple pieces. The Corvette also has separate doors and hood. The problem is that when I paint the separate parts separately, they come out slightly different colors, even if I give them the same number of coats. How do you guys handle that? On revell cars, do you paint the car with the parts taped together? Any assistance is appreciated. BTW, I'm using spay cans.

Thanks!

JB

I do color coats in two stages normally, the first step I get all the parts painted with the pieces apart or in sub-assemblies, including bumpers, door jambs and underhood areas so everything that gets color is painted. When it's all dry I wetsand the external body pieces to prepare for a second coat. I fit everything together temporarily w/tape and/or fun tack for the final overall color coat. Sometimes it's not just the number of coats, but the angle you spray, etc. that determines the final color. I also start the clearcoat process (slowly) immediately after the final color coats.

You just have to prepare a bit ahead to deal with the separate panels, but if you paint everything together you'll see that they all match. Make sure that the parts are "loose" enough that the paint won't glue them together.

It could have something to do with the color i used on the Viper -- TS-50. That color appears to be somewhat transparent. I just sprayed it over grey primer. The Corvette is yellow -- maybe less problems with that?

Many TS colors (and many colors in general from whatever manufacturer) are somewhat translucent, especially yellows. Primer color is important, but also the direction you spray, how heavy each coat is, etc. That's why I never paint separate panels w/o at least one step painting the body with those panels put together. That's the only way to know for sure that it will match.

Yeah ... I'm planing on priming white under the Corvette yellow.