Zero Paints Info

[klutz_100]

Before. Light color first, mask for stripes then add darker colour and then put on the clear coat. Use thin coats of color and do NOT try to make the paint shine with wet coats - zero paints require the clear coat.

[proosen]

You do all your painting and masking first, then put on the clear coats on top of all the layers at the same time.



Niclas

[cyberkid]

Hrm, since this topic has been brought up. When you guys use decals on zero paints...
Do you :
Base paint -> decals -> clear?
Or:
Base -> clear -> decals -> clear? (assuming that you clear your decals of course.)

I was wondering mainly if the matte base paint would effect the decals to a point where it was obvious even after a clear coat.
Thanks,
Steve

[taliesen]

Base, clear, decals, clear - decals won't adhere very well to a matte finish, they'll work much better on a smooth gloss clear coat.

[Didymus]

Originally Posted by taliesen

Base, clear, decals, clear - decals won't adhere very well to a matte finish, they'll work much better on a smooth gloss clear coat.

My sentiments exactly. A light, thin coat of clear will do just fine for that first coat.

From the descriptions I've read, Zero paints sound exactly the same as automotive urethanes - the type that are used for small jobs, IOW, touch-up paints - except that Zero paints are sold pre-thinned.

If I'm right about that, there's a huge difference in cost.

Dupont single-part urethane must be thinned 1:1. A mid-temp reducer like UR40 is recommended, but regular lacquer thinner works for me. The Dupont paint retails for about $14 (including tax) for two ounces unthinned. That's four oz. of ready-to-spray paint, and in any color on the Dupont chart, which must must have thousands of colors. I don't include shipping because I buy it at my local automotive paint supplier.

Enough Zero paint to mix that same amount - 4 oz. @ $7.00 per oz. - costs almost exactly twice as much - $28 - plus shipping. And that's for one of the standard colors. There's an additional charge for custom mixing.

To be fair, Hiroboy offers popular racing car colors, including some combinations in sets. Instead of going blind with a color chart trying to identify just the right color for your Aston Martin DBR9, you can get the right color premixed from Zero. Definitely handy.

On the whole, the automotive paint supplier offers the better deal, but there is a catch - you may not be able to buy small quantities of urethane clear coat and hardener at your automotive paint supplier. For those items, the best source may be Zero. (But not at the moment. I just checked, and Hiroboy does not have urethane clear coat/hardener in stock right now.)

By the way, Tamiya TS13 clear lacquer is perfectly compatible with urethane base. I actually prefer the lacquer because I don't like super-shiny. But that's a matter of taste.

Ddms

[cyberkid]

Originally Posted by taliesen

Base, clear, decals, clear - decals won't adhere very well to a matte finish, they'll work much better on a smooth gloss clear coat.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Just double checkin ^^.

Originally Posted by Didymus

The Dupont paint retails for about $14 (including tax) for two ounces unthinned. That's four oz. of ready-to-spray paint, and in any color on the Dupont chart, which must must have thousands of colors. I don't include shipping because I buy it at my local automotive paint supplier.

Enough Zero paint to mix that same amount - 4 oz. @ $7.00 per oz. - costs almost exactly twice as much - $28 - plus shipping. And that's for one of the standard colors. There's an additional charge for custom mixing.

To be fair, Hiroboy offers popular racing car colors, including some combinations in sets. Instead of going blind with a color chart trying to identify just the right color for your Aston Martin DBR9, you can get the right color premixed from Zero. Definitely handy.

On the whole, the automotive paint supplier offers the better deal, but there is a catch - you may not be able to buy small quantities of urethane clear coat and hardener at your automotive paint supplier. For those items, the best source may be Zero. (But not at the moment. I just checked, and Hiroboy does not have urethane clear coat/hardener in stock right now.)

By the way, Tamiya TS13 clear lacquer is perfectly compatible with urethane base. I actually prefer the lacquer because I don't like super-shiny. But that's a matter of taste.

Ddms

I really envy you guys. The smallest amount of paint that the dupont outlet here will sell is 500cc's which is roughly 16.6 ounces...WAYYY to much for any model I'm going to make...
There aren't many (if any) automotive paint suppliers here... only 'touch-up' paint cans which have a very limited selection are seldomly shelved in automotive stores.
LOL, I'm actually waiting for Hiroboy to restock on his 2k clear. That's the only item that's out of stock that I need ^^.

Thanks guys,
Steve

[Hiroboy]

I've just spend the whole day preparing the various 2k Clears, we now have loads in stock ready to ship.