Clear + Polish + decal + wax - drying times?

[mickbench]

Yes, it's this weeks clear coat question, but please bare with me.

I’ve done a search on this, and it appears that using Tamiya TS-13 clear is a little tricky.

I’ve got an imprezza WRC car body that I’ve sprayed with TS-50 Micra Blue. The body will have a lot of decals, as it’s a 1998 Monte Carlo Rally car. Never really applied a large amount of decals before. So this is a learning curve.

The body colour isn’t overly glossy, as it’s a more metallic paint; therefore I need to clear it, before I can polish it. I’ve read that clearing decals is a little tricky, therefore I won’t risk it, as the TS-13 could eat the decals.

Therefore I’ve painted the body, however I read you need to wait 30 days to allow the paint to cure, due to shrinkage, and TS-13 drying faster, or something like that??? Is this true, as 30 days is a long time?

So, my plan is this, and I need to check this is right –

Leave painted body 30 days – if needed.
Clear with TS-13 clear – mist coats first then final wet coat – leave 7 days
Polish the clear to get a shine
Apply decals – using Microscale Sol and Set - Leave to dry for 5 days
Apply light amounts of wax to polish decal and body

This is 43 days to complete a car body.. Wow.. Long time. I must have this wrong. Can someone advise, searching just confused even more.

[cj_baller13]

http://www.briansmodelcars.com/tutor...D=12&CurPage=1

try this it may help it reccomends upto 10 days if im reading it right, im not sure about the decal application. sorry

[SteveK2003]

In regards to the Tamiya lacquers, everything I have heard and read recommends applying the clear coat either immediately after the last wet coat of paint (Not sure how long that means exactly....) or wait until the color coats gas out for a month. Otherwise, the difference in cure rates can cause the clear coat to crack.

[Sticky Fingers]

All I know is that when it comes to the body you must use the same manufacturer's paint & clear. i.e. Tamiya Lacquer will need Tamiya clear. I've also heard though that Microsol has a problem with Tamiya Clear. Although maybe Microsol only has a problem with Tamiya Clear if it hasn't been rubbed out. I'm not 100% sure to be honest, let's hope one of the nice "masters" can shed some light here. After all, I've seen some good looking sub's on this forum so somebody knows how to go about it!

[nis.k.a.]

I've never had a problem waiting 7 days before doing a Tamiya clear coat. After clear coating I wait another 7 days and polish it all out. 30 days for a color cure is pretty extreme. I could understand if we were talking about Tetsors enamel but this is not the case. I've heard that you can do it immediately. From experience, that can do funky things to the wet color coat.

Some say if the paint doesn't smell than it's close to cure. I just wait it out for 7 days. Plenty of time, IMO, as I've never had a problem with cracking, hazing, mystery fish-eye etc.

As far as Microsol and polished TS-13. That is false. I don't dillute my Microsol and have had nothing but good things to say about it on finished bodies.

[nis.k.a.]

Take a look through THIS THREAD. This is my experience with Tamiya Mica Blue, wait 7 days and hit it with TS-13, wait 7 days and polish. the third or fourth page shows the 100% completion.

[Hiroboy]

This is my on going 2005 Subaru Impreza painted with TS50 Mica Blue
I gave it 4-5 Coats of paint with the airbrush, then 2 Wet coats form the can.
It was dry and ready to decal in 3-5 days. No need to clear coat IMO.

[Sticky Fingers]

So how did you rub it out Steve? Did it turn out that shiny from the can?

[Fkouch]

Originally Posted by Sticky Fingers

So how did you rub it out Steve? Did it turn out that shiny from the can?

I would say yes, it is Hiroboy after all

A high gloss finish is quite simple to get straight from the can, especially if you use Tamiya. The trick is to use 'wet' coats, that is, coats of paint where you spray a little closer and longer than normal.

Check out Primera Mans guide, he is the best at getting it straight from the can!

Cheers

Farrokh

[Hiroboy]

Originally Posted by Sticky Fingers

So how did you rub it out Steve? Did it turn out that shiny from the can?

No Rubbing at all, start from the can

[freakmech]

I think your a bit confused on this 30 day issue. i always clear coat the same day as color if color is nice and smooth. if color needs a little sanding or touch up ill wait 3-4 days then sand or what ever. then i will clear coat the same day day or the next after sanding.i never had problems that were paint related. i think the 30 day thing is for if you dont clear within 4-7 days then you should wait 30 days till clear coating because of various reasons. or you should wait 30 days before buffing clear but then ive never waited more then 3 weeks to buff a clear coat. if decals are involved ill paint color then wait a day or two. then i will use 2 mist coats of clear and wait 3-4 days. then i will lightly wet sand smooth and apply decals the same day. then ill wait 3 days and mist 2 more coats of clear. then wait 1 day then ill wet coat clear 1 or 2 coats. then wait 2-3 weeks and buff out. this is just me put ive never had problems i can say were the paints fault. i use Tamiya and Dupli-color spray only but i use them together often and still no problems.

[RallyRaider]

I think the 30 day drying time before using TS-13 comes from the Tamiya website. It's a classic case of an extremely conservative rule of thumb for the purposes of covering ones arse. In most cases if you know what you are doing you will not need to wait that long. Especially if you keep your coats thin. On the other hand, if you want to be super-duper-extra-didily safe...

[JTRACING]

Im assuming TS-13 is Lacquer? if so it must be similiar to dupli-color which is what i use, and when i do a race car or something with decals, i normally paint, decal and clear all in one day, as the paint dries in about 5 mins. then i sand and polish the next day, or sometimes wait 2 days if im lazy.

same goes for cars with no decals. i havent had any problems yet.

[mike united]

Originally Posted by JTRACING

Im assuming TS-13 is Lacquer? if so it must be similiar to dupli-color which is what i use, and when i do a race car or something with decals, i normally paint, decal and clear all in one day, as the paint dries in about 5 mins. then i sand and polish the next day, or sometimes wait 2 days if im lazy.

same goes for cars with no decals. i havent had any problems yet.

Thats great going BUT..........you cant be doing any wet coats with the clear otherwise the paint would simply run underneath, i for one have experienced this a couple of times & im talking purely TS-13 here. If your gonna do wet coats with clear (TS-13) & i mean heavy ones then the paint will need to dry for at least 2 weeks.

Mike

[JTRACING]

i dont find "wetcoats" to be nessacary, for the paint i do like 4 or 5 super light coats. same with clear. polishing is what makes it shiny.

at least i find this to work for me