How do you paint parts that need different colors on each side?

[patoffspyder]

Hi guys!

I am currently building a Ferrari F2001. Most of the pieces are one side red and the other side is X18. What is the best way to paint them, paint one side red, then mask it, then airbrush X18 on it or mask the red side, paint black, then mask the black and paint TS-49?

When I did it for my Suzuki Telefonica, I painted the blue, than brush-painted the black section, it was easy, but not very professionnal, even if the result is good for me.

Thanks!

[willimo]

That's what I would do, doing the black first just in case the masking went awry. Also, it would be important to be consistant with the edges of the parts, either letting them be all red or all black. Possibly follow the prototype, or paint the edges black to help hide the thickness of the panels.

[MPWR]

Yeah, I do alot of brushpainting in that case. I like Acryl flat black, diluted with a bit of Acryl thinner. I find that it brush paints very evenly, with little or no brush strokes. But then for an F1 car, the X18 may very well represent CF- so you could decal it instead.

Sometimes I'll mask and airbrush instead, but it's very case specific.

[freakray]

If you're painting it with TS-49 and then X-18, you could actually do the red first without any worry.
X-18 is acrylic and in my experience, won't etch into the red. Red on the other hand is translucent so if you paint the black first over areas to be red, it will show through.

Not only that, if you mask correctly, overspray isn't an issue, and any that does get on the red is easily cleaned off with some light sanding and polish.

[patoffspyder]

Thanks guys, I will try your tips in a couple of days.

[EMAXX]

When it comes to smaller parts, it's easier to use a brush and paint the parts. Sometimes when it comes to body panels, it's worth it to take a little bit of time, mask off the areas that you don't want paint, then paint.

[wouter1981]

Normaly i use brushpaint, but if you want a better quality finish try this.
paint the red first. Decals, clearcoat, polish. WAIT SOME DAYS Then mask and spray the black with ENAMEL paints. I know they need a long time to cure, but they aren't volatile. So If you have some overspray or "leaks" under you're masking, you can easely wipe it off with some white spirit. Even if you wait 2 or 3 days to correct it. the enamels won't be able to etch in the hard red lacquer.

1 thing.. if you're not putting a clear over the decals, spray the black between the colourcoat and the decals.

If somebody has critics, please shout, I haven't used this methode, but it seems a verry easy and safe way.

[mickbench]

Paint the red as normal, and then when cured, mask off red sections, and “lightly” spray acrylic X18. A few light coats will do the trick. If you get some overspray, just buff off with compound.

For really small parts, brush paint enamel X18. It will look almost sprayed…

If your red is not TS, or Lacquer, be extra careful…. The trick is to mask and spray VERY light coats. I’ve masked up parts before without the tape even being burnished, and light coats work everytime…