Advice on painting a kit car

[series2]

This is probably a stupid question to ask, but I'm just about ready to start painting my new bodyshell, I know I need a good quality etching primer, but what is the best preperation of the bare metal(s)? Just to make things easy the frame of the body is steel tube, with galvanised panels and the front end is made out of aluminium.

I plan to use cellulose as I am working in my garage at home, and whilst I am not keen on my neighbours I thought it would be poor form to poison them!

This is what I have to paint. as you can see, its not too complex, but it is the mix of materials that i'm concerned about.

I was considering using the following process:

Degrease
Dry sand the entire shell with 360 grit
Degrease, Dry, Tack off
Etch prime entire shell with UPOL Acid#8 (used this before, great under cellulose)
PU seam seal as needed
High build primer (celly)
flat primer, Degrease, Tack off
Top coat (celly)
Flat & polish

I'm going to try and get the whole paint job completed as quickly as possible. I have a heated garage to work in, so weather is not such an issue and it will be mid May when the painting takes place.

I've painted over ali and steel before, but it's the galvanised panels that i'm worried about. I emailed the manufacturers of Upol acid#8, they say it will adhere well to galvanised steel so long as it is abraded 240 - 360 grit (preferably dry), and etched without delay.

I am aware that the seam sealing must be done after the etch, and the particular sealer i favour can be sanded.

 

[rtbcomp]

Make sure it's completely free of grease, use thinners compatible with the primer to clean it.

 

[Paul.]

You will need an etching primer for the aluminium parts, and galvanised areas will require a surface treatment to remove the oxides, phosphoric acid based washes such as jenolite (if you can still get it) or T wash are ideal.

 

[jaykay]

sounds good your plan. just use 240 all over for rubbing down metal. that twash looks the part for the galv.

 

[Chipper]

From what I understand, never having done it yet though, but having a Landy to deal with - de-grease and T Wash on new bright galv. Old weathered grey galv, etch. Although I'm roughing mine and 2k epoxy primering.

 

[jaykay]

i alway sand down galv,as it it not a very smooth finish.you can smooth it out some with out removing it.seems to work out fine.

 

[series2]

Having spoken to the guy who builds the kit, The steel panels are not hot dip galv, but zinc flashed similar to the way some replacement body panels (eg floorpans) are treated. I dropped another email to U-Pol's tech dept., they say that Acid#8 will go straight over this if abraded 240 - 360 grit, they suggested that use of products such as t-wash will impair the adhesion of etch primer.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

I only ask because I only want to paint the car once!

 

[jaykay]

jk

upol are making sense.
and certainly only want to spray it once.

 

[jaykay]

just looking back at org. looking at org. message.mid may sounds good.just dont spray if it's raining out side.celly will bloom(cloudy milk looking) if there is any damp in the air.

 

[Robotstar5]

Sorry, nothing to do with the painting - who's kit is it?, front end looks like defender but some of the bodywork looks like the TRAKA for a Range Rover chassis.
Regards, Stuart.

 

[series2]

Thanks Jaykay, I just want to make shure I get it right first time, not only that but paint is expensive!

Looking like end of May now for painting, so hopefully weather will be good. However I do have a well heated garage to paint in. From experience I always use anti bloom thinners with the celly, and so far have faired well.

Well spotted Robostar5, It is an NCF 'SAHARA'