Tips on how to paint this...

[vette54758702]

How would I paint this... All white then the red, then the blue ? I'm concerned I wont get it all done before the time I need to apply the clear coat... some paints only give you 24 hours between base and clear.... I can shoot paint pretty well... but how should I go about it ?

[DUB]

I sent you a PM.
"DUB"

[lushdrunk]

That will be a challenge. Like you said the window to re-coat is only 24hours for base coat. after that you must sand and re-apply the base coat before clear.
If you can pull it off it's going to look great! I like that idea on a C4.

I believe I would spray the whole car white , Then tape for both the red and the blue graphics. Then cover the blue and do the red first, then un-tape the blue and tape the red, and then spray the blue last. Then heavy clear coat to hide the lines.
your going to need help. I don't believe one person could do that much taping alone in the short window you will have. I don't believe I could anyway.
Even if you had another person just to help you do the masking would help alot, I get my wife to help me a lot. Woman's finger nails are great for masking. that and woman have a high attrition to detail and listen to instructions better then men. If I had it my way all my helpers would be woman........................ In un-zipped coveralls.....

[markids77]

Have a sign shop make the flag swag as a decal. Paint the white, then blue... apply the swag and clear. No one will know it's not all paint!

[lushdrunk]

Originally Posted by markids77

Have a sign shop make the flag swag as a decal. Paint the white, then blue... apply the swag and clear. No one will know it's not all paint!

Thats not a bad idea for paint also. I seen a guy use sign shop Laser cut the graphics on a low grade adhesives vinyl and he used the negatives as a stencils to paint the original graphic. They come with a peel and stick paper backing so the outline of the graphic would remain the same size and be much quicker to mask off. I can't remember what the vinyl is called, But it is used for temporary signs for store windows, side of cars and trucks etc. It's made to be removed after a short use. If you ask a sign shop I'm sure they can tell you what it is.
I do remember him saying he still had to add a layer of cheap tape over the vinyl because the vinyl is not solvent resident. His advice was to use 2" tape and mask the vinyl leaving 1/8" of the vinyl for the paint line. I seen the finished result and it looked great. the lines where surprisingly good.

Something you may want to look in to. Be sure to ask others, and don't take just my advice. This was something I was told. Ive never done it before and was only told about it.

[TioSterling]

use intercoat clear to protect the basecoat and scuff it before applying the graphic/paint for the flag

[TioSterling]

you could also use waterbased paint....some water based paints have unlimited clear window