Backing paint question

[barry]

I'm doing my first paint job on a RC shell (well, since 1987 anyway). It's very simple - dark blue with a white cross covering the whole shell - kind of like the Scottish flag but with horizontal/vertical white lines rather than diagonals.

Anyway, the blue is turning out a little lighter than I thought. If I spray black over the finished blue, would this darken it a bit? White is going to be my last colour and I was going to back the whole shell with the white as I heard this improves the colours, but I'm now worried it will make the blue even lighter.

One more question - I've put about three coats of the blue on now and it is still very translucent. Do I need to keep applying coats or does paint usually stay translucent until the backing (black or white) is applied?

Cheers,
Barry

[jonmiller]

yeh, backing it with black will help slightly.

what type of blue is it? pearl, opaque etc?

[barry]

It's just a regular blue - http://www.mardavespares.com/body-sh...ue-spray-paint.

Thanks for the answer.

Barry

[DCM]

Your only hope is to back it with black then mate.

[barry]

Thanks.

Any thoughts on my second question:

One more question - I've put about three coats of the blue on now and it is still very translucent. Do I need to keep applying coats or does paint usually stay translucent until the backing (black or white) is applied?

Cheers,
Barry

[DCM]

best to test it on an old pop bottle, not really used the Fastrax paint.

[jonmiller]

get a piece of white and black paper to hold up behind the paint, will help you see if you have enough coats on or not.

[U1timate PigDog]

I normally would apply coats until the colour isn't transparent when sat on the floor ( if you hold it against light you can see through almost any amount of paint.

Black should darken the blue somewhat effect depending on how many coats have been applied. But I would highly recommend light coats of black as you don't want to darken the blue too much!

Good luck and hope it turns out well.

[eyeayen]

You could always back with silver, this would give a sort of 'candy' effect in bright sunlight.

Black is super dark though and might kill the blue, if you have to buy more paint anyway can you get a darker blue, it might be better than using black ???

The trouble with this sort of thing is it's usually down to trial and error. John's idea with the coloured paper is probably your best bet for now to see what's going to happen.