9 replies to this topic

[T.Crown]

hi guys , new to the forum but not to minis

i'm about to start painting the exterior of my mini and im looking for methods or plans of attack. Im not painting the inside of the car its just the outer shell the same colour as it is the now [tartan red] .

where do you start ?
remove doors bonnet and boot lid and hang them from the roof and paint them first ? or the shell /bonnet/ doors and bootlid all as a complete unit and just mask the door checks ?

the car is a mk 1 so the hindges will have to be also painted and i'm unsure how to paint these or the best way to go about doing it ?

I'v painted panels on various cars before so i am not a stranger to techniques etc... but not my mini and i really want it to look as good as possible .

can anyone that has done this please advise ?

thanks

T.Crown

Edited by T.Crown, 19 November 2008 - 05:03 PM.

[freaker]

hello and welcome,

normally, this is the way i learned it you get the doors, boot and bonnet out and you spray the insides of it..
and when you spray the whole car you spray the outsides of it...

the hinges i think you best place them on a flat surface and spray them like that...

freaker

[T.Crown]

hello and welcome,

normally, this is the way i learned it you get the doors, boot and bonnet out and you spray the insides of it..
and when you spray the whole car you spray the outsides of it...

the hinges i think you best place them on a flat surface and spray them like that...

freaker

freaker after you sprayed the inside of the panels did you then refit them to the shell ?

cheers

T.Crown

[jack_marshall]

If its a solid colour your painting, Id hang the doors, bonnet and bootlid up and paint them off the car.

If its metallic I'd paint all the backs of the doors, bonnet, bootlid and shuts, hang them on the car then soft edge mask the shuts.

Id then paint the exterior as one, as the laquer in the shuts will still be soft they will polish in nicely if you scotchbrite them well.

You can paint metallic panels off the car but I'd say paint them at the same time cause the slightest difference such as different amount of thinner in the basecoat will make them look different to the shell.

Also, whatever your painting, make sure you have enough paint to do the lot, dont paint the shell then buy another litre or 2 to do the doors, as 2 mixes will never be the exact same (your risking it!)

And regarding the hinges, I would just etch prime them and top coat (or base and laquer for metallic) because any thick build of primer and paint will just end up coming off where they swivel.

Edited by jack_marshall, 19 November 2008 - 06:28 PM.

[freaker]

ive painted the inside and then hung them back in...

but with the exterior hinges it can be a little problem

will think about that tonight

freaker

[T.Crown]

And regarding the hinges, I would just etch prime them and top coat (or base and laquer for metallic) because any thick build of primer and paint will just end up coming off where they swivel.

thats the problem i was thinking of .

From reading you guys replies i think im better to paint the doors /bonnet/boot hanging up , will just have to be carefull when refitting the things

cheers

[jack_marshall]

If your painting a solid colour, definately better painted off the car.. just make sure its all out the same tin of paint with same coats, thinner and hardener (believe me it makes a difference!)

Easiest way to paint hinges would be to poke holes in thick card and put the bolts through with nuts on the otherside. I wouldnt hang the hinges, your asking for mega runs!

[T.Crown]

If your painting a solid colour, definately better painted off the car.. just make sure its all out the same tin of paint with same coats, thinner and hardener (believe me it makes a difference!)

Easiest way to paint hinges would be to poke holes in thick card and put the bolts through with nuts on the otherside. I wouldnt hang the hinges, your asking for mega runs!

cheers jack

iv not bought the paint yet but i know what your saying about it being the same batch ... i'll buy too much than too little or that would be a disaster if i ran out . its tartan red so nothing fancy ,

only thing im scared of is..... the corners of doors and panels .... iv seen so many paint jobs that look great but the corners/edges are so thin is there anyway to avoid this ? ?

[freaker]

spray those bit with a tiny layer first and then do your whole panel...
so it has some kind of a double layer thing

freaker

[T.Crown]

good idea ...... i get too excited when the compressor starts and end up just battering in to it , ill need to do all these important things first ...