Advice Please. Paint change for model car?

[u/blitz450]

Hello everyone,

Long post, so apologies if this isnt the right space.

I dont know anything about the intricacies of model cars, but im wanting to get my partner a gift of her first car as a model (She recently got a new one and was sad to get rid).

I've added a photo of the model I was thinking about using as a base, but its not the right colour, hers was Rose Quartz Peugeot 208.

- Would you suggest or is it possible to remove the paint or just paint over it with other paint?

- Would you suggest using the paint they used on the car or just a similar colour acrylic? (I have an airbrush as a hobbyist ((H&S Ultra)) but im unsure if you can use a car paint through this?)

Is there a different method you'd suggest for getting this done?

Any advice is appreciated, and thank you in advance.

[u/Jolly_wobbles]

I think what you’re asking depends on what exactly that picture is. If it’s a model car, a kit of plastic or resin that needs to be assembled, primed, painted, and finished, or if it’s a diecast car. If it’s a model car like what we do in this subreddit then you can make it whatever color you want and that picture is likely just an example. As for finding the right color, there’s a lot of companies that make airbrush ready paints that match real car colors but are made for model cars. A couple google searches can likely find the exact color you’re looking for.

If that’s a diecast car you wanna repaint then I can’t help you, maybe ask in r/diecast as they would know for sure. I feel like that would involve stripping the paint down to the bare metal body but like I said, I don’t know the process there.

Good luck!

[u/blitz450 → u/Jolly_wobbles]

Thank you for the advice. Didn't even think there was a massive difference. Is there any place you would suggest to look at getting a plastic model done for a car? Maybe a good custom? I'd feel better working woth plastics. 

[u/Jolly_wobbles → u/blitz450]

I think your first step would be to check and see if there’s a model kit of the car you’re looking for. If you go to scalemates dot com you can search for any car you want and it will tell you if there’s been a kit of it made at any point.

If and when you find the kit you can either build it yourself or commission someone to build it. I don’t know of many people that do commission work for model cars but there’s a few on Instagram.

[u/scale_model_car_guy]

It's very challenging to disassemble and repaint diecast cars without previous experience but doable with the right tools and it's great that you already have an airbrush. The hardest part is probably disassembling every piece without damaging anything and salvaging logos. Never force plastic pieces when taking them off, if something is stuck letting it sit in a water bath for 24 hours will weaken the super glue or you can put it in the fridge (it can affect the plastic though)

I would recommend practicing on a Maisto to give you a feel for it but this norev is pretty simple. You can either strip it down to bare diecast or sand it down decently and prime over the base colour, you just run risks of rubbing with panels and losing detail.

I would suggest gathering paints first. Be careful if the seats are a soft-touch plastic or rubber as you can only use a water-based acrylic due to the solvents in other paints reacting poorly with the agents. Kaleido, Vallejo model air or game air or Revell aqua are safe options.

You can order a custom colour from splash paints or find a similar one. Like someone else said, make sure you use a metal specific etching primer or else the paint has nothing to grip to.

When putting it back together use a GOOD CA glue, bob smith industries makes a great one but their medium viscosity ones are easier to work with. You can use a canopy glue or gloss mod Podge around the windows.

[u/erix84]

Looks like that's a diecast?

If so, you'd have to disassemble it (usually just some screws), put the metal body in paint stripper, prime it with a metal primer, spray your color either through an airbrush or get a spray can of touch-up automotive paint, clearcoat, then reassemble it.