Best steps for prepping/painting a plastic bodied model?

by Mitch Peoples
(Berryville VA)

Hi:

I already trashed an AMT '66 Nova Street car body after what I thought was a good start. I washed the body out of the box, primed with Tamiya fine white primer and painted 3-4 layers of Boyd's Rose aerosol. However, before being able to apply Testors "one coat" shiny finish, I messed up my 1st try at hand painted striping using green metalflake and a thin brush; leaving runs in the door grooves. My use of Acetone to strip the body damaged it beyond use.

I've obtained another body, hood and hoodscoop luckily and have read up on trying again. Please tell me if this makes sense:

Wash body & parts with soap & warm water and air dry.

Prime with Tamiya fine white primer, thin 1st coat and medium 2nd coat.

(At this point I would like to try a gold undercoat technique and a change of primary paint color.)

Apply 1-2 coats of gold paint (thin 1st and 2nd medium; 45 mins. in between coats) followed by a spray of medium one coat clearcote.

Allow to dry 24-48 hours and then apply mist coat of Testors green metallic (regular or one coat for best effect?). Allow this to dry 45 minutes and then apply next coat of final color, ensuring not to completely cover up the hint of gold underneath. Once completed, I intend to add 3 stripes of gold from a graphics roll. I need to know if I should apply decal adhesive/clearcoat next and finally a finishing gloss clearcoat (one coat) by Testors.