Derby Talk

Threader,

Hmmmmm. Sorry Future didn't seem to work for you. We didn't have that problem last year, but I'll look at last year's car closer to see if the graphite had any negative effects on the finish.

Dave

colibri,

I don't have results to report yet, but this year I will be trying lacquer on my car, though the kids will probably want to use colors on theirs. I want to polish it for the small drag reduction, and lacquer dries quickly, to that I won't have to wait as long to start polishing it. In any case, quick drying is handy, and I'm not too concerned about appearance.

vortex

lacquer is definatly the way to go. considering the gravity power there is no gas to attack the finish. plus the drying time is really short. so mistakes like runs can be sanded out and the finish reapplied in no time. multiple colors? no problem again the short dry time helps out! And in never fails (with me anyway) the last color of enamil I use reacts with the other colors (even if I wait a week between coats). If you are doing an intricate design wait two full days before masking (lets the fresh lacquer coat harden) to avoid finger prints/masking lines.

It's rather expensive at $19.95 for a 3 can set at Auto Zone, but Mirage color shifting paint offers the boys an interesting look. This is the paint that changes colors as viewed from different angles. It is an acrylic lacquer so it dies quickly.

We just finished a test car to see how the finish would look. This paint is thin & should go on in light coats. The first attempt was less than desirable with grain visible through the finish coat.

So the next attempt used Dupont QuickPrime high-build sandable primer under the Mirage base coat. That did the trick.

Dupont Primer:

http://www.performancecoatings.dupont.com (search QuickPrime)

Mirage color shifting paint:

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/mirage.html

All of these aerosol paints should be used outdoors & the boys should be wearing a NIOSH approved Paint & Pesticide respirator during use. Better ones can be adjusted for a boys face & should be.

Has anyone tried the "body skins" that are now being offered?? My son thinks they look really cool and wants to try one. However, I worry about any process where it works when fully saturated with water on a pine block. Any experience with these things????

I have tried the american flag skin. I applied it about 4 months ago, and it is still holding great.

There have been a few WIRL cars which use the skins too.

One application of the "skins" which looks particularly cool, at least to me, is the partial use of the skins combined with a regular paint job - i.e., using the skin on the "hood" of the car but painting the sides of the car.

Has anyone applied a "skin" on top of paint and/or is this possible per the instructions?

Thanks, TJs


.

We've used both the Mirage color changing paint and the decal "skins" on pwd cars that we have built. The mirage paint worked very well but you have to make sure and have a good base coat with multiple (thin) mid coats. For the "skons", we always seal our wood blocks before painting or using these. So we have seen no problems with the water from the "skins" affecting the paint.

Da Graphite Kid