So I've been summoned to shoot paint on the Formula SAE car this year. We had a wrap guy lined up that got a bit too busy to mess with us. I shot the last car with alright results and a HVLP gun. One of the guys has access to lacquer products we used last year, so that's what we're doing again except for the green, which is a 2k Urethane.

So I have primer, black, white, green and clear to shoot, along with a graphite stripe between the color changes [matches the chassis color].

I'm looking for some "how i'd do it" input on the process.

Obviously clean and prime the panels first.

From there I have the white, green and black to shoot.

- I was thinking I could shoot [over-shoot] the green where we need it.
- Let that cure and tape off the stripes, I'm hoping I can find some of that ~1/8" plastic tape to mask it off with at a local body supply shop.
- Mask off the area that will be white, shoot the black.
- Mask off the black [stripe still masked] and shoot the white
- Remove all masking
- Lay down my graphite stripe in-between colors
- Clear coat
- Wait a day or two, cut-n-buff the panels

Am I out of order in my steps, or should I do something completely different?

Thanks!


Crude rendition, it'll be changed quite a bit, but the idea is there.

what exactly is the urethane? I would shoot the white first,then green,then black or you'll have trouble covering the black with the lighter colors.

Spray the color that has the smallest amount first then cover it and spray the next smallest color next and so on. When all colors are done remove the masking and shoot the clear. This will be the least amount of masking and by covering all the areas painted you'll avoid overspray.

I think you have it lined up fine. Make sure all paints are compatible. Also consider a pin-stripe to separate the colors.
p.s. no way that wing is going to do anything but provide shade

If it's similar to the pic, I would shoot the graphite, mask (using fine line)and shoot green. Then mask that and shoot white. After that mask all of the white and shoot black. This way you are only masking each area once and not having to pull tape off multiple times. Mike