How to Paint Toy Plastic Cars With Automotive Paint

Paint toy cars in a miniature spray booth to look like their full-size counterparts.

Hobbyists can buy specially formulated primers for plastics to prime toy cars and finish them with just about any type of paint, including automotive finishes. Plastic primer and automotive touch-up paint come in aerosol spray cans but liquid paint is cheaper and infinite color mixing and better looking results are possible by investing in an air supply and an airbrush or two to apply them. Airbrushes come in different sizes and configurations with some best suited to painting complete bodies of toy cars while others are so accurate they can spray pinstripes on them.

Things You'll Need

• Wardrobe moving box
• Duct tape
• Wire
• Fine grit wet or dry sandpaper
• Mineral spirits
• Clean cloth
• Hobby brush
• Plastic primer
• Automotive paint
• Artists' brushes
• Air compressor
• Compressed air tank
• Water filter
• Pressure regulator
• Airbrush hose
• Airbrush

Instructions

Build a Toy Car Size Spray Booth

1. Construct a spray booth large and sturdy enough to hang your plastic cars with enough room to work around them. Wardrobe moving boxes are great for hobby spray booths because you can unfold and assemble them and then collapse and store them flat.

2. Secure the booth to a flat-top surface with duct tape so it does not slide around.

3. Stretch and secure a strong wire to support the cars you are painting across the top and down the middle of the booth. If you are using a wardrobe box it should have come with a hanger.

Prepare and Hang the Cars in the Booth

1. Sand the surface of the cars lightly with very fine grit sandpaper, just enough to rough up the surface. Be careful not to scratch it.

2. Clean the cars thoroughly with a clean cloth or small hobby brush and mineral spirits to remove any oils, surface dust and dirt. Let dry.

3. Mask off with tape any areas that you don't want to paint, such as wheels, bumpers and windows.

4. Cut wires long enough to suspend the cars to a height where you can reach the tops and bottoms of them while spraying. Form hooks in the ends of the wires and attach one end to the support across the top of the booth and the other to the cars you are painting.

Prime and Paint the Cars with Spray Cans

1. Spray on several thin and even coats of aerosol paint can primer formulated for plastic. Allow to dry between coats. Rotate the cars as you proceed.

2. Sand any imperfections in the primer coat with very fine sandpaper.

3. Spray several thin and even coats of aerosol automotive touch-up paint. It is available in most popular automotive colors at auto supply and automotive finish suppliers.

4. Detail the cars with automotive or model paint using artists' brushes or apply custom decals.

Use an Airbrush Instead of Spray Cans

1. Attach a water filter and pressure regulator to either an air compressor or air tank. A hobbyist version of either set-up should cost under $300.

2. Attach a suitable length of airbrush hose to the compressor or tank past the regulator and water filter connections.

3. Thread an airbrush on the other end of the airbrush hose.

4. Adjust the pressure on the regulator to match the airbrush manufacturer recommendations.

5. Thin liquid primer for plastic or automotive paint you choose with reducing and flow enhancement media or additives suggested by the paint manufacturer. Spray on several thin and even coats of primer and then paint. Allow to dry between coats.

Tips & Warnings

• Airbrushes range in price from $25 to $50 for basic hobby models to $300 $400 for specialized artist and vehicle detailing versions.

• Always disassemble, clean and lubricate airbrushes after each use.

• Use appropriate media and additives to thin paints to flow through airbrushes. Never thin acrylics with water.

• Never try to spray any paint in thick coats or it will run and sag.

• Always wear a mask or aspirator when spraying paint and make sure you have adequate ventilation.

References

• Wet Canvas: How to Choose the Right Airbrush, Sam Houchin, Contributing Editor
• Modeling Madness: Airbrush Survey, Terry Miesle
• Airbrush-Iwata: Which Airbrush and Compressor Are Best for Me?