How to Repaint a Diecast Model Car

Whether the paint on your model is chipping or the color is beginning to fade, a new paint job is the perfect way to breathe new life into a diecast model car. The fundamentals of painting apply to painting a diecast model --- you must first strip the car, and then clean and prime the surface before applying the paint. Using these fundamentals on such a small scale, however, is a bit different than their use on a larger scale.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Rubber gloves
• Eye protection
• Paint stripper
• Metal container
• Toothbrush
• Paper towels
• 400-grit sandpaper
• Wire hanger
• Self-etching zinc-chromate primer
• Automotive primer
• 600-grit sand paper
• Metal-adhering spray paint

Instructions

1. Unscrew and remove the screws holding the body of the car together. The model should come apart into four pieces: the bottom of the model assembly (axles, wheels, underside of the car); the interior of the model assembly (seats, dashboard, steering wheel); the plastic pieces that act as the car's "glass;" and the painted exterior of the model.

2. Place the painted exterior of the model into a metal container and cover it with paint stripper. Let the paint stripper sit for several minutes or until you can see the paint dissolving. Rinse the model with warm water while scrubbing it with a toothbrush to remove the old paint. Always wear rubber gloves and eye protection when using caustic chemicals such as paint stripper. Pat the model dry with a paper towel once all of the paint has been removed.

3. Sand the model with 400-grit sandpaper to prepare the surface for the primer. Use the wire hanger to hold the model in the air without touching it with your hands. For small diecast models, bend the hanger into a "hairpin" shape, insert the hairpin shape into the underside of the model and hold the hanger to keep the model suspended. Larger diecast models may require you to fasten the wire hanger to the ceiling or some other overhanging fixture and hang the model from a hook on the hanger.

4. Apply two coats of self-etching zinc-chromate primer to the model. Hold the can roughly 1 foot away from the model and apply the coats with sweeping hand motions. Let the primer dry for at least 24 hours before moving on.

5. Sand the model with 400-grit sandpaper to prepare it for the second and final priming. Apply three even coats of automotive primer to the model using sweeping hand motions. Let the primer dry for at least four days before moving on.

6. Sand the model with 600-grit sandpaper to prepare it for the paint application. Clean the model with soap and water to remove any residue and pat the model dry with a paper towel. Allow the model to completely dry.

7. Apply three to four coats of paint to the model, letting it dry for 10 minutes in between each coat. After the final coat has been applied, let the model dry for at least a week. After the model has finished drying, reassemble the model with the pieces and screws you removed initially.

References

• YouTube: How to Custom Paint a Diecast Car
• Diecast Nuts: Painting a Diecast Car