Paint

***Special Note:  To date there is  no known true match for the Spectraflame Hot Pink color.  All good Hot Pink restorations that you see are going to be custom made mixes with many hours of labor & many $$$ invested.

Paint Thinner

Lacquer Thinner: Lacquer thinner should be used to for thinning lacquer based paints.  It can also be used as a thinner for most urethane paints.  

Mineral Spirits: Used for thinning enamel & oil based paints

Generic Paint Thinner: Used for thinning enamel & oil based paints.  Cheaper than mineral spirits.  Better than mineral spirits in my opinion.

Water Based Paint Thinner:  I have found that the best way to thin water based paint is a mixed thinner.  I use a mix of approximately(does not have to be exact) 50% water & 50% Pure Denatured Alcohol.  Then I mix that with my paint at about a 3 to 2, paint to thinner ratio.  The water keeps the paint form drying to fast and the alcohol allows it to spray evenly rather than in droplets.  

Spectraflame Cars

Spectraflame is what most all redlines made between 1968-1972 were painted with.  Spectraflame paint is nothing more than transparent/translucent paint that allows the shine of the metal to show through creating a reflective look. The following are different types of paint that are available:

Tamiya: Available at some Hobby Shops. Tamiya makes a line of about 5-6 transparent colors.  This is a water based paint.

Jurgen Industries: Jurgen Industries is a company that makes water based & lacquer based glass stain.  The lacquer base is very nice and comes in a variety of colors.  Their Hot Pink not even close to a match for Spectraflame Hot Pink, their hot pink does make a nice magenta.  This paint should be thinned with lacquer thinner, but this paint is VERY temperature & humidity sensitive.  Website to order: http://www.jurgeninc.com/

Createx: Usually available at Craft Shops. They make about 10-12 water base transparent airbrush colors.  This paint is OK, but its not the easiest stuff to work with.  The transparent pink is worthless.  Createx paints are water based.

Auto Air: Water Based Transparent paint made by Createx for painting on metal.  A decent paint that comes in a variety of colors.  You can order this paint on-line from Aatriceco at : http://www.aatriceco.com

LeFranc & Bourgeouis:  I love this paint.  It is a water base glass stain and comes in 18-20 colors.

Testors Model Master: Testors Model Master makes abour 3-4 transparent colors in a spray can.  Available at most hobby shops.  Not something I would recommend.

Pactra Candy Colors: Pactra makes several transparent candy colors as part of their line of r/c colors.  Its not the easiest stuff to work with and is lacquer based.  

Nail Polish: Yes nail polish.  Nail polish is available in MANY colors and is nothing but a quick drying enamel paint.  Most nail polishes are transparent. Personally I do not like nail polish, I have tried it, I have had no success with it, I do not like it, & I would not recommend it.  I do know of several restorers who use nail polish very often and quite successfully.

Automotive Paints: There are several automotive paints that are available as Candy Colors(transparent). The 2 most popular brands are House of Kolor (urethane) and Metalflake (lacquer based).  These paints are extremely nice but are also very expensive.

Spectraflame Paint: Available from Jon Shedeck of The Redline Shop.   Nice colors, ready to use.  

Enamel Cars

Enamel Hot Wheels Redline cars were made from 1973 - 1977.  There are several enamel colors that are specific to 1973 only, such as Flourescent Pink & Flourescent Green.

Enamel cars can be very easy to paint and match colors.   Understand that if your are painting a car in an enamel color there is no need to polish the body.  Just make sure the car body is clean & smooth.   If you wish to give your paint a bright look then paint a base coat of enamel gloss white. Many 1973 cars did originally have such a base coat.  The following are different types of paint that are available:

Model Master: Made by Testors and available at most all hobby shops.

Plasti-Kote: Odds N Ends by Plastic-Kote is a decent paint that is fairly cheap.  Used to be sold at Wal-Mart, not sure where to get it now.

Oil-Based Paint: Various companies such as Krylon, Plasti-Kote, & Rustoleum make pint size cans of oil based enamel paint.  Available at most stores that have a basic hardware department.  Thin with mineral spirits.

Createx: This is a water base paint. Available at some craft stores.

Clear Coat

There are several different clear coats you can use, it depends on the look you want.

Lacquer Clear Coat - Do NOT use this clear coat on your cars as a clear coat for the paint and do NOT spray on plastic parts.  Most hardware stores carry some type of lacquer clear coat in a spray can.  Use this to spray a protective coating over all bare metal parts that will not be painted - like chassis or Spoiler motors.  This helps to prevent tarnishing of polished parts

Urethane Clear Coat: Made by many different manufacturers and usually available through auto suppliers.  Cost varies alot. Some NAPA stores sell gallon & quart sizes of generic urethane clear coat. Its about the best bang for the buck.  Some of the high end urethane clear coats are great to work with but can be VERY expensive.  Most urethanes are 3 part and requiring an activator & thinner.

Polyurethane Clear Coat: Min Wax Crystal Clear Polyurethane, yes the stuff thats made for wood. Creates a gorgeous high gloss shine.  Thin just a little with mineral spirits.  Looks yellow in the can, dries crystal clear.  Do not use with decal set for water transfer decals.  It also will peel off easily, so if you will be needing to mask the car off such as for a black roof, I would not recommend the polyurethane. Is best for one color cars.  If you will be masking off any car then a urethane clear coat will be your best bet.

Model Master: Testors Model Master clear coat can be found at most hobby stores.  It is OK, but I would not recommend it.  Go with the polyurethane before using this.

Tamiya: Tamiya makes a water base clear coat that can be found at most hobby stores.  It sometimes will dry a bit flat.  I would not recommend this, but some people do like it.

Flat Black

I use the pint size cans of  Rustoleum Flat Black thinned with mineral spirits.  It is a good match for the original flat black roof paint used on the redline cars.  If you wish you can also use this paint for detail work.

Some restorers use the testors Model Master Flat Black.  I do not like this paint, it is very thin, runs easily, and has too much of a satin look to it, not really a true flat black. 

Wrinkle Black

Krlyon Wrinkle Finish Black Spray Paint is perfect for matching that krinkle/wrinkle finish on many Woodies & a few Vickies.  It is available at automotive supply stores, usually around the engine block paint section of the store.

Chrome Paint

See the Alclad & MirraChrome page for info

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