Color panels; spray paint on foam or foam tint?

I’m doing a 9’ for this girl and she wants blue, full deck and bottom panels with lap pinlines and some arty paint design we are getting an artist to do. I prefer and primarily use resin color glass work and not airbrush. For the blue full length panels I am thinking of either doing foam tints (which I have never done and know can be tricky) or a spray job. I do not have an airbrush, only spray paint, and I have heard that there is a way to use regular spray paint on the foam. I would then glass clear over this. The artist will then do her acrylic work on the sanded hotcoat. Should I try the foam tint and risk streaking the lightish blue, or try many light layers of the spray paint (if I can find the color she wants)? Any tricks to this or other recommendations? Thanks for any advice- rg

(> I’m doing a 9’ for this girl and she wants blue, full deck and bottom > panels with lap pinlines and some arty paint design we are getting an > artist to do. I prefer and primarily use resin color glass work and not > airbrush. For the blue full length panels I am thinking of either doing > foam tints (which I have never done and know can be tricky) or a spray > job. I do not have an airbrush, only spray paint, and I have heard that > there is a way to use regular spray paint on the foam. I would then glass > clear over this. The artist will then do her acrylic work on the sanded > hotcoat. Should I try the foam tint and risk streaking the lightish blue, > or try many light layers of the spray paint (if I can find the color she > wants)? Any tricks to this or other recommendations? Thanks for any > advice- rg I have done this before…there may be an easier way but here goes.First i did the pinline.The client had their own paint color mixed in flat latex for the panel.Mix the latex with clear acrylic and water so that it will spray.When dry spray a light coat of clear acrylic.Let the artist do their thing.Spray a light clear over the art.If you want to gloss it scuff the clear with red scotchbrite pad and gloss.Note…the paint was mixed thin and I allowed 24 hours between coats.The reason for the clear coat over the background was so that the artist could make changes.I have also used resin panels for the same thing…good luck R. Brucker (this was all done on the hotcoat sanded to 320.)

I have done this before…there may be an easier way but here goes.First i > did the pinline.The client had their own paint color mixed in flat latex > for the panel.Mix the latex with clear acrylic and water so that it will > spray.When dry spray a light coat of clear acrylic.Let the artist do their > thing.Spray a light clear over the art.If you want to gloss it scuff the > clear with red scotchbrite pad and gloss.Note…the paint was mixed thin > and I allowed 24 hours between coats.The reason for the clear coat over > the background was so that the artist could make changes.I have also used > resin panels for the same thing…good luck R. Brucker (this was all > done on the hotcoat sanded to 320.) Thanks for the response Mr. Brucker. A few questions; 1)I’ve noticed in previous posts and now here that you do the pinline first and am curious as to why? Not that it matters, but I have always seen the pin done last on the sanded hotcoat. 2)I have no airbrush equipment and have never done it before, but I am willing to learn. How much am I looking at for a decent set and will a 6 gallon compressor be enough to run it off of? 3)You said you also have used resin panels for the same thing. In what matter did you do it? Truthfully, I am a little timid about doing an air job like you explain simply because I have no experience with airbrushing, although I bet if done right it would look pretty rad and the girl would be stoked. Thanks again for your response and reply, and for any advice you can give on getting into airbrushing. Take care- rg

Thanks for the response Mr. Brucker. A few questions;>>> 1)I’ve noticed in previous posts and now here that you do the pinline > first and am curious as to why? Not that it matters, but I have always > seen the pin done last on the sanded hotcoat.>>> 2)I have no airbrush equipment and have never done it before, but I am > willing to learn. How much am I looking at for a decent set and will a 6 > gallon compressor be enough to run it off of?>>> 3)You said you also have used resin panels for the same thing. In what > matter did you do it?>>> Truthfully, I am a little timid about doing an air job like you explain > simply because I have no experience with airbrushing, although I bet if > done right it would look pretty rad and the girl would be stoked. Thanks > again for your response and reply, and for any advice you can give on > getting into airbrushing. Take care- rg RG There are different scenarios.My pins are in resin and at times the art is in acrylic.By doing the pin first I have the option of fixing it if something goes wrong…thats hard to do after the art.Also since the pin is resin I can correct the art and the solvents will not hurt the pin.You can do resin panels without the use of spray equipment but that is another discussion.I use a spray gun…not an airbrush for panels.A six gallon compressor will be more than adequate…you can buy cheap spray guns for around 20 bucks at places like harbour freight.They will rust with water so flush em out with lacquer thinner when finished.I take the caps off of my guns and store em in the cup with lacquer thinner.There are lots of guys on this site that know more than me about airbrush…check the archives (I am speaking of art on the hotcoat…if the art is on the foam the pin goes last after sanding)…R.B.

RG There are different scenarios.My pins are in resin and at times the art > is in acrylic.By doing the pin first I have the option of fixing it if > something goes wrong…thats hard to do after the art.Also since the pin is > resin I can correct the art and the solvents will not hurt the pin.You can > do resin panels without the use of spray equipment but that is another > discussion.I use a spray gun…not an airbrush for panels.A six gallon > compressor will be more than adequate…you can buy cheap spray guns for > around 20 bucks at places like harbour freight.They will rust with water > so flush em out with lacquer thinner when finished.I take the caps off of > my guns and store em in the cup with lacquer thinner.There are lots of > guys on this site that know more than me about airbrush…check the > archives (I am speaking of art on the hotcoat…if the art is on the foam > the pin goes last after sanding)…R.B. RG, 4 gallon Craftsman compressor, maybe able to rent one from somewhere. Astro auto body touch up gun $45.00 from Fiberglass Hawaii. Harbor Freight has similar deals. Spray guns for large areas, an airbrush is more applicable for detail, fades, etc. Spend the money on some good quality tape. Underground

RG, 4 gallon Craftsman compressor, maybe able to rent one from somewhere. > Astro auto body touch up gun $45.00 from Fiberglass Hawaii. Harbor Freight > has similar deals. Spray guns for large areas, an airbrush is more > applicable for detail, fades, etc. Spend the money on some good quality > tape. Underground Thanks for the replies guys. I get you concerning the pinlines, Roger. I think I will look into a spray gun and airbrush. I’ve got a 6 gallon Craftsman so I should be good there Underground. I was thinking the color on the foam would be a nice 2-d background for the artist work on the hotcoat, but I will consider doing the spray on the hotcoat. Thanks again- rg