@AmiSonicNeo
(copied from my post in this thread)
Firstly I only use acrylic, anything else may damage the plastic, you will need to get your footware on and be ready to go to both your local Halfords and Pound Land.
Now, for the informative bit... =)
1. place all plastics in a dish washer (stop before the drying cycle)
This will remove all the grease and open up the pours of the plastic. Some dishwashers have a drying cycle of 60 degrees C, this may warp thinn plastics, so I advise you to remove it and let it air dry for a couple of hours
2. Ninja into Pound Land
You want to buy atleast two of the base grey acrylic primer. I have used MANY paints, from rediculously expensive, to the absurdly cheap... and this one is the best I have used for this type of work.
2.1 Applying the base Coat(s)
You want to do atleast two layers - give 30 minutes alteast between coats - Ensure that your nozzle is atleast two to two and a half feet away, use short controlled bursts and wipe the nozzle or it may shoot drips... this will ruin the finish, remember to use gentle sweeping arc's with your arm as you apply the paint..
Its important to note that light coats are better than heavy ones.... so its better to do several light coats as this reduces pooling and drips forming on the coat... I should also menition to do the internal edges of the plastic..
Remember to shake the can - any brand for atleast 3 - 5 minutes before use...
Once you are happy with the base coat, place the component in the dishwasher again, and then let it air-dry in a cupboard...
This will reduce any dust or dirt that accumilates while waiting for the top coat.
3. Halfords - have the right colours
I would recommend to take in some untainted Amiga Plastics and find the closest colour match, this will give you the finish you are looking for..
Personally I love two-tone action.. and use the white and grey of the keyboard to plan my colours accordingly.
3.1 Laying down the Top Coats
Either way, always get the colours and the finishing laqure from the same range of products - its important that you give ample time for finishing coats to cure, or they will "cook" when you apply the next layer...
Cooking the coat means the one you are applying has reacted with the one beneth - the acrylic pigments pool within the suspension and it looks like its cracking.
Should this happen, leave the area for 24 hours... when you come back use some fine sand-paper (800 or higher grit) and gently take this area dow to the primer again.. I would suggest you then was the component and then apply a light top coat again - this time leave it for longer
Cooking Layers can happen with dismilar product or grease or foriegn matter on the component. this can also happen when you apply layers too soon as the previous layer is Curing it can bubble up the next layer.
Its important to give extra time between top layers... at the minimum I would say an hour per coat... perhaps longer... no matter if the can say's different.
3.2 Applying the top coat
Like before with the bottom coat, I would suggest LIGHT coats, and build this up.... with the darker primer it will give you somthing to go with... use gentle arcs and small 3 to 4 seconds bursts... then wipe the nozzel. keep the can a good 2 foot away from the target and ensure that a good 4 - 5minutes shaking of the can before use... or the paint could spit and that will ruin the job.
Remember... this is your finishing coat.... take your time and honour the work and effort you put down before... the longer you take the better the finish... the lighter and more number coats you do the better it will look... again give atleast 1 hour between coats... once done.... leave it for 24 - 36 hours to properly cure.... then its onto the final laqure -
3.3 The Final Lacquer
you should get a non-gloss laqure from the same product range as the top-coat paints you purchased earlier - I have Found that Halfords ROCK in this area so find a nice big can and READ the instructions...
Remember to shake this bad-boy for a good 5 minutes - yes you will have super stong arms by the time we are done
I would sugges 2 to 3 coats of laqure - light coats at that... ensure that you give it atleast 40 minutes between coats... personally I give it an hour.
There.... that lot should see you right =)
