Cobra Colors clear over CF

[willimo]

Specifically SMS CF decals. Has anyone done this yet? How did you fair? If no one has, I'll be reporting back to you guys about it in a few weeks. My plan of attack: a few, fully covering light coats that get to harden before I spray any wet coats.

[Cobra Colors]

I've done it successfully several times over F/C and NASCAR bodies decorated with both Slixx and kit supplied decals, but there's a fine line that separates success from disaster. Too much too fast and the clear will bubble the decals. If you use patience though and apply very light mist coats you can gradually build up layers that will eventually enable you to safely apply a normal wet coat of clear.

[MPWR]

Yeah, what he said. By now, you probably don't need anyone here to tell you that applying clear laquer over CF is not inherently safe, but can be done, usually, if you're careful and know what you're doing. Good luck, you know what will happen if it goes wrong, hopefully it will go right.

[willimo]

Good to know. That was my m.o. when spraying Tamiya clear over CF, which I've been able to do just fine, so this should be no harder. I was worried the clear would be hotter and may not work at all, but I trust you guys. Thanks!

[bvia]

As a Tamiya Master Builder once advised..."When using clear over ANYTHING, just sneak up on it with light, light, light coats and all should be ok." However, he also recommends practicing on a piece of scrap first!

hth,
Bill

[willimo]

Well, I did just that, I snuck up on it with light coats and it came out ok save for a little bubbling at the very front of my hood, which is a most noticable spot! However, after a day the bubbles have settled down and you can't see them, so I'll be giving it a few more light coats again this week before moving on to thicker coats getting it ready for polishing. The only problem now is that I'm bad at CF decals, and the clear has made my patches rather noticable. Hopefully if I bury them, they'll disappear. Kinda.