WOR DS & P HOT OGR A P HY : R I C HA R D B A R K E R
Part 5: Time to get some colour on the bus.
Basecoat and clearcoat application
Serenity: The Build Diaries
In my attractive paint suit, nitrile powder free gloves
and Gerson ltered mask I look like a throwback
from a 1990s illegal rave,
W
ith a high-top I
separate the two
halves of the bus;
trying to paint the
whole thing in one hit is asking
for trouble and the element of risk
to the paint finish is increased.
Imusing four litres of each colour
in a Lechler solvent basecoat on
this project and Grant at Buckley
Coatings, North Wales, supplied
it. Ive dealt with Grant for several
years as his prices, quality of stock
and customer service are second
to none; I cannot recommend him
highly enough. I mixed it 2:1 basecoat
to thinners and stirred it thoroughly
before pouring the mix into the gun
cup. Donning my attractive paint suit,
nitrile powder free gloves and Gerson
filtered mask as well as looking like a
throwback froma 1990s illegal rave,
Improtected fromthe nasties in
the basecoat. Its important to check
your mask filters out isocyanate,
which is the horrible stuff that will
eventually emulsify your lungs. Nice!
Having erected scaffolding around
Serenity to aid access to her roof area,
it was degreased with help frommy
mumusing an anti silicone panel
wipe and then a starchem tack rag
was wiped all over the surface to
remove the last dregs of dust that
may have been lurking. I ventured up
the ladders with my Devilbiss GTI
Pro paint gun using an H1 HVLP
cap set to 27psi at the tip and a cup
full of Audis finest. Its important
to remember where your airline is
at all times, try to keep one hand
controlling the airline and the other
controlling the gun, because its too
easy to trip and end up in the new
wet paint youve just applied or run
out of airline at a critical moment.
I started by applying an even wet
coat to the edges, curves and indents
all around the roof; this is often
overlooked by paint shops, but it
makes sure that the paint coverage
in the harder to reach bits is the
same as the flat areas, thus; no see
through paint. Once this had dried
for about ten minutes, starting at the
front driver side and working my way
to the rear, I horizontally applied a
wet coat using a 75 percent pass to
ensure even coverage of the colour
Restoration
and finished in the centre of the roof.
I then swapped sides and did exactly
the same in reverse to finish at the
front passenger corner. Asecond
coat was added after 20 minutes
and then a drop coat was applied.
Simply put, a drop coat is used
to uniformly apply the particles
which are within a metallic or
pearlescent basecoat. To do this the
gun pressure is lowered to around
20psi at the tip and the gun is held
approximately 24 inches fromthe
panel, still employing the 75 percent
pass technique but vertically as well
as horizontally, so it is allowed to
1. Always pay extra
attention to your
edges and hard to
reach areas rst.
1
Theres no time for
standing about gawping
drop evenly over a much wider area.
Because Serenity is sporting
more than one shade I used a 5mm
fine line tape to get a smooth
edge between the two colours. I
applied it exactly where the paint
edge was to be, gently pressing it
against the basecoat no less than
an hour after it was applied. The
remaining area where I didnt want
any paint to land was masked off
and the second colour was applied.
This was left to dry for around an
hour and the masking was removed.
However, a word of warning; be very
careful when removing fine line
tape as its adhesive is quite strong
and can pull off fresh basecoat.
If in any doubt, leave it overnight
and remove the following day.
I nowfound myself smiling
uncontrollably as the colours
complimented each other perfectly;
exactly what I had hoped for. But,
as reminded by my mum, Theres
no time for standing about gawping,
we need to mix the clearcoat.
Unsurprisingly Imusing 15 litres
of Upol 2080 Clear Anti Scratch
Clearcoat which will be plenty for
four coats over the entire bus. This
is mixed 2:1:1 clear to hardener
to thinner and then allowed to
stand for ten minutes which
allows any air to escape before
being applied to the surface.
Tip: If you have infra red heat
lamps warmthe panels first, also
try standing your five-litre tin of
clear, cap loosened, in a bucket of
hot water for half-an-hour before
you mix itthe results will make you
a firmbeliever in the technique.
Aquick whip round the dry
basecoat with a newtack rag and
using the same gun as the basecoat
but with a T2 cap and 27psi at
the tip, I started by again applying
a wet coat to all the edges, curves
and indents and after ten minutes
flash off period (when the paint
just gets tacky) painted the roof in
2. A couple of
minor defects
were noticed
during the paint
preparation, and
were remedied.
3. All masked up
ready for secondary
colour application.
4. Prep: The most
important part.
Always degrease
thoroughly before
any paint is applied.
5. Clearcoat the
next morning after
a long night.
6. I inadvertently
gave the bus eyes
when setting up
the paint gun
spray pattern!
exactly the same 75 percent pass
method as applying the basecoat. I
waited 30 minutes at 20Cbetween
the four coats and allowed it to
dry overnight. With clearcoat you
do not apply a drop coat, if you
do, youll have to start again or
really, really enjoy wet-flatting!
The main body of the camper was
approached in exactly the same way,
but I masked the roof section off to
avoid overspray landing on it. All
edges and hard-to-reach areas were
painted first and then complete coats
were applied once I was happy. If
unsure at any point whether you have
enough colour applied, shine an LED
torch directly at the panels and walk
around the vehicle, viewing it from
different angles as you move, this
will highlight any non-covered areas.
If you are painting a solid colour
or direct gloss followthe clearcoat
technique, not the basecoat technique
as effectively you are spraying a
clearcoat with pigment within it.
Next time: Electrics and interior equipment
3
2
4
5
6
RESTORATION
www.volkswagencamper.co.uk
RESTORATION
www.volkswagencamper.co.uk 68 69
RESTORATION
THE BUILD DIARIES
