Advice needed on matt finish paintwork

[52classic]

Ford F350, ex-USAF. Long standing restoration project now on the home stretch.
We've painted each panel with 2 pack as repairs were completed and now looking forward to a top coat on the whole thing to complete the job.

After a lot of messing around we ended up with Land Rover 'Eastnor Green' as closest to the NATO colour and experimented with a few sample pieces to establish the right degree of 'matt.'

Trouble is that the finish is very difficult to look after. 'nibbing off' and polishing as with a normal finish is a definite no-no. Inevitable streaks or road dirt, washed then polished off leaves the finish too shiny, it will be ruined in no time.

Ideas so far are to coat it in matt lacquer, another is to use base coat without lacquer but with a small shot of 2 pack hardener.

Please help. The sole purpose of it is as a show vehicle and we would have liked to get it out there before the end of the season. Just for interest,
it is being finished as a missile carrier, the missile having already been sourced.

Can the PH crew solve the problem?

[somouk]

Matt Laquer or don't bother painting it and wrap it matt.

Matt paints are a nightmare to look after.

[52classic]

somouk said:

Matt Laquer or don't bother painting it and wrap it matt.

Matt paints are a nightmare to look after.

Thanks mate, Matt laquer it is then. Restoring this has taken ages so we want to get the final finish right. What would you suggest for the eve of the show prep? Panel wipe? diluted truck wash?

[somouk]

Something specifically designed for the Matt finish. A lot of car stuff is designed to make the car look shiny so leaves things behind on the surface.

I'd probably take the approach of a good ceramic coating on the paint and then just a wash and dry without any other product.

[fiesta_STage3]

iirc land rover did a victoria beckham special edition that used a matt paint. could be worth seeing what they used/recommended

[paintman]

Try the matt clear on test panels as you did with the paint.
You may be disappointed.
I wouldn't touch a car with any matt finish for the reasons you give.

[somouk]

Spoke to a pal who has matt paint for for a quick tidy up when he wants it looking good after driving somewhere he uses a waterless wash mixture.

[V8covin]

paintman said:

Try the matt clear on test panels as you did with the paint.
You may be disappointed.
I wouldn't touch a car with any matt finish for the reasons you give.

I've done bonnets in matt/satin black with Lechler 1k acrylic and they've stood up well,still look good after a couple of years.
I wouldn't ever use 2k because my spray area just isn't clean enough.You need a spotless booth with the best air flow/extraction to stand any chance of getting a decent finish.
You can't denib,you can't polish out marks.Total nightmare.
The 1k acrylic doesn't seem to attract dirt like 2k does.
A wrap would be preferable unless you're not too fussed at the finish

[52classic]

Hmm. Interesting stuff, thanks gents, very much.

Tried out with an aerosol of matt lacquer and we decided to use that on the inside of the bonnet.
Outside, factoring in what you have said, the plan is to use a synthetic enamel in the authentic NATO colour. from......... The paintman (ebay) are they one and the same? I know it'll have to satay as it comes out of the gun. Apparently the Army use this so if it is good enough for them..

Some interesting ideas for preserving it. I thought ceramic coatings were always glossy but the principle seems good. Matbe the answer is to repaint it each winter for the show season.

Thanks again for the help one and all. will let you know what happens.

[paintman]

52classic said:

Hmm. Interesting stuff, thanks gents, very much.

Tried out with an aerosol of matt lacquer and we decided to use that on the inside of the bonnet.
Outside, factoring in what you have said, the plan is to use a synthetic enamel in the authentic NATO colour. from......... The paintman (ebay) are they one and the same? I know it'll have to satay as it comes out of the gun. Apparently the Army use this so if it is good enough for them..

Some interesting ideas for preserving it. I thought ceramic coatings were always glossy but the principle seems good. Matbe the answer is to repaint it each winter for the show season.

Thanks again for the help one and all. will let you know what happens.

No, that one isn't me.
No idea if the one on ebay is the same as this chap but this one is the one that gets recommendations on Land Rover forums (it's not me either!)
https://paintman.co.uk/product-category/coach-enam...

[52classic]

That's the one! Ordered some today so we can give it a try. There seems to be agreement that there's no magic formula to keeping it clean.

Thanks again everyone, I'll let you know how it works out.

[Mark V GTD]

We refinish historic military aircraft in 2k matt and they can be maintained with appropriate techniques.

[52classic]

Thanks Mark. Since the weather changed we haven't been able to try out the synthetic paint from the Paint Man. We are having to paint this one in a marquee! Our attempts with 2 pack Matt came out OK but the usual process of nibbing it off and polishing is impossible of course.

Also, we found that cleaning off any marks resulted in a sort of 'burnishing' which made the finish patchy. Maybe it is the way we are cleaning it?

I'll post again once we have tried out the synthetic.

[Mark V GTD]

Yes its a challenging finish to apply as you don't have any rectification routes available and its very much 'what you see is what you get'. We apply two colour (single stage) camouflage paints to historic aircraft and normally use three sprayguns at the same time to get the required finish and blend.

Cleaning - use plenty of water and avoid anything that has the word shine in it! Often just water and microfibre will be enough. Autoglym glass cleaner works well too.