I'll prefaced this by saying that I've literally never sprayed anything in my life, that I didn't do with a rattle can!
I'm building myself a Harley Chopper (probably my 20th build) but I'm 100% committed to doing every single part of the build myself. Not just the mechanical & fabrication work, but chrome, upholstery & paint.
I know what I want to do & I know it's silly ambitious for a first job, but my Mum always said I was a runner before a walker.....
I'm only going to be fancy on the tank, so that simplifies things somewhat 😁
My plan is a black base with traditional hotrod flames (example pic, NOT my work!) However, I want the flames to be metalflake. I'll be using Tropical Glitz products for every stage. I have a good quality, gravity fed gun & airbrush (both Iwata) good compressor with independent regulator, water traps & filters.
I'm pretty sure I have my paint schedule correct, but I really need confirmation or correction please.
In order:
Sand bare metal
Etch prime
Sand & fill
Sand & prime again
Sand & spray black basecoat
Wet sand basecoat (?)
Mask off the flame outline, spray blue outline, mask over outline (1/16" tape)
Silver base in the flames
Metalflake the flames (spraycan)
This is where I'm coming unstuck....
Intercoat clear over the metalflake (or unmask & intercoat everything?)
(Re-mask flames?)
Candy coats over the metalflake, layering from yellow-orange-red graduating the tones with layers, rather than mixing (?)
Unmask & 2k clear everything
Wet Sand down to 5000 grit & polish
Does this sound about right? I know it's a lot of steps & I think some may be unnecessary, but I'm not sure. I know it's going to be a lot of work, over a few days, if not weeks, to complete it (that's if I don't screw up & have to start over!)
I'd really appreciate some insight! I don't even know any painters that do true custom work that I can talk to in person.