All red tails - how they holdin up?

[RCWells]

Title states it. I want to know for those who have done the DIY all red tails, what products did YOU use, and how are they holding up?

I know some say they look like shit after a while, others say if you use automotive grade clear coat on them, they hold up fine.

I want to do this but want to know what the long term look will be, and any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Garageaholic]

I did mine in march with testors paint and clear coat... Not holding up well. I'm going to use paint thinner and get it done professionally when I get my car re-sprayed...... If you're looking for long term performance, I would just get it done professionally. The model paint clear coats wear away...

[RCWells]

Exactly the kind of advice I'm looking for. When you say "professionally", what exactly do you mean? I know there was a guy named John (IIRC) that does these for like $90 shipped both ways? Or something like that. Is that what you mean by professionally? Or will any body shop worth it's salt know how to do this?

[Jand3rson]

Mine were done with Testor's Transparent Candy Apple Red and 5 coats of automotive-grade clearcoat. They are about 6 months old, and still look as good as the day I did them. My car sits in a broady-daylight parking lot all day 5 days a week, no problems so far.

[Garageaholic]

Yeah, I think it's the "automotive-grade clearcoat" that did it.. Not necessarily the color/quality of the paint...

By professionally painted, I mean just that, a quality 'automotive-grade clearcoat' from a HVLP spray gun. NOT out of a can. I made that mistake...
I don't know about John doing the lights, Never heard of it. Will i pay $90 shipped to have it done the right way? sure I would.... I have asked 2 body shops in the area if it could be done and they said they are familiar with the procedure. they didn't give me a price bc i'm going to get it done with the whole car... so I dont know how much they would charge.

Euro... did you use a spray gun to do it?

[blueapplesoda]

i used that candy apple stuff and one coat of polyurethane clear and its been holding up all year. No problems yet. you can even wax them. i don't but you can. and when they start to dull in like 10 years, you can wetsand them and repolish and theyll be brand new again.

edit: urethane clear was sprayed using the harbor freight cheapo hvlp spray gun...which actually sprays very nice. better than my $300 non hvlp gun. so i bought 4 and use them and toss them after a couple of uses (like 3-4).