[BAracer]

I reckon you guys are the people to ask... 

I have bought some Lexan interiors for a couple of race cars. They look like they are black (they are still in transit). 

What type of paint should I use to decorate them, and is there any particular kit or technique I should use? 

Thank you.

[Savage GT]

I use normal enamel model paints, such as humbrol, revell etc.

[munter]

Many approaches work....I spray a coat of primer on and then use Tamiya acrylic water base paints

[BAracer]

And back to basics.... 

Interior first? 
Overalls first? 
Face first? 
Light colours first? 
Dark colours first? 

I'm sure I will be OK once I have done one, I would just like to minimise the basic errors!

[dvd3500]

Wash with dishwashing detergent: A lot of these have release agents.

Use 1000 grit sandpaper to roughen up the surface so that the paint sticks.

There are paints specific for Lexan, though I have never had problems with acrylics.

[Tamar]

Hello Jeremy

A lot of good advise has been posted, here my 2 ct's

In general vacformed interiors are "sucked" from transparant or black PET, Lexan is hardly used anymore (too expensive)
If transparent a plastic primer is your best base, can be a very thin coat.
I usually use thinner based paints for my base colors and waterbed acrylics to highlight the details. This way small errors can be corrected.
If using very small brushes is not your forté you can also add detail with fine tipped water-resistant markers like this from steadler.

   
I.m.o. painting a vacformed interior is not a matter of "coloring within the lines" its more about creating a suggestion
As you can see in the image above the first step was to highlight the bright color in basic black & white.
Below I added some minimal touches of color with paint and markers and then added washes of very diluted acrylics to create shadows and accentuate shapes.

   

The best tip I can give for painting vacformed interiors...keep track of what will remain visible once mounted in your car 

   

with kind regards
Tamar

[BAracer]

Thanks all!

So Tamiya acrylic paints seem readily available, and you clean the brushes with soapy water. Think I probably need a basic set of around 6 colours to create detail and contrast. Will also get some Staedtler permanent markers for highlights

Forgot about full face helmets(!), so no fiddly facial details to worry about. And read elsewhere (Tamar I think) about transferring the roll cage over to the new interior to enhance the appearance.

And to be on the safe side, although I am only refitting two car interiors, I have bought 3 kits. 

Feeling a lot more confident about the exercise now though. 

Thanks again.

[munter]

So Tamiya acrylic paints seem readily available,

Pretty much correct but I visited a wargamers shop and bought three different pottles of flesh colour. Sometime I use a bit of one and a bit of another to give a bit of depth.....one colour for one face can look a bit unnatural.

Did someone mention fullface helmets?

[dvd3500]

I agree with Tamar's comment about suggestion.
I glued some thin rubber bands (cut to size) over the seatbelt forms to give it more of a 3D look.
They are technically too thick but as it was a closed roof car it didn't show up too badly...
 Cling film/saran wrap can also be put over visors...
Fiddly work though and not really worth the effort in most cases...

[BAracer]

Work in progress on the right, copying the one on the left... 
   

All the gear, sort of got the idea.

(but not about attachments!)