Best spray paint to match ABS white

[JBar]

For some reason I'm having trouble finding what people use for paint to best match ABS plastic. I currently have an SC all ABS kit but I'm working on getting a Moncal helmet that I'll have to paint. What paint should I use so that the helmet is the same color and shine as the ABS white? I also of course want it to be as durable as possible. Thanks in advance

[BikerScout007]

In my experience, the Rustoleum white seems to be most people's go-to when it comes to painting armor:

https://www.target.com/p/rust-oleum-ultra-cover-2x-high-gloss-spray-white/-/A-78262314

However, whether it's the best match in your particular case is hard to tell.  Vendors use different suppliers and as a result, their plastic can have undertones that are more yellow, blue, purple etc.   You would have to evaluate the pieces when you get them and test them with the paint to see if they match well or not.  You may end up having to paint the armor and the helmet.  

Or, you could just be like me and have a helmet and armor that are slightly different shades and not care   

[Aradun]

BikerScout007 gave solid advice as always. Don’t obsess over getting an exact match. Most people won’t even notice a difference in shade or sheen. They’re just all to happy to have photo ops with cool Star Wars characters.

My RS armor and bucket are different sheens and shades of white and they do that deliberately. The difference is very visible to me, but no one else seems to notice (or care ).

[Retrofire]

Just a quick note of warning John. Make sure to wipe/clean down your helmet with something like isopropyl alcohol or soap and water to remove any oil from your hands or debris. Also be sure to use the same manufacturer for the primer we've seen more than our fair share of paint issues when different primers are used with different paints.

[MikerScout]

In my experience Rust oleum 2x white is a great color match to the SC armor and lays out smooth.  I would warn against using any primer.  The 2x is supposed to be self priming and I found that it doesn't get along with primer of even the same brand and type (2x).  I would shoot a couple test panels for sure.  I ended stripping my helmet twice fighting with this stuff, but the finish and color match is spot on.  Just my .02

Side note, I wet sanded my helmet with 800 or 1000 grit before painting

[JBar]

15 hours ago, Retrofire said:

Just a quick note of warning John. Make sure to wipe/clean down your helmet with something like isopropyl alcohol or soap and water to remove any oil from your hands or debris. Also be sure to use the same manufacturer for the primer we've seen more than our fair share of paint issues when different primers are used with different paints.

Thanks. Yeah I've seen the results of mixing paint brands and it's no good

[Aradun]

6 hours ago, MikerScout said:

In my experience Rust oleum 2x white is a great color match to the SC armor and lays out smooth.  I would warn against using any primer.  The 2x is supposed to be self priming and I found that it doesn't get along with primer of even the same brand and type (2x).  I would shoot a couple test panels for sure.  I ended stripping my helmet twice fighting with this stuff, but the finish and color match is spot on.  Just my .02

Side note, I wet sanded my helmet with 800 or 1000 grit before painting

Mike, great observation of the 2x.  I used 2x flat black over a 2x metallic undercoat for my DLT19X and as it dried it left a crackling effect in some spots, not that the paint itself cracked but that it “shrank” as it dried exposing the metallic finish underneath.  A very light sanding with 400 grit and an additional coat (or two) of flat black did the trick, but you’re dead right when you say that this stuff doesn’t react well even with itself.  So definitely do a test run before laying any layers down on a kit or prop.  

[iceknyght]

On 11/9/2021 at 12:50 PM, BikerScout007 said:

Or, you could just be like me and have a helmet and armor that are slightly different shades and not care   

This is me.  LOL!  I thought I'd care more, but after several troops, not so much...

 

I still want to weather everything at some point (I'm way too clean)!  LOL!