[Mark Sierant]

Hello Forum, I would like to gain some insight into differnt peoples experience with different paint types. To date my experiance in restoring vehicles has always seen the application of Gloss Coats. In which I have always applied Acrilic paint for the following reasons-
1) I t can be applied in a shed with an exhaust fan and respirator on a warm day
2) The flash of time of the paint at the right temp is under a minute therfore only a small chance of bugs and flys dropping in to a sticky situation.
3) Small blemishes can be sanded and polished out.
4) sanding between coats is easy.
4) Repairs can be easily blended in.

Enamel paint is cheaper to buy but has some negatives for me
1) The paint takes up to 1 hour to flash off so bugs can leave their tracks and bodies embeded in the paint.
2) The paint is thicker out of the gun and needs a lot of attention to avoid runs.
3) sanding between coats if you get a run can take days before the paint is hard enough.

I have never applied two pack as the warning on the cans about arsnic in the hardner has just been too scary for me.

Now to some questions based on comments I have heard from people about problems that occur when a flattening base chalk is applied to Olive paint to remove the gloss.

1) The paint becomes porous and allows water to reach the base metal causing rust and paint flake. Does applying a gloss coat over the primer followed by flat coats solve this problem or is the problem a furphy.
2) Acrilic paints that are applied in up to 6 seperate coats do not adhere properly to each other because of the addition of flattening base chalk. This leads to paint layers flaking away when washed especially under preasure. Is this true?
3) Enamel paint performs better with flattening base chalk as only two coats are applied. The paint holds on better under the preasure washer. What are people experiance in this area?

In general how have restored military vehicles stood up to the test of time with the different paints, any comments welcome.