Shooting with Rapco- Tips?

[Ajax MD]

I ran a search but all the Rapco advice seems to deal solely with their rattle cans.

What with the big quarantine going on, I'm not willing to travel to the local home stores for a gallon of Behr paint.
I've decided that I'm going to order a gallon of 383 Green from Rapco to shoot the troop seats and probably the whole truck, (an M99 if the troop seats go well.

I have a 25 gallon compressor and the cheap-y spray gun that came with it. I'm looking for a "mlitary grade" finish, not Concours quality. This is not a show truck.

Does anyone have any tips for shooting Rapco with a spray gun, such as thinning, thinning products, work time, etc? Rapco recommends Xylene but I just wanted to check here for any real life experience.

Thanks.

 

[M35A2-AZ]

I have used Rapco paint and it is ok but it takes a long time to get hard. Easy to spray use 4 parts paint to one Xylene. I would do two to three coats of paint and a coat of primer. Each coat 12- 24 hrs apart.

 

[67Beast]

Seeing that you are on the east coast, getting it from Army Jeep Parts in PA. might make for cheaper shipping. It is the same Gillespie paint that Rapco sells. Just be aware that the hazmat charge by UPS that both of them have to charge makes shipping pretty expensive. The hazmat charge is by box so if you buy more than 1 gallon, it spreads that cost out over them all making it better. They can ship up to 4 gallons per box. https://www.armyjeepparts.com/t-GCI_paint.aspx I have used their painting recommendations on all 5 trucks I have painted and they turned out great.

 

[18operator]

I did the same process M35A2-AZ did. It worked really good through my inexpensive spray outfit. I'm about 5 years into the paint job and it's held up well.

 

[Ajax MD]

@18operator What shade of green is that? It seems kind of "bright" for 383 green.

Lots of great advice here. Thanks.

 

[glcaines]

Does anyone have any tips for shooting Rapco with a spray gun, such as thinning, thinning products, work time, etc? Rapco recommends Xylene but I just wanted to check here for any real life experience.

Thanks.

Thin the paint with Xylene. That is what was recommended to me by RAPCO. The 383 Green came out as an almost perfect match for the CARC and sprayed great. It is also holding up very well.

 

[18operator]

@18operator What shade of green is that? It seems kind of "bright" for 383 green.

Lots of great advice here. Thanks.

Thats part number 34094 "383" Green C.A.R.C. substitute, late 80's to present. That picture was taken on a really bright day
Here's a different picture same color paint.

 

[Ajax MD]

Thats part number 34094 "383" Green C.A.R.C. substitute, late 80's to present. That picture was taken on a really bright dayView attachment 795256
Here's a different picture same color paint.

Yeah, this second photo looks more like I'd expect. Looks good. Great job.

 

[bachman502]

I personally would hold out and wait for this stuff to pass. Or suit up and get some Behr paint. The Behr seems to be what everyone is going to.

 

[Tinwoodsman]

You might try Brent Mullins Jeep Parts in Texas. He has a line of spray colors and gallons. I find them apply and wear better that the Rapco product.

 

[waayfast]

I painted my M35 Gasser in 2008. Used Gillispie thinned 4-1 with Xylene. VERY easy and forgiving and cheap in price. I've done a lot of Acrylic Urethane base/clear in my body shop over the years and while that is VERY durable, I have been pleased with this "old tech" product as well. Difference being, the well over 10 times less cost.

I have not tried the Behr solid stain route on a vehicle but just recently bought a solid "house paint stain" of another brand for siding on the house and it was just about the same price as a gallon of Gillispie.
For me, I would be concerned about doing repairs or repaint down the road with a latex coated truck. I sandblasted a metal flower pot holder (big/fancy/multiple wrought iron holder) for my lady years ago that had multiple coats of latex paint. TOOK FOR FREAKIN' EVER! Seemed like the "rubber" paint just made the sand bounce off, LOL!!
Just old and set in my ways, perhaps--your mileage may vary.
BTW, my Avatar shows my M35. The bed and racks are factory CARC, the cab is Gillispie. Photo is about 2 years after I painted it.

 

[waayfast]

 

[waayfast]

The black has faded but that was NAPA spray can. The "front" photo was just this winter. Truck has always been parked outside. 12 years.

 

[Bill Nutting]

Rapco sells Gillespie. Gillespie makes good paint. It lays down nice and is relatively durable. You can purchase Gillespie from several sources. I had an issue with Rapco, and won’t go back for more. PM me if you want to know more. My next vehicle will be painted with Beher.

 

[Flyingvan911]

Be sure to wash the truck with a degreaser first. The new paint might soak into the CARC. Give those spots about 15 minutes then go over with another coat. Repeat until the paint is smooth.

 

[silverstate55]

Enamels, whether oil-based or alkyds, typically take up to 3 weeks to fully cure or harden (“gas out”). Whenever I shoot an enamel, I try to let it harden for a month before I do any work with it (whether color-sanding or just assembling), whenever possible.

 

[RustyEric]

I have used Rapco paint and it is ok but it takes a long time to get hard. Easy to spray use 4 parts paint to one Xylene. I would do two to three coats of paint and a coat of primer. Each coat 12- 24 hrs apart.View attachment 795243View attachment 795243

Is that 24087 paint code?

 

[67Beast]

Is that 24087 paint code?

Yes that is #24087 which is the Vietnam era color and is the same I've used on my trucks.

 

[GopherHill]

Be sure to use an organic vapor respirator when you use xyl ene reduced paint. You can add catalyst to your paint for faster curing. That needs the respirator also.

 

[chucky]

Late post i just saw the thread but for what its worth i shot 5 gallons of rapco 383 green and i mixed it 4 parts 383 1 part laquer thinner and it shot great out of a gravity feed gun i shot it outside sunny 80/85 degrees and the 5 gallons put one good coat on the whole truck going to put 5 more on it in the next few months the same way except im going to shoot it out of a paint pot save the up and down time . Took the tape and paper off drove it home 6 hrs later