Guide: Solid Colours
Solid colours are the base of most builds. Koloi Aqua colours are ground for strong coverage, so you reach full colour in thin coats and the detail stays crisp.
You will need
- Your Koloi Aqua solid colour
- The right Koloi Aqua Primer (see the preparation guide)
- Koloi Aqua Clear: Gloss, Satin or Matte
- An airbrush with a 0.2–0.4 mm nozzle
Step by step
- Prime with the primer that suits the colour and let it dry fully.
- Shake the bottle for at least 60 seconds.
- Airbrush straight from the bottle, no thinning needed, with a 0.2–0.4 mm nozzle at around 20 PSI (1.4 bar).
- Apply 2–3 light, cross-hatched coats, 5–10 minutes apart at around 20 °C. Let each coat turn matte before the next.
- Let it dry. The colour is touch-dry in 15–20 minutes. Wait at least 2 hours before masking.
- Seal with Koloi Aqua Clear: gloss for a factory shine, satin or matte for work vehicles and interiors. See the clear coat guide.
- Clean the airbrush with water before the paint dries.
What usually goes wrong
Red, orange or yellow looks patchy
These colours are naturally translucent. Prime in white and build the colour in thin coats instead of one heavy coat.
Panel lines and details disappear
Too many heavy coats. The colour is pre-thinned for thin coats: keep them light and stop as soon as coverage is even.
Tape lifts the paint
The paint was masked too early. Wait at least 2 hours after the last coat, longer in cold or damp weather.
Paint dries too fast in hot weather
Above about 28 °C the paint can start drying on the way to the model or at the nozzle tip. Paint in a cooler place or at a cooler time of day.