Started Applying 2K Clearcoat to Dome Panels for Droid #1 and Droid #2

Today I worked on applying the first coats of the Spray Max 368-0061 high gloss clearcoat on the blue dome panels for droids #1 and #2. I masked a few things here and there and got ready for the application.



The can says you'd better wear a protective mask, so I wore a protective mask. Plus, it helps keep me warm on a 94º day.



First coat applied.



Second coat applied.



I'll be honest, so far the clearcoat is not looking as shiny as I had hoped. However, I believe the problem is in my application of it.

In the past when I painted and clearcoated these panels, I did not put them on a table and then just shoot downward; rather, I put them on a supporing piece of wood and sprayed at advantageous angles. I sprayed the clearcoat until it looked wet, like a very thin layer of water. So tomorrow I plan to come back and try that.

Lightly Sanded Snakeskin Pattern on Droid #2 Dome Panels, Removed Droid #1 Dome Panels

Yesterday I mentioned that I am re-clearcoating droid #2's blue dome panels due to a snakeskin pattern that got imprinted into the original clearcoat in a few places on the dome a couple years ago. Today I lightly sanded those areas with 2000 grit sandpaper. My goal was to eliminate the snakeskin pattern in the clearcoat, but to not sand so deep as to hit the layers of color underneath the clearcoat.



I decided that since I was going to the trouble and expense of re-clearcoating one of the droid's blue dome panels with a high-end 2K clearcoat, I might as well do both droids, since I want to protect them both from future damage when they are covered. So, pulled off almost all the blue panels on droid #1 as well.

A couple of panels are siliconed onto the dome rather than being attached with 3M Very High Bond tape, so I decided to leave those in place. They are not at high risk for having an imprinted pattern when the dome is covered.



Two bald droids.



Next up, the first coats of the Spray Max 2K clearcoat.

Pulled Dome Panels on Droid #2 for New Clearcoat

Way back in 2024 I placed a BBQ cover on droid #2 to cover him up. This came back to bite me, as the Rustoleum Crystal Clear Enable clearcoat can get a bit "melty" in the heat, and sure enough it left a snakeskin pattern on some of the dome panels and the radar eye on droid #2.



I'd been putting off addressing this, but now was an opportune time. I had talked to Mike Senna about this when it happened, and he recommended re-clearcoating with SprayMax 368-0061 High Gloss clearcoat, two cans of which I ordered last week. This is a 2-component ("2K") clearcoat that chemically solidifies as it cures.



As much as I hate pulling the dome panels off the droid, I went ahead and did it.



Then I stared at droid #1 for a long time. "You're next."