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When I started restoring about 15 years ago, I used North York paint exclusively. Based on a consult with Peter on the phone, I have followed his directions all these years, even when I used other paint. It has worked flawlessly all the time.
Because of all the nooks and crannies on an OB motor, sanding is really not practical. ALWAYS recoat within the no-sand window. Early recoating is usually not a problem with me, but waiting a bit too long for the second coat may lift the first coat.
I always take easily removable parts off and prepare them for painting separately. (like props, cowls, etc.) Thus, when I paint I may have 8 or 9 sub-assemblies, all which use the same primer, but some may have a different top coat. Here’s my regimen:
* Spray the primer on one part at a time. When finished with the first coat, if 10 minutes have passed since starting, go back to the first part and start the second coat. (in other words, 10 min. between coats)
* Wait an hour – then apply the first top coat.
* Wait another hour and apply the 2nd top coat.
* If masking and doing a 2-tone finish, wait 36 hours, mask, paint the second color, 2 coats, 1 hour apart. At 2 hours remove the masking tape.
* Wait 7 days to apply decals.
Thus, it takes me about 2 1/2 hours to do 4 coats and the job is finished. Applying 1 single coat on an average sized motor takes me about 6 or 7 minutes. With good coverage on all the surface area I don’t know how it can be done any slower than that. If you can’t afford to set aside 3 hours to paint, then you may not like the results.