[RedBarchetta]

Automotive paint has transparent qualities....it's hue and depth can be altered by the color of the primers beneath it! That's how custom shops that paint candies get those crazy colors...painting a silver base coat gets much different results than a gold base coat (as just one example).

Light colors tend to use light tinted primers, while dark colors tend to go with dark primers. Check with local auto body paint shops and ask them what color primer they would use under the color coat you intend to go with. Then go to a local scrap metal supplier (or metals shop) and buy some small scrap pieces of sheet steel. Prep them like you would your car (primer and sand with 600 grit). Then layer on 3-4 "double coats" (over-lapping strokes) and definitely follow it up with 3-4 coats of clear (just like you would on the real car). If you paint them horizontally, then you won't have much orange peel and probably won't have to worry about color sanding and buffing. It's always easier spray painting a table!

I've painted a few cars....the best education is practice.

Good luck!

-Dean