Painting a camouflage scene or pattern on your vehicle can help hide it in the woods or other areas while hunting. Camouflage can also hide dirt and grime on your vehicle, extending the time between washings. There are different ways to paint camouflage onto your vehicle, depending on the look you want.
Camouflage stencils can be found at many sporting and hunting stores. These stencils make camouflaging your vehicle simple.
Sand the vehicle down with a dual-action sander and 120-grit sandpaper. This removes the outer layers of paint and primer. Cover all parts and trim that can't be painted. Spray three light layers of primer over the vehicle and allow 30 minutes of drying time between each layer. After the primer is dry, spray two thin coats of a base color paint on the vehicle. This seals the primer and protects the vehicle from rust. It also provides the background color for the camouflage scene.
Place the camouflage stencil against the vehicle, starting at the bottom and in the front. Spray the stencil using the camouflage colors you want. Start with background colors and layer on the other colors as needed. Move the stencil along the side of the car until it is covered in the camouflage pattern. Move on to the other side and then the top of the hood, roof and trunk. Go back over the camouflage paint job with spray paint, making little changes and adding definition where needed.
If no stencils are available with a pattern you like, you can make your own camouflage paint job using real plants. Start out with the same steps to prepare your vehicle for paint. Sand the surface with 120-grit sandpaper and a dual-action sander. Use masking tape to cover any parts that can't be painted and then spray three light coats of primer on the vehicle. Once the primer is dry, spray two coats of paint on the vehicle. Choose a color for the background of your camouflage theme and use it as the base coat.
Once the base coat of paint dries you can begin to paint the camouflage pattern. Use large leaves, sticks and other shrubbery that you can hold against the vehicle. Use spray paint to paint around the edges of the plants. Make sure the paint extends three or four inches or more away from the edge of the plant. Use several different plants to get the pattern you are looking for. You can make a repeating pattern or paint in a random order over the entire vehicle. Once the paint has dried, spray three coats of clear coat on the vehicle to seal the paint. If you don't want the paint to look shiny, you can add a flattening agent to the clear coat that makes the clear flat and dull looking.
