I would agree with the enamel paints, either Humbrol or Plastikote; they should last really well.

As for preparation, I'd suggest all you really need to do is make sure there is no old wax on there, so perhaps a going over with a cutting paste (T-cut) if you think it's necessary? This should give a perfectly clean surface to paint on, and it'll also be the shiniest panel on your car...

Enamel paint should stick to the clean car paint with little effort, so 'keying' the surface with sandpaper or whatever is only going to cause more work for you later on, having to polish or lacquer it afterwards to regain that shine - far too much like hard work.

Once the job is done, and it's all fully dry, just give the whole boot a couple of coats of good quality car wax to 'seal' the car paint again.

I don't think I'd T-cut it first, mainly because T-cut is total bollocks and makes life hard. I think a wipe over with acetone or similar to remove all the grease on the panel if you're not going to key it with wet and dry.

Hi Jonathan,

There is SO much potential for my typical smut here....but I will behave...

Agree with Ms Lobster (looking at my Daler-Rowney chart, it goes BLUE-VIOLET, VIOLET and then RED-VIOLET....Not VIOLET LOBSTER?) and others, if the paint isnt going to react to the metal, however it is primed, it just wont work. Water colour and such like are not going to stick.

Why not look at the traditional sign writing paints ? Loads of stuff for narrow boats for instance (but maybe not the Roses and Castles...however it does work as a paint)...and as mentioned above that seems to often be the Humbrol type enamel.

Anyway, none of us are fooled, we realise this is just a ploy to get some poor girl to play around with your rear panel....get her to paint it in chocolate spead, honey or invisible ink....or alternatively just ask her directly for her phone number and a date !