Historical Acrylic Painting Step by Step Course
Online 300-hour course in step-by-step historical acrylic painting. 6 modules covering ISO 2409 (cross-cut adhesion test), ISO 3668 (visual colour comparison) and Glasurit Color Profi. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Historical Acrylic Painting Step by Step Course — studying from New Zealand
Vehicle restoration and classic engine work in New Zealand is supported by an active enthusiast community and a well-established network of specialist workshops, particularly around the main centres. Historic vehicle registration and compliance fall under the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, and the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand promotes preservation of historic vehicles. Restoration professionals often combine fabrication, engineering and heritage conservation skills.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$1,280 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
Is restoration engineering recognised by a professional body in New Zealand?
There is no specific statutory register for classic vehicle or heritage restoration engineers in New Zealand. Heritage matters can involve Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, and vehicle roadworthiness is governed by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so their value depends on the employer or client.
Where do classic restoration specialists work in New Zealand?
Work is found in independent restoration workshops, classic car dealers, museums, and specialist fabrication businesses, many clustered around the main centres. Clients and employers usually judge by workmanship and a portfolio of completed restorations. A private qualification may complement that evidence but is rarely a deciding factor on its own.
Can I study this while running or working in a workshop here?
Yes. The course is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from home in New Zealand without a student visa. Specialist courses total 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours. An assigned technical tutor supports you, and fees can be paid in instalments.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Explain the chemistry of historical acrylic lacquers.
Document and reproduce the original colour.
Prepare substrates compatible with the acrylic system.
Apply the lacquer step by step with thickness control.
Correct finishing defects.
Comply with VOC emissions regulations.
Carry out a complete acrylic painting project.
Who it's for
- Classic vehicle painter looking to specialise in step-by-step historical acrylic painting.
- Automotive colourist looking to specialise in step-by-step historical acrylic painting.
- Classic vehicle restorer looking to specialise in step-by-step historical acrylic painting.
- Paint booth technician looking to specialise in step-by-step historical acrylic painting.
- Technical paint advisor looking to specialise in step-by-step historical acrylic painting.
- Finish quality manager looking to specialise in step-by-step historical acrylic painting.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter paint workshops.
What you'll work with
- ISO 2409 (cross-cut adhesion)
- ISO 3668 (visual colour comparison)
- ISO 11664-4 (CIELAB colorimetry)
- Directive 2004/42/EC (VOC in paints)
- Royal Decree 227/2006 (VOC in vehicle refinishing paints)
- ISO 9227 (salt spray)
- ISO 2808 (film thickness)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Thermoplastic acrylic polymers1.2Acrylic lacquers versus acrylic enamels1.3Solvents, thinners and retarders1.4Metallic pigments of the 1960s1.5VOC limits and current alternatives1.6Historical use by American manufacturers1.7Ageing behaviour1.8Compatibility with modern substrates1.9Respiratory protection and booth1.10Practice: mixing and viscosity adjustment
2.1Factory colour codes2.2Colour cards and historical sources2.3Spectrophotometry and tone adjustment2.4Flake orientation in metallics2.5Preparation of sample panels2.6Matching with non-restored parts2.7Illuminants and metamerism2.8Formula recording2.9Colour authenticity in competitions2.10Workshop: colour adjustment with sample panels
3.1Primers compatible with acrylic3.2Sandable surfacers and fine body fillers3.3Sanding guide and flatness control3.4Sealer before colour3.5Masking of joints and mouldings3.6Anti-silicone cleaning3.7Temperature and humidity in the booth3.8Flash-off times between coats3.9Preparation of loose parts3.10Practice: preparing a wing
4.1Gravity guns and nozzles4.2Pressure, fan and distance4.3Mist coat and wet coats4.4Number of coats and final thickness4.5Metallics without clouding or streaking4.6Acrylic with clear coat4.7Air and forced drying4.8Correcting specks and runs4.9Stripes and two-tone combinations4.10Laboratory: colour application on a panel
5.1Thermal reflow of acrylic lacquers5.2Wet sanding after curing5.3Polishing for period gloss5.4Cracking and micro-cracks: causes5.5Blistering from moisture5.6Cratering from contamination5.7Shade differences between panels5.8Durability and maintenance5.9Warranty of the paintwork5.10Case study: diagnosing a failed respray
6.1Research of the original colour6.2Choice of product system6.3Surface preparation6.4Application of primers6.5Application of colour6.6Finishing and polishing6.7Gloss and thickness control6.8Process documentation6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which allows it to be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Glasurit Color Profi, Standowin iQ, X-Rite Color iQC, Advanced Excel (colour cards), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real application procedures in paint booths, colour tests on sample panels and system adhesion tests. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain the chemistry of historical acrylic lacquers.
Document and reproduce the original colour.
Prepare substrates compatible with the acrylic system.
Apply the lacquer step by step with thickness control.
Correct finishing defects.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow the reading of technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with full-time work.
Work is carried out with Glasurit Color Profi, Standowin iQ, X-Rite Color iQC and Advanced Excel (colour cards). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An own diploma from SEIUM upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the higher programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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