In This Article
Before & After
This Nissan S13 went from a tired, faded factory finish to an ocean-blue head-turner in Oahu Blue — an Alpha Custom Color that drifts from a light blue to a teal-green depending on how the light hits it. Corey ran the full Alpha Automotive Paint system end to end: DTM primer-sealer, Oahu Blue basecoat, and HS Glamour clearcoat, all laid over a white ground coat so the color reads its full saturation and subtle shift.
Below is how the build came together — the prep, the products, and the steps you'd follow to chase the same finish on your own project.
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Download the Free PDF →Meet the Builder: Corey
Corey handled this S13 from bodywork through final clear, spraying the same Oahu Blue vehicle paint kit we ship to every customer — no shop-only products, no shortcuts. The system is the DTM primer-sealer, Oahu Blue basecoat, HS Glamour clearcoat, plus urethane reducer, HS activator, and the TSS cheat sheet to keep the ratios straight. The kit you'd buy is the kit on this car.
The Color: Why Oahu Blue?
Oahu Blue is a 2-3 colorshifting pearl — an ocean-like blue with a subtle shift from light blue to teal-green. It's built on Alpha's pigment-controlled binder, so it lays down without striping or mottling, holds crystal-clear pearl suspension, and carries strong UV resistance for a finish that stays true in the sun.
Oahu Blue is designed to be sprayed over a white ground coat — that's the foundation the color was built on. Over white, Oahu Blue delivers full coverage and reads at its cleanest, brightest tone, with the light-to-teal shift showing exactly the way it's meant to.
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See Oahu Blue in person — risk-free.
Return the painted samples for store credit toward your paint.
Shop the Oahu Blue Sample →Every Way to Get Oahu Blue
Whether you're painting a full vehicle, a motorcycle, a guitar, or just touching up with a spray can — Oahu Blue is available for every project size. Each kit includes matched products sized for the job.
Oahu Blue Vehicle Paint Kit
$714.93 USD
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Oahu Blue Paint Basecoat
From$17.50 USD
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Oahu Blue Spray Can
$59.99 USD
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Oahu Blue Motorcycle Paint Kit
From$590.65 USD
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Oahu Blue Bike Paint Kit
From$280.70 USD
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Oahu Blue Guitar Paint Kit
From$185.72 USD
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Oahu Blue Wheel Paint Kit
From$577.91 USD
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Oahu Blue Brake Caliper Paint Kit
From$207.71 USD
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Oahu Blue's shift lives in the pearl — keep your basecoat coats even and fully flashed before clear. Rushed, uneven coats are what flatten a colorshift.
What's Inside the Vehicle Paint Kit
These are all the products included in the Oahu Blue Full Vehicle Paint Kit. Every product is already matched and compatible — no hunting across brands, no guessing on ratios.
DTM Primer-Sealer (AP-7541) — The white ground coat Oahu Blue is built on. AP-7541 DTM primer-sealer gives the color a uniform, full-coverage foundation.
Oahu Blue Basecoat — An ocean-blue 2-3 colorshifting pearl that shifts light blue to teal-green. Oahu Blue basecoat mixes 1:1 with reducer.
HS Glamour Clear (AC-4521) — AC-4521 HS Glamour clearcoat lays the deep, glassy gloss over the color and locks in UV and chip protection.
Alpha Urethane Reducer (AR-3000 Series) — Alpha urethane reducer thins the basecoat to a 1:1 spray-ready ratio for even, controlled coats.
HS Activator (AH-7100 Series) — AH-7100 HS activator catalyzes the HS Glamour clear so it cures hard, clear, and durable.
TSS Cheat Sheet — The TSS cheat sheet keeps every mix ratio and flash window at your fingertips through the whole job.
Optional Add-Ons
The vehicle paint kit has everything you need to go from prepped surface to finished paint. But depending on where your project is starting, these add-on bundles can save time and money on the prep and masking side:
Bodywork Bundle
$175.00
Body filler, abrasives, and everything for panel repair. Ideal if your project needs dent or rust repair before paint.
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Light Bodywork Bundle
From $92.99
Dolphin Glaze finishing putty and OptiGrit sanding abrasives. Perfect for filling pinholes, minor scratches, and light surface imperfections.
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Mask & Mix Bundle
$75.00
Mixing cups, strainers, masking tape, and masking paper. Everything you need for clean, precise masking and easy paint mixing.
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Linear Blocking Tools Starter Set
From $236.50
CNC-cut polycarbonate sanding blocks with lifetime warranty. Produces perfectly flat, straight panels for a professional finish.
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OptiGrit PSA Sandpaper Bundle
$64.99
Complete PSA sandpaper set in 80, 180, 220, and 320 grit. The full grit progression for blocking and prep, sized for long boards.
Shop NowThe Complete DIY Process
Step 1: Prep & Bodywork
Every finish this clean starts with the metal underneath. Corey blocked the S13 straight and knocked down the old finish with OptiGrit abrasives before a single coat went on. Skip this and the Oahu Blue will telegraph every flaw.
Step 2: DTM Primer-Sealer (White Ground Coat)
A white ground coat of DTM primer-sealer is the foundation Oahu Blue was built on — it's what lets the color read full and true. Lay it uniform and let it flash before basecoat.
Step 3: Oahu Blue Basecoat
Oahu Blue basecoat mixes 1:1 with Alpha urethane reducer and builds in smooth, even coats until the light-to-teal shift comes up evenly across every panel. Let each coat flash — patience here is what makes the pearl suspension look deep instead of blotchy.
Step 4: HS Glamour Clearcoat
HS Glamour clearcoat, catalyzed with HS activator, is where the depth comes alive — it buries the color in gloss and gives you the wet, glassy finish you see on the finished car. This is also your UV and chip protection.
Step 5: Cut & Buff
Once the clear is fully cured, a light cut with fine OptiGrit and a buff brings the Oahu Blue to a mirror. Reference the TSS cheat sheet for the ratios and flash windows so nothing gets rushed.
Ready to Paint Your Own Build?
Everything Corey used — DTM primer-sealer (your white ground coat), ready-to-spray Oahu Blue basecoat, HS Glamour clearcoat, reducer, activator, and cheat sheet — in one kit.
Build Your Oahu Blue Kit — $714.93 USDLooking for a different color or kit size? Browse all car kits →
See It in Action
TSS painting tutorials and kit walkthroughs — the answers we get asked most.
Frequently Asked Questions
White. Oahu Blue is designed to be sprayed over a white ground coat — that's the foundation the color was built on, and it's what delivers full coverage and the cleanest, brightest light-to-teal shift. The Oahu Blue vehicle paint kit ships with the white DTM primer-sealer for exactly this.
Yes. Oahu Blue is a subtle 2-3 colorshifting pearl — you'll see it move from light blue to teal-green across the body lines of the S13 as the light changes, just like on the painted sample. Even coats of Oahu Blue basecoat and a deep HS Glamour clear are what make the shift read across the whole car.
Yes — Oahu Blue is available in an aerosol spray can for touch-ups and small panels, color-matched to the same basecoat used on the full build.
Every Product Used in This Build
Oahu Blue Vehicle Paint Kit
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Oahu Blue Paint Basecoat
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DTM Primer-Sealer AP-7541 Kit | Alpha Automotive Paint
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HS Glamour Clearcoat AC-4521 Kit | Alpha Automotive Paint
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Urethane Reducer AR-3000 Series | Alpha Automotive Paint
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HS Activator AH-7100 | Alpha Automotive Paint
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Limited Time Deals
Clearance & Flash Sales
Discounted kits, closeout colors, and flash deals — check back often, these move fast.
Shop Current Sales →Big thanks to Corey for running the system as designed and turning this S13 into one of the cleanest Oahu Blue builds we've seen. This is exactly what these kits were built for.
Stay connected with the TSS paint community: follow tutorials and color reveals on YouTube, short-form builds on TikTok and Instagram, and join the Facebook community group.
Want to be featured? Tag @thespraysource or email sales@thespraysource.com.
