Metallic Paint = Radar & Laseer Reflectivity?

[Gearhead Jim]

On a steel car, I don't think the paint would make any difference.
But I've got a 2006 Corvette, so the body is various types of plastic. It still shows up on radar because the radar signal goes through the plastic body and reflects off the pieces of metal. Somewhat reduced compared to the typical tin car but still plenty to get clocked, just like motorcycles can get clocked. Laser is like any other red car, which I presume to be highly reflective.
My current color is bright red (Victory Red), I'm wondering if the metallic red (Crystal Red) would show up more on either radar or laser. The tiny metal particles in the paint might reflect back both radar and laser, or there is a small possibility they might scatter it in different directions and produce less reflection.
Anyone know?

[Eloi]

''My current color is bright red (Victory Red), I'm wondering if the metallic red (Crystal Red) would show up more on either radar or laser. The tiny metal particles in the paint might reflect back both radar and laser, or there is a small possibility they might scatter it in different directions and produce less reflection.
Anyone know?''

To my humble knowledge : the metallic finish will help the laser , perhaps
not by a large margin ...but it does , the greater the distance the more
this effect is noticeable.
It is proven that laser loves red .
As for the ''scatter it in different directions'' , it will only help the laser
specially at high angle.
Now everybody agrees the unique , genuine protection is a decent
jammer.

As for he radar reflectivity/fiberglass : your explanation is dead on .
I am not sure if the metallised paint would increase the Rcs of the car ,
unless we can pinpoint the origin of the metallic effect :
is it from ''real'' metal particles or
some high-tech plastic effect ...
Some specialist could chime in ...

If you could access behind the fiberglass and install absorbing
material , then it would help reduce your radar cross section ,
but never renders your car invisible to radar ...only increase
the acquisition distance.
You would need broadband absorber form 24 gig to 40 gig.

Life is better in stealth

[Eloi]

Between , I like the color.

[Gearhead Jim]

Between , I like the color.

HEY, YOU STOLE MY CAR !!!
Oh wait, mine has the transparent top.
Have you done anything to reduce the radar/laser reflectivity of the headlights and foglights?

[Eloi]

'' HEY, YOU STOLE MY CAR !!!
Oh wait, mine has the transparent top.
Have you done anything to reduce the radar/laser reflectivity of the headlights and foglights? ''

Unfortunately ...it is not my car , google stole it for me

I did it on my Suv mitsubishi endeavor : foam ram material in front
of my radiator (radar) + jammer (laser).

Covering/reducing the reflectivity of
headlights is part of the ''onion skin'' protection ,
it only helps the jammer .
What I use to cut laser reflectivity is a home-made
formula ...

[erickonphoenix]

Metallic paint shouldn't make a significant difference in lidar signature, not nearly as much as white vs black does.

Also, I'm not sure all this talk of radar absorbing foam is your best option. The best way to reduce your radar signature is reduce height and make sure there are few if any surfaces perpendicular to the road way. The Corvette does a good job of that already.

Be advised, VEIL on the C6 will diffuse the "hardline" you get from the xenon headlights. That bothered me so I took it off, but the performance advantage might be worth it to some people. Still, from a signature perspective, your talking about one of the stealthiest cars on the road so how much more do you really need to do to it.

If you have a good RD, a decent jammer and your paying attention you should do very well against most incursions.

[Eloi]

''Also, I'm not sure all this talk of radar absorbing foam is your best option. The best way to reduce your radar signature is reduce height and make sure there are few if any surfaces perpendicular to the road way. The Corvette does a good job of that already.''

Agree the Corvette does one of the best job , as is.
When measuring the rcs of an object , one
must figure the car as naked of all his plastic/fiberglass,
what is behind the body will radiate the energy back
to the radar . So the reason to place ram in-between
the path . I don't say or advocate his use as an active cm ,
I just say any good ram will reduce the rcs thus reducing
the rf signature , therefore passive.

By how much ? :
to be tested in real situation ,
factors affecting the results :
% of the frontal area covered by ram ,
absorbency of the ram chosen ,
the radar's wavelenght used .

Is it worth the time , effort , money ?

Each one will have his answer

[category4]

The red color on mine reflects quite a bit of lidar. Black would be the best choice if you want a stealth color. I was shocked at how big a difference black made in trying to pick up a lidar signal. The black cars at our testing event Saturday were able to get a couple hundred feet closer than the red and white cars.

[erickonphoenix]

The red color on mine reflects quite a bit of lidar. Black would be the best choice if you want a stealth color. I was shocked at how big a difference black made in trying to pick up a lidar signal. The black cars at our testing event Saturday were able to get a couple hundred feet closer than the red and white cars.

"always bet on black"
- Wesley Snipes, Passenger 57

[Gearhead Jim]

The red color on mine reflects quite a bit of lidar. Black would be the best choice if you want a stealth color. I was shocked at how big a difference black made in trying to pick up a lidar signal. The black cars at our testing event Saturday were able to get a couple hundred feet closer than the red and white cars.

You bring up a good point.
Can you post some numbers,or a link to the thread?
A couple of hundred feet subtracted from 800 is significant.
A couple of hundred feet subtracted from 1/2 mile is not so helpful.
I've always heard that black is tough for laser to read, but I haven't seen any numbers that compared cars that were identical or at least similar.
I think the Corvette looks good in red, either "plain" red or metallic. I also think red looks bad while you're pulled over for a ticket.