Body painting

We all know that the clear lexan bodies that come with our 1:8 scale off-road kits can be painted with various designs.
From very simple one color to multiple color designs.
A nice looking body normally requires airbrush skills and artistic design point of view.
Some persons are specialized in it to make it pieces of art.
Here follows a step by step sequence to make the best of the body with little skills.

There are several ways to get a body painted.

Route No. 1] One color with external decals
Cover the windows with window masks and paint the body with only one color and place some decals to your liking that come with the car or after market company decals.

Route No. 2] Two or more colors with external decals
Cover the windows with window masks and paint the body with more then one color by masking parts of the body and place some decals to your liking that come with the car or after market company decals.

Route No. 3] One color with internal decals
Cover the windows with window masks. Use XXXmain internal decals or picture glue to glue the images of your liking to the inside of the body. Then paint the body with one color. If still needed place some decals to your liking that come with the car or after market company decals.

Route No. 4] Two or more colors with external decals
Cover the windows with window masks. Use XXXmain internal decals or picture glue to glue the images of your liking to the inside of the body. Then paint the body with more then one color by masking parts of the body. If still needed place some decals to your liking that come with the car or after market company decals.

Route No. 5] Custom painting
Bring the body to an airbrush specialist and let he do it (the easiest but most expensive way) and place some decals that come with the car or after market company decals.

Materials to be used.

Paint is there in two versions.
Water based and solvent based.

Water based:
Water based paint only comes in small bottles for the use of airbrush spray guns or brushes and is odorless.
The paint and all materials can be cleaned easily with normal tap water.
For good bonding the paint has to dry longer as solvent based paint.

Solvent based:
Solvent based paint comes in small bottles for the use of airbrush spray guns or brushes and in spray cans and has a very strong odor.
The paint and all materials can be cleaned with thinner solvent only that has a very strong odor.
These paints and cleaning materials are advised to be used in good ventilated rooms or outdoors only!
This paint dries quicker with the same boding strength as water based paint.

 

Preparing the body for painting.

Almost all bodies nowadays come with a protective overspray cover film at the outside of the body.
NEVER REMOVE THIS COVER FILM BEFORE THE BODY IS PAINTED COMPLETELY!
If this is not the case take some transparent household foil and wrap it around the outside of the body when you start with applying the paint.
Take a piece of waterproof 1000 sanding paper and lightly scratch (rough) the inside of the body. 
Do not do this at the places where the windows are or that need to stay clear.
Do not be afraid once the paint is applied the scratches are filled with paint and these are not visible anymore.
When the body has a little dull color it is OK.
The reason for roughing the inside of the body is for good bonding of the paint to the body.
Clean the inside of the body with some soap water. 
Then dry the body with a paper towel.

Route No.1
One color with external decals

Mask the windows with the window masks if they come with the kit or make them yourself with self adhesive masking tape.
Take the paint spray bottle or an airbrush gun and apply the color you like in 5 thin layers making a cross pattern at 15 centimeters distance.
Let each layer dry until the paint is just picking when you touch it, then spray the next layer. After the fifth layer let it dry 24 hours.
Apply a fuel proof cover coating if you are using water based paint and let it dry 24 hours.
Remove the window masks.
Cut the body to the marking lines pressed in the body and also remove the material where fuel tank lid, antenna, cooling head and body posts should come.
Place some decals that come with the car or after market company decals.

Route No. 2
Two colors or more with external decals

Mask the windows with the window masks if they come with the kit or make them yourself with self adhesive masking tape.
Mask the parts that may not be painted with masking tape.
Always paint the darkest color first!
Take the paint spray bottle or an airbrush gun and apply the color you like in 5 thin layers making a cross pattern at 15 centimeters distance.
Let each layer dry until the paint is just picking when you touch it, then spray the next layer.
Remove the masking tape.
Take the paint spray bottle or an airbrush gun and apply the color you like in 5 thin layers making a cross pattern at 15 centimeters distance.
Let each layer dry until the pain is just picking when you touch it, then spray the next layer. After the fifth layer let it dry 24 hours.
Apply a fuel proof cover coating if you are using water based paint and let it dry 24 hours.
Remove the window masks.
Cut the body to the marking lines pressed in the body and also remove the material where fuel tank lid, antenna, cooling head and body posts should come.
Place some decals that come with the car or after market company decals.

Route No. 3
One color with internal and external decals

Mask the windows with the window masks if they come with the kit or make them yourself with self adhesive masking tape.
If you are using decals or other printed materials that has to be used at the inside with XXXMAIN lexan picture glue then apply them first.
Click here for the XXXMAIN lexan glue paint manual
Take the paint spray bottle or an airbrush gun and apply the color you like in 5 thin layers making a cross pattern at 15 centimeters distance.
Let each layer dry until the paint is just picking when you touch it, then spray the next layer.
Apply a fuel proof cover coating if you are using water based paint and let it dry 24 hours.
Remove the window masks.
Cut the body to the marking lines pressed in the body and also remove the material where fuel tank lid, antenna, cooling head and body posts should come.
Place some extra decals that come with the car or after market company decals.

Route No. 4
Two colors or more with internal and external decals

Mask the windows with the window masks if they come with the kit or make them yourself with self adhesive masking tape.
Mask the parts that may not be painted with masking tape.
If you are using decals or other printed materials that has to be used at the inside with XXXMAIN lexan picture glue then apply them first.
Click here for the XXXMAIN lexan glue paint manual
Always paint the darkest color first!
Take the paint spray bottle or an airbrush gun and apply the color you like in 5 thin layers making a cross pattern at 15 centimeters distance.
Let each layer dry until the paint is just picking when you touch it, then spray the next layer.
Remove the masking tape.
Take the paint spray bottle or an airbrush gun and apply the color you like in 5 thin layers making a cross pattern at 15 centimeters distance.
Let each layer dry until the pain is just picking when you touch it, then spray the next layer. After the fifth layer let it dry 24 hours.
Apply a fuel proof cover coating if you are using water based paint and let it dry 24 hours.
Remove the window masks.
Cut the body to the marking lines pressed in the body and also remove the material where fuel tank lid, antenna, cooling head and body posts should come.
Place some decals that come with the car or after market company decals.

Here you can find samples of body painting as used by TEAM TWF8

Mugen MBX-5 Kyosho MP-7.5 Kanai II Hong Nor X1-CR Pro
GS-Racing Storm Pro Hobao Hyper 7 Pro Hong Nor Speed 9.5
SVM Crono RS01 Protech Enigma XR Xray XB-8

Click here for an other example prepared by Mike Zoetmulder better known as Z

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