Lexan bodywork
Why personalize my bodywork?
Do you have a first experience in the world of RC through an RTR car and you want to move up a gear by personalizing your car? Instead of choosing an ordinary bodywork, why not opt for a new, totally homemade look ... This is actually one of the most interesting facets of RC modeling because, by deciding to paint your bodywork yourself , you let your creativity express itself while distinguishing your car in car races.
Today, most bodies are made from polycarbonate plastic (aka Lexan). It's an incredibly strong material, which is ideal for absorbing the shock that RC cars are subjected to. A professionally painted body can last a very long time and look great at the races.
Which body to choose?
Whether it is to replace your bodywork or because you have chosen a kit car, you will find a gigantic choice of Lexan bodies . The level of finish is a parameter to take into account because it can have a significant impact on the effort required to paint and assemble the bodywork.
Indeed, some bodies are already cut to suit particular models of radio-controlled cars, others are generic and, with just a few adjustments, can adapt to several models, others are crude and require cutting. Sometimes, bodies are sold with markings for cutting, paint masks so as not to overflow when painting and/or stickers to imitate certain components of the car such as the headlights for example.
Before you start...
The importance of choosing paint
Even if you are an accomplished areography or graffiti artist, RC body painting is a specific discipline that requires special precautions. First of all, to obtain a clean and durable finish, you must always use paint specially formulated to adhere to Lexan bodywork. A classic paint found at a DIY store will look good until the first accident. The paint will then flake off, ruining all your artistic efforts.
The necessary tools
You may need to re-cut your bodywork and drill it. To obtain a perfect result, we recommend using tools specifically designed for model making:
- a reamer for drilling clean holes
- straight-blade scissors for cutting the bodywork
- scissors with a curved blade to cut curves
- scalpels for precision cutting
Precautions to take
You should always paint your bodywork in a ventilated area, equipped with a mask and gloves.
How do I prepare my lexan bodywork?
1st step: identification
Your virgin Lexan bodywork is always protected by a protective film on the outside to prevent paint splashes. Simply place the bodywork on your chassis and draw on the film and with a marker, the final shape of the bodywork (wheel arches, location of the fixing studs, etc.) and your drawing project .
2nd step: cutting the bodywork
When the lines of the bodywork are drawn, we cut it carefully and meticulously using the scalpel and scissors then we drill the holes for the fixing studs using the reamer. The location of these holes is sometimes indicated on the bodywork.
3rd step: cleaning
After checking that the bodywork fits perfectly to the elements of the radio-controlled car (chassis, wheels, headlights, etc.) and having recut it if necessary, we will prepare the surface to be painted .
Under hot water with a drop of dishwashing detergent, we will clean all the interior nooks and crannies of the bodywork to remove any dirt, grease stains and fingerprints. After rinsing, let the bodywork air dry or use a lint-free cloth.
You must wait until the bodywork is completely dry before painting it and keep the interior surface clean and dust-free. It is always the internal surface that we paint on a Lexan bodywork.
4th step: applying the masks
Once the bodywork is clean, you can apply the masks to leave only the area you want to paint. We always apply the darkest color first so it is appropriate to apply the masks for the lightest paint first.
To apply the masks and depending on the size of the surface to be masked, more or less wide masking strips can be used. These strips are practical for drawing straight lines , for example on your bodywork. You can create a more complex design, with curved lines and lots of details, using a liquid mask .
You should also think about masking the car windows . Normally, the masks are directly supplied with the bodywork but, with some cheap bodyworks, they are optional. When applying the window masks, make sure there are no bubbles around the edges to prevent paint from seeping underneath.
How do I paint my Lexan bodywork?
1st step: application of the first color (the darkest)
All areas to be masked are protected, it is time to apply the paint . We advise you to shake the aerosol before use and practice on a piece of cardboard to familiarize yourself with the behavior of the sprayer. Dark colors should be applied first .
When everything is ready, spray a thin layer of paint by placing the can about 20 cm from the bodywork and going from left to right and right to left. You must wait for this first layer to dry before repeating the operation by applying the paint from top to bottom then from bottom to top. Repeat the operation, alternating the direction of application until you obtain the desired color intensity, then remove the masks and let the bodywork dry for 24 hours.
2nd step: application of other colors
When the first color is completely dry, remove the mask and apply the second color following the same application method (multi-layer, varying the direction of application) and so on for the other colors. Always apply colors from darkest to lightest.
Please note, most pearl, metallic or fluorescent colors are not intended to be used alone. They must be covered with a layer of silver or white to make them opaque.
If you make a mistake, there are solvents specially designed to remove spilled paint without damaging the polycarbonate plastic.
3rd step: decorating the bodywork
When the bodywork is completely dry, you can remove the transparent protective film from the exterior surface of the bodywork. The last step consists of applying stickers to the top of the bodywork to make it even more realistic (headlights, windows, etc.).
