Painting R/C Shell

[MantaMike]

I am after some advice on painting a shell.

having not played about with RC Cars for nearly 20 years, I recently picked up a Tamiya TT-01 chassis which I have rebuilt to have some fun with. I have just got a new genuine Tamiya VW Scirocco shell which I want build into a replica of my full size car. Question is can I use normal car paint (Halfords spray can) to get an exact colour match to the real thing, or will that react with the polycarbonate? am I better off using the Tamiya polycarbonate paint in the nearest I can find to the right colour?

thanks

[shakotan]

MantaMike said:

I am after some advice on painting a shell.

having not played about with RC Cars for nearly 20 years, I recently picked up a Tamiya TT-01 chassis which I have rebuilt to have some fun with. I have just got a new genuine Tamiya VW Scirocco shell which I want build into a replica of my full size car. Question is can I use normal car paint (Halfords spray can) to get an exact colour match to the real thing, or will that react with the polycarbonate? am I better off using the Tamiya polycarbonate paint in the nearest I can find to the right colour?

thanks

Most auto paint should be fine and not react, however you may find it not as flexible as 'proper' polycarb paint, and therefore crack and flake in areas where the sheel has taken impact.

[poprock]

Like you, it’s been well over 20 years since I painted one of those … but I do recall the specialist paints used. The paint bonds to polycarbonate/Lexan (which you spray paint from the inside, remember) so that it can flex without cracking.

Basically, don’t use standard car paint. You need to get the nearest match you can with the special polycarbonate paints. Sorry.

[wildoliver]

Another don't use car paint here.

The Tamiya lexan paint is excellent though and a good selection of colours.

Spray dark colours first, finish off with a coat of white on the inside especially if special (fluro) paints are used.

[C.A.R.]

What colour is your Scirocco?

Cheapest place online for Tamiya paint I've found is rossmod.

Definitely use a polycarbonate spray. Key is to do very light coats, let dry between and spray in a warm but ventilated environment...

[MantaMike]

Thanks for the responses, proper polycarbonate paint it is then!

C.A.R. said:

What colour is your Scirocco?

The stock kit colour (Tamiya PS-16 Metallic blue) is actually pretty close to the real thing, So i will order this and do the job with the proper stuff, hopefully my painting skills won't let me down!

[_Neal_]

Looks like fun! I think you should definitely mask the windows so they are transparent (use the Tamiya black window stickers on the inside if you have them)

[Rude-boy]

_Neal_ said:

Looks like fun! I think you should definitely mask the windows so they are transparent (use the Tamiya black window stickers on the inside if you have them)

You can also buy a 'smoke' effect paint in the Tamiya sprays to 'tint' the windows.

[sausage76]

Please make sure you use Tamiya PS paint.

This is specific for rc bodies and with flex and not crack/break up

They have a huge range of colurs and you can also make other colours with tranlucent colurs and clears etc.

PS31 is smoke

Check this list out http://www.tamiyausa.com/articles/ln/72/PS-chart.p...

[C.A.R.]

PS16 is a pretty colour, lots of little sparkly metallic bits.

Here it is on my latest model-

[MantaMike]

So the paint I ordered arrived on Friday, so I got on with the job this weekend. I am mega pleased with the result, not quite finished yet I've got a few more decals to add (badges and trim lines etc..) but so far I think it looks great!

I had forgotten how hard it was to cut out the wheel arches, even with curved scissors! and I think I might have gone a bit too dark with the smoke paint on the windows, but overall I'm really pleased, a great partner to the full size version in the drive! hopefully I wont wreck it first time I drive it!

[Rude-boy]

Those 4 body stays...

One school of thought says that they add an extra rollover structure that helps stop you trashing the body.

One says that they look naff and should be cut to the right size.

I sit on the "If it is for show trim, if to use, leave as is" fence.

Looks very nice though!

[AER]

MantaMike said:

I had forgotten how hard it was to cut out the wheel arches

Cut them and then use wet-and-dry to finish them to final size. Much easier, if slower but the results are worth it and it avoids jagged edges.

[_Neal_]

Looks really good - nice work!

[theshrew]

AER said:

MantaMike said:

I had forgotten how hard it was to cut out the wheel arches

Cut them and then use wet-and-dry to finish them to final size. Much easier, if slower but the results are worth it and it avoids jagged edges.

You can buy a compas with a blade on that makes it a million times easier mate.

Or use curved scissors I think they are nail scissors ( not sure just pinched them out of my Mrs war paint draw )