Follow These Tips for the Perfect Paint Job on Your RC Vehicle Every Time

Driving remote control cars and trucks is a hobby that many people find both thrilling and rewarding. From the process of building an RC car from scratch to upgrading components along the way and the pure joy of driving on a sunny spring day, there isn't a hobby quite like RCing.
https://www.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0297p?C=CA

 Painting your vehicle's body is just one of the joys that the hobby provides but many are intimidated by it. In actuality, if you take your time and are careful, you can end up with a glorious custom finish that is unique to your vehicle.

 So, whether this is your first time painting an RC body or you’ve done it in the past but can’t seem to get a perfect finish, here are a few painting tips sure to help.

Start with the Right Paint

 Traditional enamel spray paint isn’t often ideal for the replacement bodies of RC cars and trucks, which are often made from clear polycarbonate and can cause paint to crack from the flexing and bumps your vehicle experiences. If you’re using a Lexan-style body, you’ll need specialized hobby paint specific for the type of plastic. You’ll find that most hobby stores including Tower Hobbies® will offer this paint in a variety of colors.

Take Care of Your Tape

 To get super crisp lines around the windows, headlights, and other detail parts of the body, using the right tape is a must. Although called “masking tape” the beige tape you’re familiar with actually isn’t the best for painting applications because it often leaves adhesive behind. Instead, opt for specialized blue or green painter’s tape you can find at home supply stores. You can also seek out specialty pinstriping tape that is narrow and flexible for outlining tight curves and custom designs.

Once you have the right tape, make sure that you are taking care of it. Surface particles and dirt and grime can stick to the edges of the roll when you store it, and these tiny particles can ruin your edge. Store your tape in a bag when not in use so you’ll always have crisp lines.

Use Thin Coats to Start

 After you've masked off the windows, headlights, and other areas, spray a couple of light dusting coats to seal down the edges of the tape and to provide a layer for later coats to "grab" onto. No matter what type of body you’re painting—polycarbonate or ABS—you never want to go crazy with the spray paint, laying on super thick coats and scribbling the paint in. Instead, hold the can around 8-10 inches away and spray in even, consistent passes for a more even coat that’s free from drips or runs.

Fill in the Gaps

 You’ll find that many RC vehicle bodies have curves and crevices that can be hard to fill with spray paint alone. To make sure you have even coverage along the entire body, spray a little bit of your spray paint into the cap and then use a brush to touch up any areas. This trick will ensure that you always get the right color match without having to pick and choose from bottled paints at the hobby store. Also, if you ever notice any scratches or chips in your paint job after a hard drive, you can easily touch it up to keep your paint looking fresh for the life of the body.

 Painting your RC vehicle might seem intimidating at first, but if you take your time and follow these tips, you'll end up with a pristine finish every time.

 About Tower Hobbies®

 Tower Hobbies® has been one of the most trusted names in the hobby industry for nearly 50 years because of their commitment to quality, variety, and a customer experience that is second to none. They bring the neighborhood hobby shop experience online and cater to RC enthusiasts from all backgrounds and skill levels. With an assortment of remote control trucks, cars, accessories, and more, Tower Hobbies® is the number one place to shop online for your RC needs. Their friendly staff is ready to help answer any of your questions, and their site is full of guides that beginners and advanced drivers alike will find useful.

 Shop their full line of RC cars and trucks at Towerhobbies.com

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