hard shell painting

[Thunderwolf]

i have a tamiya hilux high lift model.

i have already painted it but its the first hard body shell i've done so its not come out that great (although it could be alot worse).

i am fully aware that i can sand down this back again and i plan to do this after i've used the car for abit so that i can learn what it can and can't do so when i do make a paint job that i can be happy with i'm less likly to damage it.

so if anyone has any tips and tricks on painting these bodies i'd be happy to hear them.

this is what i was able to achieve on my first attempt:

[Dinsdale_71]

You're being a bit hard on yourself, that looks great.

Did a bit of spray painting the other day, first time in years, the paint finish was a bit bumpy so I set about it with a soft cloth and some T-cut, after a rub down and a polish up it looked great. Perhaps that would help?

[bromvw]

thats not a bad job for a first attempt at all . personally i would just carefully wet sand it with very fine wet and dry paper and then clearcoat it . The real trick to doing hard bodies is to take your time . Firstly fully wash the shell to de grease it . Then rub it down with wet and dry to remove and mold flash lines and high spots . Prime it very lightly and leave it a few days . Wet sand it back until all the primer is gone . its then totally smooth . re prime and leave a few days . Apply colour and leave a week . Wet sand the colour coat after another week . Then clear coat . Fine polish the clear after yet another week of curing . obviously make sure its carefully washed after each sanding . As said its all down to time and care . ive found the best paint to use is Automotive spray cans - I use Halfords brand .

[Thunderwolf]

it looks better in the pic in fairness.

there are serveral bleads and stuff on it, the the surface is bumpy (not sure why?) making it look like a matt finish, which i didn't want although it does look ok.

[SteveU30]

Painting in warm weather/heated work area helps too as paint doesn't like the cold.

[Thunderwolf]

is the trick with the lexan paint cans a good idea on these?

by which i mean putting the spray cans in a bowl of warm water for afew seconds to up the preasure of the paint inside, making for a finer spray?

also how do you guys go about masking bits off?

finaly any tips with the areas that require paint brushing?

[bromvw]

Warming the spray cans certainly helps . IMO tamiya masking tape is the very best available . For large areas use it to seal the edge and use news paper to make up the masks overlapping the edge of the paper with a second layer of tape . Any areas that need brushing are best done after you do the spraying . Mask off the bits you need to detail and just paint over the base coat with hobby enamel .

[THEWILD1]

If you are going to clear coat after painting then I would leave it for at least a month before applying the clear coat as depending on brand (especially Tamiya) it can crack and shrink the paint if you apply too soon!

[Chasm]

To be honest I think it looks quite nice! If you use some high grade paper 2500 or up with some water and a drop of washing up liquid then you may be able to get rid of the bumpy bits, be careful though, because if the bump is caused by the primer then you will just break through the paint, Use a dulled razor blade or something flat as a former for the paper when rubbing down as fingers will just make grooves if you aren't careful. As stated above, make sure if you clear coat it that you allow the base coat to "gas off" for long enough to avoid reactions.

[bromvw]

If you are going to clear coat after painting then I would leave it for at least a month before applying the clear coat as depending on brand (especially Tamiya) it can crack and shrink the paint if you apply too soon! Certainly the tamiya paints take a age to fully cure . I use halfords own brand paint and give it a week before applying clear with no ill effects

[Theibault]

I have a question for those that clear coat. Do you prefer stickers under or over the clear coat and why?

[Chasm]

 

I have a question for those that clear coat. Do you prefer stickers under or over the clear coat and why?

 

I put my stickers under the clear coat (Mostly), but that is because they are of poor quality and would rub off easily. it they were durable then probably on top instead.

[AndyjcClod]

Hi I have over sprayed a few models in my time which saves the whole sanding thing as each time I have tried that I end up with an awful finish.

My Tamiya F350 was Metalic purple, I over sprayed that black and eventually got bored of black and it is now candy lime green (Pectra paint).

What I did was spray the whole body with Halfords grey primer, let that dry for a good few days and then sprayed over with the green and silver and it came out really well even though it was the third cost of differently colored paint (4th if you count the primer)!..

My top hint would be occasional light sweeping coats and build up slowly.

[Tamiya1/10]

Maybe is a bit late...Since you will be enjoying the rc by running it and you will roll it as a matter of time. Therefore i don't think you need to sand it, apply several coats and clear coat it. It will be painful to see your hard work damage no matter how slight...because you know about. Even if the paint job will stand up to minor bumps, your decals and other plastic parts such as mirror, bumper...will likely bedanage. However, go crazy on the paint job if the shell is for desplace and you have runner shell. In my book your work so far is very good.