Paint lifespan on clear bodies?

[Nobbi1977]

I used tamiya acrylic pots airbrushed on the inside of my Dt-02 and after my first bash the edges are starting to chip off. I used relatively thick coats, about the same as I would use on the outside of a vintage motorbike.

What have I done wrong? Wrong paint, process or does just flake of easily?

All advice welcome but I want to avoid spray tins. Limited colours and half leftovers littering the place to not appeal to me and the price if prohibitively high.

[davidwj95]

Hi

You need to use polycarbonate paint on clear bodies. Other paints will chip off as the body flexes.

[Tamiyabigstuff]

I have quite a few jars of Tamiya brush paint for polycarbonate if you don't like spray paint - what colour do you need ?

Let me know & I can check if I have some to spare.

[ChrisRx718]

Lexan needs flexible paint otherwise it will chip off. Even then I've seen polycarbonate paint flake off - the trick is to apply many thin coats and let each one cure fully.

[Nobbi1977]

Hi

You need to use polycarbonate paint on clear bodies. Other paints will chip off as the body flexes.

I thought the Tamiya acrylic was the correct stuff, what range should I be using?

[Nobbi1977]

I have quite a few jars of Tamiya brush paint for polycarbonate if you don't like spray paint - what colour do you need ?

Let me know & I can check if I have some to spare.

Thanks for the offer, what range of paint should I aim for? Think I am using the X- ones

[Tamiyabigstuff]

Tamiya paint for polycarbonate in jars is the PC range, polycarbonate spray paints are the PS range.

[Nobbi1977]

Tamiya paint for polycarbonate in jars is the PC range, polycarbonate spray paints are the PS range.

Guess I better order some new stuff then. Never trust LHS for advice

[XV Pilot]

Ah well, at least you have some paint handy should you want to paint and weather a hardbody. The acrylic paints work well for those, adhering nicely and giving an aged, used-looking non-gloss patina.

[bromvw]

Ah well, at least you have some paint handy should you want to paint and weather a hardbody. The acrylic paints work well for those, adhering nicely and giving an aged, used-looking non-gloss patina.

they also work well enough to add the window rubbers on the outside of lexan shells as i found out quite accidentally a few days ago .

[InsaneJim69]

they also work well enough to add the window rubbers on the outside of lexan shells as i found out quite accidentally a few days ago .

Yes, they are also very handy at detailing the cockpits on the F1 bodies too

James

[Nobbi1977]

Ah well, at least you have some paint handy should you want to paint and weather a hardbody. The acrylic paints work well for those, adhering nicely and giving an aged, used-looking non-gloss patina.

I will use them to paint my Willy's so not a huge issue.

[oz-trash-cowboy]

If the lexan is prepared properly, the paint can last a long time, somethimes longer than the lexan, ( depending on skill / nerves of the driver ). I have polycarbonate bodies 20+ years old that are still holding the paint ok.

[Flerbizky]

If the lexan is prepared properly, the paint can last a long time, somethimes longer than the lexan, ( depending on skill / nerves of the driver ). I have polycarbonate bodies 20+ years old that are still holding the paint ok.

Nothing to add, but same here. My Vanquish/Avante/Egress hybrid is 20+, with no cracks.

[Nobbi1977]

I received a few pots of Tamiya PC paint today so I might get time to spray over the weekend

[bromvw]

I received a few pots of Tamiya PC paint today so I might get time to spray over the weekend

ideal weekend to do it - forecast is for warm and dry weather .

[Nobbi1977]

ideal weekend to do it - forecast is for warm and dry weather . 

Apart from mother in law visiting

[Dojo Dave]

All the more reason to venture off into the garage and paint..... That's when I get the really tough stuff done... Vigorous scrubbing of stubborn parts, lots of hammering and screaming at the top of my lungs.....sorry did I go too far... I thought it was all in my head...oops