Grasshopper I bodywork

[Stevo309]

I've got a new Grasshopper I shell and decals for a new build project but undecided whether or not to paint it. The manual implies i think that it should be painted white but it's already in white moulded plastic so is it necessary to paint it?

What is the general opinion on this subject? Of course the same question could also be asked for a new F150 XLT shell that comes already in blue. Quite tempted to paint the Grasshopper shell since the white paint should provide a better finish than the moulded plastic and of course being a shelf queen the paint won't get chipped and scratched (Hopefully)

[jozza]

I think that painted always looks better, even if it's the same colour as the plastic. You can make the raw plastic look better by polishing and waxing it though, which can come out looking almost as good as painted, and for a runner it's useful as you won't see the scuff marks.

[DJTheo]

Painting is always better for a shelf queen as it doesn't look so "plastic", its more shiny and it doesn't yellow so easily, here as examples my painted GH http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...id=22161&sid=16 and my unpainted (only polished) XLT http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=1270&sid=16, my next Ranger will be painted. []

Cheers

[J3cubfan]

I'd go ahead and paint because over the years, the white plastic will eventually "yellow". Granted that it took 20 years for my grasshopper to do this, painting the vehicle is your best bet.

[Stevo309]

Thanks for the advice guys. I've now gone ahead and painted the shell as advised. I have used Tamiya TS Acrylic pure white and it looks great. Despite needing a whole can to coat an already white shell properly the result speaks for itself and with a top coat of lacquer polished down flat it's got a glass like finish that you just couldn't get without paint. I must admit i never even thought of the aging plastic dis-colouration, a very good point.