What kind of Paint?

[muffenbier]

I'm going to start painting my first RC body and am wondering about what type of paint to use. I was looking at Testors because that is most easily available to me. Do I get Acrylic or Enamel? Do I need a clear coat?

[ProjectTwin]

You need Pactra, paint for polycarbonate (or lexan) bodies. The enamels aren't flexible enough and flake off in the event of a crash. Your paint will actually fall off the body.

Parma also makes paints for R/C bodies. the Parma paints are Acrylic.

http://www.parmapse.com

Tamiya also makes paints for lexan, but they're pricey for a 3oz can.

Jason

[ 05-03-2001: Message edited by: ProjectTwin ]

[ZenLosi]

Is it a flexible plastic (lexan) or a hard plastic body? I don't think you specified.

-Zen

[muffenbier]

It is a flexable plastic.

[StephenB]

You'll need Pactra lexan paint, or you can check out the Parma Faskolor & Pactra Acryl paints if you have an airbrush. They're all good & will stick to the Lexan body.

[ZenLosi]

Yeah, Testors is fine for hard bodies, but not for the flexible Lexan, it would chip off the first time the body bends. Like ProjectTwin and StephenB say, get the Pactra cans, it's the best spray paint for Lexan. By the way, you paint the inside of the body and you don't need clear coat for Lexan bodies. Do a search for paint tips on this site, you should get alot of info.

-Zen

[ 05-03-2001: Message edited by: ZenLosi ]

[24601]

If you wash the body very well, then scuff the area to be painted with steel wool, you can use acrylic craft paint, like the kind sold at walmart or hobby lobby. Usually this stuff is .88 to 1.50 for a bottle just like the fascolor. I use this all the time with zero problems, and it comes in many different colors. I have actually see more people have problems with pactra flaking, and I have never had a flake or crack. It is easy in this hobby to get caught up in the expensive "for RC" stuff, but I always look for alternatives.

[Conman]

I tried Testors on my first truck body and it started flacking off even befor I drove it.