help cutting bodies

[carerra]

no not real bodies....

just got a new shell for my truck, waiting for my new airbrush and paints to arrive but i can't wait to start on it....should it make much difference to the finished article if i cut the body to shape - remove windows...etc before i paint it??? my only concern is scratching it up with the scissors/dremel, after i've painted it...though it may be harder to mount it properly, and see the cut lines if i paint it first....

any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[FlyinRazorback]

I've always semi-trimmed the outer line befor painting. After I paint it I let it dry really good, make my final trim on the outside and then cut out my holes for the window, engine, body posts, etc. with my dremel. Then take a sharp xacto and scrape off the little scraggly pieces. Works well for me.

[FlyinRazorback]

One more thing. If the body has a protective film over the outside, take a sharpie and run it along the grooves on the outside of the body before you do anything. This helps with placing window masks and trimming your body.