TAMIYA Hilux body - primer or not?

[igz]

Hi peeps
Just got Tamiya Hilux body. Should I paint it with primer first and then color or...?
Also, does primer color matter and how many coats of paint is enough?

Many thanx!
igz

[GravelDuster]

You must absolutely use primer, hard bodies take a lot of work to make look nice. Get sand-able primer, black or grey does not matter, lay down a really really light base coat, let it dry. Then do your heavy, full coverage coat. Let it dry for a few hours, wet sand with 600 grit. Do this 2-3 more times until the primer is smooth and there are no high spots or imperfections. Don't forget to wash the body really good after wet sanding and let it dry thoroughly. Once its dry, rub it down with alcohol and hit it with a lint free cloth to remove any oils from your skin and dust. This will cause the primer the bubble. As for the color, it depends, same process as above, but wet sand with 1000-1400 grit. Usually 3 good coats is enough, lighter color may take more, you'll just have to feel it out. Once everything is dry, wet sand one final time, this will kinda make the paint look dull but it should be smooth as glass at this point. Hit it with some good clear coat and it will remove all the dullness from wet sanding. A properly painted hard body will look just as good or better than a 1:1 cars paint. Preparation and time is the key to a great paint job. Normally hard bodies take about a week to properly paint, this is not a one day job. But, if you take your time your end product will be stunning.

[igz]

Thanks mate. Much appreciated! :-)

By the way, why do I have to sand the very last coat of paint?
Also, do you recommend painting it inside too?

Thanks mate

[GravelDuster]

You really don't have to sand the last coat, I usually do though, but its not necessary. I do paint the inside, but i don't wet sand it at all. I like to paint it because you will be able to see under it, and so that the whole body is sealed. Just take your time, give it an alcohol rub down before every coat to get it as clean as possible and it will turn out beautiful.

Here is my most recent paint job, just went with a simple satin black, then I dull coated it to keep it flat, turned out amazing. Took me about a week.

Originally Posted by igz

Thanks mate. Much appreciated! :-)

By the way, why do I have to sand the very last coat of paint?
Also, do you recommend painting it inside too?

Thanks mate

[igz]

Thanks again! Your Hilux looks great by the way, I can't decide myself should I go with red or black.

Lastly, and if I'm not annoying you :-), is there a good post on how to mount Hilux body/cab onto Honcho chassis? How did you do yours?

Cheers
igz

[GravelDuster]

Thanks man. I say black, just because the way mine turned out lol. I used magnets to mount it, its in my build thread below. Glad to help man, thats why we're here!

Southern SXC10 Build

[igz]

GravelDuster, how did you mount magnets to the Toyota body?
Thanx mate.

[GravelDuster]

I just hot glued them to the inside, under the hood area . It works great, I can pick the truck up by the body, it holds the weight fine, its really heavy with all of the steel and aluminum.

[igz]

I guess that's some sort of super glue.
You helped me so much man. Thank you heaps!

I'll have to get some more parts and some paint too. My wife is suspiciously looking at the upgrade parts pile that is getting bigger

[GravelDuster]

Lol I know, I am not married myself, but I get the looks from my girlfriend, but she has no room to talk with her $700 purses!