newb question what do you do first

[Georgerm]

what do you do first paint the body then cut it out or cut the body out then paint it?

[MCSCOTT]

I usually cut my body first so that I don't screw up the paint when I cut it. I could be wrong on that though, but it works for me.

[ljk]

i cut and drill my bodies first then mask off and then paint

[Phatmac]

I cut my Betty first, as so little was left, and correct body mounting was my #1 priority. After painting, I kept cutting for dovetail, but that's a different story. I've done them both ways.

If you paint then cut, make sure you mark the outside of the body for the mount holes--it saves a lot of headaches.

[Georgerm]

thanks guys that helps alot.

[whipnet]

I cut first so I can smooth out the edges with the dremel before painting. You just have to be careful not to screw up the overspray film with some lids.

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[MuchMoore]

I would suggest the opposite. Cutting the body out after painting reduces the chance that some stray chip/piece/dust will end up in your paint. It also keeps the overspray film intact. Use a dremel and curved scissors, and you should have no problem trimming any body.

[hankd]

gotta agree I have always painted then cut.

[kazi]

cut and paint , I've painted some bodies for my friends without cutting and they allways have problems to cut and drill, if you d'ont do many body triming, cut and paint is allways the easier way.

[Georgerm]

thanks guys.

[AreCee]

So much easier to fit a cut, clear body to the mounts then a painted body.

The protective film prevents overspray so you don't need to paint excess lexan and those scraps can be used to test color combos.

If you get chips, dust and stuff in the paint then you are not prepping the shell properly prior to painting. Shame on you.

[BJoe]

I cut and drill befoe I paint, makes things easier to line up when there's no paint there to obscure the mounts. Don't usually worry about the bits of plastic getting in the paint either, I usuallt wash the bodies with water, alcohal, or motor cleaner before I paint them

[whipnet]

Yeah, I've never had any trouble with plastic getting in my paint. (I've done over a dozen or so lids). I don't cut anything anyway. I make a pass over the line with an x-acto and make a clean break on the cut line.

[GH Racing]

you cut it and drill and then paint

[Georgerm]

sorry but another question do you have to use any special paint.

[whipnet]

Originally Posted by Georgerm

sorry but another question do you have to use any special paint.

Yes, it has to be for polycarbonate. The PS line from Tamiya is what you want. And you paint the inside.

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[Georgerm]

thank you aton i was about to paint my first body with enamel.