Lexan FJ40 - torn on whether to spray inside or out...

[TwoStroke]

Hi all

Just finished assembling my first kit (CC-01 FJ40) and am progressing onto body paint. I'm going with Tamiya PS56 Mustard Yellow with PS1 White on the roof.

Given it will just be a light duty crawler/display model, I am tempted to spray outside to get a more authentic matte finish, and allow more scope for weathering/scale detail and so on. I read a good tip that suggested using PS14 Copper as a base colour so scratches show up like rust.

Will I desperately regret this?
Apart from being susceptible to scratches are there any other reasons painting outside is troublesome?
Is there a matte clear that could be used to help seal it?

Cheers

[jenijohnk]

There is a matte clear for lexan...it a tamiya paint.... if u look for the scx10 dingo section...a guys used it to get that dull look... he even made wiper blade makes with it... it was a yellow dingo camel trophy defender. .

[TwoStroke]

Ok thanks!

Any other views/tips regarding painting the outside of bodies?

[Postclanker]

if you don't like the color you can always change it if you paint the outside...

[JatoTheRipper]

I have painted bodies on the outside after messing up the inside. I would suggest you still spray the inside so that the body isn't clear when the outer paint rubs off.

You can paint the inside silver so that when the outside paint flakes off it looks like bare metal underneath. Or you can paint the inside with the same color so any paint missing on the outside is less noticeable.

[Green Meanie]

Originally Posted by JatoTheRipper

You can paint the inside silver so that when the outside paint flakes off it looks like bare metal underneath.

that's a great tip/idea.

You could even do that rusty colour inside so if it did scratch it would look beaten up and authentic.

[stelerzman]

Here's my thoughts and my procedure.
Spay inside and outside with "bulldog" is a plastic bonding agent that help paint stick, it also keeps paint from flaking of in the event of a hard hit. I've used it on several lexan bodies and it's holding up great.
After the bulldog, I've sprayed both red and gray primer, this with give you both effects of primer and rust.Then on the outside top coat the body with several light coats to achieve your desired color. I particularly like tge price and choices of colors from Krylon fusion, yes it's made for plastic already, but the bulldog greatly enhances the bonding properties.
I used thus method over 5 years ago and the only thing failing is the lexan body.

If I remember correctly, the Fusion is around $7 a can for 12oz and the bulldog is $12 a can for 12oz.
Both will last you several paint jobs on several bodies.