Fresh body - internal or external paint for flares

[Bray D]

I read a few threads where guys painted their flares black externally. Looked great. I assume they did this because the body was already painted so internal painting wasn’t an option.

I want to do the main body internally for scratch protection. I want flat black flares. I have PS-55.

Should I mask and paint the flares black internally, then flat clear only the flares externally?

Paint the interior homogeneous color, then flat black the flares externally?

Not really sure what would be easiest from an application standpoint so there’s not much driving a decision there. Mostly curious what the best practice is when you’re starting with a new clear body.

[Zukiiholic]

Paint the body on the inside, cut the masking off the outside around the fender flares and then paint the outside of the flares.
I did this on a red jeep, painted inside red, trimmed off the out side masking and painted the outside black.
Happy how it turned out.
Inside paint.


Black painted on the Outside.

[rockspider]

Both ways are ok, but you could consider that painting the body solid colour and then flat black the flares on external, when scratching flares main colour will appear underneath. If you have painted them black also from inside, they will last longer

[high plains drifter]

If you have the time and motivation I would also suggest taping off the flares on the inside, laying down your body color, then pulling the tape, hitting the fender flares internally as well as from the outside. As suggested... when you scratch the outside the flares will still be black. And you can touch them up from inside or outside.

[Goro Majima]

In my opinion, simpler option is to paint as normal, then mask off the flares externally for paint after seeing how the flares look same body color. I'd either do flat black, crinkle coat or even plastidip for the textured look.

[B-MOW71]

My method of painting is similar to what @Zukiiholic mentioned.

Since I'm lazy and am not a big fan of painting, I just paint the base color of the body on the inside. I hate taping on the inside of the body and that usually results in tape bleed thru. I just use the film on the outside as a mask to mask off the fender flares, roof top, etc. I'll spray a couple of coats of Tamiya PS-5 Black and then a couple coats of Tamiya PS-55 Flat Clear.

Using the film always leaves a crisp clean line. @rockspider has a point about scratching the black and seeing the main color underneath. I can happen, but at least for me, it takes a lot of rubbing to scratch the black enough to see under it. If for some reason the black does get too scratched, it is really easy to touch up the black on the outside.

Same goes for the lexan interiors. Much easier to use the outside film than to try to tape the insided.

[Bray D]

I'm sold. Like you guys said, cutting the outside mask will be easy peasy and it looks killer. I, too, am not a huge paint guy so I just want to get it done.

Thanks for the insight and reference pics!

[Bray D]

That worked beautifully.

[twade984]

Originally Posted by Bray D

That worked beautifully.

That’s sick. What year UA were you on?


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[Bray D]

2012. We wheeled the PNW that year. I’ve replaced nearly every body panel since then (including the bed) and I’m running coilovers up front now, but the rig is mostly unchanged. Still drive and wheel it regularly.

[high plains drifter]

I kept forgetting to look at the new body you painted... Holy smokes. Oh yeah.. looks like a nice job on the body too lol. Came out really well.

[Bray D]

Cutting the mask on the outside was quick and easy. Definitely the way to go.

Looks pretty awesome detailed out. Needs a bumper pretty bad though.



Resembles the 1/1 with full doors.

[Zukiiholic]

Yaa, I found it easier to paint the main color on the inside and detail paint the outside on my 5 body I painted.
What a pain it was before.

Hot Dang, The RC turned out great and the 1:1 is Awesome.
I'll have to go back and watch the 2012 UA. I have the DVD.

[Bray D]

Nice! The pic I posted was from Cline Buttes. Upper Compressor in Idaho was another one of my favorites. It was a great trip.

[chilly]

Really cool stuff here - I hadn't seen your thread and pics. That's definitely got to be the single most expensive accessory for an RC crawler I've ever seen - but also probably the most fun.