Can I make my 1st paint job look like this?

[extreme]

acro head down to your local hobby shop and pic up some pactra acrylic in a can and use that the krylon might work but not sure if the formula will work with lexan. but i have heard of people spraying it on the outside and having success.... but best garunteed results will be the pactra stuff

 

[Alex.G]

pactra in can, coz i had problems with probably old pain for airbrush
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=191661 (post 9)

 

[team3six]

This should answer you question.

Tips and advice for the rattle can user.

IT IS POSSIBLE TO PAINT A NICE THEME WITHOUT AN AIRBRUSH!

Now first off you may be thinking, Come on man. There is no way I have tryed!

The number one rule is (you have to have patience and common sense)

having patience and not want to rush anything in order to achieve that goal will get you the desired effect your looking for. Look I know that us painters appear to be charging expensive amounts to paint a shell and for most of you it seems wrong to throw out a pretty hard earned penny to achieve a nice paintjob that will only get destroyed with some mad bashing skillz. We understand this! But patience to paint something will not only give you pride, but it will also give you the tools to paint something again and again and not be afraid to buy another shell for your RC.

The other point is Common sense, You are not going to achieve the airbrushed look with rattle cans unless you are experianced and have a lot of masking and templates involved. and if your spending that kind of money for a paint job then you should of just payed someone to airbrush it for you or learn to airbrush it youself.

The truth is that there are several companies that make masks for RC's that can be used are intended for use with rattle cans. Im going to give out some information and allow you the Know hows, where to's and how to's on painting a nice paintjob that will look like you have painting skills.

1. The body
There are several places to purchase shells on the internet. But I am going to highly suggest that you support your local hobby shop or Vendors here on RCCrawler if you can. Please provide them with the money to keep affloat. Its a very competitive market out there and most of these guys were and are just like you. The fun loving lover of RC who decided one day to be apart of the hobby world and provide a business.
Several companies that I suggest for shells. Click on any of the names to be dirrected to the link.
HPI
Parma
Hot Bodies
Proline
JConcepts
R.A.E.
and there are many more you may find that are smaller companies and Vendors that provide nice shells.

Choosing a shell is important. Including with someone who is looking to paint with the least amount of difficulty and achive the best look. For the begginer, Choose a shell that has an overspray mask already on the shell. This is a thin layer of film that is heat shrinked to the shell to keep from overspray getting on the shell. It comes in very handy and gives you the least amount of clean up after your done.

Note: when you are done, be sure to remove this mask before applying any decals. Too many times have I seen this happen to count.

2. The Paint.
There are several paint companies out there as well. and several colors to choose from. Choosing a color is imortant including if you are racing. Why? because its really hard to see a black truck on the track or course. and its even harder to see a black truck running on the street where Mr. Wise might just run over your beloved pride of the bashway belt.
So choose colors that are best for what you are planning on doing.
Here are some companies that i know of that sell rattle can paint.

Testors Which I mostly reccomend for hard shells more than lexan
Pactra
Tamiya
Spaz Stix

Plus many others I might not of mentioned, Please supprt your vendors when ever possible.

It is possible to use a non-lexan paint as well in the lexan shells but I can not tell you how this may affect the mask you may use, But I highly suggest it for one color paint jobs.
Bulldog paint adhesion promoter is the best on the market and will give you an excellent bond to just about anything you paint.
BULLDOG

3. Masks.
There are different ways that you can go to achieve a paint job that will provide you with a nice look from crazy to plain and simple. And if you are just going for that one color theme once again. well you can also purchase many products that will give you the look of a skilled painter from internal decals to external decals.

As for masks go for that multi colored look. I suggest the following.
Spaz Stix
Parma
XXXMAIN
And again there are severl others available on the market including some vendors here.

Then there are skill levels. Now this being said, Just because a paint mask has a skill level doesnt nessesarily mean you wont beable to grasp the concept. it just means there is more time and patience involved to achive this look. If you are willing to go the distance, then take your time and make move. if you feel your not qite ready then start out with something basic and youll be fine.

Other options are the External or Internal decal. These will allow you to place a decal on the inside and paint over it or paint and then place decals on top to achieve a look.
some of these are as follows.
Jackal
UpgradeRC
XXXMAIN Internal
XXXMAIN external
And again there are many others out there to choose from.

Now there is some talent involved but it doesnt mean that the basic guy with no talent cant do this. It is important to know your capabilities. dont try and do a michelangelo paint job if you paint like a preschooler on 2 cans of coka cola.

Choose something that will give you the ability to have something nice and capable in your hands. once you learn more, you can adapt and try something better.

 

[team3six]

lessons to learn.

1. Paint cans should ALWAYS be mixed well. Mixing a can of paint only gives you an improved look. The thinner the paint, the better the spray, the cleaner the spray the less splotches youll have.

2. Yes it is true that paint can hurt your lungs. Dont act like it cant happen to you. I have asthma and I still wear a mask EVERY TIME I paint. You only have 2 lungs, and using one can suck. They cant be replaced and living off an oxegen tank all your life isnt cool.

3. When applying the mask. Wash your shell in hotter than warm water. with clean dishwashing soap. meaning it doesnt have all the fragrant **** in it.. Just plain old diswashing soap. use your fingers and hands because one youll be cleaning your hands and two youll get in all the nooks and crannies. Make sure that you hit everything inside the shell and if your not sure. do it again. Even if you are sure do it anyways. It doesnt hurt to do it again.

4. dry your shell with a dust free paper twel. Dont use a dish rag because they haver dust no matter how well your moms dryer works. Dust doesnt always come off lexan including if you live in a dry place. generally the good grade paper towels work the best. if you feel that there is enough dust residue left over. the cans of dust remover for your computer work well. or the average air hose if you have a compressor.

5. applying the mask. This is important. before you choose a mask. Shells shaped with alot of angles and curves sometimes hinder your mask and change its look. I live with this rule. if it doesnt work than dont use it. It will only piss ya off and make you un happy in the end. the experianced mask user knows how to make the mask do what they need to do and has learned how to make them work.

6. a.
Make sure your hands are clean and free of oils. Oil will just mess up your work and youll be wondering why didnt I just wash my hands. so just do it and get started. Once your hands are dry and you have figured out how youll lay out your project. reove the mask in sections that is how they are meant to be put on. just because they come on a full sheet doesnt meantthats how they go on. carefully place your mask in place and firmly run your finger along the mask to place it snug to the lexan. if the shell is clean and your hands are clean. then you will have good contact. Dont think that running your hand on your face for a second or in your hair to get it out of your eyes will still be fine. Once you do that you already screwed the pootch. So go clean them again and continue. The deal is to keep everything your laying out flowing and making sure there is a tight bond against the shell. Youll see it from the outside of the shell when apling the mask if its not bonding. if that is the case run your fingernail carefully along the area of the mask till it bonds. If you folow this and do this correctly. youll have a nice paint job that doesnt have bleeds.

7. Paint your product. Now before you do this again. mix that rattle one last time. It doesnt hurt! then inspect your mask again and make sure all your edges are tight. rattel can paint has this amazing ability to unglue adhesive from the mask. so you know that little instruction on the can that says how far away to spray the paint. Follow that. They disnt put it there to encourgae you to spray it 4 inches away.

8. My personal advice is to spray dark colors first. if you have to spray a light color. be sure to back it with white afterwards. but if its white anyways. back it with a silver color. Anyways. Spray a nice even light coat on your project. dont try and cover it with one thick coat. that is what usually makes most projects crash and burn. just be patient and spray the colors on in nice even light coats and let dry a few minutes before adding another caot. the trick is when you hold the shell up to the sun. you should not see through it.

9. ALLOW TO DRY, trying to peal up a wet mask only advances bleeding. So dont do it. just let it dry. Once that is done go on and remove your next mask and apply the next color exactly the same way as the first coat. With luck. your shell should be looking rather impresive.

10. allow to dry again! I'll say it once more. ALLOW TO DRY! once that is done.

11. Now if you havent done so yet. the best stuff i recomend is a can of Rustoleum plastic paint. Once your project is dry, spray that all in the inside in about 2-3 light coats and allow to dry again.

11. Remove your window masks and if anything bleed into the window area. then get a nice clean toothpic and carefully remove the paint in easy forward movements. Now your done. remove the paint mask and trim. your ready to mount.

Now just a little heads up. if you have no body holes drilled out yet. before you paint, take a permanent marker and mark the area being drilled out. I prefer a fine tip to mark it exactly where i want it. after i do that i generally take an exacto knife and just ream a small indentation into the shell because once you remove the overspray film, then you may forget where those marks are.

Also. You can trim the body anyway you want. I just prefer the removing of the film first and if the paint is well dryed on. it should not chip or pull off.

and finally if the shell your painting does not have over spray film. Saran wrap and blue masking tape makes a great film. And if you do get anything on your shell I generally use Testors paint thinner. its light enough to not harm your shell and strong enough to remove anything on the outside of the lexan.

there ya go. Good luck to ya.

 

[acrosteve]

Thanks

 

[team3six]

OK and just so ya know that i talk from experiance. Here are a first shells of mine I did before I got into airbrushing using Pactra Rattle cans and Spaz Stix 7 deadly sins collection GREED on a Duratrax Evader Body and a Protoform Mazda body

 

[acrosteve]

Well, I am getting some paint today, so I should get it painted before the weekend.


I dovetailed the back and have it pretty well trimmed to where I want it.

I am waiting until I have it painted before I set the rivets.

 

[team3six]

so ahhh I notice you put the gun rack sticker on the shell already. and riveted the plates. it looks good but that sticker wont stay one you remove the overspray film and it might make it a little hard to paint with the lexan overlaping. Im sure you thought about that but i just wanted to bring it to your attention just in case.

 

[TwistedCreations]

and riveted the plates. it looks good but it might make it a little hard to paint with the lexan overlaping. Im sure you thought about that but i just wanted to bring it to your attention just in case.

I am waiting until I have it painted before I set the rivets.

:mrgreen:

 

[acrosteve]

so ahhh I notice you put the gun rack sticker on the shell already. and riveted the plates. it looks good but that sticker wont stay one you remove the overspray film and it might make it a little hard to paint with the lexan overlaping. Im sure you thought about that but i just wanted to bring it to your attention just in case.

Yep - there are a cople of stickers on it from the previous owner. Oh-well. No biggie.


And yes, i will remove the rivets before spraying."thumbsup"

 

[acrosteve]

Man, there sure isn't much actual paint in this Pactra paint, is there?


95%voc = 5% paint. The stuff it transparent.


Anyway, i shot some metallic green 1st, then I shot some red after I removed the masking, then I will finish with yellow. I did not buy any additional paint for a final coat, but figured I might hit it all again with the rest of the green I have. Hope it does not make the yellow too dark.

 

[team3six]

It will, thats why as a rule, always shoot the darks first and then go to the lighters colors. if you need to shoot a lighter color first you should back that with white. if the lighter color is white, then back it with silver

 

[acrosteve]

Well, the yellow covers MUCH better than the other two colors I used.

Don't really have anything to back it with, so I am going to stay with yellow as the last coat.

I will get a pic or two a little later. Not too bad if I do say so.

 

[acrosteve]

Here was most of the masking.

And an overhead shot. I did end up with a little bleed through, or wicking.

Mounted - and I was able to save all of the stickers from off of the protective film.

It is all downhill from here."thumbsup"

 

[team3six]

Not bad, not bad at all"thumbsup"

 

[acrosteve]

And some action shots.

Here, I caught him posing one. Just could not drive to this spot.:mrgreen:

And another one. He was bound to beat me one way or another.:lmao:

And he got a kick out of doing back flips. So much for the paint job. :shock:

 

[caymin last]

Painting is a skill, just like most other talents, time ,experience and knowledge makes a difference. I have been learning for years and still struggle a bit.
This is one of my attempts, all I had was a cheapie Testors plastic airbrush #8821, some acrylic craft paint and some stencills I made from scrap lexan, blue masking tape and a pack of #2 blades.