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-   -   First paintjobs need some tips (https://www.rctech.net/forum/painting-designs-graphics-photography/1137628-first-paintjobs-need-some-tips.html)

wydopen 01-05-2026 08:09 AM

Has anyone used the createx adhesion promoter? Paintjobs aren't holding up as well as they should. Washing bodies with dish soap and warm water like usual and using a thin layer of e6000 to protect the paint in areas it rubs like I always do. The 1/8 bodies are pretty worn after one race and even my 1/10 bodies are starting to come off. The velcro ripped off with a huge chunk of paint on my 2wd. Still using rattle can bodies I did years ago and these look worse after a few weeks. Some I backed with Tamiya spray cans and some with traxxas paint as it's cheaper and comes in a big can..same result with both.

mikea96 01-19-2026 08:52 PM

I use parma faskolor paint and I scuff the insides of my bodies with green scotchbrite to help adhesion then thoroughly wash then. After im done painting and it has dried thoroughly I just shoot a couple very light coats of a clear enamel like rustoleum. My racer bodies are still in excellent condition after lots of use.



wydopen 02-02-2026 08:24 AM

One I did for my friend. Messed up and didnt pull the border of the black when I sprayed the flo yellow so it ended up white. Shading is a little better but not my best job cutting/pulling the mask.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...9f38e65c7b.jpg

wydopen 02-10-2026 12:59 PM

Quick one I did for my daughter with minimal outlines and shading.. Probably should have done some around the silver..

When you use a stencil do you guys cut it to fit each body? It's hard to hold flat around the curves and shoot the paint with the other hand even if you tape one side down.. The bittydesign ones aren't cheap so I've just been reusing it..

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...e8801b90d7.jpg

ceh329 02-12-2026 08:41 AM

When I was painting I would just lay the stencil down and spray. I usually had a couple and some I did cut.

I think someone else mentioned it but defintly scuff the body using a scotch brite pad, avoid the windows :). Then wash and let dry, avoid touching the body and spray the liquid mask.

For backing, I used to use spray can bed liner on 1/8 bodies. Worked pretty well, but it can adhear to the liquid mask on the window and can be a real PITA to get off. I switched to Rustolium Clear Enamel. Works well.

I would suggest buying some sheets of lexan from Amazon and test different backing methods, this includes E6000 and Shoegoo as they can react with paint and eat a way it.

wydopen 02-12-2026 11:30 AM

Quick one I did yesterday...body came with an rc10 I bought and it was already trimmed and had no overspray film on it. Taped the outside and then drew the design on the liquid mask...sharpie bled threw in a few spots..not bad considering that and my kids were rough housing in the garage and pestering me the whole time I cut the mask and sprayed it..

Used clear on the last few, definitely seem like they will hold up better..

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...dc9bfb3d59.jpg

wydopen 02-14-2026 11:24 AM

My sons “vintage” car

tried to use the double bladed adjustable exacto to do the window trims. Didn’t work out.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...34d33fa42.jpeg

wydopen 02-23-2026 04:43 AM

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...9c9421903.jpeg
Overdid the black shading on the flames. Hard to tell what it’s going to look like until you back it. Having a problem with my compressor. I have a water separator but by the time I am on the second or third color and it’s been running awhile I will get a random spurt of water usually at the worst time when I’m trying to do something detailed. The water separator is catching water. Have to let it sit and cool down which is a bummer..

Cinnabun 02-23-2026 07:54 PM

To help with your lines, get a light board. I draw a single line design with an ultra fine sharpie on the overspray film. I than use a lightboard to backlight the body while I cut along the sharpie line from inside the body. I than remove the sharpie from the overspray film with rubbing alcohol and a paper towel. Than use the lightboard to backlight the body again and the original cutlines will glow. I follow those lines at whatever distance I need to, usually 1-2mm on 1/10 bodies and 2-3mm on 1/8 bodies. This method will reduce any confusion when cutting lines because you only are following a single line. Heres and example of a body I painted for a buddy of mine with some pretty sharp and long thin outlines.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...28e67323dc.jpg

wydopen 02-24-2026 08:07 AM


Originally Posted by Cinnabun (Post 16245525)
To help with your lines, get a light board. I draw a single line design with an ultra fine sharpie on the overspray film. I than use a lightboard to backlight the body while I cut along the sharpie line from inside the body. I than remove the sharpie from the overspray film with rubbing alcohol and a paper towel. Than use the lightboard to backlight the body again and the original cutlines will glow. I follow those lines at whatever distance I need to, usually 1-2mm on 1/10 bodies and 2-3mm on 1/8 bodies. This method will reduce any confusion when cutting lines because you only are following a single line. Heres and example of a body I painted for a buddy of mine with some pretty sharp and long thin outlines.

Thank you, that looks good. I will try to make one. I've been trying to draw with the ultra fine sharpie but I have better luck with the regular sized one.. My lighting situation isn't ideal. Have an overhead fluorescent and then hold it up to my pitlight on the table when I'm having trouble seeing what I'm doing. Cut one this morning that has allot of curves and points starting and stopping on tight corners, was struggling a bit hope it comes out ok since it's for my friend and it's a long discontinued body.

wydopen 03-01-2026 09:16 AM


Originally Posted by Cinnabun (Post 16245525)
To help with your lines, get a light board. I draw a single line design with an ultra fine sharpie on the overspray film. I than use a lightboard to backlight the body while I cut along the sharpie line from inside the body. I than remove the sharpie from the overspray film with rubbing alcohol and a paper towel. Than use the lightboard to backlight the body again and the original cutlines will glow. I follow those lines at whatever distance I need to, usually 1-2mm on 1/10 bodies and 2-3mm on 1/8 bodies. This method will reduce any confusion when cutting lines because you only are following a single line. Heres and example of a body I painted for a buddy of mine with some pretty sharp and long thin outlines.


the light table was the best 25$ I ever spent. Blew it on the stencils but the lines are way better.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...41657cb23.jpeg

Cinnabun 03-01-2026 10:01 AM


Originally Posted by wydopen (Post 16246558)
the light table was the best 25$ I ever spent. Blew it on the stencils but the lines are way better.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...41657cb23.jpeg

here’s another tip for stenciling in light colors. Spray your color first, I will usually do 2-3 coats of a transparent color, than I use a darker shade of the same color or a complimentary darker color on top of the original color before backing with white. This will make the stencil designs less harsh. Give it a try and report back!

wydopen 03-01-2026 10:33 AM


Originally Posted by Cinnabun (Post 16246571)
here’s another tip for stenciling in light colors. Spray your color first, I will usually do 2-3 coats of a transparent color, than I use a darker shade of the same color or a complimentary darker color on top of the original color before backing with white. This will make the stencil designs less harsh. Give it a try and report back!

thanks need to get some transparents just have opaque.

wydopen 03-02-2026 09:19 AM

Any tips for cutting tight inside corners? Trying to match a paint job on an mp11 body for my friend. Usually adjust the design to
miss it but on this one there’s no way around it. Haven’t had good luck cutting downhill. Is the best option to start at the bottom on each side? Curved blade?

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...4e5a0f743.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...68b66dab9.jpeg

Cinnabun 03-02-2026 09:30 AM


Originally Posted by wydopen (Post 16246747)
Any tips for cutting tight inside corners? Trying to match a paint job on an mp11 body for my friend. Usually adjust the design to
miss it but on this one there’s no way around it. Haven’t had good luck cutting downhill. Is the best option to start at the bottom on each side? Curved blade?

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...4e5a0f743.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...68b66dab9.jpeg

I cut that in one swipe going one direction, but I slow my drag speed down and tilt the body to get the correct angle.

for you, I would probably work from the valley outwards, doing that you run the risk of the lines not matching up perfectly.


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