need help on my first paint job

[tbsleeper]

alright i was wondering what to do when i paint a body.

do i prime first?
should i buy a airbrush or can i use the paint can thing that came wit my air compressor?
should i paint the body first or cut the body out then paint it?
what kind of paint do i use?
also should i put on some kind of top coat when I'm done?
anything else i should know please post it! thanks!!:worship:

also do i use a thinner in the paintbrush?

 

[GilBeQuick]

Ok hold on. First things first. Are you looking to airbrush it or use aerosol cans?

You do not prime when painting bodies. Remember, you paint backwards....on the inside not the outside. So if you prime it, you're actually painting your car primer. The only "priming" you need to do is clean out the inside of the body with warm water and dish detergent (like Dawn) and thoroughly let it dry. Using a hairdryer helps dry it much faster.

 

[AC48]

Use Pactra paints...they work great and come in a nice spray can.

 

[mcvickj]

This should get you started...

http://www.rccaraction.com/rn/articles/body_paint.asp

 

[tbsleeper]

can some1 tell me if i paint the inside of the shell or outside of the shell. also do i mix paint thinner wit the regular paint when i spray it on? thanks:stickup:

 

[Diver6127]

Originally posted by tbsleeper
can some1 tell me if i paint the inside of the shell or outside of the shell. also do i mix paint thinner wit the regular paint when i spray it on? thanks:stickup:

You paint the inside ... read the link that mcvickj posted

 

[tbsleeper]

the link showed them painting the outer part

 

[Diver6127]

You need to read it again because they are clearly painting the inside.

 

[tbsleeper]

theyre painting the outside in that pic

but in this pic theyre painting the inside

well i see now u paint the inside. but now I'm wondering how u paint in lettering? and do u mix thinner and paint toggether in the resovior?

 

[Candyman]

Unless you're trying something out of the ordinary, paint the inside. Both pics are of inside painting. when you want to do lettering, you would first cut a mask of that. It's like a stencil. then you can paint the letters. As far as thinning goes. I usually mix the paint and thinner in a separate vial. That way if I need more than one reservoir, I have extra.

Also read here:

http://www.rctech.net/articles/painting_hauntedmyst.shtml

 

[tbsleeper]

do you have to write backwards so it will come out readable?

 

[KillerWabbit]

They aren't painting the outside, that is the inside. It's kind of an optical illusion.

You need to try and visualize it. You could have probably answered all these questions yourself if you take a minute to think about what's going on. Like that last question... ex: if you write your name on the inside of a foggy car window so that you can read it, can people on the outside read it right? Just read that link and think about what they're saying.

 

[Candyman]

You do have to work backwards. In a few senses. Yes, if you're going to paint text, it has to be mirror image. I did make that mistake the first time I went to do it. Also, if you think about how you paint a regular car, you typically do the base coat then the details above it. Well, on these, you have to do the details first and then the base color...