Painting ABS R/C Bodyshells

[Guest]

Whats the best way of getting a reasonably durable paint finish on ABS Vac Formed Bodies?

1/12 Scale ministocks! Which paint, primer etc?

I have access to compressor, airbrush etc, but have never used it to paint anything as large as a car body. Metalflake or colour change paints would be nice!

[Guest]

Hi Alan

While I haven’t painted an ABS car body in quite a few years now, I do have to paint other ABS vac formed parts, and have found Faskolor Bodyshell Paint (www.modelsinmotion.co.uk) to be really good. I used to use tamiya polycarbonate when I had my rc car, but when I moved on to painting other prop related bits, the range of colours was very limited, so I was pointed towards the faskolor range.

One of the biggest problems is not cleaning the shell well enough. I use two things to make sure its super clean prior to painting. With a sink of warm clean water, I first of all squirt on some washing up liquid and rub it all over with my fingers, getting it in all the little places then wash it off, then as strange as it sounds, I then use head and shoulders shampoo, and rub it all over again. This not only cleans it further, but also removes any traces of the washing up liquid, but washes off much easier, so you know its all off, where some washing up liquids tend to stay put more.

When clean, wash it thoroughly with warm water from the tap, then dry with kitchen roll, (I find bounty is the best as it doesn’t break up when wet.) but don’t touch the side to be painted once washed, as this can reapply a greasy finger print.

Its just my way of doing it, and I am sure other use different paint, and ways to clean it.

Don