n00b, some advice needed. Going to paint HPI Dodge Stratus

[botmund]

I am going to think about the colors for a week or so. Not sure yet how combine them. Red, silver, black, white. Some combination of that.

The body will have text on it. The name of a company, web url and a logo.
Its a company I do a lot of work for and I just thought it would be fun to have the car painted in the same colors as their lorries are painted. I'm not getting paid for it.... :rolleyes: Thing is that the color combination looks quite good.

What would be better, to make that text as decals or have it professionally cut as masks/stickers and then sprayed?

The logo will have to be a sticker as it is mixed colors fading etc.
I have never painted a lexan body before. Have a little bit of airbrush experience.

I tried some Great Planes masking tape today on PET bottle, a first also. Airbrushed with Faskolor black. At some points the edges were jagged or uneven. Do I have to use some tool on the masking tape once it has been applied to make sure the edges are ok? I used my nail to press the tape's edges to the bottle.

I really really really hope this goes ok. Paid about 90euros for color, body, better airbrush and masking tape.

:)

[hijacker]

First thing you have to do is wash the inside of the body to remove any mold release agent that may be left over from the manufacturing process. You can use regular dish soap and water to do this.

Yes, you have to press the edges of the masking tape down to make sure the edge is sealed good. You said that you did this when you practiced and still had some bleeding occur. What probably happend was that you sprayed too much paint on at one time. It is best to apply the paint in very thin coats, almost just mist it on. Allow that coat to dry or at least very nearly dry before you apply the next coat. It may take three or more applications of the same color to get it dark enough to not be transparent. Applying the paint in very thin coats will prevent the paint from being thick and wet enough to run and therefore get under your tape.

Practice some more before you put paint to your body! Good luck and have fun.

You can go to Respirology's posted turorial on how he paints bodies, he does a few things differently than I do but overall it will give you a very good idea of how to proceed. go here... http://forums.radiocontrolzone.com/showthread.php?t=221293&page=1&pp=25

[botmund]

Thanks for the information!
Yes what you described happened. I had the paint running when spraying on the masking tape. I will do some extensive testing on bottles before the real thing. I need to get used to the airbrush.

Already read that tutorial and also one other posted in the same thread. Both good ones.

:)

[hijacker]

No problem. Post some pictures of the finished project so we can check it out. That color combination (black, red, silver, white) always looks good together.