The Paint Zone

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This is the first one that I have kept trackof by photographs. I know this is not a complex paint job and
and there are many things done out of orderthat I will discuss, but hopefully this will be helpful if you
are to take on the most creative part ofthis hobby and paint your own top. Some of the fancy flame and
graphic paint schemes will come soon, but you can learn the basics from this one. I have
a question and answer area, as well as tipsand comments sent in.
This is a Traxxas Stampede from a friendof mine, he already had the mounting holes,fenders cut out,
and the stickerson it when he got it to me, so normally these are the last steps.
He wanted it painted all blue...well whenyou put so much time into masking, you cant stand
to just paint it a solid color, so I gaveit a little flare with metalic paint and a little highlight of purple.
 
• Step one:
Ya gotta clean this thing. When they comefrom the manufacturer, they might have some residue on them or oil fromyour hands that will affect how the paint sticks to the Lexan. Use a littledish soap and warm water....make it squeaky clean.
 
• Step two:
Tape off the windows. I have found that ifyour kit doesn't come with premade window masks, that you can make yourown by masking the outside (with masking tape) and cutting with an exactoknife. Be carefull not to cut through the lexan though, even heavy scratcheswill make a weak spot on the body. After you make your own masks, thenput them on the inside, if you use the tip of the blade, it is easier tostart a corner accurately.
 
• Step three:
Mask off the area for the first layer ofpaint. Try to plan out your paint scheme ahead of time. It is best to paintfrom dark colors first to lightest colors last.If you paint white first,then get a little red on the back, it will make the white change a littlepink, but if you paint black first...it is so dark that you don't haveto worry about any other color affecting it...so you don't have to maskit for the next color....just paint over it.
 
• Step four:
Check for loose tape...I don't know how manytimes I thought I had it all covered, only to find out after spraying,that the paint found a little hole. First I am painting the bottom areaof the Truck in black, so all the rest is covered on the inside. If youare not very accurate with your paint can or air-brush, then use the plasticbag the top came with and mask off the outside of the truck so the overspraywont speckle the top. If you do get paint on the outside, just use a ragwith a little paint thinner on it and rub it off.
 
• Step five:
Get your paint station set up. Have a ragfor those emergency spills, and good lighting. You can paint without anair-brush by using the cans, but you don't have nearly as much controll.The cans are great for the solid areas though, and it is faster than cleaningout my air-brush between colors.
 
• TOOLS:
My preferred equipment.:
- Iwata HP-B or HP-C air-brush
(second choice is Pache for the money)
- A consistant air supply of about 40 P.S.I
- Pactra Racing Finish paints
- Pactra Racing Finish Thinner
(what ever paint you prefer, make sure youuse the same brand thinner, I tried to save some money at the hardwarestore with another brand of laquer thinner, and it turned the paint inmy air-brush to jello, took me a while to clean it) 
 
• Step six:
After painting the black, I removed all theother masking except the windows. Then Applied a highlight color of metalicpurple, but not so thick that is won't blend well with the next color.This will give the finish that pearlescent apprearence.
 
• Step seven:
Next is the main color of metalic blue. Ipainted everything solid except the bed of the truck, notice how much thepurple fades away with the blue painted underneath it. The metalic paintdoes best wtih a solid color underneath. If you want it brightest...usesilver or white, or to make the paint a little darker, then use a blackunder coat. Or fade from white in the front to black in the back for agreat fading affect. I put a non metalic blue color as the undercoatingon this one. Which makes it a little darker and the bed will not reflectas much. 
 
• Step eight:
Unmask the windows and leave them clear so you can see your electronics or give them a spray of black for that dark tinted look. Then you start the finishing touches. Add the stickers, cut out the wheel wells, the antenna hole, and the mounting holes. I prefer a Dremel for these tasks. If youy are using scissors, try not to leave any sharpe angles, this is where a crack will most likely start.
 
 
• Step nine:
Take a good picture of it and send it toRon's r/c pics right away.....well a least take a picture before ya scratchit all up <g> I wipe on a little furniture cleaner on the outside togive it a little shine, and it cleans up alot easier too after that mudbog.
 
 
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