Body Painting and Body Masks Guide

TRAXXAS.com
Traxxas, 6250 Traxxas Way, McKinney, TX 75070, Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]
KC2868-R01 Rev 210811
Body Masks and Body Painting Instructions
Covers Part #5846
Buying Paint
Traxxas clear bodies are molded from lightweight and durable
polycarbonate and should be painted on the underside so that the
color will not be scratched off while running. The best way to paint
the body is by using spray can paints. Genuine Traxxas ProGraphix®
paint is specially formulated for painting Lexan® or polycarbonate
bodies and provides airbrush-like quality with aerosol convenience.
It is available in 23 colors and specialty coatings to help bring your
vision to life. Other types of paints and solvents can attack the body
material and cause it to appear foggy.
Preparing the Body
The outside of the body has a removable peel coat to protect the
body from scratches and paint overspray. Do not remove the peel
coat until after the body is painted. When the peel coat is removed,
the body will be clear and glossy. The body must be cleaned
thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol or dish soap and water to remove
any grease or oil (i.e., fingerprints), which may keep the paint from
adhering to it. Dry the body completely with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Choose the masks you wish to use from the enclosed sheet and
carefully cut around them, leaving them attached to the underlying
sheet. Test t the masks on the body to be sure they will t in the
spaces you have chosen. Once you are satised with the positioning,
thoroughly clean and prepare the body. Peel the masks away from
the backing sheet and apply them to the underside of the body.
If you want to have clear windows, start rst with the window masks
included with the clear body. Start at one end and smooth out the
mask as you go to avoid air bubbles. You may want to cut larger
masks into separate pieces to make application easier. Once you have
applied all the masks, you are ready to apply the base coat (primary
color) of paint for the truck.
Spraying the Body
Read the directions on your bottle or can of paint and shake, mix, or
thin the paint, as required. It is very important to avoid breathing the
paint vapors, as they are extremely harmful. Spray the paint outdoors
in well-ventilated areas only. Apply the paint to the body sparingly
and in light coats. Be patient! Let the paint dry fully in between coats.
This will prevent accidentally smearing wet paint. After the rst
coat dries, you can create a multi-layer paint scheme by removing
some of the masks and spraying a dierent color to the exposed,
unmasked areas. Use the tip of a hobby knife to pick up the corner
of a mask. Grab the corner with your ngers or tweezers and slowly
peel the mask away. Once you are satised with the results, apply a
nal protective layer of paint to the underside of body. Usually the
protective layer is white or silver which enhances and brightens the
primary color. Do not remove the window masking until the nal
layer of paint has dried. After the body is completely painted, remove
the peel coat from the outside of the body.