A clear RC body is a blank pumpkin. With a can of fluorescent green or orange and a little masking tape, you can have the scariest truck on the block by Saturday night.
Fluorescent paint has one trick most people learn the hard way: it's see-through. Here's how to paint it so it glows instead of looking like a faded highlighter.
The Short Answer
To paint a fluorescent RC body, wash the inside of the clear polycarbonate shell, mask your design, spray thin coats of fluorescent polycarbonate paint from the inside, then back the color with white so it looks bright from the outside.
- Use paint made for polycarbonate, like Tamiya PS or Spaz Stix. Never regular hobby enamel.
- Spray from the inside of the body, about 30 cm away, in light coats.
- Fluorescents are translucent: a white backing coat is what makes them pop.
- Paint dark details first and the lightest color last.
1. Get the body and paint ready
Ten minutes of prep is the difference between a clean body and paint that flakes off on the first tumble.
Pick the right paint
Polycarbonate (Lexan) bodies flex, so they need paint made to flex with them. Tamiya's PS line is made for transparent polycarbonate bodies and Tamiya warns never to use it on plastic models (Tamiya PS-1). For Halloween, try PS-28 Fluorescent Green, PS-24 Fluorescent Orange or Spaz Stix Fireball Orange.
Wash the inside of the shell
Mold release and fingerprints stop paint from sticking. Wash the inside with warm water and dish soap, rinse, and let it dry completely. Handle it by the outside after that.
Mask your design
Cut window masks from the sheet that comes with the body. Use thin masking tape for stripes and curves, and press the edges down with a fingernail so paint can't creep under.
2. Spray in the right order
On a clear body, the first paint you spray is what everyone sees. Plan backwards.
Details and dark colors first
Tamiya says small details should be brush-painted beforehand with its bottle paints for polycarbonate (Tamiya). Spooky eyes, cracks or black flames go on first, then the bright color behind them.
Light coats from about 30 cm
Tamiya's instructions are to spray from the inside of the body with the can about 30 cm away, let it cure, then apply another coat (Tamiya PS-20). Fluorescents don't cover as fast as regular colors, so expect three or four light passes instead of one heavy one.
Back the fluorescent with white
Fluorescent polycarbonate paint is translucent, and a white backing coat reflects light back through it so the color looks much brighter (OzRC on PS-29; hobbyists agree, see RC10Talk). Use Tamiya PS-1 White or Spaz Stix White/Backer. A final coat of black backer behind everything blocks light from shining through thin spots.
| Order (inside of body) | Example: "Slime Truck" |
|---|---|
| 1. Brushed details | Black eyes and drips |
| 2. Accent color | PS-27 Fluorescent Yellow stripes |
| 3. Main fluorescent | PS-28 Fluorescent Green, 3 to 4 light coats |
| 4. White backing | PS-1 White, 2 coats |
| 5. Optional black backer | Spaz Stix Black/Backer |
3. Finish, trim and show it off
The reveal is the best part. Don't rush it.
Let it cure, then peel
Give the paint time to cure before you peel the masks and the outside overspray film. Peel slowly at a low angle.
Trim and mount
Trim with curved body scissors, ream the body post holes, and add decals on the outside. A clear body like the one on the ARRMA Mojave GROM RTA kit is a perfect first canvas.
Make it glow
Fluorescent paint looks brightest under a black light, and LED lights inside the body turn it into a jack-o'-lantern. Our LED lighting guide shows how to add them.
Conclusion
Wash, mask, light coats from the inside, then back it with white. That's the whole secret to a fluorescent body that glows. Pick up polycarbonate paints in our paint collection or come to the Cumming, GA store and we'll help you plan the color order before you spray.
Gear Mentioned in This Guide
Tamiya PS-28 Fluorescent Green Polycarbonate Spray, 100ml
Slime green for a Halloween body. $9.75.
Shop now
Tamiya PS-24 Fluorescent Orange Polycarbonate Spray, 100ml
Pumpkin orange that glows under a black light. $9.75.
Shop now
Tamiya PS-27 Fluorescent Yellow Polycarbonate Spray, 100ml
Bright yellow for stripes and accents. $9.75.
Shop now
Tamiya PS-1 White Polycarbonate Spray, 100ml
The white backing coat that makes fluorescent colors pop. $8.00.
Shop now
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need white behind fluorescent RC paint?
Yes, for the brightest color. Fluorescent polycarbonate paints are translucent, and a white backing reflects light back through them.
Do you paint an RC body on the inside or outside?
The inside. Paint on the inside is protected by the polycarbonate, and the outside stays glossy.
Can I use regular spray paint on a Lexan body?
No. Use paint made for polycarbonate, like Tamiya PS or Spaz Stix, so it flexes with the body.
How far away should I hold the can?
Tamiya's PS instructions say about 30 cm, with another coat after the first cures.
What order do colors go on a clear body?
Details and darker colors first, then lighter colors, then a white or black backer last.
