Question: How Do I Mask an RC Body to Avoid Getting Paint Under Mask Edges?
When painting RC car bodies, masking is the placement of tape or special templates to cover areas where you don't want paint or that is to be painted with a different color than you are currently working with.
Answer: The key to a good paint job is a proper prep job.
Wash, Rinse, Dry the Body
Use soapy water and a rag or paper towels to thoroughly wash the body. Rinse and wipe it completely dry with a lint free cloth -- not paper towels -- to prevent fuzz from messing up your paint job. You could speed the process along with a handheld blow dryer. An alternative to water is to use denatured alcohol. It dries quickly. But do use a lint free cloth.Don't Touch the Body After Washing
After cleaning, do not touch the areas to be painted with your bare hands. Oils from your hands can keep the masks and the paint from bonding properly. Wash and dry your hands completely before handling masking materials.Apply Masks Carefully
When masking your RC body, peel the masks carefully and avoid touching the sticky side of the mask or tape as much as possible. Make sure all air bubbles are smoothed out -- work from the center of the mask toward the edges. Create a tight seal by burnishing (rubbing) the edges of the mask with the back of your fingernail. If there's a crafter in your family, borrow a bone folder -- it's a long smooth tool used for making creases, removing bubbles, and other tasks. Rub it or your fingernail along the edges with firm pressure. Vigorous back and forth rubbing could loosen the mask so press or rub in one direction and smooth from the center to the edges not from the edges inward or you risk peeling or tearing the mask.During the painting process -- such as before applying a second color but after the first color is dry -- run your finger around the edges of all masked areas to make sure the edges are still stuck down good.
