A journal of my first paint job. A whole new respect!

[team3six]

OK, during the week I have spent quite some time putting together my first project. Trying to get a body painted looks easy to some as I thought it was not so big of a deal when I first used a rattle can. I kinda have a lucky hand in this because I have a natural art talent. But the thing is even when using maskes that are prepared for you, it is not that easy. My first paint job was a rattle can Outlaw black. I had used a Spaz Stix level 3 paint mask and well when applying this it took even me 2 sheets and about 3 hours just to get it to lay down right. Placing a mask on a hood is probably the hardest I would say expecially on a crowd pleaser body because of the constant bends along the hood and sides. needless to say with a couple of cigarette breaks I had achieved my mask and the paint went on. if you are a beginer it is important to realize if you do not want bleeding of the paint into you mask, make sure you fingernail it and use a blow dryer.

Today though I have decided to try something different. I have an airbrush now but I am still timid on using it. I thought about this long and hard and decided to go for a marble paint job which looks easy, I still have not reached that point yet.

After getting all the supplies I wanted, and to this body there is more that just paint, because as I said I am doing something different. (I will obviously show you whats up in the paint contest.) Hopefully I will have it entered in the August contest. I sat down last night and drew out my layout. Because I am going for a seperated look, I took a piece of paper and taped the paper along the side of the body so I could draw out the handles and trim of the vehicle, this way my layout would work on the side and I would have a better perspective of what it looked like. I drew out my mask and then copied the image in my copier and fliped it after that. now with a scheme for both sides I cut out the design and inserted the cutout to the inside of the body again taped it to the body only from the other side, this way when I went to draw on the out side the paper would be snug to the body. I cracked out my permenent marker and drew it out. remember if you do this to take your time. the body has ripples from door edges and trim ect. then I cleaned out the body with the soap and water dryed it off and sat down to apply the liqued mask. (No offence to Jeff at XXXmain), I went with the Parma mask even though I am a solid XXXmain user. I purchased 2 bottles just in case I screwed things up. Opened up the bottle and began brushing it on. This stuff is definately thin. I was sure to ask Stan on the forums how many times to apply so as even the bottle says it is wise to apply a good thick coat at first and then let dry, then return for a thinner coat and again dry and finally repete. I let it sit over night with a fan blowing on it.

This morning I woke up to see all was cured. Took out my hobby knife and started with the first cut. You have to remember as well that the knife that you are using is super sharp. It is not nessesary to make hard cuts because it is only a thin sheet of a rubbery skin on the body and cutting too hard will put a hole in your body, cutting to hard will also cuse you to loose your ability to control the knife since it is a sharp tip the slightest pressure could send your blade in a dirrection that is not where you intended to go. I sliped a couple of times off course but not to much as to seeing the flws when the job is done. OK let me tell you 3 hours of intricate cuts and pealing of a thin skin is enough to send you nuts. I started to realize why it took so long to have TKcustoms paint my nice body up. I have to say, I as of this point have a whole new appreciation for Painters. Expecially the RC painters, because not only are you applying paint to the inside of a body, but you are masking it and working in a small intricate area. and then you have to lay down paint backwards so it appears correct on the outside.

I will continue this as the progression goes. but this is so far a good idea on what to expect as you are trying to lay out your first RC paint job. Respect the time and involvement these guys go thorugh just to paint what you think looks cool. it is not as easy as it appears.

team3six 8:47 A.M. 8/5/06

[team3six]

Well, after hours of struggeling with the liqued mask, I have finally painted the truck. that Liqued mask is very difficult when you are using many layers of paint to do what you are doing. I suppose if I would have layered it at least 5 -6 times it would have made my life easier. I honestly do'nt know how you RC airbrushers do it. it is now 8:22 and honestly with the exception of running to the hobby shop and eating dinner, I have now finished the painting and trimming the body. I have opted to make this truck look as original as I can. I look at it and am pretty amazed with the way it is turning out. there is something about painting your own body that leaves you pretty satisfied, but even though I think it is a great job I can not help but wish I would have changed the mask a bit. I guess things always appear better in your head than what you were originally attempting to create. I can not say what I am doing to the truck right now. but I am investing a bit more money and time to give it an edge. I will just give you a hint in what dirrection I am heading. (The NEW Tamiya Bruiser). with a little bit of patience I should be able to duplicate what i am going for. I will check back to ya all later.

Team3six 8:22 P.M. 8/5/06

[PyroMike]

I'm glad you like how it turned out, and I hope you will have more shells painted in the near future. :) Can't wait to see how it turned out.

[team3six]

Thanks Pyro. I will try. just need to find a chassis to sit this one on.

[kropy]

Let's see some pics

[team3six]

ahhh, Now kropy, Comeon' now. I am saving this for the Contest:D I still have a couple of more thing left to do. I basically was doing this journal as a way of letting those who think it is so easy for a Airbrush artist to paint, They are wrong and should realize that a lot of prep goes into making a body. I for one definately think that you who are the big painters here are definately taken for granted and charge way to little for the jobs you do. you figure that a body costs $30.00 - $35.00, Materials about on a average somewhere around $50.00 ( I stated that because of some paint jobs are literally alot of colors), Time should be on the average $20.00 an hour ( For working in such close quarters and having to time and time again remove certain layers on mask for the next color to go on), And preping and finishing the body. Maybe those who do not paint should try it and see just how hard it really is. My hat's off to the RC painter's:cool:

[Pig]

And to think, people will still moan and groan about the cost of custom painted bodies being too high. They're lucky the pro painters haven't decided to charge by the hour, especially since most professional painters start out around $30 per hour. Your perspective on painting is refreshing, I just wish more people would have this experience.

[Stan@1stPlaceRace]

And to think, people will still moan and groan about the cost of custom painted bodies being too high. They're lucky the pro painters haven't decided to charge by the hour, especially since most professional painters start out around $30 per hour. Your perspective on painting is refreshing, I just wish more people would have this experience.
Yea pig that is true. I think thats why alot of people who airbrush R/C end up moving on to motorcycle helmets, auto's etc. Hell even the guys who paint T shirts at the fair make better money than most RC painters.

[tkcustoms]

Good post Norm, I used to paint bucket loads of R/C bodies but as was mentioned moved to helmets and other things. I did however paint full size cars and helmets before I ever painted an R/C shell. I got into R/C when I couldn't race motocross any more due to a wrist injury. I have started taking on some R/C work again but I bid the job at what it should be paid at. If the customer doesn't want ot pay that much that's fine with me, I've got plenty to do.

[team3six]

well It is a shame for sure. (And TK I did love them bodies you painted, But it is time to move on. I hope your not offended but I think I am going to sell those bodies so i can use the bodies I painted on my cars. I figure let someone else enjoy them and your work.) I wanted to learn to paint bodies because of you guys. Now I see that it is probably going to lead into painting Drag cars. my buddy want's me to paint his racing helmet when I get a handle of designing and painting. Like I said I have this talent. But there is definately a huge differance in airbrushing anything for that fact compared to drawing (as you can see by my attached tattoo art). A friend of mine even was convincing me sometime ago to get into tattoo work but to have control over a tattoo gun on someones skin is enough to leave me just as scared with that as with an airbrush, once you screw up you can not erase it!, I ended up doing tattoo flash instead ( Might I add that this is also way under rated and under paid for what it takes to draw up these things. I hope everyone who reads this understands that RC paint work and or art is a very long and struggling process that is it's own reward when finished but obviously very underpaid! Good luck everyone and hopefully I will have this posted in this months contest. If not definately by next month.

[PyroMike]

3six I just think that the majority of artists are under paid for what they do. I to am an artist (only I like realistic art the most), and I know what it's like just to plan out the drawling, and then what it takes to actually do the drawling.



I really hope that people will read this thread to understand how much skill is actually required to get the results that you are looking for.





The attached pic I did a few years ago, and is in memory of my grandpa.

[davecnitrors4]

I posted a reply on the value of paint work on another forum...
http://www.chitownrc.com/showthread.php?t=4242
_________________

"Can I comment here...kinda parallel topic..could be a new thread maybe, but here goes.

Painting car bodies is a funny deal. Everybody wants a cool looking custom shell. They see Mike's works and fall in love with the detailed pinstriping and CF look, multi-colors, etc... Then they ask for a quote...well, it's a six color scheme, with miles of flames and pinstripes, and it takes (how long, Mike?) hours to mask and cut, and spray, and clean the airbrush between colors, etc.
and then they are shocked when a painter asks $75 for his work. Well, coming from a newb painter, I can tell you that the materials and your time add up to a whole lot more than you can get people to pay. I do see some guys who do decent jobs getting $70-90 for bodies on eBay, but face it, eBay business is a bit a hassle within itself.

Mike's work is right up there with the guys we see in the mags, and we know it because he's been in the mags. He's on the top racers. Jerry's work is fantastic also, he custom mixes and multilayers colors to achieve unique results (how many colors make up that "orange" again, Jerry?).

For anyone who thinks a multicolor, detailed body for $40 is too low, you're right! For anyone who thinks $125 for a wicked Czech maxxed out body is too high, you are wrong!

Again, speaking for my own experience, getting results like Mike and Jerry (and others) is not easy. The time it takes to learn it and do it right are valuable. Don't believe me, go out and drop $100 on your own airbrush, another $80 for 15-20 colors and liquid mask film, $50 for a compressor, and get to work painting your own shells. In about a week you will start appreciating the value of either Jerry or Mike.
______________________________________________
Yep, it kills me that RC'ers will drop $100 a set on tires that might work on a a given track, they'll swap motors at $300 a pop, they upgrade radios, they buy tools, they add KHZ upgrade parts like they're free, but ask them to part with a fair price for a custom paint job and immediately the price negotiations start. "gee, that much? I thought it would be like $40 max!". How many times have we heard that? Well, from now on I'm telling people that if they want cheap prices they can pick any single solid color they want for $15. If you want a design masked, cut and painted, is gonna be more. If they cannot afford a better looking shell, they can always just cover their old stock one with duct or electrical tape and hit the track stylin' !"

[xacdesigns]

Other than the occasional single color jobs a few years ago, I just started getting into the airbrushing of RC car bodies at the beginning of this year.

pricing is a definite problem! And the statement about how much people will drop on tires, motors, etc..is right on the spot!

People complain about the price of a "cheap" paint job, I point them into the direction of the spray cans and wish them luck. Not that I'm trying to be an a$$, but the second I have to break out the tape or liquid masking and an xacto knife, the price is going to go up. :D

[markarch]

3six I just think that the majority of artest are undered paided for what they do. I to am an artest (only I like realistic art the most), and I know what it's like just to plan out the drawling, and then what it takes to auctuly do the drawling.

I really hope that people will read this thread to understand how much skill is auctal requried to get the results that you are looking for.


The attached pic I did a few years ago, is in memory of my grandpa.

Good thing you're not a professional spelling bee contestant :rolleyes:

[PyroMike]

Good thing you're not a professional spelling bee contestant :rolleyes:If your worried about spelling, then you missing the point of this thread.

[markarch]

If your worried about spelling, then you missing the point of this thread.

Nice edit. I just think that someone who has reached the time in their life to graduate high school should be able to spell. It's actually pretty frustrating to read some of these posts and try to determine what people are trying to say. The point of the thread is to read people's comments and discuss painting, etc. It's hard to have a discussion when I don't even know what an artest is! (artist)

Enough said. Sorry to clutter the thread with this nonsense. But, I needed to get it out there, in hopes that some people would take the time to read over what they type. You all take pride in your painting and take the time to create nice work. Why not take that same kind of pride in your spelling.

[PyroMike]

I guess thats what happens when you forget to proof read. :rolleyes:

[team3six]

Nice edit. I just think that someone who has reached the time in their life to graduate high school should be able to spell. It's actually pretty frustrating to read some of these posts and try to determine what people are trying to say. The point of the thread is to read people's comments and discuss painting, etc. It's hard to have a discussion when I don't even know what an artest is! (artist)

Enough said. Sorry to clutter the thread with this nonsense. But, I needed to get it out there, in hopes that some people would take the time to read over what they type. You all take pride in your painting and take the time to create nice work. Why not take that same kind of pride in your spelling.
Ok kids back on topic, or am I going to be punished for my grammer as well

[PyroMike]

Hey 3six, do you got anything new on your paint journal?

[team3six]

Well, I will just go into it. The body has not been painted by an airbrush. I practiced and practiced and nothing was good for me. I went to the CFX website and got some information to duplicate a marble paint job. I decided to try something out of it's logic. I picked up a bottle of racing yellow from parma and a bottle of metalic red for faskolor, mixed them together which was greta for the purpose I was going for as it was described to me. the two are different makeup's as far as chemicaly, so when mixing them they still maintained a slightly seperate entity to them but remained in a mix. so the properties of the 2 colors made the yellow attract the metal flake and when dabbed into with a plastic bag and dampened down a couple of times to loose the excess paint, the image created on the shell was really sweet. I honestly have to say after a couple of hours between drying layers I achieved a true marble look. I guess the best representation I have is the was some of the oriental dragons look when carved out of granite and polished. I then blended black and burgandy together to get a candy colored black that shows a deep red in the light and I airbrushed that on the tail end. it depends on the light to see how the color comes out. sometimes it is jet glossy black, others just a deep rich burgandy candy. still on working on somethings, I do not want to give away the icing on the cake that just brings the body to an extra step. to me this should take the cake because it is beyond the rhelm of just painting a body but still in its catagory.

[PyroMike]

Glade to hear you like it so far. :) (now if only we can see some pic soon)



Don't worry, when I go to paint a shell again it will have something on it that has never been done on an rc. (at lease that is to the best of my knowledge). So be on the look out when I get to paint another shell. ;)

[davecnitrors4]

Six, it sounds like your marble technique is a little like the old decoupage paint effects..remember that stuff? Where you float paints on water and submerge the object and then lift it through the paint ? Wild patterns emerge!!

and as for proper spelling and grammar, I find most posters easy enuf to read even if they fumble finger a word or two. The human brain can quickly comprehend even the most cluttered spelling, most of the time. Not everyone spends their time typing for a living and their keyboard skills are not perfect. Let's not jump somebody's s**t for spelling and grammar...after all, there wasn't an IQ test to register for this forum.

.02

[Stan@1stPlaceRace]

Ncie eidt. I jsut thnik taht snoomee who has rcehaed the tmie in tiher lfie to gaudtrae hgih shcool sulohd be albe to selpl. It's auacllty prttey fruttsinrag to raed smoe of teshe ptoss and try to dnitereme waht poeple are tyring to say. The pnoit of the teahrd is to raed popele's coetmnms and dcsuiss pntiiang, etc. It's hrad to hvae a dicsusoisn wehn I don't eevn konw waht an asertt is! (atirst)

Eguonh siad. Srroy to ctleutr the theard wtih tihs nennssoe. But, I nedeed to get it out terhe, in hepos taht smoe polepe wolud tkae the tmie to raed oevr waht tehy tpye. You all tkae prdie in yuor ptnianig and tkae the tmie to ceatre ncie wrok. Why not tkae taht smae knid of pidre in yuor slplenig .


Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

[PyroMike]

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.That is true as I read through without any problems (well maybe I was cracking up trying to read it :rolleyes: )