Make Your Own RC Car Body
Introduction
Building your own RC car body is a fun and rewarding experience. It’s a great way to customize your car and make it unique. Plus, it’s a lot cheaper than buying a pre-made body.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps on how to make your own RC car body. We’ll cover everything from choosing the right materials to painting and finishing your body.
Choosing the Right Materials
The first step in making your own RC car body is choosing the right materials. There are a few different materials that you can use, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
- Lexan is a lightweight and durable material that is commonly used for RC car bodies. It’s easy to work with and can be painted to any color.
- ABS plastic is another popular choice for RC car bodies. It’s stronger than Lexan, but it’s also more difficult to work with. ABS plastic can also be painted, but it’s important to use a primer first.
- Fiberglass is the strongest material that you can use for an RC car body. It’s also the most difficult to work with. Fiberglass bodies are typically only used for high-performance racing cars.
Once you’ve chosen the material that you want to use, you’ll need to decide on the thickness of the material. The thickness of the material will affect the weight and durability of your body.
- Thin material (0.010″ – 0.020″) is lightweight and flexible. It’s ideal for RC cars that are used for racing or bashing.
- Medium material (0.030″ – 0.040″) is a good balance of weight and durability. It’s suitable for most RC cars.
- Thick material (0.050″ – 0.060″) is heavy and durable. It’s best suited for RC cars that are used for off-road racing or bashing.
Creating the Body
Once you’ve chosen the material and thickness of your body, you can start creating it. There are a few different ways to create an RC car body.
- Vacuum forming is the most common method for creating RC car bodies. It involves using a vacuum former to shape a sheet of plastic over a mold.
- Hand forming is another option for creating RC car bodies. It involves using your hands to shape a sheet of plastic over a mold.
- 3D printing is a newer method for creating RC car bodies. It involves using a 3D printer to create a body from a digital file.
The method that you choose for creating your body will depend on your budget and your skill level.
Painting and Finishing
Once you’ve created your body, you can start painting and finishing it. There are a few different ways to paint an RC car body.
- Spray painting is the most common method for painting RC car bodies. It involves using a spray gun to apply paint to the body.
- Brushing is another option for painting RC car bodies. It involves using a brush to apply paint to the body.
- Airbrushing is a more advanced technique for painting RC car bodies. It involves using an airbrush to apply paint to the body.
The method that you choose for painting your body will depend on your budget and your skill level.
Once you’ve painted your body, you can start finishing it. There are a few different ways to finish an RC car body.
- Clear coating is a clear protective layer that is applied to the body. It helps to protect the paint from scratches and chips.
- Decals are stickers that can be applied to the body. They can be used to add graphics or logos to the body.
- Polishing can be used to give the body a glossy finish.
The method that you choose for finishing your body will depend on your budget and your skill level.
Conclusion
Making your own RC car body is a fun and rewarding experience. It’s a great way to customize your car and make it unique. Plus, it’s a lot cheaper than buying a pre-made body.
We hope this guide has helped you get started on making your own RC car body. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.