RC Airbrushing Tips

In order to airbrush an RC car, you need a cardboard box, a smock or old shirt to protect your clothes, a small fan to vent air, primer, paint and an airbrush. The following RC airbrushing tips are simple and easy to learn; once you master these basics, you can move on to more advanced techniques.

Prep work

Cut off the top and one side of the cardboard box. On the other side, cut a hole large enough to fit the fan. Place the fan in backwards to allow air to vent out of the box. Once the cardboard box is ready, assemble your airbrush according to the instructions.

Primer time

When you choose a primer, keep in mind that most adhesives do not stick well to primers. It is also best to airbrush outside due to the messy factor. Minimize the paint spray that vents through the fan by loosely rigging a piece of cardboard over the section of the fan that is outside the box. The air still blows out but most of the paint lands on the cardboard.

Practice, practice, practice

Before you airbrush your RC car body, practice your technique on a piece of scrap metal or plastic. To get a nice even finish, spray with an even stroke from one side to the other. Do not release the trigger until you have gone past the boundary of what you are painting. Once you master the art of the even stroke, experiment with other techniques. Use an uneven grip on the trigger to create spatter effects. To create a look that is heavier in one area, spray that area repeatedly.