Paints for Lexan and radio-controlled models 

When talking about model making, two main categories stand out: model making and radio-controlled model making (RC*), where model paints are used for decoration, presented here with the « HIKARI RC » range.

Hikari offers RC model enthusiasts a magnificent range of colors, primers and effects, not to mention a few specialties such as the liquid mask or the fuel blocker.

Radio-controlled machines with electric or gasoline engines are carefully decorated by paint and customization enthusiasts, with attractive colors and complex designs made by masking (adhesives or liquids).

Hikari offers a complete family of specialized paints in 60ml format :

• basic color series

• metallic color series

• pearlescent color series

• Chameleon series

• Candy series

• auxiliaries and additives series

Lexan Paint for RC models: resistance, flexibility and adhesion

Radio-controlled model paints must demonstrate exceptional performance by possessing many qualities. In addition to having flashy, fluorescent or iridescent colors, they must be robust, flexible and must adhere strongly to a material widely used in the RC world : Polycarbonate or Lexan.

Not to mention the fact that airbrushed or sprayed decorations must be resistant to heat, smoke and fuel spray from combustion engines.

While in RC, we paint from the inside of a LEXAN hull, in model making, we paint traditionally, on the outside!

About model making :

The model making consists in reproducing a vehicle, an object identically in model. The model is static and the model maker will strive to achieve a faithful reproduction of its original model, whether in terms of assembly or of paint. The airbrush is widely used in model making to obtain beautiful flat surfaces or to achieve different effects. Brush painting is required for the smallest details. The use of color wash will allow to vary the aging effects of RC models.

The types of models and painting techniques used are very varied. We can mention :

- civil models, especially cars, where we often seek a perfectly smooth and shiny paint to reproduce the body of vehicles,

- military models : airplanes, armored vehicles, warships... where the operational and realistic aspect will be reproduced by the choice of paints as well as by the patina,

- science fiction models : spaceships or robots from pop culture, worked either in a realistic way or in a more free way.

Radio-controlled model making

The radio-controlled model making focuses on the realization of scale models that can be remotely controlled by a radio control. Thus, in addition to the visual aspect, the reproduction of the movement is added. The best known are :

- aeromodelling, with the reproduction of planes and helicopters

- model cars, with road vehicles

- Model ships, with boats and submarines

Model railroading is at the crossroads of dynamic model railroading, since it reproduces a moving train in a static environment (buildings, characters, other vehicles...).

The materials for RC model making and model building

The different materials that make up the model making application media are wood, resin, PVC, LEXAN. Hikari model paints provide excellent direct adhesion and good resistance to wear and sunlight.

In the RC world, we paint under the plastic (PC / Lexan) after degreasing and / or sanding with scotch brite. The radio-controlled range is ultra flexible and fuel resistant because for radio-controlled (RC) model making, this time it is about flying motorized models. The paints are sprayed with an airbrush or a spray gun so that they can adhere to the Lexan with or without sanding, in addition to being very flexible and fuel resistant.

Note that HIKARI also offers a transparent plastic clinging device that increases the fixing power and makes the work easier.

Paint for model