paints for RC model making on lexan - 29 Colors Racing HIKARI R/C

Hikari RC series paints are water-based acrylic formulas specially designed for radio modelling
They are odorless, very fluid paints that are specially diluted for airbrush use.

Hikari RC paints offer a number of qualities, including maximum adhesion to Lexan®, superior paint coverage power, high flexibility and impact resistance

A transparent polycarbonate LEXAN® body can be painted from the inside to benefit from the protection of the material in case of shocks or scratches

The Hikari range of paints for radio-controlled model making is made up of several series (opaque, Fluorescent, Chameleon, Auxiliary)

This "Racing" series for graphics is made up of 29 brightly colored opaque tints, designed to decorate RC racing models.

Check out the list of its colors in the drop-down menu above and also in the PDF color chart to download at the bottom of the page

Application of Racing series opaque paints :

The paints are already diluted and allow an easy spraying with airbrushes of 0.3 or 0.5 mm nozzle.

It is also possible to spray them with a gun.

For very thin airbrushes, additional dilution is possible with water or our coalescent thinner HRC101, with a maximum proportion of 5 to 10%. Compared to water, the thinner creates a better adhesion and hardening.

HIKARI R/C paint can be applied directly to LEXAN. The surface must be free of grease, silicones or contaminants. Use a degreaser in case of doubt. A « de-icing » with a grey abrasive sponge is recommended.

It is possible to use our Lexan HRC110 primer beforehand, for an optimal adhesion guarantee.
In addition to their exceptional adhesion, Hikari RC paints are remarkably durable and flexible, allowing them to resist impact, stone chips and delamination.

Application is done in two to three coats until full coverage is achieved. It is not recommended to apply more thickness than necessary. The thicker a paint film is, the more likely it is to crack when twisted or impacted.

Base color, background colors

In the art of decoration on radio controlled vehicles and Lexan hulls, paints, effects and colors are layered. In this artistic discipline, the different steps are applied in reverse order, inside the transparent hull.

When applying more or less transparent effect paints, such as Hikari R/C chameleons for example, or even metallized ones, the opaque graphic colors always come last, to serve as an opaque and covering background (black or white).

A little tip for a better adhesion :

We always recommend spraying a very thin adhesion veil, before applying the two coats : several thin coats are better, than one or two thick ones.

The risk of delamination

To avoid delamination when removing the masking and also to guarantee the highest level of intercoat adhesion, there are two ways of covering the colors on top of each other :

Option One : Wet-on-Wet 

Take advantage of the "wet-on-wet" coverage period, i.e. during a 24-hour period, the paint allows a « biting » effect, because it is not completely through-drying and dry to the touch. Nevertheless, after drying to the touch, i.e. about 1 hour, the adhesion is reduced little by little, with the following coat, until it disappears completely after 48 or 72 hours

When making drawings and graphics, we can rarely afford to apply "wet on wet" because we must take the time to make masks and preparations.

Second option : Sanding

This consists of taking fewer risks, by allowing, according to the rules of art, the partial or complete drying of the paint, then sanding with an abrasive sponge, before applying masking tape, stickers, or other coats of paint.

Adhesion Guarantee

Hikari R/C paints have undergone extensive research and quality testing, particularly for adhesion to Lexan®, a clear polycarbonate material used in most radio controlled model bodies.

Another specialty of the Hikari R/C line

To complete your custom paint arsenal on RC models, discover our pearlescent and metallic effect paints, as well as our related products, such as the anti-fuel protection layer and the liquid masking product.