Wet paint!

New stuff for 2003

Happy New Gear! Skip the silly hats, the champagne and those twirly things that make that annoying ratchet sound; it's time to ring In 2003 "Body Shop"-style. With so many new paints, detailing items and bodies to tell you about, the only way to do it right is to dedicate this month's column to describing all the new stuff. If this is any indication of what lies ahead In the new year, it will definitely be a happy one. While you're checking out all of the cool stuff, I'll try to figure out where the past 12 months went.

PRO-LINE RACING Dodge Power Wagon

With the introduction of Pro-Line's Dodge Power Wagon, Maxx truck enthusiasts have another classic truck to choose from. The vintage Mopar is molded in .060 Lexan for added durability and includes full-color decals, window masks and overspray film. So who's going to be the first to make a "M.A.S.H." Maxx out of one of these? By the way, the Power Wagon is wearing Pro-Line's new "Big Joe 40" series tires and new Maxx bumper. Dodge Power Wagon-3138-00; $28.

Big Joe tires-1103-01; $33.

Maxx bumpers-6018-00; $14.

ARTOOL PRODUCTS Co. Hobby Mask Artool has debuted its new Hobby Mask-a thin, flexible masking material that's ideal for RC body painting. Hobby Mask makes fast work of masking large areas and tackling intricate graphics. The solvent-proof clear film stretches well and conforms easily to odd contours and corners, thereby allowing you to easily duplicate graphics drawn on the exterior of the body. Hobby Mask's medium-tack adhesive keeps it in place yet won't lift layers of paint or leave any sticky residue. The 6-inch by 10-yard roll will last you through many bodies.

Hobby Mask-HM-1; $19.95.

SCHUMACHER USA Hot Works Scale Wheels

If you think these Hot Works wheels look good here, wait until you see them mounted on a chassis. They're designed for most popular Ho touring cars with standard 12mm hex hubs. Scale enthusiasts will like the designs because they're very similar to those available for many full-size cars.

Various part numbers depending on wheel choice; $12.99/pack of 4.

PARMA PSE FASKOLOR Speciality Shades Parma showed off some neat new additions to its water-based FasKolor lineup. Fasflips are prismatic colors that change hue depending on the angle at which they're viewed. FasGlow is glow-in-the-dark paint that will really spice up those nighttime parking-lot races; it glows with bright white/green luminescence. FasGlow can also be mixed with one part FasFluorescent color to five parts FasGlow to after the hue. FasTint is a semi-transparent smoke color that works well for painting windows and shadowing graphics.

FasFlip Maple-40020, Jade-40021, Scarabaeus-40022, Sapphire-40023; $10.99 each.

FasGlow-40190; $4.29.

FasTint-40191; $4.29.

PARMA PSE FasKolor F-1 Airbrush

Parma set up a large painting area where its staff conducted hourly masking, painting and finishing demonstrations. I spotted the company's new FasKolor F-1 airbrush at the painting table and couldn't wait to try it, so I jumped in to give a few demos as a guest painter. The F-1 is a professional-quality, dualaction, siphon-feed airbrush that handles fine lines and broad coverage with ease. The F-1 set includes a case, compressor adapter, air hose, FasKolor adapter cap and plastic paint jar.

F-1 airbrush-40260; $109.99.

MDI RACING

Paint Masks

Bored with basic stripes? Bumed out on flames? MDI Racing comes to the rescue by providing new spark for your bodies with its elaborate vinyl paint masks that Include headlamp masks, tribal designs, sheet metal and many other slick ways to create a hot-looking body. Various part numbers, depending on graphic; $4.99 to $8.99.

PRO-LINE RACING Mini Cooper

How can you not love the new Mini? Pro-Line's RC version accurately replicates the fine detail of the retro rocket and is available for both nitro and electric retro enthusiasts.

Mini Cooper-3139-00 (190mm), 3142-00 (200mm); $23.

FRESH PAINT

Gary Katzer, Milwaukee, WI

RC Car Action contributor Gary Katzer wanted to replicate the BAR color scheme for the Tamiya Corvette that he built for the TCS Nats. The small, associate sponsor decals aren't commercially available, so a simple solution was to download the images from the Internet, print them out and glue them to the inside of the body with XXX-Main picture glue. The result is permanent images that are inside the body and can't be scuffed off during racing. The Lucky Strike" logos and background were completed with various shades of FasKolor.

Do you have a sharp, uncluttered photo of your best paintwork? Send it in! Explain the types of paint, products and techniques you used to finish it. Be sure to include your full name and address and your email address if you're online. For information about sending electronic images, check out www.caraction.com. Send prints or slides to "Body Shop; RC Car Action, 100 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT 06877-4606 USA.

JACKAL Internal Paint Transfers

This tiger is obviously the airbrush work of some contest-winning artist, right? Actually, it's one of Jackal's internal paint transfers. The reverse-image graphics are a unique new way to add artistic impact to your body without years of painting experience. The transfers come on a protective carrier sheet; to apply them, simply remove the protective overlay film to expose the image, and blot it into position inside your body with a moist cloth. The process is similar to that used to affix a temporary tattoo. When the image is in place, it is covered by paint layers, so you don't have to worry about the graphic delaminating or flaking away.