I know this isn't the right place, but no one seems to know. I'm trying to find a compatible paint for my plastic helicopter body off a Raptor. Nothing sticks to this crap. I've tried Race Finish model car paint, Krylon-just out of quriosity, and even testors though I'm not a hundred percent sure whether the testors worked or not. Does anybody know what the best type of paint is for this kind of plastic; I just want something that sticks.

Here are 3 reasons I know it won't stick well without some work. Ask me how I know....

1. You have to use a flexible automotive paint. A friend used aviation grade fabric paint that was left over from another guy's repainting job on his full scale. It worked great, but is some EXPENSIVE stuff.

2. The Raptor bodies are very slick. You have to rough then up alot, and then use a good primer.

3. The Raptor bodies hold oil pretty well from flight, and there is a residue of some kind left in there from the manufacturing process. You have to clean this out with something that will break down oil. 100% denatured alcohol works, but you have to work fast since it attracts water.

So, ahhhhhh, where exactly would you recomend I get this paint. Do you think, say, home depot might have this paint? Thanks

They might, but an automotive supply store would be the first place I'd look since they are bound to have some. I used some to repaint a wheelpant on an airplane, and it was only about 12 bucks a can. This stuff was custom blended for me, so it might be less for you since you'd be using a stock color.

Gracias Senor!

You know its kind of funny, I called heliproz and asked them what kind of paint they thought would stick. They replied "none that we know of." I cleaned the body real good with detergent and sanded it a little with light grit sandpaper. I doubt the paint will ever stick as good as I'd like so I decided just to put a few extra layers on for stregnth. Hopefully it will last awhile.

I mighyt just be throwing 'words to the wind'..

Is the body clear? If it is, chances are it's Polycarbonate / Lexan. If so, the local hobby shop should carry a line of 'RC car body paints' specifically designed for this stuff.. Tamiya has a line, I know, as well as I beleive Humbrol..

It's not. The stock Raptor body is white molded plastic. I've seen fiberglass canopies that are ready to paint.

We'll I took it out the field after painting it with krylon. While doing some minor setup, I set the body on the table and right when I turned around a gust of wind came up out of no where and the body fell to the ground. Needless to say i'm doing touch up. It ticked me off so much. What really gets me is the paint just doesn't scratch, it flakes off so now its uneven. Oh well, it didn't figure to last.

I don't think Krylon is flexible. Try some PPG automotive paint. I've got that on an all fiberglass airplane, and it flexes. All paint will chip, but the PPG seems to be much more resistant to it than others.

Check this out. I went to a heli seminar and someone told me to go get bumper primer. (Flexible and sticks to plastic). I've yet to try it.

Krylon has a new paint out called Fusion.. Its designed for plastic. Give it a try !!