Bodyshell

One on my favourite job is painting body shells. I love the creation you can make. Its art!

I don't like cutting them out but I’m going to show you how i do it all.

My brand new Mazda 6 body shell.

First thing i do is taken it out of the bag is cut the rough shape. I find that painting the shell first very difficult to mount and cut wheel arches properly.

I cut rough because i find it a hassle to cut accurately with so much extra Lexan hanging around.

Once i had the unwanted Lexan out of the way i cut more accurately to the cut lines. I try to cut on the outside so i have room to trim afterwards.

Next is to ream the holes for body posts. I do all my cutting before painting.

I sit the body on the chassis and line it up, checking distance from wheel nuts; do the moulded cutline for the arches fit remotely? Once I’m happy with the position i mark the holes and ream.

Then i cut out the wheel arches, again i can see how they line up as with a painted shell i can’t.

Time to wash the shell and apply the window masks and any paint masks. Here I’m going for green headlamps and bottom grill so i have used the decals on the inside as masks.

Time to paint, largest and darkest areas first

No paint bleed, well impressed

Done, finished off with two tone rear wing.

The finished article. Tie to wreck it now lol

Thanks for reading.