Cut and Paint? Or Paint and Cut?

[m_vice]

I need opinions, I use to Cut the body, fit it, paint it and clean the outside after paint.

Need some experienced opinions.

thanks.

[aconsola]

on the rc10 I cut, fit then paint. I have a hard enough time trimming the protech when I can see where it needs to be trimmed, I don't think it would be fun to try to trim once painted, unless you are good at trimming, or have a well-trimmed body to use as a guide.
Everything else I paint first and then trim.

[YZ-10]

trimming first gets my vote

[badhoopty]

i always cut first. i cant paint worth a squat but i can sure trim killer if i say so myself.

[GJW]

yes i mark body holes if needed, trim with curved scissors ard razor blade/exacto knife for anice staight line

[m_vice]

Thanks people, I have always trim first but I have seen a lot of bodies painted before timing and always question myself if their was a special reason for it.

Thank you again for the responses. I will post some pics of my RC10 Runner with a freshly painted skin soon.

[Brandon G]

Probably cause the guys who paint want nothing to do with trimming (lazy- myself included) That and the overspray film stays on good. Sometimes when you trim a body with the film, it may pull back from the edges. Therefore causing the painter more work, having to remove the overspray.

[Eau Rouge]

If I paint for others, I don't trim, but anything I do for myself gets cut out and mounted first. It's infinitely easier to mount a body that you can see through.

Cut, mount, paint and decal.

[terry.sc]

The pro painters never trim because how can they tell if the body is going to fit the chassis it is going on. For example no use cutting touring car wheel arches if they aren't going to line up with the wheels, and how can they cut out a buggy shell unless they own that particular model.

I never trim beforehand, always paint first. Keeps the outside clean and gives you plenty of extra plastic to hold on to when trying to position it get all those details done. You can't hold a pretrimmed shell by the edges while you are spraying.