New Built Losi XX Graphite (Now includes body paint!)

[LosiXXkid]

I had bad experiences with dyes other than RIT brand. If you have it available I would give it a shot. It has never let me down

Cool, I'll grab some. Apologies for the thread highjack Karl - keep up the good work.

No problem....!

[LosiXXkid]

Finally got round to trimming an original XX body along with a V wing. The body is prepped for paint and I do have a design in mind using the orignial XX box art colours, i.e. white, silver, black and pink. However, I need to be 'in the mood' to spend time masking it all out.

Anyway, here we are so far....

Losi XX Graphite - Body 1

Losi XX Graphite - Body 001c.jpg (111.12 KiB) Viewed 1459 times

Losi XX Graphite - Body 1

Losi XX Graphite - Body 001c.jpg (111.12 KiB) Viewed 1459 times

Losi XX Graphite - Body 2

Losi XX Graphite - Body 007c.jpg (110.91 KiB) Viewed 1459 times

Losi XX Graphite - Body 2

Losi XX Graphite - Body 007c.jpg (110.91 KiB) Viewed 1459 times

I also found this brand of masking tape which features "Paint Stop Technology" via eBay and was wondering if anyone here has used it?

Stuk Masking Tape - Four sizes: 6mm, 10mm, 18mm & 40mm.

Masking Tape 004c.jpg (134.24 KiB) Viewed 1459 times

Stuk Masking Tape - Four sizes: 6mm, 10mm, 18mm & 40mm.

Masking Tape 004c.jpg (134.24 KiB) Viewed 1459 times

[LosiXXkid]

Eventually I've managed to finish up painting up a body for my Losi XX Graphite build - the first in about 20 years - and I think the result came out OK, it's not great mind but it's OK! I'd forgotten how much patience is required in the prep and masking to get a really good finish....but hey, it was a great learning exercise

I also think it needs a few more decals/ stickers to really finish it off but period ones seem to be a bit thin on the ground these days. Also, anyone into late 70's/ early 80's American rock should notice the EVH inspired paint job using the four colours found on the original box art XX.

XX Graphite 1 (EVH Style)

XX Graphite 010c.jpg (114.57 KiB) Viewed 1419 times

XX Graphite 1 (EVH Style)

XX Graphite 010c.jpg (114.57 KiB) Viewed 1419 times

XX Graphite 2 (EVH Style)

XX Graphite 014c.jpg (121.57 KiB) Viewed 1419 times

XX Graphite 2 (EVH Style)

XX Graphite 014c.jpg (121.57 KiB) Viewed 1419 times

One day I might get around to finishing off the electrics but for now my RC budget is needed elsewhere!

[oldrc]

Really like this. The finish reminds me of my Lazer ZX-R that I did back in the 90's. Had a similar 'criss cross' finish except in white and blue.

[Chillout47]

I have used Rit to dye XXX wheels black, it worked really well. I think they were white to start with, I tried Rit red, but they didn't look right, so I dyed them black. I have a solution made up that I have used loads of times, once its cooled I pour it in a plastic milk container and save it until the next time. I have probably done over 10 sets of wheels with it and its still going strong.

I also apologize if this is a hijack!! Cheers.

[Chillout47]

By the way, are you going to 'feed' the tyres? it would get them nice and black and a bit shiny - unless you like the look already of course!!

[jamin]

I'm still digging those black wheels - paint job suits them nicely too! I'm still a little unsure about the looks of the stock shell, I think the Jammin or xcelerator one looks a bit nicer, but only because of the step on the side pods makes it look too high. IMO of course..

Either way, mighty fine build my friend

[LosiXXkid]

By the way, are you going to 'feed' the tyres? it would get them nice and black and a bit shiny - unless you like the look already of course!!

Feed the tyres? Hmmmm? Not sure I know about this.........what treatment does it involve/ would you recommend?

Thanks!

[LosiXXkid]

I have used Rit to dye XXX wheels black, it worked really well. I think they were white to start with, I tried Rit red, but they didn't look right, so I dyed them black. I have a solution made up that I have used loads of times, once its cooled I pour it in a plastic milk container and save it until the next time. I have probably done over 10 sets of wheels with it and its still going strong.

I also apologize if this is a hijack!! Cheers.

That's OK.

By the way, these are Pro-Line Featherlite XXCR wheels which are made of dyeable nylon. From what I've seen, the XXX wheels are a type of white plastic (?) as opposed to nylon and don't take dye like the nylon material.

I have a thread in the R/C Tech Forum that deals with microwave dying nylon parts.....

[jamin]

By the way, are you going to 'feed' the tyres? it would get them nice and black and a bit shiny - unless you like the look already of course!!

Feed the tyres? Hmmmm? Not sure I know about this.........what treatment does it involve/ would you recommend?

Thanks!

Just use some touring car tyre treatment, I have some old trinity stuff and it brings them up like new, if not better.

[Chillout47]

I use a silicon spray lubricant from Halfords, it is absolutely awesome for restoring tyres and giving them that black semi gloss look. I Put the wheel and tyre onto a hex wrench or similar, spin it fast and spray it whilst its spinning, this coats it very evenly. I leave them overnight on a piece of kitchen towel, in the morning most of it is soaked up, just give them a wipe over with a lint free cloth to get rid of any left over. It's safe on wheels too, just wipes off and does not mark them.

I get the feeling I'm teaching my Granny to suck eggs here, sorry if it's already been covered in another thread....

[LosiXXkid]

......thanks for the know-how!

[LosiXXkid]

I use a silicon spray lubricant from Halfords, it is absolutely awesome for restoring tyres and giving them that black semi gloss look. I Put the wheel and tyre onto a hex wrench or similar, spin it fast and spray it whilst its spinning, this coats it very evenly. I leave them overnight on a piece of kitchen towel, in the morning most of it is soaked up, just give them a wipe over with a lint free cloth to get rid of any left over. It's safe on wheels too, just wipes off and does not mark them.

I get the feeling I'm teaching my Granny to suck eggs here, sorry if it's already been covered in another thread....

I've been around R/C since I was about 15 years old.........and I'm still learning!

[LosiXXkid]

A little bit of an update with some Trinity 1.5D rear hubs and a new dual disk slipper.

Losi XX Graphite

Losi (Update) 003c.jpg (113.75 KiB) Viewed 1314 times

Losi XX Graphite

Losi (Update) 003c.jpg (113.75 KiB) Viewed 1314 times

Also waiting on a Trinity front bulkhead brace to arrive.

[jamin]

You can't beat a bit of Trinity blue on these XX cars!! I also like the fact that the yoke for the driveshaft is black rather than dark grey, nice little touch there - would the spur look better black also?