6 Quick Fixes for Common RC Body Issues
The body of your RC car is a critical component. Not only does it give the car most of its aesthetic appeal, but it also greatly affects the car’s center of gravity, aerodynamics, weight, and other key performance factors.
However, it’s also the part of your RC car that takes the majority of the damage as you bump into things, take it off large drops, and flip it around during poorly judged turns.
As such, you’re likely to see some issues pop up the longer you drive your car. This can range from major cracks all the way to plastic warping or discoloration.
Today, we’re going to go over 6 of the most common RC body issues and how to fix RC body issues without too much money or effort being involved.
Let’s get started.
1. Small Cracks
Small cracks will almost certainly develop the more you crash your car or bump it into things. They’re no big deal, though. They don’t offset the car’s weight, rarely allow the body to contort and get in the way of mechanical features, or do anything else notable. They just look bad and can turn into a bigger problem.
The fix for this is extremely easy and only takes a few minutes. You’ll need a Shoe Goo or E-6000 and a small drill bit with a power drill or electric screwdriver.
First, use your drill to make a small hole at the top of the crack. If the crack doesn't run all the way to the end of the plastic in either direction, drill a hole at each end of the crack. This is to prevent the crack from growing even more in the future, and the smaller you can make the hole, the better. You don't even have to use a powered drilling device. Even a hand tool that can turn the bit is enough.
Once that’s done, apply the Shoe Goo or E-6000 over the crack and into each hole. Let it cure, and then you can sand it smooth if there are any raised portions where you applied the products.
2. Larger Cracks
For more significant cracks, a simple application of glue isn’t sufficient for long-term durability, especially if your RC car is bound to experience more rough terrain or crashes. Instead, you should focus on reinforcing the damaged area properly.
A great method is to use Shoe Goo or E-6000 adhesive combined with fiberglass mesh drywall tape. By applying the glue and placing the tape on the underside of the body, you can create a strong, flexible repair that holds up well to future impacts.
This technique not only reinforces the crack but also distributes stress across a larger area, reducing the chance of the crack reappearing or new damage forming. Once the adhesive dries, you can sand and repaint the car body if needed to restore its appearance.
3. Scuffed Paint
Paint scuffs are extremely minor issues, and you don’t have to worry about them if you don’t want to. They can add character to an RC car’s aesthetic, and if you’re doing a particularly aggressive form of the hobby, it’s going to happen no matter what you do.
However, if you like to keep your car pristine, this is a fairly easy fix.
If you paint your cars by hand, simply keep some of the paint you use for each car in stock. When a scuff happens, use a very fine sandpaper to lightly remove any chips or bumps in the paint and plastic, and then apply a thin layer of paint to the affected area. Let it dry, and if you can see through it, add another light coat of paint. Keep your coats light, or you can end up with a noticeably thicker paint area.
If you don’t have a matching paint option, sand the body, repaint it, and then keep any leftovers to take care of scuffs later.
4. Broken Cosmetic Features
If a minor cosmetic feature such as a “mirror” or light rack breaks off, it’s fairly easy to fix.
We wouldn’t use superglue. It won’t hold well if the area gets hit again. Instead, purchase a two-part epoxy. This is a pack of two tubes. You squirt a little of each tube’s chemical onto a surface you don’t mind throwing away, use a popsicle stick or similar disposable mixer to mix it up, and then apply it like glue.
This is a lot harder than a glue bond, and it should resist any further damage almost as well as if the piece were still in pristine condition. Just try to use as little as possible to create the bond. If there’s a lot of excess, you’ll have to do some light sanding to get rid of it.
5. Damaged Body Interferes with Mechanical Parts
This is a more severe type of issue than the other things we’ve talked about. Sometimes, a wreck is so impactful that it can bend part of the body in and interfere with the mechanical components of the car.
We’ll use a wheel well or bumper bending in front of a wheel as an example.
Unfortunately, this can be a little more difficult to deal with. To prevent damaging the mechanical component, remove the body of the car throughout the repair process, and make sure the mechanical components are working.
Next, if it’s just a bend or dent, you can attempt to bend it back gently by hand. If that doesn’t work, a heat gun can make the plastic more pliable, but don’t heat the plastic too much. Wear gloves while resetting the plastic.
6. Body Doesn’t Fit Internals or Frame
Sometimes, you buy a new 3rd party body that isn't designed specifically for your setup, and it's just millimeters off of a perfect fit, the skirts are too low, or some other minor issue is present.
You can send it back and continue your search, or you can fix it really quick with a Dremel, some cut off discs, and some finer sanding drums. Use cutting discs minimally to avoid removing too much material, and always watch out for excessive heat build-up, but you can easily make adjustments in a few minutes. Also avoid doing this if the fit is too far off.
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