Taping an RC Body for Reinforcement or Repair

Anyone that has had a RC car or truck has experienced the frustration of tearing your RC body from multiple wrecks.  After a while the body mount holes tear and then the body becomes garbage.

In this write up I will provide steps on how to extend the life of you RC body by reinforcing the body mount holes.  I highly recommend doing this when the body is new.  However, this method can be used to repair as well.

You will need:

-RC body

-Shoe Goo (don’t buy generic, buy authentic Shoe Goo…not Shoe Goop.  There is a difference)

-Fiber mesh tape used for drywall

-Rubbing alcohol

First step is to clean the underside of the body with rubbing alcohol very thoroughly. 

Next, decide where you want to reinforce.  Every car/truck body designs tear different places.  Most common is to reinforce the body mount holes.  Once you decide, cut strips of tape and securely stick pieced of fiber mesh tape.  I would use two strips on mounting holes.  No more than two or it gets hard to put in pins.  I use small scissors to cut the tape.

Once the tape has been applied everywhere under the body that you want to reinforce its time to apply the Shoe Goo.

This can be a non-messy job if you do it right.  First rule:  Use one finger to apply glue.  Keep one hand clean to hold the body.  Using the one finger, smear glue on the tape.  DON’T apply too much!!  This is a common problem.  If the tape starts moving around on you that means you are applying too much or you’re working the glue too much.  As soon as the glue seeps in small square holes in tape that’s enough.  Be sure to cover the outer edges of tape where tape can lift off.

Let glue dry for at least one hour.  Then cut holes out with drill bit and you are done!

This will help preserve your RC body tremendously.  Save you a lot of money.

I added body clip holders that can be purchased at your shop.  After installing the bungee clip holder apply a small amount of Shoe Goo to the underside to secure the bungee.