Change the color of your radio to match your ride or style
I like to change anything from its box-stock form. That includes my transmitters. I was painting my radios silver long before they were available in silver. Sometimes they didn’t come out as planned but once they started ge ing the usual bumps and bruises I didn’t much care. I just liked that I could tell my radios apart from everyone else’s. When I first started painting them there was not a selection of plastic-specific paints like there is today and not all paints adhered as well as necessary. Now, thanks to brands like Plasti-Kote, Krylon and Rustoleum you are sure to find a color to suit your tastes.
The process can be relatively simple, depending on which radio you wish to paint. I am giving my Futaba T3PL the orange treatment. Some radios I’ve painted required disassembly and removal of the internal electronics to do it prop- erly but the T3PL will only require simple masking of a few areas. Keep in mind that any modification could void any warranty.
First, use the appropriate driver to remove the screw at the center of the steering wheel and take the wheel off. It is critical to remove all dust, dirt and residue from the transmitter’s case. Paint needs a clean surface for best adhesion. An old toothbrush works well for getting into the seams.
Use a soft cloth or paper towel and denatured alcohol, or even rubbing alcohol, to wipe down every surface that will be painted. Use a wide, soft, dry paint brush to remove any remaining particles that may be left behind from a paper towel.
For my radio I chose to remove the black power button cover and the silver selection button prior to painting so they remain black and silver.
Painters tape is used to mask off everything that isn’t to be painted. I masked a section of the grip just to break up the orange that will cover every- thing else. I stuffed a piece of paper towel into the selection button’s location to protect the now exposed switch. I also wanted to to keep the name plate across the bottom front that identifies the transmitter.
Several coats of Rustoleum 2X paint were applied and left to dry overnight before removing the masking tape. The end result is a striking new look for a radio that would otherwise blend in with every other radio
It’s my backyard…anything goes! If you have some ideas for what should show up on this page please email me at backyard@rcdriver.com
