RC Body Shells are a very important part of the hobby. They are often photorealistic representations of vehicles we love or aspire to one day drive as a 1:1, or for a lucky few actually own. RC Car Bodies are the main reason many of us get into
RC Cars in the first place. The aesthetic leading the way, far before we even see a vehicle in action. Without a well designed and detailed body, even the best
RC Car in the world would not look complete or for that matter make sense.
The former, often made by brands such as Tamiya or
Killerbody, is as the name suggests an injection moulded item, made up of several pieces and that often very accurately portrays the vehicle in question. They tend to have a lot more detail but can suffer from being much heavier in use, so not the best solution for any type of competition vehicle as they raise the C of G. They do however have a firm place in the scale community where realism is the keyword and outright performance not as much of a concern. The other things to remember when contemplating a hard body are that you must paint the shell on the outside, with a specific type of paint. Many builders also add a top coat or lacquer to add additional resilience to wear and tear in use or go completely the other way and use weathering techniques to make the body look like it has a deep patina and years of use. Decals are often used to complete the look of a body and add another layer of realism into the mix.
Vacuum Formed shells on the other hand are often much, much lighter. The main shell being pulled from a single sheet of Lexan, or for more accurate representations of vehicles sometimes built up from multiple parts that are then bolted together. Race bodies tend to be just Lexan with decals added for detail. Additional detail can also be added to further enhance the look of a body, and this is often by the use of injection moulded parts, and adds more realistic bumpers, grille, wiper blades, door handles, wing mirrors, and even aerodynamic aids such as wings or splitters. Finally decals can be applied to add window details, brand logos, racing stripes or race numbers.
Here at MIBI we tray and stock as many variations of body shells as possible. If the body you require isn't in stock, it can usually be ordered for you. As ever, if in doubt, please do ask and we will try our hardest to accommodate you and keep your pride and joy looking good in the process!
1/10th Buggy Bodyshells
1/10th Buggy bodies are vacuum formed and open wheeled in design. The thickness of Lexan use dictates their outright weight, some manufacturers produce lighter Race Bodies, at the expense of durability, or standard weight bodies that will withstand normal bashing use, or for race bodies, lots of practice. The RC Buggy Bodyshell not only has to look good, but in use it often works in conjunction with a Rear Wing to help generate grip and downforce at speed. The RC Buggy Bodyshell also helps protect the electrics and chassis in use, and bodies for RC Buggies can come in multiple parts, including a splash proof under tray. They may not be the most realistic bodies out there in the RC Car world, but they do serve a vital purpose. Most are sold clear and require cutting out, painting and detailing. Remember you must paint all Lexan Shells on the inside, with a compatible paint that physically attaches itself to the Lexan.
1/10th Rock Crawler Bodyshells
The 1/10th Rock Crawler Bodyshell can be either a functional (and often fictitious design) not based on a real vehicle at all, giving the rig it's fitted to ease of articulation via exaggerated wheel arches and a narrow body that won't get caught up on rocks or terrain while crawling, Or, it can be a fully Licensed RC Bodyshell, based on a real world 4x4. The latter tends to be the biggest trend at the moment and the RC Rock Crawler Bodyshell has become something of a work of art of late. Many brands produce them and as long as the wheelbase of your particular rig is compatible, they are all pretty much interchangeable. This way Body Shells for RC Rock Crawlers can be used to totally change the look and even era of a rig. You choose what inspires you the most. If you want a Retro 70's pick up, go for it. If you want the latest Japanese 4x4, that's possible too. Your rig is an extension of you and now you can choose a RC Rock crawler Body Shell that best suits you and your personality. Most are sold clear and require cutting out, painting and detailing. Remember you must paint all Lexan Shells on the inside, with a compatible paint that physically attaches itself to the Lexan.
1/10th Short Course Bodyshells
The 1/10th Short Course RC Bodyshell is designed to accurately portray the shells of the American 1:1 vehicles that inspired this popular class of RC Bashing and Racing. They are usually split into two categories. True 'Short Course and 'Trophy Trucks. The former are 2 or 4WD 'Short Course' Trucks, and called that because they usually race on short courses, and do multiple laps per race on closed tracks, like football stadiums. These are set out with crowd pleasing jumps and obstacles that test both the drivers skills at the wheel, and their nerve in the air. The other types of body style that can be bought as a 1/10th and fitted onto RC Short Course Trucks are 'Trophy Trucks'. These are very similar looking to Short Course Trucks but often have the addition of extra lighting, a roll cage and spare tyres in the rear bed. They run over long distances, often point to point in the desert, on a completely open course with a driver and navigator. bodyshells for RC Short Course vary in their complexity and level of detail. Go lightweight and simple for a RC Short Course race shell, or more detailed and complex for a more realistic looking Trophy Truck. Most are sold clear and require cutting out, painting and detailing. Remember you must paint all Lexan Shells on the inside, with a compatible paint that physically attaches itself to the Lexan.
1/10th Touring Car Bodyshells
1/10th Touring Car RC Body Shells serve two main purposes and are split into two main categories. Sanctioned Race Shells and Club Racing and Fun Shells. RC Touring Car Race Body Shells are made from a lighter Lexan, often only loosely based on a real vehicle, finished with decals to add detail and are designed to be as aerodynamic as possible on track, balancing outright speed with grip and additional downforce provided by the body itself and a rear wing. The second type of RC Touring Car Bodyshell are photorealistic representations of real Touring Cars from the various global race series like the World Touring Car Cup (WTCC), British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM), and Supercars Championship (SC). The great thing for most owners is that most body shells designed for RC Touring Cars are either 190mm or 200mm wide, so with the correct offset wheels and configuration of body posts, can be used and interchanged on various different RC Touring car platforms. Most are sold clear and require cutting out, painting and detailing. Remember you must paint all Lexan Shells on the inside, with a compatible paint that physically attaches itself to the Lexan.
1/10th Truck Bodyshells
1/10th RC Truck Bodyshells offer a wide variety of looks and uses. From outright bashing shells only loosely based on real vehicles, to realistic and Scale looking Licensed RC Truck Bodyshells. Many can be interchanged between vehicles as long as the wheelbase matches, although some manufacturers of purely bashing trucks tend to exaggerate certain proportions so always check compatibility when replacing a stock shell with something that's completely different. Bodyshells for RC Trucks are mostly sold clear and will require painting internally and finishing with decals, but there are brands that do supply pre painted and detailed shells that are ready to fit. These tend to be more expensive as they take more time and labour to produce. Some manufacturers add additional detailing with injection moulded parts to increase the level of realism, and many offer Roll Cages and other accessories that can be retro-fitted for a more extreme look. Remember you must paint all Lexan Shells on the inside, with a compatible paint that physically attaches itself to the Lexan.
1/8th Buggy Bodyshells
The 1/8th Buggy Race class is still one of the biggest, (especially in IC engine powered cars) globally. With electric growing in popularity, 1:8th Buggy Racing and Bashing is now more accessible than ever. Many RC Buggy Body Shells however are brand specific and are designed to fit exactly over the chassis shape and design and component layout each brand of buggy has. The RC Buggy Bodyshell is designed to help keep dirt and debris out of the chassis, its components and driveline, while offering an often aggressive and aerodynamic Buggy look. There are Standard and Cab Forward designs, each working in conjunction with a large rear wing to generate a balance between Streamline Aerodynamics, Downforce and Outright Traction. Bodyshells for 1:8th RC Buggies will never be as realistic as other types of Bodyshell, but they serve a purpose and fit the look and style of vehicle in question. Bodyshells for 1:8th RC Buggies are mostly sold clear and will require painting internally and finishing with decals, but there are brands that do supply pre painted and detailed shells that are ready to fit. These tend to be more expensive as they take more time and labour to produce. Remember you must paint all Lexan Shells on the inside, with a compatible paint that physically attaches itself to the Lexan.
1:8th Truggy Bodyshells
The 1:8th Truggy Race class is very popular globally. Electric or IC powered they tend to be more forgiving to drive than their Buggy siblings. Wider, Longer and with longer throw suspension, they can soak up bigger jumps and surface undulations. They are a fun platform for both Racing and Bashing. The 1:8th Truggy Body Shell is based on a Truck, tends to be brand specific and is designed to fit exactly over the chassis shape and design and component layout each brand of Truggy has. The RC Truggy Bodyshell is designed to help keep dirt and debris out of the chassis, its components and driveline, while offering an often aggressive and aerodynamic RC Truck look. There are Standard and Cab Forward designs, each working in conjunction with a large rear wing to generate a balance between Streamline Aerodynamics, Downforce and Outright Traction. Bodyshells designed for an RC Truggy will never be as realistic as other types of Truck Body Shell, but they serve a purpose and fit the look and style of vehicle in question. Bodyshells for use on a 1:8th RC Truggy are mostly sold clear and will require painting internally and finishing with decals, but there are brands that do supply pre painted and detailed shells that are ready to fit. These tend to be more expensive as they take more time and labour to produce. Remember you must paint all Lexan Shells on the inside, with a compatible paint that physically attaches itself to the Lexan.
1/5th Large Scale Bodyshells
Big is beautiful, and in RC circles the 1/5th Scale RC Body is about as big as it gets! Available in both On and Off Road types and often manufactured from thick Lexan or Polycarbonate, the RC 1/5th Body Shell tends to be brand specific as most vehicles will only fit a certain type of body, make, or genre. Dimensions like wheelbase, width, body mount types vary very much by manufacturer, so if in doubt always check compatibility. Bodyshells for Large Scale RC Cars are often supplied clear in thick Lexan or can be supplied pre painted. Competition and Race Shells aid generating grip at speed and in the case of On Road RC Large Scale Bodyshells, are often based on recognisable brands of 1;1 Race Cars, Touring Cars, Race Trucks or even Formula One Cars. Off Road Large Scale Body Shells can be Buggies, Trucks, Short Course Trucks,Trophy Trucks and Desert Racers. Large Scale RC is the closest thing we can get in RC to full sized motorsport, and the bodyshell is a vital part of the whole equation. Remember you must paint all Lexan/Polycarbonate Shells on the inside, with a compatible paint that physically attaches itself to the Lexan.
Mini & Micro Bodyshells
Mini & Micro RC Car Body Shells come in a plethora of sizes, genres and types. If it can be made as a Mini or a Micro RC, you can buy a Lexan or Polycarbonate body for it! The Mini & Micro RC Car class is perhaps the most portable out there, can be run both indoors and out, and perfect for where space is at a premium, but you want all the fun of On or Off Road RC. Most Mini & Micro RC Car body shells are brand and genre specific, although manufacturers like ProLine make a variety of bodies that fit to a wheelbase or certain model specification. Mini and Micro RC Cars cover every imaginable type of vehicle, from Micro Off Road Buggies and Micro Truggies to Micro Scale Rigs and even Military Vehicles. They may be small but they are often brushless and LiPo powers, fast and capable. The term 'Pocket Rocket' has never been more apt, and the Mini and Micro Class of RC vehicles are just as sophisticated as its bigger and larger scale siblings. Bodyshells for use on a Mini or Micro RC Car are mostly sold clear and will require painting internally and finishing with decals, but there are brands that do supply pre painted and detailed shells that are ready to fit. These tend to be more expensive as they take more time and labour to produce. Remember you must paint all Lexan Shells on the inside, with a compatible paint that physically attaches itself to the Lexan.
Monster Truck Bodyshells
Monster Truck Body Shells come in various shapes and sizes. Many are based on the Large Wheeled Trucks seen at global events like Monster Jam and represent known trucks like the legendary Gravedigger, Monster Mutt, Bigfoot and the like. Others are made up but very recognisable models like the Tamiya Lunchbox, Monster Beetle or Clod Buster. As with other genres of bodyshell, the RC Monster Truck Body Shell can be either vacuum formed from Lexan/Polycarbonate or Injection Moulded from Styrene or a similar hard plastic. Always check the compatibility of your vehicle with any chosen shell. The wheelbase dimensions and body mounts must be compatible, and many RC Monster Truck Body Shells are brand and model specific. Bodyshells for use on a Monster Truck RC Car are mostly sold clear or unpainted and will require painting internally or externally and finishing with decals, but there are brands that do supply pre painted and detailed shells that are ready to fit. These tend to be more expensive as they take more time and labour to produce. Remember you must paint all Lexan Shells on the inside, with a compatible paint that physically attaches itself to the Lexan and hard bodies with a compatible paint on the outside.
Most bodyshells require some work from the end user to finish them ready for use. To this end here at MIBI we stock a wide range of essential tools that help you complete the process with ease.
Curved Bodyshell Scissors,
Body Reamers,
Airbrushes,
Decal Kits,
Bodyshell Lighting Kits, a huge range of
Masking Tape in a variety of types and widths. We also sell a huge range of Scale Accessories, from Bumpers and LED Light Bars, to Race Wings and Aerodynamic Aids. If you need anything you cannot see, ask, as we may be able to source it for you. We want you to produce the best body for your car and enjoy the whole experience doing so.
Perhaps the most essential part of producing a great body shell is the paint you choose to use. Here at MIBI we stock a wide range and will only ever stock paint we know and trust. Our
Tamiya paint range is extensive and covers both the
Tamiya PS Lexan/Polycarbonate compatible paint used inside the shell and the
Tamiya TS paint used outside Hard, Injection Moulded Models and Bodyshells. Most paint is supplied in Spray Cans, although we can also supply Airbrush Compatible Paints, Thinners, Brushes and Cleaners. Take your time, build up the level of detail you require and step back and look at the amazing end results you can achieve with the correct body, paint, accessories and materials from MIBI.
