There are so many different techniques for pointing and trimming a Lexan body that many people are confused. Most of the time you'll find that buying elaborate washes and tapes is unnecessory. Here are a few steps for creating that cool looking body without driving yourself crazy.
First, you'll need to prep the body for masking. This includes removing greasy fingerprints and other residue from the inside of the body. If the body is still new from the packaging and has not been hondled, it is generally safe to begin masking immediately. However, if the body does need cleaning, warm water and liquid dish washing detergent work well together. Scrubbing or wiping isn't necessary. Let the water and detergent do all the work. Remember to rinse out all the soap residue and dry the body with a cotton towel or T-shirt. Make sure it's 100% cotton so it doesn't scratch the body.
Next, you are ready to mask off the windows and other parts of the car that you decide to mask. Instead of the usual masking tape that everybody tells you to use, try a vinyl tape or electrical tepe. Electrical tape leaves a crisper line than masking tepe and can be curved slightly if needed. Make sure the tape (whatever the kind you use) isn't too old. If it is old, it make leave behind an adhesive residue on the body. Once you've completed masking and finished painting, you are now ready to trim the body.
Of course, Lexon scissors do make it easier to cut out a body, but an X-Acto knife can be used just as easily. Using a new sharp, #11 X-octo knife blade, on the outside of the body, score the area to be cut. The blade does not have to cUt through the Lexan, but deep enough so that there is a clearly visible scratch or obvious indentation. Take your time on this step and be patient. If you try to hurry through this, you might slip and make unwanted cut marks on the outside of the body. At this point, bend or break the Lexan ot the scored lines. If you cut deep enough, the Lexan should just snap in your hands leaving you two pieces. The large piece should be your body, and the other should be the skirt of the body which can be scrapped.
Now that your body is painted and trimmed...you might be scratching your bead, you may ask yourself, "Where do I make the holes for the body posts?" Go to the pantry and get out the peanut butter!
Put a little dab of peanut butter on the top of each body post and rest the body over the car where you think it looks best. When you lift up the body from the car, you'll notice peanut butter marks on the inside of the body. Ta da! Thatt's where you make your holes!
Finally, just remember a few simple things for Lexan bodies: make sure you press firmly on the masking tape so the paint doesn't bleed under its edges; only use Paints that are suitable for Lexan; have a PB&J sandwich; and HAVE FUN!