How To Do The Tamiya Manta Ray Bodywork: Cut, Paint & Decal an RC Lexan Body

Hi there and welcome to this video about detailing the iconic Tamiya Manta Ray bodywork. We start with a new Tamiya body set and a set of custom decals (or stickers) from rcdecals.co.uk. Along the way I hope to pass on some useful hints and tips and good practice to use when cutting, painting and applying decals to a Lexan (polycarbonate) RC car body.
Many thanks for watching and I hope you enjoy the finished Manta Ray body. Cheers!

[@poorboysrc]

That gun metal is such a nice color! The camera doesn't do it justice.

[@MarkBryanRC]

Totally agree, Fil! Cameras never do metallics justice! Happy Birthday, Bro! 😎👊👍

[@madsrcbuggy]

Oh, yes, Mark, very nice you can help a friend out and at the same time probably also help a lot of people out with the video! I can imagine most are just watching it now for the joy of watching you work, but in the future probably some people will research this topic and find help from this video, it's a time machine! Looks great with the Gunmetal, definitely more interesting than white. I knew the trick with the "handle", but I wasn't actually aware the paint will create a print where you'd hold the body. Very tricky, this gunmetal, ha ha! Have a great weekend there, my friend!

[@MarkBryanRC]

Hiya Mads! I was really pleased to do Coryn a favour and really enjoyed doing the Manta Ray body, it's very different to most buggy bodies! I hope you are right and folks will watch this after researching the topic. I did think that plain white was a little boring! Yeah, I had the gunmetal paint react on my Kyosho Scorpion where my fingers were holding the Lexan - lesson learnt!!! Wishing you a great weekend too, mate!

[@Toystheyrenot]

Excellent work on that Manta Ray shell Mark! Looks Devilsome in that dark colour scheme!🙌😎

[@MarkBryanRC]

Many thanks, Sean! Devilsome indeed! Have a great weekend there, buddy! 😎👍

[@lo2713]

Loving the colour 👍 i do love the manta ray shell, just brings out the child in me 😁

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks, Richard! Yeah, I know what you mean, I just wish this was mine - you should see how mint the chassis is that it's going on! 😎👍

[@jonathanwheeler5626]

Looks great, and a very useful tip about the fingerprints.

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks for watching, Jonathan! Yep, I messed up a body by holding it and spraying it gunmetal and there were unsightly marks where my fingers were! Lesson learnt! All the best!

[@cw-01creations46]

An excellent choice of colour for the shell in order for the decals to stand out a bit more. I bet Coryn will be well chuffed with that shell. We'll Done Mark 👍

[@MarkBryanRC]

Why thank you, good Sir! Yeah, those decals needed a good background to do them justice. Coryn did say he was pleased with it, thank goodness! Thanks for commenting, mate, speak soon! 😎👍

[@rivierarc]

THAT COLOUR 😊😊😊, Love it. I used RC decals for the DT02 Astute body and they were slightly thicker but just had him do some for the channel and they are nice and thin..

[@MarkBryanRC]

Cool - thanks Glenn! I'm quite pleased with the result myself! Yeah, RC Decals are very good, the colours are great and the stickers are very tough, just a bit thick when you need to overlap them. Good to know you got some thinner ones from them! Cheers mate!

[@Sponge1310]

A very nice body shell indeed 😎

[@MarkBryanRC]

Much appreciated, cheers! 🙏😎👍

[@rc-dom-uk]

Done like a pro . Looks fab mate 👍

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks Dom, not sure about pro, but a "decent amateur" will do! Cheers mate!👍

[@tiborvon]

You made easy work of that Mark, top stuff buddy 👍👍👍

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks a ton, Tibster! Always great to read you, have a great weekend buddy! 👍

[@peterhootonrc1498]

Hi Mark great instructional video. I’ve learnt a few things from this. Best wishes

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks a ton, Peter! Glad it was helpful! Wishing you a great weekend! 😎👍

[@reitplace4765]

Good looks brother.. Great how too.. I'm such a noob and the paint need all the info I can get.. Thanks for sharing.👍

[@MarkBryanRC]

Many thanks. Glad to help and thanks for watching, bro! 😎👍

[@RcNickster709]

WOW great job Mark. really like the darker color on this one. Makes this body look pretty snazzy... Wich is good. lol Awesome work my friend. You are a decal Master

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks as always my friend, Nick! Glad you like the gunmetal, it's a very cool shade of metallic grey! Not sure about "decal master" but appreciated all the same! Take care, brother!👍

[@kimpestridge6668]

It's turn out lovely Mark. I like the gunmetal colour. Take care 👍

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thank you! Yeah that colour is one of my favourites! Take care mate - Cheers!

[@ShenRC]

Nice job mark!! I like the color I really don't like the white version yours looks better!

[@MarkBryanRC]

Glad you approve of the gunmetal, Steve, yeah I'm not keen on white either. Thanks dude, take care!

[@PeteWylieRC]

Hiya Mark. Sorry I did that thing where I watched the video and it went onto the next one and I thought I'll pop back later and leave a comment and then I forgot 😞 Anyway it's always great to see you at work on a body shell as you always do a top job. I'm sure that your mate will be delighted with it. Great choice with the colour. Gunmetal always looks good and especially with the colour of the stickers on that. Anyway we might all get a bit of decent weather soon so we can get on with the speed runs. Cheers for now mate 😁👍

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks for catching up Pete! I'm the same, don't worry! Yes, thankfully Coryn is pretty chuffed with it and I'm relieved! Never done a paint job for someone else before. Yeah, the weather looks to be picking up a bit so fingers crossed. Hope to see your first attempt soon - good luck mate! 🤞😎👍

[@UncleBobsRC]

Awesome job Mark!!!! Great idea with the front window mask.. That came out freaking awesome looking, I hope Coryn like the job and I hope you signed the body some place... That (Your) signature might be worth something some day.. ATB my friend, and Best Wishes to ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks a ton, Bob! Glad you liked the window mask, that Tamiya masking sheet is the dogs! Thank goodness Coryn approved of my efforts, I was a bit worried TBH!!! Oh, good idea about signing it, I didn't think of that! ATB, brother! 😎👍

[@catcancrunch7260]

Nice job well done again mate, thanks for your upload 👍🙏🐱

[@MarkBryanRC]

Many thanks Cat! I'm just relieved it came out OK as it wasn't mine! Have a great weekend, mate! 😎👍

[@theoagrc]

Really enjoyed this Mark! I have been thinking of trying to get a Manta Ray as I would love to have a DF-01 smashing round the track but also I think they looks awesome! You did a great job with that shell and the colour was 🔥🔥🔥 Nice work bud 🙌🏻

[@MarkBryanRC]

Cool that you enjoyed it Craig, thanks for letting me know, mate! Oh yes the Manta Ray is gorgeous, wish it was mine! You should see the chassis that Coryn has to put it on, it's totally MINT!!! As good as the Gravel Hound he sent me. Yeah I was chuffed with the way this came out, never done a body for anyone else before, soo it was a bit nerve wracking! 😬👍

[@n22pdf]

Great job as always dude 😊🥇👍 Pete

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks Pete, always a pleasure to read you, have a lovely weekend!👍

[@AddamsPlayground]

Great job Mark! It looks great and that gun metal is a great color but it can be a finicky one to work with! As tedious as it all is I do prefer cutting out my own decals for the cars especially if they are going to sit side by side like these. It turned out looking great!

[@MarkBryanRC]

Many thanks, Addam! Ah, we both know how tricky that gunmetal can be to get right! Agreed about the decals, I much prefer an uncut sheet to work with, even if my eyes are beginning to struggle with intricate cutting work! All part of the fun, though! Glad you approve of my efforts on this one, mate! Cheers!

[@markconnor269]

Great job mate 👌 well done 👍

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thank you, Mark, much appreciated! Cheers! 😎👍

[@HaydadRC]

Wow great work as always Mark! It came out real sharp!👍😊

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thank you so much 😀Jeremy! It needed to be good for my friend, couldn't let him down! Cheers dude!

[@RCBirds]

Great job, thiy body looks cool. Thanks for removing the film on camera. Have a great weekend Mark.

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks, you too my good friend Dirk! Have a good one!!

[@mad-beerc3818]

Top job as always Mark he will be well happy with that mate!

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks a lot, James! Yes I really hope he likes it, if not I'll have to do another one! Have a great weekend, mate! 👍

[@mad-beerc3818]

@@MarkBryanRC Sure he will love it! Have a great weekend too mate! I still haven't set up WhatsApp will do this weekend. We are on holls this week so looking forward to doing some RC but the bloody wind is really something here! I am not talking about me this morning after that pasty yesterday either!

[@MarkBryanRC]

@@mad-beerc3818 Oh no! Not pasty problems?!?!?!?! Hope you are doing OK! Anyway I think Coryn likes it! No worries, let me know when WhatsApp is working. Enjoy your holiday mate! Speak soon!

[@hollyhillrc]

Very nice.

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thank you, Derek! Cheers! 😎👍

[@BasBoyRC]

A interesting thing the paint can get finger prints from body heat, the gun metal does look sweet. Looks so different to box art.

[@MarkBryanRC]

Hi Mal - yes I found out about the fingerprints the hard way! Spoiled my Scorpion body! Glad you like the finished article, you know I like to experiment a little! Cheers my friend!

[@davidhiscock1969]

You need one of those vintage electric carving knives Mark and just hack out the shape 😅😅. Yes, I am bloody kidding lol. With regards those tricky areas like the back parts, after you score the outline make a few cuts up to the body line . That way you are snapping off smaller pieces rather than trying to get a larger area to snap. Looks nice mate

[@MarkBryanRC]

🤣🤣Electric carving knife! What are you like, mate! But thanks for the tip, I should have thought of that! Always learning no matter how old I get, it's great to share ideas here in our little community - much appreciated, Dave! Have a smashing weekend! 😎👍

[@coryn1980]

Nice job Mark really do appreciate it mate sorry about the decals / stickers I really should have got them from mci racing my fault 😕 but it looks amazing mark 👍

[@MarkBryanRC]

No worries mate, please don't appologise about the stickers, it wasn't too bad and came out good in the end! The main thing is that you are happy with the result, glad I could help my friend! Cheers! 😁👍

[@chrisscott3039]

😎👍

[@MarkBryanRC]

Ta mate! 😎👍